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...

The Last Days- Prophecy- Prayer - Providence- Purpose

  My heart had a familiar cry today. One that I have tucked away, buried, let dry out and ignored. I wrote a poem today expressing how I was feeling. There are things in this life that are not easily explained. Those explanations are even more difficult to express when trying to explain Spiritual Things in a Natural World. Those explanations become almost impossible to utter when trying to explain spiritual things, to people who should understand spiritual things, yet don't seem to understand them any better than those without The Spirit Of Truth.

 I don't say that to put anyone down, or lift myself up. It is just a truth that I have lived for many years. It isn't about who is more spiritual or is closer to God. Trust me, I do not place myself in any high seat of spirituality or knowledge. There are times I wish I didn't know what I know and don't see what I see. I think sometimes it must be easier to not know any better. I mean there are whole Christian Movements that find comfort in their error. They find family in their almost cult like groups. Cult may not be the best word , but some movements are so far removed from The Truth and The Gospel it may be the best word to describe them. Having said that , many of them Love Jesus in the knowledge they have and have found family and comfort in their beliefs.

 On the other hand I wonder about all those who are right on and are fulfilling The Great Commission. They are sound in doctrine and practice. Yet my heart goes out to them as well. It seems even they are "missing" something. Why do I say that? Well, because The Word says that The Lord would perform certain signs and wonders to confirm The Words of The Gospel and except for a spattering here and there, there are very few of those signs confirming our words. How are we to see that? 

 I know all the text book answers. I know all the theological theories. I know that they all have truth in them and are not without validity. However, none of them give my spirit peace as being THE TRUTH. Why is it even in faith filled, spirit filled, bible believing churches, far more believers die of diseases that require a miracle than live? Is it that God doesn't hear our prayers. When believer after believers dies from cancer, heart disease or viruses, and very few get healed in a way that The Word tells us that we should expect, shouldn't that cause us to stop and ponder it?

When child after child dies even after the prayers of their parents and church bombard heaven , shouldn't that bother us? Shouldn't that cause us to hunger and thirst? When our brothers and sisters remain bound by mental illness, addiction and oppression even after doing all they know to do, shouldn't it break our heart. Yet many times we assume they are just not strong enough, don't have enough faith, weren't as committed to God as they seemed. If they just loved God more and were more committed, right? Let me say as somebody who has been there and still struggles with things I don't understand, we have to be very, very careful with such judgement, spoken or unspoken. 

 What about the lost and those captive in The Kingdom of Darkness. The multitudes totally blinded and deceived without any powerful witnesses and ambassadors of The Kingdom to pull them from the darkness. Again, we have a small measure of success, but we have not seen a real Outpouring of The Gospel in Power and Demonstrations of The Spirit for almost a century in this nation. I don't count massive gatherings of Christians gathering for famous speakers and  musicians as a Gospel Outpouring. Especially ones that charge a ticket price.

All these things can be summarized like this:

 There are people who will never be healed until they come in contact with the raw, un-quenched Power and Love of God and it may not be in their hands to make that happen. There are parents who are crying out for healing for their children who will not have their prayers answered for their dying child until The Body of Christ steps into her place. There are thousand, possibly tens of thousands of Christians that will remain bound and oppressed until The Body cares enough and grows enough to bring healing to them. Like the friends who lowered the man through Peters roof. There are Pastors in poor nations that will continue to watch their flocks starve and suffer early preventable deaths until The Western Church and Wealthy Pastors humble themselves and live a simple life so they can flow their hundreds of millions toward our suffering family. 

 It is my hearts cry and belief that there is much suffering because the hand is indeed saying to the foot, I really have no need of thee. I am wealthy and comfortable . I am favored of God and obviously since you are not living your best life now, you are not. I have the double portion, Jabez anointing, so I deserve to live in luxury while you starve. I have no need of thee. Remember, it is not only sin to commit sin, but to take pleasure and honor those who do such things. Selah.

  My heart breaks for the pain I see. My heart breaks even more that much of it is because we as The Church have not taken our place and are distracted by so many things. Entertained by so many things. Deceived by so many things. I cant explain fully what I mean. I just know that much of the suffering we see does not have to be that way. I know we have allowed enemy after enemy to come into our lives and churches to kill steal and destroy and chalked it up to many of the things I stated above. We just don't know, they didn't have the faith, part of Gods mystery, they were weak, it was Gods will..etc.

I tried to stay away from this path of thinking. I was content with just leaving it behind. I was settled with the thought, if God wants a change, well He will have to do it. Yet, He wouldn't let me drop it. Am I saying He agrees with everything I have said here, absolutely not.  Am I saying "THUS SAYETH THE LORD-YOU ARE  ALL IN ERROR". Oh my goodness no. I am just saying we need to be made hungry and thirsty again. We need to feel the suffering of the body and declare The Kingdom of Heaven to The World. We have to count all things lost for the Gospel and not quench The Spirit no matter how it will change others perspective of us.  We must tell the world Christ is coming soon and tell them what that means and who HE is. We must join with The Body of Christ across the planet and care for each other with The Love of Christ!

  There is much work to be done in prayer. There are many things to be prayed in The Spirit. I know what The Lord has been telling me and I have not been obedient. The time of delay is over. The time of just floating is over. The time of building personal kingdoms and cruise ships is over. It is time to march in prayer and faith. Time to build His Kingdom and build Great Supply Ships manned with Ambassadors of Christ.

My poem from today

My spirit man is groaning like a wanderer in a dry and weary land!

I long and thirst to see His Glory, expressed on earth, through His Outstretched Hand!

My heart strains under the burden of the bound and broken!

Crying out for a release of His Power and Love, like when demons fled from just a WORD being Spoken!

Bogged down by the empty words of the babbling lips!

I sail toward His Light, like a tossed and turned ship!

Lord HEAR the Prayers spoken by every shout, sigh and groan!

I shall seek you, unwavered , until The Answer is Released from Your Throne!

Testimony - Praying-Crying-Preparing In The Darkenss

I want to share with you a testimony about a period of time in my life that I call The Dark Years. I pray The Holy Spirit speaks to you, not only to help you, but to help you help others. I am sharing a small portion of my story that goes back to when I was a toddler. The roots of some of what I am sharing were planted then.

 From about 1997 - 2000 I was in a very intense place. I was operating in a very strong spiritual place, but at the same time I was living a white knuckle, highly intense false freedom from some long standing oppression. It was as if I was in a drug like focus that I thought was the anointing and freedom, but learned it was something else completely.

 A lot transpired during this time and there were many pressures from a lost job, to health issues with my wife, to some other very personal issues I will not mention here.  No matter what I went through my thinking was, I am not acting out in the sin I once did, so I am okay. I was on edge, my temper was on a hair trigger, I was in pain almost all the time, but hey I was about to graduate Discipleship Training, and I am not stopping. 

 I can not effectively describe the level of intensity of the stress and anxiety I entered into around the year 2000. I took a job that I was not built for as an armed guard and couldn't handle the stress of it. I was getting very little sleep. My system was constantly on edge. I was running on adrenaline 24/7 and that cant last . 

 The stress and anxiety were so bad that I had almost constant pains in my ribs and kidney area. I cried bitterly often. I had little control of my emotions, anger began to express itself regularly.

 One night I gave in to the old sin and from there I began to slide. I want you to understand that I wept at the alter many times. I cried out for help many times. I sat in church month after month, year after year in so much internal stress and physical pain I lost hope.

 One night , I walked to The Alter, knelt down, and told The Lord:

"I am sorry, I cant do this anymore."

 As I walked away form the Alter. Pastor Bob Carter stopped me and said "Randy you are a good man". I smiled as to say, sorry it is too late. Shortly after that I entered The Dark years that lasted from 2000-2006.

 It was during this time that I began drinking again, smoking again and engaging again in the sins that I found comfort in since I was very young. I was also working 3rd shift and was basically sleep deprived for the better part of a decade, but that is a longer story. The depth of the darkness I fell into in my soul caused me to feel such shame.

 I hid the pain well. I wasn't acting out in blow ups as much toward those I loved the most, but my addiction to sin grew deeper and deeper. It not only met, but surpassed the sin I came out of when I began attending church around 1993. I was heading toward an abyss that, but for The Grace of God I would not have escaped from.

One night after engaging in the sin I was oppressed and addicted to,  I felt as if I was on the edge of Gods Grace. I began to cry out to God.

 "Please Lord don't let me die in this. Please Lord I want to be free. Protect me until I can find my way out". 

 This I believe was a cry in the darkness because I realized I was beginning to lose sight of the light. I felt in my soul that the way back was closing, the light was dimming, hope of restoration was dying. This prayer was repeated countless time over the next few years. Then things began to turn. I began to see a way back again. This is the main point of this article.

To begin to stand up and move toward the light, even as darkness is trying to hold you in its evil grip. 

 I will say around 2003-2004 , The Lord began to draw me out of the darkness. I began to pray in the spirit more, I began to listen to sermons more. I was still drinking, still sinning, still acting out, but something had changed. It was as if Gods Grace came in a new way in my life. I began to see the path even though I was not actively following it.  I was still bitter, I still didn't want to go back to church, I still had a lot of shame, but I did begin to to sense the leading of The Lord.

 I fought it a bit. I was hurting in many ways. However then The Lord turned it up some more in interesting ways. 

 A spirit filled believer began working Night Audit in the hotel I was working. I felt the Holy Spirit in her and upon her. She didn't try and convince me to return, she didn't preach to me, but I could here her at times praying in The Spirit regularly. 

 Then another person was hired on that was a daughter of a new minister at The Church I left and God was drawing me back to. I  found myself in a position to defend her and The Church I was avoiding going back to.  That stirred in me a even more intense desire to pray in The Spirit.

Around November of 2005 . A spirit of prayer fell upon me and rose up within me. More on that in a moment, that will bring us to the end of this article.

Before I get into that let me point out that this was a 6 year period. There were many things that happened in life during this period I cant share here. I am not sharing specifics on purpose, not because I am ashamed of my story, but because I don't want that to become your focus.  

 I prayed thousands, probably tens of thousands of prayers from 1993-2006 from very dark, hard oppressed places. I focus on this six year period because the night I cried out to God not to let me die in this place, something broke. Nothing changed naturally. However from that night on I began to move toward the dimming light.

No matter how dark a place you may be in, there is hope. No matter how many times you have fallen you must get up again. No matter what the sin is you have fallen into or the shame you feel, you can rise up, be washed by His Blood and stand before Him unashamed. 

Now to bring this to an end. 

November 2005 something exploded in me. It was like The Holy Spirit grabbed me and put me in a place of intense prayer. Honestly it was so intense I didn't like it at times. I feared falling back into the white knuckle life like I shared earlier. But that didn't happen. I began to pray fervently all night at work. I marched in snow storms praying and crying. I walked miles and miles every night walking the property at work. 

I was still drinking, but quit smoking. My drinking become more controlled and I began to slowly pull away form the sins that easily beset me, but was still engaging. From November 2005 to February of 2006 I lost 50+ pounds from walking and praying.  

 In February 2006 we took a cruise and although I was drinking a lot of beer on the cruise, I was stirred in The Spirit. As I walked the Islands the gifts in me stirred. As we approached Dominica I could see in the spirit a haze of poverty over it.  I prayed under my breath as we toured the island. Before we got on the ship I was overcome and I knelt down ,placed my hand on the ground and claimed it for Christ. 

 When I stood up, I knew I had done something that was off. I felt something hit my stomach. When we returned from the trip. I began to have some symptoms that lasted for about a year, but peaked in about 6 months. That will have to be another article about authority and jurisdiction.

 Late March-Early April 2006:  

 I was sitting on my couch on a Friday night. I was probably about to open a beer and like a loud speaker in my soul I heard:

" GO BACK NOW" 

 I thought to myself ummm nope. However, it was a call that arrested me, it was as if my spirit man was being built the whole time and God had brought me to a place, unknown to me, that when He said "GO BACK NOW", I would.

 I got up, got dressed and went to church. What followed was divine appointment after divine appointment. A long period of purging and cleansing. Years of intense prayer and learning.  Supernatural moves of God in my body and soul. It was both intensely powerful and honestly intensely painful at times, as the root of all the darkness was exposed and dealt with. A process that is still going today.

 I look back now and see all the prayers I prayed while still in darkness were preparing me for the moment God said "GO BACK NOW" . All the cries, all the letters I wrote, all the intercession I found myself engaging in even as I was far from the church and people I was praying for, all of it was to prepare me for that day. All of it was preparing me for this day.

 My hearts cry for you is to pray no matter what. Seek His face no matter what. 

 To end I will repeat what I said above and add this. The time to believe fully is now. You don't have to wait to get so far from the light that you begin to lose sight of it. 

GO FOR IT NOW! 
BELIEVE NOW! 
GO BACK NOW! 
TITHE NOW! 
LOVE NOW! 
PRAY FOR THAT PERSON NOW! 
SEND THAT LETTER NOW! 
CALL THAT PERSON NOW! 
PREACH THAT MESSAGE NOW! 
HELP THAT PERSON NOW! 
BELIEVE NOW! 
START SERVING NOW! 

 No matter how dark a place you may be in, there is hope. No matter how many times you have fallen you must get up again. No matter what the sin you have fallen into or the shame you feel, you can rise up, be washed by His Blood and stand before Him unashamed. 

GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE NOW!

A.R. Bernard | Recovering from COVID-19 | Christian Cultural Center

I believe this is the most important interview of our day. The Lord is speaking in a very deep way through this mighty man of Gods life and experience. 

Personal Post

 I know not many people read my blog, and that is okay. I write my post and I believe that The Lord will lead people to receive from it that need it. If no one ever read it,  I would still post the things I feel led to post.

 This post is different. I am posting this as if a million people will read it across many nations, tongues and tribes. I have heard many Pastors talk about how when they first started they preached and taught as if there were a sanctuary full of people in front of them, even though there were just a few, or even none. That is how I am writing this post, as if it were the most important message in the world right now, as if the multitudes were tuning in to hear what The Lord wants to say. 

 My heart is full. In the spirit of my mind I am already traveling the globe with a message of healing and deliverance. In my spirit I am already bringing a word from The Lord into areas of the world where He sends me. I am part of a Ministry and Evangelism Team that speaks only the words that The Lord has promised to confirm with accompanying signs and wonders.

                                            

Yes , my heart is bound to The Will of The Lord concerning the broken hearted and lost, the captive and the demoniac, the sick and the poor.

I stood in a large meeting room today. It was set up board room style with 30 or so chairs around it. In my spirit I saw a ministry team sitting around the table debriefing from a powerful time of ministry. It was a peaceful site to me. I felt at rest. Before my eyes was the team I had prayed for over many years. A team not unlike the teams that Jesus sent out who took authority over demons and unclean spirits, that healed the sick, raised the dead, moved in the power and LOVE OF CHRIST.

Jesus promised He would be with us in life and in ministry. He gave us a great commission and He promised to confirm our words (when they were His words) with accompanying signs and wonders.

There is a price to pay to walk in the power of the age to come. Of course Jesus PAID THE PRICE, however He did say there was a price to pay to follow Him and continue His Ministry on earth. He said we would be persecuted,hated, even beaten and some martyred.

 Persecution is part of the package. The enemy hates The Light we carry and will look for any all opportunities to attack that LIGHT in us. I am ready to take everything The Lord has entrusted to me into the darkness. I am ready to see the joys of the captives being set free and the lepers being healed. I am ready to face the demoniac oppressed by Legion and see him set free.  I am ready to walk in the midst of the blood thirsty persecutors and pass through them under the wings of Angelic Powers. I am also ready for persecution, hatred and if called upon, martyrdom. 

So to the millions our team will someday reach. The Lord hears your prayers. His eyes are upon you and His ears are open to your cry. He is ready to answer your prayers with mighty deeds that cause the righteous to rejoice and the wicked to bite their tongues and cry our in pain.

 The LORD is sending His Disciples to bring The Gospel to you in Power and Demonstrations of The Spirit.  He is sending His Body out to feed,heal,deliver, love and restore.

 The Lords Return is near. Let All The Earth Rejoice. The King is about to descend back to earth clouded in glory. He shall come in power and glory, strength and might! He comes as a Conquering King! Rejoice and again I say Rejoice!!

Perceptions Of Poverty

There is a key verse that The Lord gave me as He began to teach me as a young man how to lead my family out of poverty and off of welfare. Of course there were many scriptures He used to correct, convict and guide me. Many having to do with work, attitude and diligence. He corrected me many times on laziness, slothfulness and cleanliness, both natural and spiritual.

However, the verse that He placed deep in my spirit and impregnated my soul with was key to all He has done for me. I believe it  has a prophetic significance to the time we are living in now. I will explain further in this blog post. Here is that verse in the translation The Lord sowed into me.

Proverbs 22:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

 Such a short verse but within it holds all we need to know about The Lords heart and will when it comes to finances and poverty. Within it is a plan to not only use wealth to help the poor, but also to escape poverty itself. From the those who have severe lack, to those with an abundance, this verse speaks Heavenly Wisdom and Godly Instruction on how The Lord wants to provide for all mankind, so that none starve, none die from lack and that He may be glorified even in this fallen , sick world.

 I recently returned from a trip to Honduras. There I witnessed both abundance and poverty, living side by side. Much like here in The United States, but at quite different contrast. Being poor here many times causes the poor to choose between healthy and unhealthy food. Quality food verses what is seen as less quality. Food purchased or food given through food banks or charity. This goes for health care, medicine , transportation. Here being poor means choosing between quality and base.

 What I noticed there is there for many, sometimes whole villages, being poor means you have no choice. You have no food, no medicine, no access to even the basic health care. Being poor means choosing life or death, starvation or eating from scrap piles, stealing, begging...etc. 

Honestly there is no need for them to starve, the resources are there. There is no reason for them to die because of lack of basic medicine, the resources are there. There is just as much waste among those who have money there than there is here. To bring this on to a grander stage, there is an abundance of resources in The Body Of Christ in this world to meet the basic needs of the starving and dying on this planet.

Proverbs 22:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

 Why don't we give more? Why don't we care more? Why don't we take on the responsibility of caring for those who truly have nothing and are crying out to just be fed, clothed, sheltered and loved? Why do we value stuff, comfort, fancy technology, nice furniture, expensive cars, jewelry, clothes over the lives of our brothers and sisters, our neighbors who are dying and begging for the scraps from our tables?

 This is a question I am asking myself. I believe there are a few key answers to this. First I believe we have grown to value comfort over sacrifice. We want the most comfortable churches with the most expensive decor and technology available to further our comfort and  entertainment experience. I believe this is just as much the "fault" of the Modern Christian as it is the leaders of The Church.

 Many modern Christians have become soft, comfort seekers, pleasure seekers, not disciples of Christ who are willing to DENY THEMSELVES, take up their crosses and follow HIM. That though is not the message of this post, because I believe there is even a deeper reason we are not having the impact on the poor , and our own prosperity, that we have the potential to have. It is because we have failed to see the Wisdom and Instruction in our key verse, we do not have a bountiful eye in connection with giving our supply to the poor.

 It is easy to have a bountiful eye when obtaining the things we desire. It is easy to have a bountiful eye to purchase things and services that will directly impact our comfort and security. It is easy to say I don't have a poverty mindset so I can enjoy the best things in life, trinkets and stuff. And blessings are okay and from God.  

 However, we seem to have more trouble having that same bountiful eye when it comes to the poor. Those truly dying because we are not giving them the life sustaining things they need. In America we don't see the life and death choices of poverty as much. We have food stamps, medicaid, emergency rooms that must treat. These are all good , abused but good. 

The best example in this nation of the scourge of poverty being allowed by those who have the means to stop it, is our education system.  It has been greed, oppression and neglect that has led to the conditions in our inner-city schools. The nation's eyes are turned away and will not be bountiful to those in poverty, and for that reason, blessings are withheld in ways we will weep over someday.

What would a Church or a person with a bountiful eye look like today. There are many already, but what could we do collectively, if we all came together and determined to save as many lives from the the death grip of the enemy? What is we determined people were more important than stuff? Mission more important than possessions? That feeding and medicating whole villages was more pleasing to us that a million dollar light and sound system so our churches can be better entertained? Do we have a bountiful eye for lives?

 The LORD promises us blessing if we will choose to have a bountiful eye in connection with giving our supply to the poor. This message is a message of joy. We have not even scratched the surface of the great blessings both natural and of the soul that we can obtain by understanding the joy of bringing life giving supply to those dying to receive it from us. 

 I starting this blog stating how The Lord used our key verse to lead my young family out of poverty and off welfare. He gave me a bountiful eye. Even while we were on Food Stamps we began to give to those who I saw as in need. We gave even out of lack, we probably gave too much at times, didn't use wisdom while giving, but The Lord gave us a bountiful eye. We had lack but there were others who were suffering true pain and poverty.  

 Where we couldn't reach those in need we gave to ministries that reached them on the ground, that showed that they had a bountiful eye toward the hurting, not toward their own wealth and kingdoms. We actually gave ourselves out at one point, because it held true that The Lord would bless us in more ways than just financial.

 Did we have the best of everything? No, fancy jewelry, cars, furniture, nope, never needed it. We did have many great vacations, adventure and trips that blessed us greatly. 

 Now this verse has resurfaced in my life. I want to have a bountiful eye again. I want to see all the bounty God has placed around us and see it flowing toward the poor and dying. I want to build churches where there is no Shepherd. Train ministers in The WORD AND THE SPIRIT to bring revival and joy to the broken hearted and oppressed.  I want an eye so bountiful that I can say in faith NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!  

 I want to see a Church that would trade in all the comforts of ease and come receive the word in a plain building, with the basics functions and still worship with all their hearts and substance. So that our eye would not be distracted by lights , but be filled with His Light, so we could see with His eyes the plight of those waiting for the scraps from our table. I want to see a liquidation of stuff in order to provide wells in every village, clinics in every village, meals in every village.

 I want a bountiful eye of faith to turn the hearts of even the wicked to guard our righteous cause. There is no limit to the blessings God will bring to a people with a bountiful eye toward the poor and the nations. 

Someone will say: "That is pie in the sky, not possible, there is too many obstacles".  You are in need of faith and have a sparse eye, not a bountiful one. You may be wealthy according to world standards but are poor in the eye of faith.

This women is the shining example of a bountiful eye!

Luke 21:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

The Gospel .....

Proverbs 22:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Luke 4:18-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,

    that the blind will see,

that the oppressed will be set free,

19     and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

Acts 10:38 New Living Translation (NLT)

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.

Luke 7:22 New Living Translation (NLT)

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, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.”

Proverbs 14:31 New King James Version (NKJV)

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

Proverbs 28 New Living Translation (NLT)

1 The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,
    but the godly are as bold as lions.

2 When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily.
    But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability.

3 A poor person who oppresses the poor
    is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops.

4 To reject the law is to praise the wicked;
    to obey the law is to fight them.

5 Evil people don’t understand justice,
    but those who follow the Lord understand completely.

6 Better to be poor and honest
    than to be dishonest and rich.

7 Young people who obey the law are wise;
    those with wild friends bring shame to their parents.[a]

8 Income from charging high interest rates
    will end up in the pocket of someone who is kind to the poor.

9 God detests the prayers
    of a person who ignores the law.

10 Those who lead good people along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,
    but the honest will inherit good things.

11 Rich people may think they are wise,
    but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.

12 When the godly succeed, everyone is glad.
    When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.

13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper,
    but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.

14 Blessed are those who fear to do wrong,
    but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.

15 A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor
    as a roaring lion or an attacking bear.

16 A ruler with no understanding will oppress his people,
    but one who hates corruption will have a long life.

17 A murderer’s tormented conscience will drive him into the grave.
    Don’t protect him!

18 The blameless will be rescued from harm,
    but the crooked will be suddenly destroyed.

19 A hard worker has plenty of food,
    but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.

20 The trustworthy person will get a rich reward,
    but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

21 Showing partiality is never good,
    yet some will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.

22 Greedy people try to get rich quick
    but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty.

23 In the end, people appreciate honest criticism
    far more than flattery.

24 Anyone who steals from his father and mother
    and says, “What’s wrong with that?”
    is no better than a murderer.

25 Greed causes fighting;
    trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.

26 Those who trust their own insight are foolish,
    but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.

27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing,
    but those who close their eyes to poverty will be cursed.

28 When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.
    When the wicked meet disaster, the godly flourish.

He Is Waiting 

The Attack of The Mind

  

Sometimes "The Wind and The Waves" can look like this. We cry out to The Lord in fear and panic , saying " Don't you care, don't you see, save me!"

I have fought this battle often. In fact I have been fighting it recently. The thoughts are different, the swarm of voices is different, but the images explain it all.

If you are in it now, or have this battle, even as a long standing , mature Christian, fear not. The Battle is The Lords. He cares, He wants us to rest in Him and use The Authority He gave us to SPEAK TO THEM and declare HIS WORD.

Mark 4:35-41  (NKJV)

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

So although we may have to battle this worlds thoughts and attacks of the enemy, we have been given the ability to respond with power, and as we see in these scriptures , with His Mind and Wisdom.

1 Corinthians 2 New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul’s Message of Wisdom

2 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God —his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
    and no mind has imagined
what God has prepared
    for those who love him.”

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For,

“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to teach him?”

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

The Love Of God-The Last Great Awakening

The LORD is speaking to His people who have an ear to hear the message of  The Wisdom of His Love. There is such wisdom in The Love of God that all the powers of hell can not overcome it. The devil can not even comprehend it. The fact that God would so greatly love mankind, sinful, rebellious, fallen mankind is something that confounds and destroys the work of The Kingdom of Darkness.

John 1:1-5  (NLT)

1 In the beginning the Word already existed.

    The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He existed in the beginning with God.

3 God created everything through him,

    and nothing was created except through him.

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,

    and his life brought light to everyone.

5 The light shines in the darkness,

    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

 The Bible says that Love Conquers ALL. John 3:16 says That God so LOVED THE World that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever would believe in Him would have everlasting life. We see in the Book of 1 Corinthians that although a man can be endowed with every gift and show mighty signs and wonders to the awe of those watching, without Gods Love working in and through them, they are nothing. In Gods eyes without Love all acts of power are only self-serving and are worthy of no rewards.

1 Corinthians 13  (NKJV)

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

We have only had a small taste of The Love of God. We have only allowed ourselves to be vulnerable enough to stay comfortable, open enough to feel the pain others with pity,but have fallen short of allowing The Compassion of Christ to flow freely. However, behind those walls we have set up in our hearts and minds there is a Divine Law that overcomes every other law. There is a Divine Wisdom that can not be challenged in any productive way by all the powers of darkness. There is an Eternal Power available to release a compassion that can reach into this fallen world and demonstrate The Glory Of Gods Kingdom. 

The Final Great Awakening is before us. There are mighty good works and miracles that The Lord has prepared for us to walk in and perform in His Name. Will we reach into the dark places with His Love through actions and plans that will bring blessing to the masses? Or will we walk away like The Rich Man after Jesus told him the cost of following Him?

Luke 4:16-19

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

Matthew 14:13-21 (NKJV)

13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Paul cried out daily that The Church would receive a super natural revelation of The Fullness of The Love of Christ and The Knowledge of The Will of God. These prayers of Paul are inseparable. We can not have a revelation of Gods Will and Knowledge without having a full revelation of The Fullness of His Love through Christ. Any revelation of the knowledge of Gods will is incomplete with out the understanding of the full breadth, width and height of The Love of Christ. In turn any time we attempt to interpret what Gods will is for our lives, our church, our ministry or our community without the revelation of The Love of Christ, our interpretation will be lacking and the impact of His Glory dimmed.

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NKJV)

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father  of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

1 John 4  (NKJV)

1. Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Knowing God Through Love

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love

12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The Consummation of Love

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Pastor A.R Bernard spoke recently at the church I attend, I have link ed the message below. It is worth taking the time to really listen to the message. He articulates the truth of how incredible it is to be made in the image of God in a way I have never heard before.

When we see others as being made in Gods Image we can understand the scripture that tells us to love one another even as Christ Loves us. There is so much more I want to say, but I think Pastor Bernard's message, along with my thoughts and scriptures I shared here will be sufficient to give those who have an ear to hear and eyes to see a revelation of what The Lord is speaking to His Entire Church Worldwide.

Luke 14:12-14

He said also to the one who had invited him, ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.’

Luke 10:25-37  (NRSV)

25  Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said,“what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him,“What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 

27  He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 

28  And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29  But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30  Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 

 31  Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 

 32  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33  But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

 35  The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and

do likewise.”

Matthew 25:31-46  (NLT)

31  “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit

upon his glorious throne. 32  All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33  He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

34  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35  For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

36  I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37  “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 

39  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40  “And the King will say,‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my

brothers and sisters,you were doing it to me!’

41  “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42  For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43  I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44  “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45  “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my

brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46  “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”