David's Mighty Men! The Lord's Mighty Chosen!

   

I used to let people who ignored me or treated me as an after thought really impact my life and emotions. Now I honestly feel bad for them. I know The Lord will still bless them abundantly and I pray He does. But, they just don't know what they missed by choosing degrees, boards and pedigrees over covenant relationship with people who would have been like David's Mighty Men of Valor to them. Maybe those men were not "safe people" as much as others, but They were Gods Chosen to stand with David. They were anointed and called out from among the people for a purpose they wouldn't fully understand until Gods Plan began to unfold. Imagine if David would have had an HR Rep and Board at the door of the cave checking the men's pedigrees and degrees. making them prove themselves first before entering with David.

Reminds me of those who Jesus called to walk with Him and whom He sat and ate with. Those who He called out from among the world that left all to join Him. They to did not know what it all meant until Gods Plan began to unfold. Not many mighty men, distinguished men or women. They were fisherman, tax collectors, some with tempers and bad mouths. Prostitutes, drinkers of wine. Men he had to correct for thier outburst but never cast away or kept down because they were not safe and would tarnish His reputation.

If you look at the story of those who gathered in Cave of Adullam with David and those who gathered around Jesus, you will see some parallels. Not only in the personalities and backgrounds, but the exploits they would do as they went forth and battled for their King.

1 Samuel 22 New King James Version

1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

2 Samuel 23:8-17 New King James Version

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tachmonite, chief among the captains. He was called Adino the Eznite, because he had killed eight hundred men at one time. 9 And after him was Eleazar the son of [c]Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to plunder. 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

13 Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord. 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it.   These things were done by the three mighty men.

   

                         

Notice who began to gather around Jesus and who Jesus said He came to seek 

Luke 15:1-7 New King James Version

15 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Even when He did sit down and eat with the religious hierarchy of the day. There was this lesson....... 

Luke 7:36-50 New King James Version

36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. 37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”

40 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

So he said, “Teacher, say it.”

41 “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.”

And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

And Jesus demonstrated His Might then sent His Mighty Men out to battle in the same way. 

Matthew 10:7-8 New King James Version

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Acts 10:34-41 New King James Version

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. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

Matthew 11:1-6 New King James Version

11 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he [a]sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

Luke 17:11-14 New King James Version

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

Matthew 9 New King James Version

9 So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. 2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 7 And he arose and departed to his house.

8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Matthew the Tax Collector

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.

10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting

14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [c]often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

15 And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for [e]the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. 17 Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” 19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.

20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, 24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. 25 But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went out into all that land.

Two Blind Men Healed

27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” 31 But when they had departed, they [g]spread the news about Him in all that country.

A Mute Man Speaks

32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. 33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”

34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

The Compassion of Jesus

35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Acts 5:12-20 New Living Translation

12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.

14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.

17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

Acts 19:11-20 New King James Version

11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against [d]them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

Many were faithful unto death. They will receive a Glorious Resurrection!

Are You Raising a False Christ Flag?

                                     

                                

Acts 10:34-48 New Living Translation

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39 “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.

Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them

 

1 Corinthians 2

New King James Version

2 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of  human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom

6 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

9 But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,

Nor have entered into the heart of man

The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Proving Jesus Is Alive-God Is With Us

 

 Recently I was pondering on the struggles and confusion of the past couple years. I, like the old testament saint, have been looking up to God and saying: "If all is well, and you are with me, then why am I like this"?  Friends haven't been much help, thier perspective is not mine and I am thankful for them it is not.  As much as she loves me and is a gift from God, I find it hard to explain the struggles in me to even my amazing wife. 

 I think at times, this is The Lords way of steering us to Him. I can explain in word the battles, struggles and wrestling that is going on in my heart and mind, but really you are limited in your response and empathy to what you have known. Even if we share very common experiences, I can not expect you to fully understand me, and that is okay.  

 The Lord sees all and knows all. He has been there through it all. I think that is part of my struggle at times. I dont see that as helpful in my thinking. I was walking yesterday and praying about the past, and how I knew I had to release it, but just wish I had answers from Him. I heard in my heart, as I have so many times, "I was with you through it all. I was right there".  I usually answer with a thank you, but sometimes, like yesterday, I was in a real, real mindset. 

You know what I mean? I was not in for any pleasantries and faith talk, or Christian speak.  So I looked up to God and said, "That isn't really helpful to know right now".  Now I know this isn't an accurate depiction of God, but lets be real, faith is a struggle sometimes isn't it? Especially if you dont walk in a fluffy blind faith , where you act like nothing is real and everything is just peachy.

 However, I continued my retort: "How is that helpful Daddy? I mean I cant imagine sitting there watching my little boy go through that and not stopping it."  Imagine me telling a cop, well I didn't stop my kid from being abused, attacked, and harmed by an evil man, because well, that is the world we live in. I imagine the cop saying, "Sir could you have stopped it? Yes officer. "Could you have prevented it before it started?" Yes officer. "Well then you are going to jail for child neglect and endangering the welfare of a child."

 This is one reason I hated the movie "The Shack" . It gave me a pit in my stomach. It triggered a combination of a raging anger and righteous indignation that they would portray God as a neglectful Father who could have stopped the little girl from being raped and murdered, but cared more for the rapist and murderer. That there were no real wicked people, no matter what horrific act they committed.  That movie just pissed me off.  

 It left me angry at sin, wickedness, the writers, and I must admit God. I think I actually gave Him the cold shoulder for a few days after.  Please dont message me or comment with your grand revelations of Gods Grace and such. I know, I know, I know. Please dont give me a "WORD" about how you can see there is unhealed bitterness and anger in me and that is why  I was triggered. Yeah, no duh, that is the point of this article as I bring it to a close. 

 You see, the fact is that God was there the whole time. The fact also is, and disagree if you like, there are some things he cant stop, or else He would. Angels do have a powerful ministry of protection, but for whatever reason thier hands are tied in many instances. Again every reason you can come up with why that is so, there is just as valid a counter to say why it shouldn't be so. 

 So we can either come to the conclusion as any police officer or court would that The Lord is a neglectful Father that has no problem watching His Children suffer at the hands of evil, while He sits by and does nothing. Or we look deeper and see that we are indeed in a battle, on foreign land, poorly equipped, poorly funded and poorly trained to dominate in this battle. That, for reasons we will Not understand this side of Glory, Gods hand is limited in what He can do on earth, by what His People declare about Him, believe about Him and have Faith IN Him for. 

 We are living in an earth that is hopelessly broken, forever cursed in its current state, and filled with an unredeemable evil. We must come to the final conclusion that mankind is indeed cursed and part of the kingdom of darkness. We must have a revelation that there is no hope for man, in man. That there is no government, NGO or Non-Profit that can redeem mankind from this curse and renew their hearts of stone. We must embrace the truth of why Christ came, suffered so horribly both naturally and spiritually, in order to save us from the pure wickedness and evil that covers the world. 

 Jesus came to reveal, to conquer and to undo all The Works of The Devil. I am not sure we can fully understand who our Lord is without understanding who our enemy is. We cant fully embrace the Great Commission without fully understanding why we were commissioned , what we have been equipped with, and why that commission and equipment is crucial to Our Father showing just how loving He is.

 We can show the crying world, the broken child, the grieving mother, the distraught father, that God is here NOW. We can show them in action and demonstration that He is a Strong, Powerful and Loving Father.  That Jesus IS ALIVE NOW.

 But, He provided ONE WAY, ONE MESSAGE AND ONE BODY , to do that. He legally invaded the Kingdom of Darkness with The LIGHT and paid the price of mans Freedom with ONE BLOOD. The Blood of Jesus. All this gave man the ability and right through that blood to become sons and daughters of God.  

 We must engage fully The Great Commission. We must allow The Lord to remove the dross from our lives and churches. We must take The Light of Jesus and shine ii right in the face of every demon, evil spirit and dark hole Gods enemy is keeping people bound in. 

Oh it will be messy. Scary for some. It will cause the demons to cry out and beg not to be cast out. It will cause our nice churches to be filled with the sick and crippled looking to be healed. It will cause the drug addict's, prostitutes, gang members and sexually immoral to come begging at the Throne of Grace for Mercy.  It will cause the rich and well cleaned up to see just how poor and filthy they are. 

Oh, but it will be so glorious every time we show the little ones, the broken ones, the bound ones and the dying ones that Jesus is ALIVE and He is with them, with them, with them. 

 

 Oh Lord forgive us for not following your Command and Commission. Forgive us for trusting in mans efforts and futile methods. Forgive us for playacting to an evil so filthy it hides in plain sight as it destroys life after life. Strip us of all hope in the weak and impotent things of entertainment and comfort. 

Build us into an Army FULLY EQUIPPED WITH YOUR POWER, MIGHT, STRENGTH, ABILITIES and Gifts, all operating in your Great Commission, motivated by Your Great Love and Compassion. 

You are a Good, Good Father. Now empower us Lord. Reach through us to heal, to perform signs and wonders ALL IN THE NAME AND COMMISSION OF YOUR HOLY SON JESUS! You are good and your mercy endures forever. 

How Long Oh Lord? & Power? Power ? Power?

 

How long oh Lord will you withhold the rain? 

How long Oh Lord will you look upon their pain? 

How long Oh Lord until you reveal Your Hand? 

How long Oh Lord until you visit our Land? 

How long Oh Lord will you turn your away your ear? 

How long Oh lord will you allow them to wander in fear? 

We need you Lord to send the rain 

We need you Lord to heal our pain 

We need you Lord to reveal Your Hand 

We need you Lord IN our Land 

We need you Lord to bend down your ear 

We need you Lord to set us free from fear 

The forces of darkness and the wicked of the night 

Come against your young ones, and force them to fight 

They sneak into the sleeping sacks of your sons and daughters 

To poison thier hearts , and turn them against thier Father 

Forces, far above, those tortured on the ground

Laugh as they hear the screams, of those they have bound

Your enemies mock, and destroy all that is holy and pure 

They fear no retribution , they feel safe and secure 

Millions have passed on, and still, there are billions more 

That are trapped behind ,The Dark Kingdoms Door 

They will never see Light 

Never Taste Life 

They are bound from birth to death 

From thier very first to thier very last breath 

They see only evil, poverty and lack 

They know only the dread of the next attack 

They are born and raised like starving cattle in the field 

They have no sanctuary, no protector, no shield 

 So I ask, I plead, I cry with all that is in me!! 

How long oh Lord will you withhold the rain? 

How long Oh Lord will you look upon their pain? 

How long Oh Lord until you reveal Your Hand? 

How long Oh Lord until you visit our Land? 

How long Oh Lord will you turn your away your ear? 

How long Oh lord will you allow them to wander in fear? 

 Randy S Furco

 

Power? Power? Power? 

That drum has been beat. 

Somebody else can take it down the street. 

Power? Power? Power? My hand once cleaved to that sword. 

It shattered my hand and pierced my spinal cord. 

Power? Power? Power? 

What good is Power without Peace? 

What good is Power, when the pain does not cease? 

What good is Power without Compassion? 

What good is Power without His Passion? 

Power? Power? Power? 

Many sought it in vain 

Not to set free the poor Nor heal the lame 

Not to mend the broken heart 

Nor restore that which the devil tore apart 

Not to have mercy on the stranger 

Nor save the lost one from danger 

Power? Power? Power? 

They showed why they coveted power 

To rule over others from thier ivory tower 

They quickly traded precious pearls for gold 

To serve the spirits and idols of old 

They didn't really want The Lord's way 

They sold thier birthright for a bowl of political whey. 

Power? Power? Power? 

That drum has been beat 

Somebody else can take it down the street 

Randy S Furco

You Are LOVED!

 

  I knew in my heart the reason behind the shootings around Atlanta before it was released. I am sure there are some that really wanted it to be about race, but the real reason comes from the same place. A religious spirit mimicking The Spirit of Christ and a misunderstanding of The Gospel of Grace. The LORD does not bring shame on the heads of His Children. A religious spirit does that. A mean, legalistic, ignorant uninformed doctrine that believes God is a mysterious figure that has not been touched by our infirmities and doesn't understand our struggles. 

 Does He long for His Children to follow Him and leave sin behind? 

 100% YES! But, it is a process , for some a lifetime process that His grace is sufficient to cover and love them, you and me, just as if we had never sinned. 

 Are there consequences to sin? Of course Have you looked around you recently? 

 

 Murders, rapes, suicide, child abuse, elder abuse, horrific acts of war and terrorism. Broken families, alcoholism, drug addiction, violence , hatred, anger. 

  If we have been shown anything in the past year it is that religion, even if it hijacked The NAME OF JESUS, is mean, ignorant, childish and destructive. That is not The Gospel of Jesus. That is not The Spirit Of God. That is not The Reason in which Christ was revealed. Not the REASON why The Son of God was manifest in these last days. 

 On behalf of THE LORD and The Real Church. I ask for forgiveness from all who read this. I ask you to forgive us for embracing a lie in order to avoid The Truth. Forgive our foolishness' and ignorance of the things we proclaim to understand. Forgive us for raising children that are ashamed of thier bodies and ashamed of thier natural sexual urges. 

 Forgive us for painting a picture of an angry God that wants to kill and judge all who dont live up to the standard we alone created. Forgive us for leaving behind the very tools and truths that The Lord gave us in order to demonstrate to you His Love, Power , Glory and defeat of the one that causes all your pain and sadness. 

  Forgive us for coming to you with big bold words, fancy clothing, eloquent oracle speeches and well spoken man made prayers. Instead of coming to you with The Great Commission of Christ in The Power of The Holy Spirit WITH DEMONSTATIONS of healings, miracles and unusual signs and wonders. All motivated by The True LOVE OF GOD. Nothing else, nothing added, nothing expected in return. 

  Forgive our powerlessness and impotence, and total lack of faith in THE FACT that Jesus wants to show Himself and reveal Himself and The MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD through The Church to the entirety of the seen and unseen world. He wants to heal the terminally ill. Restore the broken mind and set free the harassed soul. 

 You see The Church should have been a place where this young man could have found wisdom, strength and grace. Where the spirit of shame had no chance to take hold. No, not where he would find an excuse to engage all the sin he felt tempted by, but a place to find the grace to learn, grow and shed the old ways like a worn out skin. A place to experience the saving grace of God. Where the joy of His presence is all the bread and water a man or woman needs. 

 But, at the same time a place where every man and woman knows they are His and He never gives up on them, ever. Just as Jesus told Peter, if a man sins against you 7x 70 times a day and comes and asks for forgiveness, we are to forgive them. He has an even higher standard than that for Himself. 

 Shame is an evil work from a fallen world used as a weapon to keep people from ever knowing the real Love of Christ. The religious men threw the woman down in front of Jesus that was caught in adultery expecting Him to call for her stoning and judgement. 

 They wanted to shame her openly and have Jesus do the same. Most of you know the story. He simply said the one of you that has no sin cast the first stone. Notice what happens next. From the oldest to the youngest they dropped thier stones and walked away. The bible doesn't waste words. There is a reason it was recorded this way. The oldest ones knew from a lifetime of trying to keep the law, even with all thier natural barriers, rules and traditions and threat of stoning, they still fell to the desires of the flesh. They still sinned sexually at least in thier minds and hearts if not thier bodies.

  Notice also what Jesus says to after they all leave. Where are your accusers , is there no one left to condemn you? Then neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more. He wasn't telling that it was okay to be an adulteress, just that He saw her heart, He forgave her, He wasn't going to condemn her to hell for it. He gave her grace to change. A grace that is enduring and powerful. A grace that if they would have thrown her down before him 490 more times that day, He would have forgiven her, over and over.

Romans 8 New King James Version Free from Indwelling Sin 

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [d]through His Spirit who dwells in you. Sonship Through the Spirit 

 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba,Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. From Suffering to Glory

  18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 

 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. God’s Everlasting Love 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Escape Hatches 3: The Doors That Lead Back To Prison

                                                    

 

 No matter how attractive they may seem, or how much fake light may shine on the escape doors offered by The World, The Flesh and The Devil: Each door chosen will soon reveal you were just led deeper into the prison of darkness. 

 Each time you choose to try that door just one more time, instead of resting, waiting,  worshiping and yielding to The Lord, you add to the links of chains that keep you bound. You know in your heart that reaching for that handle will only lead to disappointment and shame, but over and over you yield to the false, perverted form of hope those cell doors offer. Somehow you believe , in the corridors of your consciousness that this time, will be the time that the escape door doesn't lead you deeper into bondage. 

 The Lord doesn't offer a door of escape that is made to look attractive and inviting to the flesh and the eye.  The door He provided is stained in His own Blood and is covered in the pieces of his flesh that the whip tore off and the nails penetrated.  He doesn't want to just offer you an escape from the cell you are in, He wants you to rise up in Him and walk out in The Grace and Power of His Spirit. 

  If we dont learn once and for all that The Lord doesn't work the way The World , The Flesh and The Devil work, we will always be open, in one form or another, to be seduced by those fancy, attractive, alluring and excited doors. Doors that only lead back into the prison cells of darkness. 

 He wants us so in touch with His Spirit and so repelled by anything that is not of His Spirit, that no matter what we see around us, or feel in us, our enemies will be setting thier traps in vain. No matter how much they play to our weaknesses and fleshly desires, we will not even look to the right or left, but continue to abide in The Lord , even as He perpetually abides in us. 

  It breaks my heart to see men of God , that I respect and honor, reaching for those those doors. They dont even realize how deep into the dungeon they trapped themselves until thier enemies pull back the veil to reveal thier sin and brokenness to the whole world. Leaving many mocking, many confused and even more hurt , wondering;

"If this mighty man of  God with such a depth of scripture and wisdom in him fell, what hope is there for me?"

  Somehow, someway, they allowed themselves to simply reach for an escape from thier appointed place. They looked around and heard something, saw something or felt something that whispered to them, "Did God truly say to avoid that, to stay humble, to be holy just as I am holy?"

 They allowed that question to linger as those doors of escape became more and more alluring, and more and more attractive. Until they got to a point where they saw something that was once profane and untouchable to them, as something they desired and needed more than The Lord. They gradually handed the ownership of thier mind and body to the flesh and the devil. They began to open door after door after door , until they were so deep into the prisons of darkness, they themselves were deceived. Though they were bound in chains, they professed they were free. Though privately they served The World, The Flesh and The Devil, publicly they continued the show. 

 This subject touches me in a deep and profound way, because recently I found myself back in the prison I once was free from. I found myself bound in chains I thought would never touch my "skin" again. I found myself reaching for those dammed doors over and over again, even though I know they only lead to pain and regret. 

  Like the dream that the wicked one sent to harass and traumatize me when I was just a toddler, that lasted years. I was sitting in the middle of  a huge expanse of darkness. I was always presented with a choice. There were two pin cushions, one with a short pin and one with a long pin. I had to choose. I reached for the same wrong pin, time after time, night after night.

 I knew I would choose wrong. I knew that the shorter pin was the wrong choice and it would pierce my hand and unleash a scream of terror and judgement all around me in the darkness. Yet as a baby, not quite even able to walk yet, I chose the wrong one each time. Still to this day, I can feel the piercing in my hand when I remember the dream. 

 The Good News is that Jesus is still setting the captives free. He never stops  calling out, because His Blood is on The Mercy Seat and perpetually cleansing those who are called by His Name. His Grace is Greater, His Love is Deeper and His Glory is Brighter than any prison of man or The Kingdom Of Darkness.

                                                                             

 But, we have to be honest with ourselves, our loved ones and with those we can give account to. When we fall, when we begin to reach or have already walked through the doors of temptation and sin, we must recognize it, repent, confess and rise up again. 

 The only prison The Devil can keep us in as believers, is the one we give him the keys to. He has no ability to stop us from standing up and walking out, right into the arms and light of Jesus Our Lord. 

                  

               

                                                             

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"Loose Him and Let Him Go!" | Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin |. *(Copyright Prote...

"Loose Him and Let Him Go!" | Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin |. *(Copyright Prote...