Author: rbeaird

THE VICTORY IS NOW…


Spiritual Blog - Victory

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 – “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  NKJV

 

If there is ever a time a believer lives in any condition less than Full Spiritual Victory, that is one time too many.  That is not the plan of God even in times of struggle and difficulty there is Victory to be achieved, experienced, and manifested.  It is God’s desire for us to be Victorious and enjoy the inheritance we have as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  I am totally convinced we can see the path to that victory in the New Testament Church and as we near the time of the Second Coming we will see two trends manifested in an unmistakable fashion.

  • There Will Be Revival in the Church – [Acts 2:17].

The Bible speaks of the former rain of Pentecost being followed by the latter rain of Harvest.  James 5:7, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”  In today’s troubled world more and more believers are engaging in prayer for revival and I am convinced God never lays a burden on people to pray for something He does not desire to bring to pass.  I sense something moving in the air, spiritually and know that with the shaking that is coming and now is there is going to be the going in the mulberry bush and God is going to move mightily in our present world.

  • There Will Be Religious Apostasy in the Church – [1 Timothy 4:1].

The devil is a crafty devil and he disguises himself as an angel of light and messenger of truth.  When people depart from the faith they have no alternative but to give heed to “seducing spirits, and receive doctrines of devils.”  That is the natural result and sadly, it is happening today.  I have read that there are over 40 million bonafide or verified witches in America and possibly another 40 million who dabble in the black arts.  The devil has made inroads in desensitizing the church to his tactic and many no longer recognize or discern the spirits at work even in our churches.  The devil is a “defeated foe” we are told in the Bible but not one who has given up.  The unfortunate reality is although he is defeated, many do not seem to know that or understand how to enforce the victory of Jesus at the Cross.

We are reminded in 1 John 3:8, “For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  In James 4:7, we read, “Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”  I am encouraged that even in the midst of apparent and revealed apostasy there are those in churches across the land who have:

  1. Discovered there is a real spiritual war transpiring.
  2. Decided they are on the Lord’s side.
  3. Declared that Jesus has won the victory.
  4. Determined they will walk daily from victory to victory.

 It is the time that we, believers, renew our commitment and confidence in the Blood of Jesus and the Name of our Lord and begin to enforce the Victory Jesus won in our present world against our present spiritual foe, the devil.

Let me remind you that “Victory implies Struggle.”  Where there is no battle there can be no victory.  We have an enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy but Jesus has come so that we could have ABUNDANT LIFE.  We have a biblical, legal mandate and authority over the power of the devil and as we have seen on many fronts, ignoring or denying the existence of something does not make it disappear.  The devil loves to be ignored and I am sure he is delighted when churches and believers deny his existence or influence.  If there is a lion in the street the only way to defeat that lion is to FACE HIM.  Victory is available to us but to obtain that victory we must believe it is possible and learn how to enforce Christ’s Victory on the Cross.

We will pause here and pick up next time to discuss HOW we can have Victory Now in Jesus manifested in our Daily Lives!   God bless you as you go through this day in Him!

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GOD’S SOLUTION For Spiritual Frustration – – [Part 2]


Spiritual Blog - Framed Together

Ephesians 2:19-22 – “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  NKJV

 

Let me begin suggesting some things that are critical in our achieving both a knowledge of the Will of God for our lives and Satisfaction in where God has placed us.

  • We Must Discover the Will of God For Our Lives.

Of course!  How did Jesus glorify the Father?  Consider John 17:4, “I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.”  Jesus glorified the Father by completing His assignment.  His assignment was to be the Chief Cornerstone of the Church and in accomplishing that He was the Lamb Slain from the foundation of the World and Savior of the world.

But, what is our assigned work?  Among other things that God may have for each of us is we are afforded the wonderful privilege of participating in God’s redemptive plan for the world.  Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  We are, all believers, to be a part of God’s worldwide plan of evangelism.

However, I am convinced that we cannot be aware of God’s will for our lives until we are aware of who God is.  Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, had a plaque on his wall with the inscription:  “The sun stood still, the iron did float this God is our God!”  Think about it, God answered the prayer of an ordinary man and the sun stood still.  God suspended the laws of gravity and the iron ax head floated on water.  This is the God to whom we pray!  This is the God on whose promises we rest our hope.  He is El-Shaddai, the one who is enough!  When I survey the names of God I am amazed at how each name conveys a dimension of His person, purpose, power, and character.

In the industrial world, the past is extremely important with regard to employee performance.  The past is the best indicator of how a person will perform in the future in the natural.  I suggest that the same is true of God.  His truth makes it impossible for Him to lie.  His Omniscience makes it impossible for Him to be deceived. His Omnipotence means He has the power to do whatever within His purpose.  And His Omnipresence means He is always there and aware.

  • We Must Commit Ourselves to Do the Will of God.

The ultimate cure for Spiritual Frustration and Dissatisfaction is to know the will of God and realize that He considers us special and has a unique and specific task for us.  He has uniquely fitted us for the job He has called us to do.  That is incredible!  When we know the will of God for our lives and commit our hearts to do the will of God a number of things transpire.

Our Walk Becomes a Worthy Walk.  Have you ever noticed professional athletes, especially the stars?  Basketball players seem to bounce along whereas football players will often devour the sidewalk.  Every group has specific mannerism easily identifiable.  Athletes have a walk, policemen have a walk, postmen have a walk, and every vocation has a unique walk that is identifiable.  Have you ever noticed that some dogs strut, they can’t do anything about it, because it is in their DNA?

Our Lives become Fruitful.  We know that apple trees produce apples and orange trees produce oranges and that is how it will always be.  Matthew 12:33, “The tree is known by its fruit…”  Once you have really caught and embraced the passion for the calling of God for your life you will seize every opportunity to glorify God by being what He has made you.  You will bloom where you are planted.

  • There will be an Increase in Your Knowledge God, His Precepts, and Principles.
  • There will be a Noticeable Increase in Spiritual Strength and Stability in Your Life.
  • There will be a Recognizable evidence of Steadfastness and Patience in Your Heart.
  • You will exhibit an Attitude of Gratitude and Thanksgiving.

 In this new place where we have been “fitted together,” we will have a heart for others and will find the burden light and the yoke of service easy.  We will find ourselves being strengthened by the Holy Spirit and when the enemy comes in like a flood God will raise up a standard against him and bring us forth to victory.

It is my genuine prayer that the Lord help you discover your place in the building and with great contentment commit yourself to that purpose.  I know that in so doing you will find a solution or cure to Spiritual Frustration and Dissatisfaction.

God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Jesus!

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GOD’S SOLUTION For Spiritual Frustration…


Spiritual Blog - Growing Together

Ephesians 2:19-22 – “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  NKJV

 

I am by no means a Master Carpenter especially in finish carpentry and there are times that bothers me greatly.  I will see things that could be or need to be done but lack the necessary skills to satisfactorily complete the task.  I am always impressed by and have a deep appreciation for fine craftsmanship and am intrigued by the transformation of buildings at various stages of development.  It is exciting to see things like that come together.  The Pyramids of Egypt are, to me, an architectural wonder.  Every rock fits perfectly into place and each of them hewn to do a specific job and fit a specific location.  No rock, once chiseled, could fit any other location.  That is Fascinating!

That is exactly what God wants to do in our lives and His church.  God is desirous to fit us into His church as LIVING STONES.  Notice in verse 21 of the text, “In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord…”  What kind of stones are used to be a temple or even a huge pyramid?  There are big stones, little stones, odd shaped stones, and they are “fitted” together to fit perfectly.  What a picture!  Our Lord, the Master Builder, orders the stone masons to chip away at each rock UNTIL it becomes a perfect fit in the perfect place it is to be placed.   That is another subject we overlook, the placement of us as living stones and our refusal to stay where we have been placed.

In this picture, the little stones must be satisfied to fill the gaps.  The big stones must be willing to endure the stress and responsibility of supporting the structure and the other stones.  The odd shaped stones will need to be patient, waiting for the right spot and service to be determined.  But ALL as living stones are ‘FITTED TOGETHER’ to form the building.  The LORD has or is choosing the exact spot for each of us.  Some of us may be placed beneath the surface and not be visible and never noticed providing our strength so the foundation is strong and the building stable and functional.  A prime example of that would be the intercessors.  Some strive for recognition and I warn that we must never crave to be the cornerstone.  Without the proper corner, the building would be unstable and eventually crumble and that spot is reserved for Jesus Himself.

I read a report some time back regarding statistical analysis studies done by some companies to determine the reason they experienced a high turnover rate.  That report indicated that 80% of people working full-time were dissatisfied with their jobs.  That is reflective in what I’ve observed about people in general.  Many or too many are dissatisfied with life. Some are unhappy because they want more.  Some want to do more to feel productive and some want to do less so there will be less stress and others are continually searching for new opportunities to satisfy a longing inside.  If that only represented a condition in the world it would be bad enough but it is found in the Church as well.  Sadly, many believers never see a clear picture of what their purpose in the Kingdom of God is and therefore become frustrated and that dissatisfaction and frustration affect others and the local fellowship.

There is a Cure or a Solution in the Bible.  The only lasting cure for this kind of frustration and dissatisfaction is spiritual growth.  I know that is too simplistic and general but it gives us a place to launch into the deep from.  In Colossians 1:7-12, the apostle Paul emphasized the critical need to understand God’s will for our lives and then to walk worthy, be faithful, increasing in knowledge and draw from God’s strength in steadfastness and patience.  That is not always easy but is necessary.

There are several things I want to discuss or introduce regarding God’s Solution to Dissatisfaction and Spiritual Frustration in life and the church but will pause here because of time and space and pick up in the next devotional and hopefully offer some thoughts that will be liberating and inspiring.

            God bless you as you enjoy God’s wonderful world today!

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BODILY HEALING and THE ATONEMENT… [Part Three]


Spiritual Blog - Healing

Isaiah 53:4-6 – “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  NKJV

  

Our first reason for believing that the Christian can believe in and expect bodily healing today is found in the Sameness of God, yesterday, today, and forever.  Yet, there are more reasons to believe that God heals today.

  • The Work of Christ on the Cross.

I believe that a careful examination of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2:24 bring us to the conclusion that bodily healing is part of Christ’s covenant with man as well as healing or deliverance from sin.

Isaiah 53:4, “Surely He [Christ] hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…”  The word rendered griefs is [kholee] which means sicknesses and Sorrows [makob] which means pains.  As we examine those words we discover that [kholee] is derived from “chalah” which means to be weak, sick, afflicted and in reading Deuteronomy 7:15, “The Lord will take away from you all sickness [kholee]” we see the picture. The word is translated sickness in [Deuteronomy 28:61; 1 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 1:2; 8:8].  The word [makob] is translated pain in Job 33:19 and in Jeremiah 51:8.  So we can easily believe that the words of Isaiah 53:4 means that Jesus has borne our sickness and pain in His own body and as He died for sin He also died for healing.

But we must not stop there for there are at least two more words which must be given consideration in this passage to help our understanding.  The word BORNE [nasa] and CARRIED [sabal] are vital.  The word [nasa] means to bear a sense of suffering punishment for something as is seen in Leviticus 15:1, “And if a soul sin… then he shall bear [nasa]]his iniquity.”  Isaiah 53:12 gives the clear meaning of [nasa], “And He [Christ] was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare [nasa] the sin of many.”  How did He bear our sins?  Vicariously, as our substitute.  But, this same verb is used in Isaiah 53:4 regarding sickness.

Almost no one has a problem with the assertion that the verb [nasa] in Isaiah 53:12 refers to Jesus bearing our sin vicariously so why should we have a problem with it also meaning He bore our sickness the same way?  The word [sabal] which means carried identifies the act of bearing something as a penalty or chastisement.  Lamentations 5:7, “Our fathers have sinned… and we have borne [sabal] their iniquities.”  Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied… for He shall bear [sabal] their iniquities.”

Again, how did Christ bear our Iniquities?  Vicariously or as our substitute.  He did is as us and for us and he bore our pain and sickness in the same way.  That should give us incredible hope in the struggles of life.  HE WAS!  HE IS!  HE WILL ALWAYS BE the Same!

But lest you still question my interpretation let me suggest the interpretation of Jesus of Isaiah’s words in Matthew 8:16-17, “When evening had come, they brought many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled with was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:  ‘He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.'” 

I truly hope that opens a new door for you because Jesus is the same today as He was then. The same Holy Spirit is ministering in the world today as then.  Therefore, we should expect God to be the same God no matter what we face or need in this present world.

One of the most powerful statements on this subject is found in 1 Peter 2:24 where the apostle Peter declared, “Who His own self, bare our sins in His own Body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.”  That agrees exactly with Isaiah 53:5 and notice Peter puts it in the past tense not that it used to be available but that it is a settled reality.  The word healed in the New Testament is [iaomai] which always speaks of physical healing and is used 28 times in such connection.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  That is incredibly powerful!  We are bought [egorasthete], which means I buy or redeem, with a price.  Our bodies and spirits have been redeemed with a price and when Jesus was scourged and crucified He purchased our Spiritual and Physical healing in His Atoning Work.  I shout Hallelujah at that thought!

Galatians 3:13, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.”  I would suggest that you examine all the  physical maladies included in that curse.  If you will read Deuteronomy 28:15-47; 28:1 and 28:15, 21,22,27,28 I believe you will be moved deeply and encouraged greatly.  I thank God for Salvation and I am elated with the reality that I can trust Him for physical healing as well.  He came that we might have ABUNDANT LIFE and that covers everything!

God bless you richly as you enjoy this wonderful day the Lord has made with rejoicing.

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BODILY HEALING and THE ATONEMENT… [Part Two]


Spiritual Blog - Healer

Isaiah 53:4-6 – “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  NKJV

 

With the foundation laid in the last devotional fresh in our minds and on our hearts we proceed.  I would like you to consider, with me, some of the reasons I believe Christians (All Christians) can and should receive Jesus as not only Savior but Healer of their physical bodies.

  • God is Unchangeable, the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever.

The fact that He once healed is a truth inescapable in both the old and new testaments.  In the Old Testament we see Him as Healer in Exodus 15:26 where He gave Israel an incredible promise, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Ord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians; for I the Lord, am your Healer.”  That is part of the Sinaitic Covenant and we know the New Covenant is a better covenant established on better promises.  Omitting that from the New would not seem to be better, would it?  Just my thought.

In Exodus 23:25 we find the promise to take sickness away and in Psalm 103:3 we find the declaration that God not only forgives sin but heals disease.  In Psalm 105:37 the beautiful description of those coming out of Egypt included there was “not one feeble one among them”.  Why?  God was their healer and health.  Remember this is in the Old Covenant.  In Psalm 107:20 we read, “God sent His word, and healed them…”

In the New Testament, we find that Jesus is the Healer of man both spiritually and physically.  Mark 9:35, we cannot escape the truth that He healed all sickness and disease in various places.  We dare not overlook the reality of Mark 6:12 that He gave power to heal to His disciples and if we remember Malachi 3:6 we hear God’s declaration “For I am the Lord, I change not.” Also, Hebrews 13:8 wonderfully declares, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”  The word THE SAME is [Ho Autos] meaning the very same identical person in every respect.  James 1:17, tells us, “Every good Gift… is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  HE DOES NOT CHANGE!  What God used to be He is today and will be forever! 

 He used to be:

Jehovah-Shammah – – The Lord Ever Present.

Jehovah-Jireh – – The Lord Our Provider.

Jehovah-Nissi – – The Lord Our Banner.

Jehovah-Shalom – – The Lord Our Peace.

Jehovah-Ra’ah – – The Lord My Shepherd.

Jehovah-Tsidkneu – – The Lord Our Righteousness.

Jehovah-Rapha – – The Lord That Heals.

What God was HE IS and will be forever!  Jehovah includes all three tenses “Past, Present, and Future.”

One of the many reasons I believe that Bodily Healing is included in our covenant is found in what I have just listed but there are more including personal experience.  In time to come, I hope to share more on this matter.

Until then I pause and pray that God grant you Grace for the Journey and bless your richly in this day.

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BODILY HEALING and THE ATONEMENT…


Spiritual Blog - Jesus Healer

Isaiah 53:4-6 – “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.  6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  NKJV

             Most Christians believe in the Atonement for Salvation and while some believe it includes bodily healing others do not.  I fall in the group that does and feel that the Holy Spirt would have me invest some time in explaining why and what I believe. If you agree or disagree that is your choice and I hope you will hear the conclusion of the whole matter before rendering a judgment on my presentation and subject.  I am not trying to be controversial but helpful.

How did sickness enter the world?  I believe that is a valid question and one I have been asked on numerous occasions.  It is a question that, in my understanding, has been answered clearly and definitively in Scripture.  Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”  No controversy there I would hope.  Physical death and all that produces it are the direct results of the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden or SIN.  Therefore, we know that Satan is the originator of sin and thereby sickness and death.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND, I am in no way suggesting that if you encounter sickness it is specifically and directly connected to some sin in your life.  RATHER, I want to convey the understanding that sickness entered the world as a result of sin and is the product of THE FALL.  I will acknowledge that it is possible to open the door to sickness through sinfulness that is not necessarily the cause of you being sick at any given time.

In Jesus’ day many questioned whether He had the power to forgive sin, he responded by demonstrating His power over disease and as He healed the sick He demonstrated His power and authority over all the power and authority of hell.  In Mark 2:9-11, Jesus addressed that very question of the power to forgive sins saying, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you’, or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk?’  But that you may know that the Sone of Man has power on earth to forgive sins – He said to the paralytic, “I say to you arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”  Immediately he arose, took up his bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never say anything like this!”

I suggest another factor, indicating that the devil is the cause of sickness, as well as sin, can be found in the fact that Jesus always used the same harsh Greek word to rebuke sickness as He did to rebuke evil spirits.  Luke 4:35, “And Jesus rebuked [epetimesen] him, saying hold your peace, and come out of him.”  Luke 4:39, “And He stood over her [Simon Peter’s Mother in law] and rebuked [epetimesen] the fever; and it left her.”  Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with Power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him.”  Jesus healed those “oppressed” of the devil and the word OPPRESSED comes from two meanings:  Down under and I hold power or Lordship.  Therefore, the verse could be translated, “Those under the domination or lordship of the devil, Jesus healed.”

Further, I not only suggest that the devil is the originator of sickness but he is the propagator of it.  In Luke 13:11 we read of a woman with a “spirit of infirmity” and in verse 16 Jesus asked, “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”  The word INFIRMITY is the most common Greek word for SICKNESS.  In Mark 9:25 we read of “deaf and dumb spirits”.  In Mark 1:23 we see a man in the Synagogue with an “unclean spirit.” Then in Acts 16:16, a girl with a “spirit of divination” and Ephesians 6:12 encourages us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” 

I am attempting to lay a foundation and hope that you see that SICKNESS has its cause and origination in the devil.  I believe very strongly that Bodily Healing is part of our Covenant and is the Children’s Bread. It has been a part of every covenant of God up to and including the New Covenant.  Therefore, it is my conviction that God’s perfect desire is for us to be well and healed.  No, I cannot explain why all are not but will not stop praying for healing and believe in divine healing because some do not receive healing in this life.  However, I will continue to ask God, if there was something more I could have done to have brought about healing for those whom we pray.  Knowing that sickness entered the world and affected man as a result of the Fall in the Garden, in my view, is enables us to understand the source of this enemy and the source of our help in fighting it.

I will venture further into this subject in the next devotional and pray that you will be open minded and open hearted as we seek to receive all God has for us today and be all He wants us to be.  Blessings abundantly are my prayer and desire!

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HOLY SPIRIT, We Need You Now!!!


Spiritual Blog - Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  NKJV

 

Jesus promised His followers in John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”  The Holy Spirit is Omnipresent being a member of the God-head and is our Helper to guide, equip, strengthen, and empower us for the work of the Kingdom of God.  I believe that if anything is to be done in the “Supernatural” for God and good it will be done through the ministry and anointing of the Holy Spirit.  He EMPOWERS.  He BESTOWS gifts and He ANOINTS.  Therefore, it would seem obvious that we need His presence, power, and manifestation in today’s world and church.  Yet, it is biblically clear that God will not intrude, violate us and our ability to choose and force Himself upon us.  He stands at the door and knocks and it is up to us to open the door and invite Him in.  Therefore, if we are to have the Supernatural Manifestation of the Holy Spirit, most of the time we have to extend an invitation for Him to come in.

I realize there were times in Scripture and even history where the Holy Spirit sovereignly and spontaneously fell upon people His power was demonstrated.  [Acts 2:2; 10:44].  There were times when people prayed for Him to come and He came as in Acts 4:31.  With that in mind I suggest we can and should “Invite Him to Come” and do so with complete confidence He will.

  • Scripture teaches that we can ASK for the Holy Spirit. [Luke 11:13]
  • The Church Needs God’s Supernatural Power and Anointing. The first empowering occurred when the Holy Spirit spontaneously fell on them. [Acts 1:8; 2:4]
  • Frequently in the Book of Acts, church growth was triggered by the manifestation of God’s Power through the Work of the Holy Spirit. [Acts 5:12,14]
  • Paul listed the Demonstration of God’s Power above Brilliant Reasoning in preaching the Gospel. [1 Corinthians 2:4]
  • Miracles, Signs, and Wonders were wrought by the Power of God to confirm the preaching of the Gospel. [Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3; Hebrews 2:3-4]
  • The Anointing of the Holy Spirit effects the release of the Gifts of the Spirit and opens the door for God to initiate Spiritual Ministry. [1 Corinthians 12:11]
  • The Anointing of the Holy Spirit blesses those who receive the Spirit of God and subsequently those ministered to by them. [We find that Gospel is confirmed by God’s Holy Spirit, the Kingdom of God extended and expanded and the Name of Jesus is glorified.  Are those not reason to invite the Holy Spirit and desire His presence and ministry in our lives and churches today?]

As individuals, we do the things mentioned but what can we do as local congregations to invite and receive the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit in our midst?  I believe there are several things that apply both to the individual and the local congregation.  We must MAINTAIN Open Hearts.  We must INVITE the Holy Spirit to come.  We must learn to WAIT or TARRY until He comes, which is the most difficult of all.  If our hearts are not pure and open to God the Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion and cannot operate as God would desire. Therefore, if we want God’s Spirit to be mightily in our lives and churches we must SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Among other signs of His presence will be Awe of God and humility in His presence.  I believe that when the Holy Spirit comes on an individual and a Congregation LOVE will overflow so powerfully it is beyond description.  I believe in all the gifts of the Spirit and while I am not addressing them, at this point, let me say that when the Holy Spirit comes, Jesus Comes and where Jesus is LOVE is present as is PEACE.  If those are absent regardless of any other apparent evidences, I would suggest that the Holy Spirit is not there as God desires Him to be.

We need God’s Holy Spirit today as much if not more than ever in our lives, churches, and the world.  God help us to desire and seek the anointing and power of the Spirit of God today!

            God bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

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TALK TO YOUR MOUNTAIN…(Continued…)


Spiritual Blog - Mountains

Mark 11:12-14; 19-24 – “Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response, Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” 

And His disciples heard it. 

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” 

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  NKJV 

Let’s consider some rules or instructions for MOVING A MOUNTAIN in our lives.

  • Be Careful Not to Build the Mountain in the First Place.

Overly simplistic?  Possibly but I would suggest that it might be presumptive to expect God to allow us to be Mountain Movers when we are Mountain Builders.  Praying for a mountain to move would likely prove difficult and unlikely if we are responsible for it being there and continuing to add rocks to its height.  I have discovered that in some cases there is a hindrance to:

Healing because of the presence of a root of bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, etc.  Finances because of disregard for frugality, jealousy, envy, and greed is in the heart.  Right Living because we continue to pursue bad associations.

If we know we are doing things to create and sustain the mountain don’t you think it might be wise to deal with those issues before trying to speak to that mountain and move it by faith?  Just a thought.

  • Be Sure That What You Are Saying Is In Harmony With God’s Word.

Jesus was not, in my opinion, talking about prayer in this passage.  He did not ask the Father to move the mountain.  In verse 22 Jesus refers to having “Faith”, faith in God.  He did not say, “Pray that the Father will move the mountain.” He taught that IF we believe and expect the mountain to move it will move.  An addendum to my comments about us building the mountain, does it not make sense that if we can build a mountain we can also remove one?

Jesus taught his followers that they could move the mountain by “speaking to it.”  I know some will find that problematic but it is what He said.  The first time Jesus used the word “say” in verse 23 the Greek word was [lego] and the second time was [epo] and is used in Mark 1:44.  The implication or message could be rendered, “You have said or you have been saying.”  It means issuing a command with your own voice and being adamantly firm.  It would be saying to the mountain, “Go throw yourself into the sea.”  The idea is that this is not simply a one-time occurrence but something you say and say and say and say UNTIL it happens.  Again, I am cautious in this and do not want to suggest that if you repeat something over and over you can make it happen.  The key is speaking to what God is speaking to or firmly lodged in His will and word and doing so with anticipatory faith, refusing to give up or give in.

  • Be Sure Your Heart Is In Line With Your Tongue.

I am convinced that you can talk until you are blue in the face and command whatever you please but if your heart is not firmly rooted in the pursuit of God and His Kingdom and your heart aligned with His will and purpose it will be nothing more than words.  Hear the words of Jesus, “…and does not doubt in his heart…”  This is not necessarily an evidence of a weakness of faith but uncertainty of heart and mind.

We have God’s promise and may well believe God’s word but if we speak that promise to the mountain and in our hearts we are uncertain, then we are at odds with ourselves and fit the classification of “double-mindedness” and that, we are told, opens no doors.  Doubt is a breach that excludes God’s help. Doubt is located in the heart and that means we can change it or conquer it.  I have had pilots tell me that the biggest thing they had to overcome in learning to fly was fear.  But as they learn to trust their equipment fear departed.  Knowledge dispelled and replaced fear with confidence and certainty.

  • Be Sure That You Believe What You Are Commanding.

I believe that this is where Grace plays a significant role in faith.  Grace is far more than God’s unmerited favor it is God’s divine enablement.  In a very real sense, it is God’s Power in operation. Again, I remind you we are not talking about prayer but stepping forth on God’s Promise and appropriating the promise.  There are times in our lives when financial burdens, sickness, relational problems, etc. become so large and imposing they hinder all forward progress and MUST BE MOVED. What do we do?

Prepare Our Hearts and remove all the things that created the mountain in our lives. We remove the ground or foundation upon which it is built.  Then, we address the issue calling it by name, standing on the authority of Scripture and speak with confidence free of doubt, because if God said it we know it is true and persist.

Pray this prayer with me:  “Heavenly Father, I believe I am who You say I am and that I will become all that You say I can become.  Through Your help, I will stop building mountains and will become a mountain mover, not a mountain builder.  I will set a guard at my mouth and carefully watch my words so they do not contradict my heart and I will speak GRACE to the mountain that is before me hindering my path.  It will move and give way to the Power and Will of God.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen!”

 God bless you as you continue your journey through today’s opportunities and victories.

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TALK TO YOUR MOUNTAIN…


Spiritual Blog - Mountains

Mark 11:12-14; 19-24 – “Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”

 And His disciples heard it.

 Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.  23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”  NKJV

 

An aside to what I hope to say is something that stands out in this passage powerfully to me is found in verse 14.  It was after Jesus cursed the fig tree, we find these word, “And His disciples heard it.”  How powerful it is to HEAR what Jesus says or has said.  That is a life changing experience.  But back to what I desire to address in what I consider a perplexing passage of Scripture and one that many believers have attempted to make a reality in their lives and failed.  Who among us does not have or has not faced MOUNTAINS in our lives?  We all want to know how to remove those barriers that hinder our progress.  Therefore, this scripture is powerfully challenging and wonderfully intriguing.

The people of Judah, in Jesus’ day, considered a mountain any hindrance to their progress, as should we.  Therefore, when Jesus told them they could have whatever they said, and even told them they could MOVE MOUNTAINS, they could readily identify with His message.  How many of the actually believed His words are quite another story, but then how many in Churches today believe God’s words literally when He says what He does in vv. 23-24?

I recall a story of a woman who had to walk around a mountain every day to get to work in town and she heard this message preached so she went home that night and spoke to the mountain, “Be Gone and be cast into the sea.”  She then went to bed, got up the next morning, looked out the window and said, “Just as I expected, still there!”  I believe the words of Jesus that we can MOVE MOUNTAINS whether literally or figuratively in our lives but there are some rules for mountain moving and unless we understand the process and principle we will find failure a more constant companion that we would like, in this regard.  I believe it is incredibly important that we understand HOW the hindrance or mountain came to be.

Let me offer this picture I hope will resonate.  If we create a financial mountain by the lack of wisdom and mishandling finances or lack of discipline, we will not be able to speak to it and move it.  We built it and we will have to tear it down stone by stone.  If our mountain is physical illness, and we are aware of our failure to eating properly, exercise regularly as we should and are guilty of abusing our bodies thus jeopardizing our health, there will likely be no moving of that mountain UNTIL we correct the problem that produced it.  I am not saying that if anyone is sick it is because they did something wrong but I am saying if we know you brought about whatever the mountain is, we will have to take steps to correct that behavior first.

I apologize that I spent too much time introducing what I wanted to discuss and now realize that brevity might be wisdom and will pause until the next devotional to address some rules for MOVING A MOUNTAIN in your life.

            God bless you as you enjoy the wonders of this day God has given us!

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IT IS NOT “If” I TRUST IT IS “Who” I TRUST… [Part Two]


Spiritual Blog - Trust

Jeremiah 17:5-8 – “Thus says the LORD:

 “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.

 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.”  NKJV

 

When we TRUST THE FLESH rather than God the natural result is LEGALISM and that is an attempt to achieve righteousness with God by keeping a set of rules.  Romans 3:20 rules that out as a viable option. The Law shows us that we do not measure up, that we have sinned, missed the mark, and come short, but it cannot transform us.  James 2:10 warns of attempting to follow that pathway.  Legalism is the attempt to impose extra conditions for achieving righteousness beyond what God has declared in Scripture.

Romans 4:24-25 gives insight as to the simplicity of God’s Plan and the sufficiency of His Grace.  The requirement of Grace is that we “Trust ourselves to Him, believing that what He has and is doing is sufficient.”  Jesus died to atone for our sins and rose again that we might be reckoned righteous.  THAT’S IT!  There is nothing that has to be added.  It is not the Cross, the Finished Work of Christ AND…  It is Grace and His work is finished.  It is completely complete!  Paul’s question in Galatians 3:3 is powerful, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected by the flesh?”  In Galatians 5:19-21 the apostle lists works of the flesh and makes it clear that not one of them is acceptable to God.  In Galatians 3:10 Paul calls the culmination of this A CURSE, the same thought as found in Jeremiah 17:5.

Most believers would never knowingly participate in WITCHCRAFT but sadly some fall prey through Legalism or the Works of the Flesh where they make flesh their strength. They adopt a philosophy that they can EARN IT and it becomes the Cross Plus.  John 19:30, as Jesus hung on the Cross He said, “IT IS FINISHED.”  What does finished mean?  Hebrews 10 teaches us that none of the efforts of man can redeem Him and that Jesus came and gave Himself once for all to REDEEM MAN.  Nothing more is required.  IT IS FINISHED!

He is Lord!  We are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to Promise.  We are heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Jesus.  We are blessed with ALL Spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus and the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God.  We have been given power and authority over all the power of the devil and we are IN HIM and He is IN US and His Promises are great and precious.  We are SAVED by the Blood of Jesus by Grace through Faith!  All we need to do is say THANK YOU!

Therefore, I encourage you as a child of God to know your inheritance and realize:

  • Trust the Flesh and you are limited and defeated.
  • Trust Christ’s Finished Work and All things are possible to you.
  • Trust the Flesh and you will experience frustration, discouragement, and disappointment.
  • Trust the Finished Work of Christ and you will have peace that passes human understanding.
  • Trust Your Feelings and deception will be your constant companion.
  • Trust His Finished Work and His Word will guide you and the Holy Spirit will give you Discernment.

           We are IN HIM, we are WITH HIM, and we have all things BY HIM.  It is the New Covenant.  We have a choice today to walk in the Blessings of God or live under the Curse of the Arm of Flesh. What is your choice?

          God bless you as you walk into the wonderful world of today in Jesus!

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