Archive for the ‘Teachings’ Category

PEOPLE ARE PORTALS

Tuesday, May 7th, 2024

PEOPLE ARE PORTALS — May 7, 2024

Having grown up during a time when space travel and such were prevalent – in the news, TV shows like Lost in Space and Star Trek – my thinking was shaped with those scientifically oriented programs. I watched as Apollo 11 landed on the moon, and I heard Neil Armstrong utter the words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” The world was abuzz with this new development and venture. I mention this to portray the reasons for why my thoughts many times are expressed using science-fiction terms, such as ‘portals’. A portal is a point where something or someone may travel through to get from one place to another. Sometimes the term is shortened to the word ‘port’.

I have always messed around with electronic equipment. As a youngster that equipment was primarily the family stereo, then my own record playing 8-track recording machinery. I can’t tell you why I’ve always known and understood the flow of electrical things, like input and output and what plugs into where. I remember one time we had gone to Radio Shack and purchased a UHF converter for our television. I had it up and running while my dad was still reading the instructions. I suppose that’s simply part of my ‘bent’ (something that interests an individual). So, that’s why I easily see us (people) as portals – spiritually speaking.

A spiritual portal is a position where a spirit-being can access both the natural (physical) realm and the realm of the spirit where the unseen populace exists – like God, angels, and demons. Human beings are first and foremost spirit beings that live in a body. These physical bodies give us the right (license) to operate here on the earth since they were made from the earth: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Gen 2:7). Mike Leach rendering: God made a body from the earth then placed of His spirit in it to give that body life. James Two says: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (Jas 2:26). Another way to say it is our physical body is our ‘earth-suit’.

God’s original intention for man was for mankind to give expression to the realm of the spirit in the earth. In other words, man was never intended to live life apart from the influence of God in their lives. Since God is a Spirit (John 4:24), man is also a spirit. Jehovah said in Genesis: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:26-27, underline mine for emphasis). Did you notice God said “according to Our likeness”? So, we not only look like God, but our substance (being) is like Him as well – we are spirit beings.

It is apparent that spirit beings cannot express in the earth without the cooperation of a physical body. This explains why Satan sought a serpent to be granted expression in the earth. He was already cast down from Heaven to the earth realm, but needed a body to contact (be given expression to) Eve in the Garden. Notice the dialog in Genesis Three: “So the LORD God said to the serpent: ‘Because you have done this’” (Gen. 3:14a). Apparently the serpent had granted Satan permission to manifest through their body to contact Eve, and God was upset with it. Ultimately it was Adam’s responsibility to kick the devil out – God’s intention was for the man: “to tend and keep” the Garden of Eden. It was Adam’s job to maintain the Garden.

Let’s take a little side-note here. When God instructs something, He expects it to be the Standard to conduct life by. In other words, when He says something (which, when He speaks His Words are not only instructional, but operational) and there arises a situation, or circumstance that appears contradictory to it, then it’s our responsibility to make things align with what He has instructed (the Bible calls them commandments). Jesus said: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mat 16:19). I like how the Amplified Bible Classic Edition puts it: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.”

Did you get that? We, mankind, have the authority – right here on this planet – to enforce the directives that take place on Earth. Why? Because Man was given the mandate from God to do so. When Adam committed high treason by handing over to Satan his authority the earth became flooded with darkness; humans had been transferred to the influence of Lucifer and his demon cohorts. You’ll see this in Ephesians Two: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:1-2, underline mine). ‘According to the course of this world.’ One could put it this way: ‘according to the influence (or, flow) of this world.’ Did you notice it was ‘by the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience’? That’s because of the portal that we are. We were ordained to allow the spirit world to be given expression on this planet. The Apostle John wrote it this way in his first epistle: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1Jn 5:19).

This explains why so many ungodly circumstances are happening all around the world. Darkness is being allowed to express its ugly, hateful, hurtful nature seemingly unbridled all over the place. The Good News is Jesus has stripped the devil and all his ungodly purposes of their power and authority! He has given His authority to His Body – the church – to conduct the business of Heaven. Because we are those ‘portals’ that give the realm of the spirit expression it’s up to us to enforce what ‘camp’ gets to manifest – Light, or darkness.

PAUL’S THORN IN THE FLESH

I’ll give you my understanding of what the Lord said to Paul regarding his ‘thorn in the flesh’. In Second Corinthians he tells of the difficulties he faced daily: “in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often; From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one…besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches” (11:23-28 mostly). These trials (which, by the way), he referred to as “light afflictions” earlier in this same letter (4:17).

Then, as recorded in the Twelfth chapter: “lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2Co 12:7-9). Paul was a portal that was used by God to establish His Kingdom in the earth, calling himself a “worker together with God” (2Co 6:1). Two things I want to mention here: 1) the thorn in the flesh Paul spoke of. The phrase ‘thorn in the flesh’ was a colloquial expression of his time. He said it was a “messenger of Satan,” so we know it was a demon spirit dogging his life with trouble (the trouble he just enumerated in the previous chapter). I’m mentioning Paul’s ‘thorn’ because the devil uses difficulties to distract us from moving forward in the work of God. He can’t stop the work, but if he can somehow prevent us from cooperating with God then the work comes to a halt.

2) The next thing I’d like to bring out is that religion has taught that Jesus told Paul ‘No’ (implying there would be no help from Heaven in his situation). That theory was spawned from hell! Read what Jesus said to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Here’s the Mike Leach rendering: ‘I’ve given you everything you could ever need to whip the tactics of the devil and put him in his place!’ [Now, we’ve gone back to the Garden – which is what Jesus accomplished for us through His death-burial-and Resurrection! – That’s what the ‘keys of the Kingdom’ are for!]

So, Jesus has opened the way for the influence of Heaven to affect the activities on the earth – through us, His church – His Portals! The activity we’re seeing going on around the world – especially the anti-Semitism – is to be addressed by the church! This planet and the precious people on it do not belong to the devil! God has issued His Great Commission to the Body of Christ to take care of business.

I can almost hear your thoughts: ‘Why doesn’t God do something about what’s happening?’ – He just did; He had me write this, He had you read it. We have what it takes! It’s a sobering thought, but we are going to be held responsible for the Last day revival and Great Awakening! Let’s get after it, family!

Posted in Teachings | No Comments »

GOD’S SIDE

Saturday, September 9th, 2023

September 9, 2023

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deut. 30:19).

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

As I was meditating on the things of God I pictured a dividing line – a fence, like one that would divide between two properties, or in our case two kingdoms. The Word of God is our Standard that divides between good and evil, life and death. I call it our Standard because the line it establishes has been under attack. The enemy has been working diligently to erase the lines God gives us, and they have begun to be blurred for many people who allow for them to be blurred. The Apostle Paul said it like this: “For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2Ti 3:6-7). Now, don’t get tripped up with the phrase “gullible women” thinking men are superior so this couldn’t happen to them. [I’m hearing this in my heart so strongly right now!] We are at a time of deception like never before and it is vital to be alert, taking heed to these things lest we become deceived ourselves and drift away from them! Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1Co 10:12). I read that as a warning that if we’re not careful (watchful) we can fall into the very same deceptions everybody around us are falling prey to.

We have precious people who are questioning their sex identification because of the darkness that’s getting shoved down their throats! Isaiah prophesied about this day, saying: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!” (Isa 5:20-21). That’s pretty plain! SELAH! Do you see why I call The Word of God our Standard? Paul said: “I would not have known sin except through the law [the Word]. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Romans 7:7). In other words, we truly do not have any way of knowing what is evil or good, what is darkness (of the realm of darkness) and light without The Word of God spelling it out for us. So, it’s our Standard for understanding everything about life.

What does the devil do? He mingles his ‘interpretation’ of Scripture to blur the lines so that we become confused to the meaning of Scripture and start embracing compromise. Our church services reflect nightclub atmospheres so they’ll be more ‘inviting’ to the world. The biggest problem with that is the Holy Spirit doesn’t find that inviting to Him – and without His Presence nobody receives healing for their bodies, for their marriages, for their finances, the list could go on. While we’re in this vein, I’ll mention: The Holy Spirit is the ONLY individual qualified to interpret Scripture! He’s the Author of it, and He’s been given to us to teach it to us!

I called this teaching “God’s Side” because, according to the Word of God, there are only two sides to life (existence) – Light / darkness, Good / evil, God / Satan. Colossians 1:13 tells us: “He [God, the Father] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” The Word of God provides a line for us that indicates which ‘kingdom’ has what activities (or, properties) going on in them. Jesus said the devil “steals kills and destroys” but He came “to give us life and that more abundantly” (John 10:10). That’s a line – an indicator that points out which kingdom has what activity going on in it. The book of James says: “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (Jas 1:16-17). We could say it this way: if it’s a good and perfect gift, if it ministers (imparts) life, it came from God.

Let me ask you this question: is Cancer a good gift? How about the loss of a job, the death of a child, or even divorce? Then one could conclude they didn’t come from God. Now, don’t get into the debate of God teaching you something, etc. Scripture (which is our Standard by which we come to know the activity of God, or the devil) teaches: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man (or woman) of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2Ti 3:16-17, parenthesis and underline mine for emphasis). The Word of God, The Holy Scriptures, The Bible is our ONLY Standard by which we come to understand and know the things (and ways) of God – PERIOD!

The Kingdom of God looks and feels the way God depicts it in His Word – that’s God’s side. Death, destruction, confusion, hatred, hurting (the list could go on, but I think you get the picture), that’s all the kingdom of Satan (which steals kills and destroys)! Once we get on God’s side of things then we need to stay on His side. We had an instructor at RHEMA once tell us to “Stay on God’s side.” In other words when you read a Scripture you don’t quite understand, don’t judge God as being evil and unmerciful. The Bible doesn’t always give us all sides of the scenario. For instance, sometimes something happened and the Word doesn’t tell us why right off. We might not see the reason for something that happens until many chapters later (perhaps books later). The Scripture repeatedly tells us God is abundant in mercy – it endures FOREVER! Stick with that (stay on that side).

Deuteronomy 29:29 says: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Meaning, there are some things that simply aren’t our business to know (it’s between them and God). Remember this: everything in life has a reaction to it – sowing and reaping for instance. We set laws in motion every day by the activity we allow (whether words we speak, or the way we treat others). Something happening in someone’s life could be the result of something they did before. Another Scripture in Numbers says: “be sure your sin will find you out” (32:23b). None of us (mankind) ever ‘gets away’ with anything! It might not come in this lifetime, but it will come – UNLESS we repent and receive forgiveness and cleansing of our sin (1John 1:9)! Thank You God for Jesus and His shed Blood!

Another illustration we could use to drive this point home is that of two tables. One table is adorned (filled) with good things that come from God – bodily healing, soundness of mind, answers to perplexing questions, peace; these come to us through the promises of God (which allows for us to partake of His Divine Nature [2Peter 1: 2-4]). David speaks of this table in his 23rd Psalm. The other table is set with destruction, disease, hatred, wars, confusion – all things that steal, kill and destroy. Because we have free-will we can approach and partake of the contents of either table. One is on (in) the devil’s side; the other is God’s side. Colossians 3:1-2 says: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (underline mine). Romans 8:5 contrasts it this way: “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Do you see the two ‘sides’ here? God’s side is seated above the circumstances of life; the devil’s side is to wallow through the muck and mire of this life – sick, broke, busted and disgusted! Living life ‘in the flesh’ is to constantly ‘feed off’ of what’s going on in the world (the junk the devil is orchestrating and propagating), allowing it to affect ones thinking and activity (lifestyle). Living life “after the Spirit” is to feed on the Scripture (primarily the New Testament), allowing for it to guide our thoughts and actions.

Don’t get me wrong, the choices others around us make can affect our quality of life – just ask Joshua and Caleb. They had to wander around in the wilderness because of the choices those around them made. But, they were the only two from that original group of people that came out of Egypt that made it into the Promised Land. Why? Because they stayed on God’s side! The Lord spoke this word to my heart the summer of 1995: “Tell my people they live in Goshen.” I knew exactly what He meant [usually when the Lord speaks a word to me like that, its initial interpretation comes with it as a ‘knowing’ (something we just know without literal words spoken)]. The Children of Israel dwelt in the land of Goshen during the time all sorts of bad stuff was going on all around them in Egypt (which is a type of the world) – yet, they were shielded from it (read the account in the book of Exodus chapters 8 and 9). Jehovah made a distinction between His covenant people and those who were not.  

The Promises of God are given to us to live – in this life! – like the days of Heaven on the earth. They are a Shield about us! When everybody else is getting sick, we can live in health; when others are losing their jobs, we have our needs met according to God’s riches in glory! If a tornado threatens to form, we can talk to it and it dissipates (no weapon…)! These examples are all living life on God’s side. The choice is ours to partake, or to do without! Just because they are available doesn’t mean they just fall on us – NO! We have to: 1) make a decision – choose to renew our minds to it; 2) act on what we learn: “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work (Word), this one will be blessed in what he does” (Jas 1:25). 3) “[For] we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:11-12 brackets and underline mine). For: “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6).

What is the ‘reward’? God shows everyone around us that He makes a difference between us and them! “But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere” (2Co 2:14, AMPC). Do you see it? When we live our lives on God’s side we proclaim His goodness everywhere we go; our lives being evidence of God’s existence and involvement in them!! Scripture teaches that the goodness of God leads men (mankind) to repentance (see Romans 2:4). The Father is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth; for He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Peter indicates we can hasten (speed-up) the coming of the Lord. I believe the substance of this teaching will enable that ‘hastening’ and we will see our Lord face to face! Let’s get on – and stay on! – God’s side (of everything)!

Posted in Teachings | No Comments »

ABOUT TONGUES

Friday, July 28th, 2023

“For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, ‘This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,’ And, ‘This is the refreshing’; Yet they would not hear” (Isa 28:11-12).

I began with this verse because I wanted to point out that speaking in tongues was prophesied long before the Day of Pentecost occurred. Jesus also prophesied in the Great Commission that we should speak in tongues: “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;” (Mark 16:17, italics mine).

Before we go on I’ll make this statement: Speaking in tongues is a Kingdom benefit, NOT a Salvation requirement (there have been doctrines that have stated in order for one to be saved they must be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak with other tongues – that is not true! Salvation belongs to the one who believes with their heart and confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord: “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom 10:9-10).). – Scripture must be the foundation for all believing where the Kingdom of God is concerned! [While we’re at it, the Law of Doctrine is: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2Cor.13:1). In other words one must have at least two, and preferably three (the more the better) instances where something is mentioned in order to qualify for doctrinal belief.]

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant” (1Co 12:1). The word gifts is italicized which means it was added to help clarify what’s being said. We could render this verse to say ‘Now concerning spiritual matters, or things pertaining to the spirit (the unseen realm).’ This particular teaching is talking about speaking in tongues, and some benefits that come with it. The first benefit I’d like to mention is speaking mysteries (things we simply do not know): “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries” (1Co 14:2). This last portion is what I want to emphasize here. “In the spirit he speaks mysteries.” These ‘mysteries’ are things we do not know, or have any knowledge of – but God does! He’ll give us ‘utterance’ (words) by His Spirit to pray for/about something we have no prior knowledge of.

Another Scripture that speaks to this is Romans 8:26-27 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom 8:26-27). First, the word “weaknesses” is simply speaking of our inability to produce results – because we simply do not know how or what to pray for as we ought. Speaking in tongues makes our physical tongue available to the Holy Spirit to pray/speak to God about something we don’t have knowledge of. The second thing I’d like to emphasize is the last phrase: “because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Did you notice “the will of” is italicized? That means it wasn’t in the original Greek text. If we take it out the phrase would say: “according to God.” – Did you catch that? Let me do a Mike Leach rendering for clarity: speaking in tongues (or, praying in tongues) is equivalent to God Himself doing the speaking/praying! [He knows how to get results!] He’s giving us the words to speak by unction, and we speak them as we yield to Him. [Unction is how the Holy Spirit communicates with our spirit-man; it’s internal. Not like He’s speaking ‘words’ directly to us, but it’s a knowing in our spirit-man that is communicated Spirit to spirit.]

The next benefit I’d like to talk about is found in the second part of our opening Scripture: “‘This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,’ And, ‘This is the refreshing’” (Isaiah 28:12). Speaking in tongues brings one into a place of rest, and causes a refreshing in their lives. It can be co-related to charging up a battery. “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (1Cor.14:4a). The word “edifies” is from the Greek word that means to ‘construct, build up, or edify.’ It will cause a ‘refreshing.’ Jude 20 says it like this: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” For the purpose of this teaching, when we talk about ‘praying in the Holy Spirit’ we are talking about praying in tongues – they’re synonymous terms.

So far we’ve learned that speaking in tongues enables one to:

  • Pray about/for things they don’t have knowledge of.
  • Supernaturally enter into rest and be refreshed.

So, you might ask: how does one come to speak with/in other tongues? – I’m glad you asked!

Let me reiterate, being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God, or to be a part of the Family of God. But, it does require that one has already been Born Again (made a New Creature). I did not digress from the question: speaking in tongues is the evidence of having been filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s like buying a pair of shoes; the tongues come with them – it’s not a separate action (it’s all one ‘package’). Back to the question of how one comes to speak in other tongues. Like everything in the Kingdom of God – you only have to ask to be filled with the Spirit! Then believe you have received. Jesus said it this way: “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13b).

Here are some Scriptural examples:

  • “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4, underline mine for emphasis).
  • “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God” (Acts 10:44-46a).
  • “he (Paul) said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ So they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.’ … And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:2, 6).

I want to point out two things here, 1) in each instance the people were already believers in Christ (Born Again); 2) when they were filled with the Holy Spirit they all spoke with/in (other) tongues. Perhaps this teaching should have been called “Being Filled With the Holy Spirit.” But I felt the need to emphasize speaking in tongues because there has been much confusion regarding this practice. It is certainly one of the greatest tools God has given to His Body to excel over darkness these Last Days! I like to say it this way, ‘The Word of God is the Wood for our fire, and speaking in other tongues is what adds fuel to that fire.’

Speaking in other tongues will enhance your worship experience. There are times when one may want to express to their Heavenly Father a love and devotion that escapes the natural limitations their mind and known language can afford. Tongues makes possible this expression, because it comes directly from the heart (spirit-man) the urge for intimacy with God can be satisfied through this benefit. This practice of speaking in tongues also helps one to differentiate between what is of their soul and of their spirit – like making a decision: an emotional one will come from the soul of man; a choice from the heart (spirit-man) stands to be a safe one. Speaking in tongues aids in making that difference.

I’ll not belabor this point, but what we have been talking about is NOT the gift of tongues mentioned in 1Cor. 12:10, 28. Those two verses are speaking of the manifestation of the Spirit called “kinds of tongues” or “varieties of tongues” which are for public ministry (service). These tongues sound a lot like the ‘speaking in tongues’ we’ve been talking about, but are limited to the will of the Spirit. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: … But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1Cor. 12:7, 11). This is what is called a ‘gift of the Spirit’ and functions as He wills, and is used – primarily – for public ministry. Where confusion could come in is in verse 30: “Do all speak with tongues?” implying, ‘no, not everyone does.’ Yet, Paul declared “I wish you all spoke with tongues” (14:5a). Then he said: “do not forbid to speak with tongues” (14:39b).

In conclusion: speaking in other tongues is a Kingdom benefit that anyone in the Kingdom can ask for and expect to operate in their lives. It enables them to commune with God in such an intimate way that their worship skyrockets and the desires of their heart are released. It also connects one with an energizing Source beyond description. It enables one to pray out mysteries that only God knows! It will enhance one’s understanding of the Scriptures. It will sharpen one’s spirit-man to the point of differentiating between their soul (mind-will-emotions) and their spirit-man (who they really are). This all is a result of being baptized with the Holy Spirit (filled with) and speaking in other tongues.

Posted in Teachings, Uncategorized | No Comments »

PAST FEELING FURTHER

Monday, April 11th, 2022

PAST FEELING FURTHER [March 31, 2022]

In our prior word of encouragement, “Past Feeling,” I cited Ephesians 4:17-19 emphasizing the effects of walking with a darkened mind – one that’s not illuminated by the Light of God’s Word. For some time now the Lord has been dealing with me to revisit this subject and get some things straightened-out in my life.

Those of who have walked with the Lord for any amount of time are aware of seasons we all go through in life. Just like when a baby is born and the journey begins toward maturity – walking, talking, no longer needing diapers, starting school, and so forth. Each segment of time where change (or, growth) is occurring can be called a ‘season.’ Spiritually speaking there are seasons, also. The study of the Word of God begins with “the milk of the Word.” “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1Pe 2:2). Hebrews 5:13 also tells us “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” Notice this verse says that those who only partake of the milk of the Word are unskilled in the word of righteousness. The next verse explains “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb 5:14).

There is no condemnation for anyone who is yet immature in the things of God! We all have to go through the growing process. That process may include challenges of life. For instance, if something doesn’t go your way, you might throw a fit and pout about it. That’s normal for a baby to do. But, if you’ve walked with the Lord for awhile, you should have better control over reacting in that way. In this instance ‘walking with the Lord’ simply means you’ve been a student of the Word, you’ve been in fellowship with Him and have received revelation from Him of His Word (which is filled with instruction on how we are to conduct our lives as His disciples!). Having a thriving ‘walk’ with the Lord is what Jesus was talking about in John 15 where He talked about “abiding in the vine.” This “abiding” will have the Life-flow of God going through them, which will cause “much fruit” in their lives. For this teaching, that “fruit” is listed in Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

[On a side note: there can be people who have ‘walked with the Lord’ (been Born Again) for a very long time and still be a baby where the things of God are concerned. They’ve not grown up spiritually, allowing the Word of God to affect their behavior, or character.]

I said all that to say there are seasons of ‘shouting and leaping for joy’ (some call that ‘mountain-top’ experiences), seasons of simply ‘doing-life’ day in and day out – no ‘goose-bumps’ no running the aisles at church, etc. And, if the devil has his way, seasons of weeping and ‘feeling bad’ – or just ‘blah.’ I still have opportunities to experience each of those seasons. The Lord, however, has been training me to be ‘consistent’ with my ‘moods.’ In other words: live my life with great expectation that whatever God has spoken to me (either through His Word, or personal revelation [direction that isn’t specifically spelled-out in His Word, but always agrees with it]). Not ‘up’ one day and ‘down’ the next.

He had me speak this word to our congregation a short while ago: “Don’t judge whether God is at work in your life by outward circumstances. Just because you don’t see a change taking place doesn’t mean He’s not at work.” In my personal life He has been (gently) rebuking me because I have a tendency to drag around and mope because “it doesn’t look like He’s at work – nothing will ever change.” This is where the title “Past Feeling Further” comes in. Just because we don’t emotionally ‘feel’ like anything is happening for the good in our lives doesn’t mean it isn’t! We can’t always see what God is doing – or, what the angels are bringing to us.

This is very important – we must get this! God has placed in our authority all things that pertain to life. That means we are primarily the ones who bring about good, or evil in our lives by the choices we make. Now, don’t get in a ditch, the choices of others around us can affect our lives, too (just ask Joshua and Caleb who had to wander in the wilderness with the others who refused to obey God). Our enemy, the devil, is well aware of this! He’s a master at deception and creating circumstances that make us ‘feel’ like things aren’t “working together for our good.” Both God and Satan know it takes the operation (exercise) of our faith to bring about the Promises of God (or the curse [lack, fear, hopelessness, etc.]). Faith is not just what we believe; it’s what we ‘see’ ourselves with (as). Satan knows if he can keep us believing ‘nothing good will ever happen in my life’ – to the point of ‘seeing’ ourselves that way – he can keep us in defeat, One of the primary ways he does this is keeping us in the realm of ‘feeling.’ “Blue Monday.” “Terrible Tuesday.” Things like that – down in the dumps, always negative.

[I’m going to humble myself here and confess a major hindrance I grew up with:] I had a pretty terrible childhood in elementary school. I was the brunt of bullying (kicked, spat upon, and called names and so forth). I even had my third-grade teacher call me a “stupid idiot” in front of the entire class! I closed-up so badly that I wouldn’t let anybody ‘in’ my life. This developed in me the outlook of rejection: I viewed just about all interaction from others as them rejecting me in some way or another. This made me ‘feel’ rejected all of the time, which greatly hindered a lot of things God wanted to do in my life. I had to get “past” this “feeling.”

I’m still a ‘work-in-progress’, but God is faithful. He continues to mold me into His Image (which, by-the-way is the end-goal for each of us!). There is a wonderful poem, called Footprints in the Sand. It talks about seeing two sets of footprints in the sands of the individual’s life – except during this one season when things were really tough. The person questioned the Lord about this, accusing Him of leaving them during their great trial. Jesus’ response was: ‘I didn’t leave you then – I carried you!’ That person ‘felt’ God had left them alone in the middle of their trial, when actually He carried them through it!

Let me encourage you; if you’re ‘feeling’ alone, if you ‘feel’ like nobody cares, or sees what you are going through – God sees you, and He has promised to “never leave you, nor forsake you.” Don’t be beat-up if this word had pointed out an area of ‘faithlessness’ in your life – hey, you’re still here!! Tell the devil to get off your back and praise the One Who lifts you out of the muck and mire of this world! Pick yourself up; get ‘Past Feeling Further’ than ever. The devil only has ‘smoke-screens’ and ‘lies’ – which are coming to naught (nothingness!). Jesus is going to return – and, He’s coming back for a Glorious Church (a Body filled with His glory!)!

Tags:
Posted in Teachings | No Comments »

FIND YOURSELF

Monday, April 11th, 2022

FIND YOURSELF [4/11/2022]

I was privileged to speak at my church on a Wednesday night recently. I spoke about “Covenant Lifestyle” (living a life aligned with the promises and directives of the Word of God). In my message I mentioned “finding yourself” in Scripture, like Jesus did when He quoted Isaiah 61 to the people of Nazareth in their synagogue (see Luke 4:16-21). Paul also received revelation from God regarding the path of life he was to follow when he ran across Scripture in Isaiah; “I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6b) he quoted this at the beginning of his journey in Acts 13:47.

One might argue that “this verse was prophesying about Jesus” and they would be correct. The Holy Spirit will oftentimes cause a verse of Scripture (or, in this case a portion of a verse) to ‘jump out at you’ while you are reading His Word and fellowshipping with Him – this is also called revelation, or quickening (when something from the Word of God grabs your heart—comes alive on the inside of you). Please don’t shrug those instances off and forget about it. Many times this is a powerful way the Lord speaks to us.

I was stirred up again just last night regarding the Body of Christ—all of us—taking our place in the gifting and callings we all have from God. I was reminded of the call to “find our place” and to get busy ‘being about our Father’s business.’ Every one of us has been graced by God to be a part of the overall Body of Christ. “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary” (1Cor. 12:14-22, bold mine for emphasis). ALL MEMBERS ARE NECESSARY!

There is an urgency from the Father regarding finding (and taking) our place in the Body. I believe the demonic activities we are seeing taking place on this planet are greatly occurring because the Church (Body of Christ) isn’t fully walking in her authority – being the restraining force we truly are. “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way” (2Thes. 2:7). This section of Scripture clearly indicates that the Body of Christ acts as a ‘restrainer’ to wickedness. Because we have focused more on doctrines that end up dividing us instead of walking in the unity of the faith – Salvation comes through believing on Jesus, for “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38, and Habakkuk 2:4) – we have become weakened and not much of a threat to the realm of darkness!

Another weakening we suffer from is comparing ourselves with one another. Somehow we want to function in something are we’re not equipped for (graced). So, because we aren’t graced (ordained by God) to function in a certain thing, we get frustrated and give-up on doing anything for God. Remember the discourse Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: “And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?” (1Cor. 12:16-17a)? God had Paul write these things to indicate the importance WE ALL HAVE in the Body of Christ. Regardless of what we have been graced for, we have a purpose that is not being fulfilled when we don’t: 1) find out what that purpose is, and 2) we don’t walk in it with contentment.

I’m hearing the Spirit of God say: “There are things that won’t be accomplished until the one who is supposed to accomplish them does so.” In other words, there are things ordained by God for a particular individual to accomplish that will not happen until that individual does them. Katherine Kuhlman testified that God chose her to that particular ministry because the individual He originally called to it refused to obey the calling. We all will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ – those who are Christians (the Body of Christ) that is – and give an account for what we did while in the body (living life here on earth). Paul wrote: “each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1Cor. 3:13-15). I don’t want my life – the things I did while in this body – to amount to a pile of rubble, I want to hear the Lord say: “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” This portion of Scripture in First Corinthians is talking about getting done what God ordained for us to do. He had equipped each of us to do something in His Kingdom.

Romans 8:19 says: “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” Another way to say this is “All of creation is waiting for the individual members of the Body of Christ to take their place and function in their anointing (which is God’s grace).” I’m here to tell you, my brother and sister, that true fulfillment, true peace, true joy is simply waiting on the other side of our obedience to that little wooing we all have deep inside our inner-man which is coming from God – Who so loves the entire world, that He is wanting to give us to them and wrap this age up, bringing us to Heaven and begin the rest of eternity!

Tags:
Posted in Teachings | No Comments »

KEEPING IT FRESH

Wednesday, September 15th, 2021

KEEPING IT FRESH

“‘Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes’” (Deut. 11:18).

The Israelites were in covenant with Jehovah through their father Abraham. Having been in captivity for over four hundred years The Lord provided a way for them to experience ‘days of Heaven upon the earth’ (Deut. 11:21) by keeping their eyes, minds, and hearts on His Word (their covenant with Him). Time went on and the miraculous interventions of God somehow slipped away from their thinking; walking with God had become mundane among them and the old ways of living in Egypt had crept back up in their thinking. They started complaining about their circumstances and the supernatural activities Jehovah had used to deliver them fell away (possibly becoming a distant fable to them than the truth of His involvement in their lives).

Mankind is no different today; the supernatural is relegated to ‘times past’ and God no longer performs miracles, healings, or raises the dead according to religious tradition. Because this attitude prevails among the church-world fear of what the enemy is doing has gripped the Body of Christ! I have a major announcement: God is NOT dead, He has NOT changed (nor will He ever change), His ability to save to the uttermost is STILL available to all who call upon Him out of a pure heart! What has happened? The pattern has always been believe and you shall see the Glory of God (John 11:40).

Think about it, even with “frontlets between your eyes and a sign upon your hands”, we can all get used to what’s right in front of us and come to the place of no longer seeing what is plainly there. The writer of Hebrews says it like this: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Heb 2:1, underline mine). The Amplified Classic Edition puts it this way: “SINCE ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.” One more then I’ll comment: “For this reason we ought to pay the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, for fear we should drift away from them” (Weymouth New Testament).

Now I’ll paraphrase this to get my point across: ‘We must pay close attention to the Word of God, and the instructions He gives us, so we do not let them slip away from us and we do not slip away (or, drift away) from them!’ The Lord illustrates it this way to me – we humans (Mankind) are like colanders (a kitchen utensil that allows water to drain from cooked noodles) – WE LEAK! We get up in the morning, have an awesome time of fellowship with the Lord, get full of His Spirit and His Word and go into our day ready to raise the dead (you know, like some sort of super-anointed minister). Situations arise that aren’t necessarily on our day-planner, but that’s okay because we’re still pumped-up with His Strength. What we don’t realize is those ‘bumps’ deplete some of His Strength from us. Maybe a co-worker is having a bad day and they decide to take it out on you; or, your child missed the bus and now you have to interrupt your day to take them to school – the Bible calls things like that ‘little foxes that spoil the vine.’

My point is if we’re not careful (mindful), these ‘depletions’ can render us weakened, and now the Power to resist sin has waned. Symptoms of sickness might come knocking on the door of your life and the Power to resist them is reduced to a simple memory of “I am healed be the stripes of Jesus”, which is Truth, but the Spirit-Power to back it (enforce it) is missing. Perhaps your secretary is wearing an unusually provocative outfit and the Strength to resist her alluring advances has weakened (I’ll not proceed further, we get the message).

GRACE

Others have addressed this, but, perhaps this audience hasn’t heard what I’m about to say. There is a demonic doctrine that has crept into the Church lately which says ‘grace covers all sins, past – present – and future, so live your life anyway you want, God’s grace has got you covered.’ [There’s far too much to comment on that adequately here.] The Bible STILL says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1Jn 1:8-10). The very next thing John says is: “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin” (1Jn 2:1a). This is saying (Mike Leach paraphrase) ‘by reading the things that have been written to us we will be empowered to not sin.’ That’s what grace does – it empowers! Yes it is the favor of God, but it’s by His favor that He extends to us the Power to live above sin (and everything else associated with it).

Now for the icing on the cake: How can we KEEP IT FRESH; how do we live above the dictates of sin; how do we maintain spiritual Strength? [You know, the Bible says “the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Rom 8:19). AMPC rendering: “For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]”] – All of creation, and everyone living on this planet, are waiting for the Body of Christ to rise up in the Power of the Spirit and push back the Satanic oppression that has had it bound to the works of darkness!! We need to stop dividing, and start unifying; we need to stop ignoring the wooing of the Spirit of God and start cooperating with Him!

The major KEY is found in Ephesians 5:17-21 “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

  • Do not be unwise – understand what the will of the Lord is.
  • Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (overindulgence in the pursuit of physical pleasures) (Encarta Dictionary).
  • BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.

1) speaking to one another in psalms AND

2) hymns AND

3) spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord –

4) giving thanks always (or, always have a thankful attitude)

  • submitting to one another in the fear of God

GREEK PLAY ON WORDS

The phrase “be filled with the Spirit”, in the Greek, is better rendered: be being filled with the Spirit. It’s a continuous action of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember the analogy: we leak? Life, on a day to day basis, has a way of draining our spiritual Strength, so we need to be constantly ‘being filled’ with the Spirit. Let me illustrate: you drive your car from here to there and eventually you need to visit the gas station to replenish the fuel that has been expended. The action of putting the nozzle into your car’s fuel tank and squeezing the handle to dispense gas into your car can be called “being filled” – your fuel tank is being filled with gas (the fuel – or “Strength” it needs to go on). This scenario could be called: your car is ‘be being’ filled with gas. I know it seems I’m hitting this idea over and over, but I’m making a point.

Just because we’ve gone to church and the pastor’s message really inspired us – now we feel we can ‘take on the world’ (we had been ‘being filled’) doesn’t mean the next day, or so, we have the same amount of Strength to face the challenges of the new day. What do we do? We have to be filled with the Spirit again (the Book of Acts indicates the believers were filled with the Spirit more than once). How is this done? Well, we broke down the list in Ephesians – most of which included speaking something. Let me suggest the ‘something’ to speak would be the Word of God. Either reminding each other (or, oneself) of the Promises Jehovah has made (which Peter said we would become partakers of the Divine Nature through them [2P1:2-4]) through speaking them to each other in person (or, in a phone call); singing them during a time of fellowshipping with the Lord; one of my favorites is tuning in the Victory Channel® which has faith-building content 24 hours a day. Put on a tape/CD (or, pod-cast) of your favorite preacher and let the message inspire you. These are all ways of ‘be being filled’ with the Spirit.

Another way one can get inspired (fired-up) is by reading other content in my website cspub.org. The entire site is designed to build-up the Body of Christ. I believe we are in the very last days of time. I was granted a vision many years ago of planet earth covered in a thick darkness; bubbling-up, then bursting forth, were shafts of Light (like lasers); I knew it represented the revival (Awakening) that was to take place before the Rapture of the Church. I believe this process of ‘being filled’ with the Spirit will result in those ‘shafts of Light’ exploding on the scene! Let’s turn the tables on the devil and terrorize him with that Light, driving him out of our lives and the lives of those around us! Remember, Jesus is coming for a Glorious Church (Mike Leach: a church full of the Spirit (Light) of God!). We can hasten that coming by KEEPING IT FRESH.

Posted in Teachings | No Comments »

PERSECUTIONS

Friday, June 18th, 2021

PERSECUTIONS

June 18, 2021

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psa 34:19).

King David wrote those words in the Psalm the Lord gave him to provide comfort, no doubt, while he faced upheaval to his throne – from his own son! God is like that; He’ll speak to our hearts words of comfort that lets us know He’s still with us – He’ll never leave us, nor forsake us! Sometimes it will rise up within us as a still small voice; sometimes a friend will call and say “Hey, the Lord has placed you on my heart and I just wanted to encourage you.” Other times He’ll speak through a servant of His in a sermon or a broadcast (like a show on The Victory Channel™ or a podcast, or something a radio announcer may say – He does that for me a lot!). In-a-nutshell: we have available to us all we need to succeed in life, regardless of what the enemy throws at us!

I’m writing this because the Lord has been speaking to me about persecution for some time now. He’ll do that to prepare me (and others who’ll listen to what He says through me) before we actually need to access it. My Pastor says it like this: “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” In other words, if you or I have been made aware of possible danger, or trouble before it comes along, then we can prepare for it and be ready to overcome it in advance. This “danger” could range from simple ‘verbal-slander’ to martyrdom when it comes to being persecuted for our faith. Jesus said in John’s gospel: “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (15:20).

Without delving into a lot of detail; mankind was created to give expression physically to the spirit-world. Spirits are eternal beings – all spirits, good and evil. God placed a limit on all spirit-beings that they require a physical body to be given expression in this natural world. That’s why Satan had to use a serpent’s body to talk with Eve and deceive her into disobeying God’s command regarding the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He was after the authority God gave Man to this planet (which, ultimately, was to get back at God for expelling him and his bunch from Heaven).

Entire cities of people (and sometimes animals) had to be wiped-out because they were giving themselves over to evil spirit influences. Sacrificing their children, practicing sexual-immorality, and all manner of unholy activities. God would raise up godly ministers (usually prophets) to speak His words to them to get them to stop. But, a lot of times they simply wouldn’t listen and make the necessary changes, so He had to pass judgment on them, getting rid of the ‘in-rode’ those evil spirits had. I know it sounds harsh, but from God’s perspective, He did NOT create man to follow after the devil and his rebellious ways! He ALWAYS made a way of escape for mankind to return to Him. Then came Jesus! – Let me get on a mini-soapbox here! – God creates Man, Man rebels against God; God becomes a Man to pay the penalty for the rebellion! – Who does that?? Who gets offended, then pays the penalty of the offence so the offender can go free?? – JEHOVAH GOD, WHO SO LOVED US – THAT’S WHO!

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out, let’s get back to persecutions. Both John and Paul spoke of these ‘spiritual influences.’ John wrote in 1John 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” The AMPC says: “under the power of the evil one.” The NIrV puts it this way: “under the control of the evil one.” Notice it’s the “whole world” – not the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ (although, one could fall prey to such influence if they allow themselves to – that’s why it’s so important to renew our minds, go to church, and fellowship with godly people to remain strong against evil influences!).

Paul addressed these unseen influences like this, writing to the Ephesian church: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Eph 2:1-2). “The course of this world,” Mike Leach paraphrase: ‘the direction this world is traveling in.’ Then he tells them (and us) that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (our battle isn’t with people – it may seem that way, but it’s the unseen forces they are yielding to); “but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).

Now, why all this talk about unseen influences? There are only two camps: Light and darkness; good and evil; love and hate. The spirits that be, exist in one or the other of these two camps. God The Father is over the Light camp. In that camp we’ll find The Lord Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, holy angels and the Church (the Body of Christ). Satan (once known as Lucifer) is over the camp of darkness where demons (devils), fallen angels, and unredeemed mankind exist. – I feel I have to state a side-note here: unredeemed mankind is not demon-possessed; they’re just influenced by them in their thinking and actions. A child who is brought-up in a household with morals and even godliness will exercise a greater restraint against evil influences than one who is subjected to an unholy atmosphere in their upbringing. But, God loves all mankind equally, and the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is available to all who will receive it. The choice is ours.

As you can imagine, the evil camp of unseen influences HATE the camp of holy individuals. So, they ‘move-on’ (influence) those who they can to persecute (make life miserable for) those who are in the Light camp. Remember what Jesus said in John 15:20 “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” Why? Because He’s IN us. It’s not because we are anything special, it’s because He’s so special, and we carry His anointing and message to the world. Satan cannot steal our anointing; he didn’t give it to us. But, if in some way he can prevent us from operating in it….the result is the same! It’s that anointing that destroys the yolk of bondage he puts on people.

So, the next time a co-worker, family member, or neighbor is irritating you—pray for them. Why do you think Peter wrote: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1Pe 4:12-14)?

Paul spoke of the things he suffered for the Gospel’s sake. Listen to his ‘speech’ to the church at Corinth: “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2Co 4:8-10). Notice his attitude toward what the devil was doing (I’ll show you in a moment that it was the devil):

  • We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed – yet NOT crushed!
  • Perplexed, but not in despair – but NOT in despair!
  • Persecuted, but not forsaken – but NOT forsaken!
  • Struck down, but not destroyed – but NOT destroyed!

His focus wasn’t on the negative activity going on to get him to stop doing the will of God in his life. [I trust I’m talking to somebody – I know God is talking to me!]

Now, here’s how I know it was demonic activity working through these circumstances. Later, in the same Epistle (2Corinthians), Paul gives greater detail of the things happening to him (I’ll only enumerate a few of them): stripes (whippings), imprisonment, deaths, stoned once, beaten with rods, shipwrecked, perils, weariness, toil, sleeplessness, hunger (chapter 11:23-27). He winds up the list by saying: “besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches” (2Co 11:28). Men were coming in behind him and teaching what had to be done to ‘really be saved’ (my words).

This is why Paul wrote his Epistles (letters) to these churches, so they could have evidence of what he taught while he was with them, and ‘weed-out’ the error that was becoming so popular. We have error today that is trying to change the Word of God (or, weaken our understanding of it) – if we take a stand against the error and side with the Truth of God’s Word, we’re going to face persecution! Let me help strengthen your resolve: God is not obligated to anybody’s opinion! He meant what He said, and He said what He meant – period!

To continue proving the things Paul went through were demonic, we’ll continue reading in 2Corinthians. “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure” (2Co 12:7). This messenger was stirring up trouble everywhere Paul went! It got so bad he asked the Lord three times to remove it from him. Now, religion has taught that Jesus told Paul ‘NO.’ But, that’s not what the Lord said to him at all! He said: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Co 12:9). Mike Leach paraphrase: ‘Paul, I have equipped you thoroughly for everything I’ve called you to accomplish. You have what it takes – provided by Me – to completely succeed in life. I already whipped the devil and his crew. Now you enforce that defeat!’

A little side-note here, I believe Paul was starting to pick up on these things when he wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church, he wrote: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1Co 10:13). Oh, glory to God!! Somebody shout AMEN!!

To finish-up; there’s so much more we could talk about here. I truly believe we are in the last of the last days. God is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh in this one last Great Awakening before He calls us home. Of course the devil is going to do his best to try and stop this move of God. He knows his time is short. Maybe the lake of fire has licked at his heels a little. He’s frustrated; confused; annoyed, and upset. He hates God and all of mankind (sinner and saint alike). He wants to take those, who God so loved, into the pit with him. Don’t let him distract you from the things of God. Use the weapons of warfare God has given us to overcome his schemes against us – including “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2Co 10:5). And remember, persecutions are the devil’s way of letting off steam to try and distract you and I from “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). Just keep pressing forward!

Remember this: “‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,’ Says the LORD” (Isa 54:17). I particularly like the New International Readers Version of this verse: “‘But no weapon that is used against you will succeed. People might bring charges against you. But you will prove that they are wrong. Those are the things I do for my servants. I make everything right for them,’ announces the LORD” (Isa 54:17, NIrV).

HALLELUJAH!!

Tags:, , ,
Posted in Teachings | No Comments »

HE HAS ANOINTED ME!

Monday, October 26th, 2020

I want to ask you a question; what does the verse “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29) mean to you? That’s the Authorized King James version. Here it is from the New King James: “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” That one brings a little bit more clarity, but I like the NIrV best “God does not take back his gifts. He does not change his mind about those he has chosen.” What does that mean? We could really take off right here about how that God never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8); “For I am the LORD, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). James 1:17 tells us that with God “there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

As wonderful as these truths are, they’re not the focus of this study. The point I want to bring out about Romans 11:29 is the gifts and calling of God being a sure, stable, unchangeable ordinance from the Almighty God. Ordinance meaning what God has ordained for our lives – the roles we play individually, and collectively. First Corinthians twelve tells us:

  • “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (1Co 12:12-18).
“that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another” (1Co 12:25).

I highlighted verse 25 to make the point that no matter what position in the Body one may be in does not matter—all members of the Body of Christ are just as important as the others! It’s the Head—Christ—Who is exalted above all, and in all, and through all!

In the book of Ephesians Paul talks further of the Body in a manner that depicts our need for each other and these ‘gifts’ we have been made for (to) each other:

  • “from whom [Christ] the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph 4:16 brackets mine).

Earlier in this chapter, verses 7 and 8, Paul said “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: ‘When He ascended on High, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.’” According to these verses ‘Christ’s gift’ then is considered a grace from God. And, this ‘grace’ knits the Body together according to what it supplies. Let’s compare this with Colossians 2:19 “…holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.” What is the progression here?

  1. “holding fast to the Head” – this is a vital, unbroken connection to (with) Christ Jesus, Who is the Head of the Body (see also Ephesians 1:22, 4:15, 5:23; Colossians 1:18).
  2. “from Whom all the Body” – every single person who has called upon the Name of the Lord to be saved (see Romans 10:13).
  3. “nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments” – this nourishment and knitting together is where the gifting and graces from God come in. One way we could put it is ‘the anointing of God, supplied to an individual member of the Body of Christ, to accomplish their specific task in the Body provides nourishment.’
  4. “grows with the increase that is from God” – growth, increase, development; these are all depictions of spiritual progression in God.

This “knitting together” we’re speaking of is the unseen element that ‘binds’ us all together as one Body in Christ. That’s why I mentioned “that there should be no schism in the body.” Jesus Himself warned that a house divided against itself cannot stand (Mark 3:25). This is why the enemy works so hard to establish division between us.

Before Jesus went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins He prayed to the Father: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21).

[A couple more ‘seeds’ to throw out there at this point: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35) – “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1Jn 4:8). Since God is love and we are His children, it stands to reason that we are ‘love’ too: “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5b). This is the very action of God that made us new creatures in Christ (2Corin.5:17). So, love is the very foundation of this unseen binding influence – the very thread that runs through the entire Body of Christ!]

Having established that we are ‘love-creatures’ let us continue beyond the whole of the Body unto our individuality. The person that each of us is that makes us unique from each other. Paul said it like this writing to the church at Rome: “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom 12:4-5). As mentioned earlier, in his first letter to the Corinthian church Paul wrote: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. For in fact the body is not one member but many. But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased” (1Cor.12:13a, 14, 18). This last part speaks of God’s ordinance we mentioned – the roles we play individually. We could call this our Heavenly assignment (what we are to accomplish, that we will stand in judgment before Him for).

Paul does a little analogy in this twelfth chapter of First Corinthians, talking about the eye comparing itself to the nose or ear; or, the foot comparing itself to a hand—almost in a pouty sense (‘Oh, I’m just useless sense I’m not…’). Now, let me do some Mike Leach paraphrasing, breaking this all down. “If the usher were to say ‘Because I’m not the Pastor, I’m not important’ would they not be important?” “If the Pastor were to say ‘I’m not a Prophet, so I don’t have anything to say to the Body’ would they not have anything to say to the Body?” I think you catch my meaning.

Paul further writes in his Roman epistle: “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” (12:6a). The ‘grace that is given to us’ is the anointing of God that each and every one of us received from God when we made Jesus the Lord of our lives! That’s why I called this exhortation “He Has Anointed Me!” We all have an anointing from God to do our part in the Body of Christ. Love is the overwhelming characteristic that runs common through us all, but the gifting(s) that we have, individually, is the portion we’ve been given a stewardship over.

Allow me to give a brief testimony along these lines. I’ve known my entire life I was to be some sort of teacher. When I was eight I had an experience with the Lord at the altar of the church we were attending. [That was probably when I initially got Born Again, but my ‘surrender’ to the Lord came much later in my life. Because of the lack of spirituality (maturity) in my home, and the only Truth that that church knew was the New Birth, I fell away from the Lord and plunged deeply into sin!] Immediately after that ‘experience’ I attempted to conduct Bible studies with my dad and sister. The point is I knew there was a gift to teach in (on) me.

I’m sure everyone reading this can relate in some way to that knowing that there is something within – almost a driving something – that compels you to do something in the Kingdom. May I say this to you? We (the Body of Christ collectively) are deficient without YOU, and you operating in your grace (gifting, calling, assignment from God).

Let’s all stop ignoring what we deem as ‘insignificant’ and put our hand to the plow—from preaching Christ to the nations, to taking that cup of cold water to some thirsty soul in the name of a disciple! I would rather err on the side of pressing toward God with a loyal heart, than to miss out on the glory that is to be revealed in our obedience to Him. Pray. Ask the Father what He would have you do. Ask “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colo. 1:9b-10). Let’s imitate Jesus Who said “I must be about My Father’s business” (Luke 2:49b). FEAR NOT! [I just heard that!]

Tags:, ,
Posted in Teachings | No Comments »