Abraham's Faith!!!

Faith to Endure
Faith that is Pure
Faith to keep knocking at The Door

Faith to Stand
Faith that Commands
Faith to take and keep The Land

Faith to Conceive
Faith that Believes
Faith to be firm until you Receive

Faith for Seed
Faith that Leads
Faith to meet every Need

Faith to Endure
Faith that is Pure
Faith to keep knocking at The Door

The Art of Self Denial

 There is an art of self denial, for service to The Lord, that goes beyond dying to self and overcoming the flesh. There may be things that you absolutely have a right to want and expect, that you will have to deny yourself of in order to serve The Lord to your fullest potential.

 It isn't a science, meaning strict rules and parameters, but an art, learning to use the unique gifts and spiritual talents The Lord has given us, to deny ourselves and serve Him powerfully and in a way no one else can.

 You are made uniquely glorious in Him. A New Creation, like nothing that this world has ever seen. So don't fret over what you may have to offer up as a sacrifice to Him, rejoice that He always responds to that sacrifice with new vision and ability.

 Only the Master Creator of all things knows fully what He is creating in this world and what part you play in the Master Design He created before the foundations of the world.

 He is the only Creator that paid all to have a personal relationship with His Creation. He stepped into His creation, became one with His creation, shed His Blood for His creation, was crucified for His creation and defeated death for His Creation.

 The art of self denial is simply learning to flow with His brush and live by His Spirit. Not in a white knuckle way of denying the pulls of the flesh and life, but simply joining The Lord in His plan to reveal to The World, seen and unseen, His Glory, His Love, His Power and His Sons and Daughters.

Thank You LORD! For Loving us before we ever loved you!!

art:

: something that is created with imagination and skill and that is beautiful or that expresses important ideas or feelings

: works created by artists : paintings, sculptures, etc., that are created to be beautiful or to express important ideas or feelings

He Is LORD! He IS King!! He Bows To No Man!

I do not use this blog to talk about politics. However lately there has been a prophetic stirring in me about the leaders of not only this nation, but the nations of The World.

We must remember that The Lord is no respecter of persons. He does not choose sides. In a nation where the media and our government has set it up so that the masses will choose sides between the two political parties, we sometimes think The Lord is on "our side".

The Lord has nothing to do with the political machine man has created. He is LORD over all the earth. Government is one of His Social Graces, but we must not mistake that, with The King of Kings being political in any way, or assume that He is on one side or the other.

The one thing that marks The Last Days, even in The Letters to The Churches is that no one escapes His gaze and grasp. He will have a word of correction, and for those who are not His, judgement for many. His correction and judgement are perfectly JUST and totally Righteous.

I always try and consider why The Lord is having me write something, why is He showing this or that to me. Sometimes it is like pieces of a puzzle.(See my puzzle post on my prayer page).

I get a sense that there are many in The Church, and many more who think they are IN the church, that are going to be offended at some of the things that The Lord will say through His Prophets and do in the earth in the days ahead.

Remember when John The Baptist asked Jesus if He was The One? What was the last thing Jesus said?

"Blessed are those who are not offended because of me"


Below are some scriptures that have been highlighted to me over the past few weeks. Look them up, read them and meditate on them. Let The Holy Spirit speak to your heart.

Also below I posted a video. Many of you will have seen it before, but watch it again AFTER you take the time to mediate on some of the things I have said here, and more importantly, all the scriptures below. No cheating.





Joshua 5:13-15 (NLT)


13 When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”

14 “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”

At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said. “What do you want your servant to do?”

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did as he was told.



Psalm 10:16-18 (AMP)

16 The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations will perish out of His land.
17 O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts, You will cause Your ear to hear,
18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may not terrify them any more.



Luke 13:1-5 (NLT)

A Call to Repentance

1 About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. 2 “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? 3 Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. 4 And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? 5 No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”




Luke 7:20-23 (NLT)

20 John’s two disciples found Jesus and said to him, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?’”

21 At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. 22 Then he told John’s disciples, “Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. 23 And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.



Luke 11:45-52 (NLT)


45 “Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”

46 “Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.47 What sorrow awaits you! For you build monuments for the prophets your own ancestors killed long ago. 48 But in fact, you stand as witnesses who agree with what your ancestors did. They killed the prophets, and you join in their crime by building the monuments!49 This is what God in his wisdom said about you:[a] ‘I will send prophets and apostles to them, but they will kill some and persecute the others.’

50 “As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world— 51 from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.

52 “What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”


As you read this last set of verses, consider the fact that this time and days are upon us and will unfold until the Glorious Day of verse 23:


Isaiah 24  (NLT)

1 Look! The Lord is about to destroy the earth
    and make it a vast wasteland.
He devastates the surface of the earth
    and scatters the people.
2 Priests and laypeople,
    servants and masters,
    maids and mistresses,
    buyers and sellers,
    lenders and borrowers,
    bankers and debtors—none will be spared.
3 The earth will be completely emptied and looted.
    The Lord has spoken!
4 The earth mourns and dries up,
    and the land wastes away and withers.
    Even the greatest people on earth waste away.
5 The earth suffers for the sins of its people,
    for they have twisted God’s instructions,
violated his laws,
    and broken his everlasting covenant.
6 Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.
    Its people must pay the price for their sin.
They are destroyed by fire,
    and only a few are left alive.
7 The grapevines waste away,
    and there is no new wine.
    All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.
8 The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled;
    the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.
    The melodious chords of the harp are silent.
9 Gone are the joys of wine and song;
    alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth.
10 The city writhes in chaos;
    every home is locked to keep out intruders.
11 Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine.
    Joy has turned to gloom.
    Gladness has been banished from the land.
12 The city is left in ruins,
    its gates battered down.
13 Throughout the earth the story is the same—
    only a remnant is left,
like the stray olives left on the tree
    or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest.
14 But all who are left shout and sing for joy.
    Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty.
15 In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord.
    In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.
16 We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth,
    songs that give glory to the Righteous One!
But my heart is heavy with grief.
    Weep for me, for I wither away.
Deceit still prevails,
    and treachery is everywhere.
17 Terror and traps and snares will be your lot,
    you people of the earth.
18 Those who flee in terror will fall into a trap,
    and those who escape the trap will be caught in a snare.
Destruction falls like rain from the heavens;
    the foundations of the earth shake.
19 The earth has broken up.
    It has utterly collapsed;
    it is violently shaken.
20 The earth staggers like a drunk.
    It trembles like a tent in a storm.
It falls and will not rise again,
    for the guilt of its rebellion is very heavy.
21 In that day the Lord will punish the gods in the heavens
    and the proud rulers of the nations on earth.
22 They will be rounded up and put in prison.
    They will be shut up in prison
    and will finally be punished.
23 Then the glory of the moon will wane,
    and the brightness of the sun will fade,
for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule on Mount Zion.
    He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem,
    in the sight of all the leaders of his people.

Stand Your Ground

The Lord placed a flaming sword to keep man from re-entering the garden and eating from the tree of eternal life, until their seed crushed the head of His enemy.

Moses held his arms toward Heaven, until the battle was won, as long as he kept his arms stretched forth, Israel prevailed!

Joshua Stretched forth his javelin until the enemies of Gods people were destroyed!

Elijah prayed on his face until the cloud formed and an abundance of rain was heard in the spirit.

Davids Mighty Men stood their ground in the fields and remained there until all Israels enemies were defeated. One mighty warriors hand cleaved to his sword.

Jesus looked forth to the Joy that was before Him,until The Victory Of The Cross was won!

Jesus is seated at The Right hand of God,making intercession for us, until all His enemies are made His footstool.We join Him in this battle every time we take up the mantle of intercessory prayer for His Church.

Intercession, at times, is like the examples The Lord has given us in His Word, of standing in a place of God given authority and power, while the battle and time passes, not moving until we see His Will done on earth as it is in heaven.

We will not always know what we are praying for or even how we ought to pray. There will be times that we yield to distractions and have to regain our footing, and take our stand once again.

We may feel the yearnings and groanings of creation crying from within us. We may see the horrors of the battle and the joys of victory, but we must stand in our place, and move forward in the spirit, in the power and authority of The Lord.

Jesus is The Commander of Heavens Armies and His Commission is still to accomplish The Fathers Will.

Consider His answer to Joshua and  these verses from Romans Chapter 8 as you meditate on the things shared above.

Joshua 5:13-14 (AMP)

 When Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are you for us or for our adversaries?

 And He said, No [neither], but as Prince of the Lord’s host have I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, What says my Lord to His servant?

Romans 8:18-30 (AMP)

18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!

19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].

20 For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it—[yet] with the hope

21 That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.

22 We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now.

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves too, who have and enjoy the firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit [a foretaste of the blissful things to come] groan inwardly as we wait for the redemption of our bodies [from sensuality and the grave, which will reveal] our adoption (our manifestation as God’s sons).

24 For in [this] hope we were saved. But hope [the object of] which is seen is not hope. For how can one hope for what he already sees?

25 But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure.

26 So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

27 And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.

28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

29 For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren.

30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].

Cross Bearing Comparing - Root Of Bitterness

My respect and honor for those like Rick and Denise Renner ,who have pressed through, and laid it all down to establish  The Church, in a very hostile atmosphere at times, has deepened a great deal.

My heart for my own Pastors, who have had their faith challenged by crisis, illness and even the death of loved ones, has grown as well. They never gave up, never backed away from The WORD, but kept building what The Lord told them to build despite the challenges in their own souls and lives.

We are all members of one body, each doing our part, each given our cross to bear, and gifts to deploy in that body. We have heard so much about comparing our "ministry" with another, or our gifts with another. We have heard so much about envy, jealousy and coveting another persons position in life, whether that be social or economic.

 But what about "cross bearing" comparing. Having struggled with a couple of the things mentioned above, I think this particular stumbling block has been most prevalent for myself, and I think is the root of why many people struggle with some of the other things, like envy and jealousy.

What do I mean by cross bearing comparing? 

Why can it be an open door to jealousy,envy,strife? 

What does it look like? 

Why does it keep so many in bondage to things Jesus bore THE CROSS, to free them from?

Cross bearing comparing can be divided into two separate types of cross bearing.

1. The things we are called, by The Lord, to take up and follow Him

2. The things we have allowed to cling to us, that we should be resisting and learning to overcome.

This post will not get too much into the damage and trouble the things in number 2 will cause a believer, but I will say they will hold us back and keep us far from Gods best for our lives. 

For the purposes of this post, I will stick with the act of Cross Bearing Comparing and why it keeps so many believers in bondage, and if coupled with other issues in the soul, cause them to become very bitter in the deepest part of their souls.

Bitterness can stay hidden for a very long time, not only to others, but even the person themselves. It is given a chance to take deep root and grow un-noticed until the fruits of it begin to bloom, then things can get painful and ugly.

Let me describe a person that may be in danger of falling into this very common trap.

Many times this person can seem very humble, even very spiritual. They may have many troubles in their lives. Often they have had childhoods that may have not been the best. A cycle of poverty may run through their family line, or struggles with certain illnesses.

They will often find themselves drawn to prayer ministries or other ministries in The Church that they see as more spiritual. They may even pray very fervently for others, and have an anointing to do so.

They may not say it or express it, but they see others that look like they have it easy, as somehow being less spiritual  or not important enough to be tested as hard as themselves.

They begin to ponder in their heart the  plush and comfortable  lives other believers seem to have. As time passes, they begin to resent those who do not carry "the burden for the church", that they feel like they have been called to carry. 

They have embraced the struggles, past pains and battles, as their cross to bear, and begin to compare what they see as the lack of burdens others seem to have to carry. 

They become so focused on the weight of their "cross" that every trouble, every attack of the enemy and every set back is seen as more weight added to their already  overburdened shoulder. 

Eventually they will become angry with anyone with any joy or success in The Church. God forbid if they see Pastors or Leaders enjoying the fruits of diligent and successful lives, because that will really stir the stew of bitterness that has been cooking in their soul for so long.

They can even begin to believe that not only are others not carrying a heavy enough cross, but that they must carry the spiritual "slackers" crosses for them. Like they have a duty to carry the burden of the entire church on their cross, because "no one else is".

I know this seems like a made up extreme example:

However I assure you this is not only a very real issue many have in The Body of Christ: It is also a very accurate description of myself and the things I saw unfold in my own soul.

Let me switch gears a bit here. If you are somebody who has this struggle, at any stage of its' development, you probably felt some stirring in you as you read this. Something in you rejected it. Maybe you felt some anger and can't understand why.

That is okay. You are not alone, there are thousands, maybe tens of thousands of other believers, just like us, that are wonderful candidates to be set free by Gods Grace and Love.
Along with all the things I mentioned above are various types of walls we set up to protect our souls from anymore hurt or disappointment. That is one reason we spiritualize much of our pain.

If we make every infirmity and hurt, part of the cross we bear, then we never have to face them.

The problem is, those walls only allow that root of bitterness to grow in a dark environment and if we think it is part of the cross we are called to bear, then we will never overcome them, with The Power that THE CROSS made available to us.

My next post I am going to try and describe further the things we tend to add to the cross Jesus did indeed call us to bear. I pray that it will help you, and myself, unload the burdens that we were never meant to carry.

Remember Jesus said:

Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-2 (AMP)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls

God With Us

This was my reading this morning. I love the simplicity of The Gospel. I have heard it said, by a few ministers, that miracles,healing and deliverance are low level manifestations of Gods presence. Although I understood what ministers were saying when they said that, in my heart that is not accurate. 

When asked if He was The One to come, what was the answer Jesus Gave? For onlookers and spectators, that just want a show, it may be a low level experience, but for those touched,healed,delivered and to those who have the Good News preached to them, it was The Kingdom of God being manifested to them. Jesus: God With Us 

As you read this, I want you to really take it in. Feel the compassion and love of The Lord. Put yourself in the shoes of the one with the sick child,the dying spouse, the dead son or the one with no hope, having The Hope of The Nations preach to you, and opening your eyes for the first time to The Grace and Love of God. 

What was Jesus sent to do, and in turn what did He send His Disciples out to do?

 

Consider the following scriptures in light of these thoughts. What a major part of the continuing ministry of Jesus Christ in us and through us?





Luke 7:1-30 (NKJV) 

7 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”

 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. 

11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 

13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 

16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. 

18 Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things. 19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus,[b] saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 

20 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’” 21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight. 

22 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” 

24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written: 

‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist;[d] but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

Acts 10:34-38 (NKJV)

 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Mark 16:12-20 (NKJV)

 12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either

 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.