 
New Life

Volume 2

Rick L. King

Copyright © April 2012 Rick L. King

Published at Smashwords

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All Word translations are taken from the Greek and Hebrew in

The Online Bible used by Permission.

All Bible references are quoted from the

Authorized King James Version

About the Author

I have known the Lord for over thirty years. He came into my life when I was not even looking for Him. For years I would get mad at Him as He wasn't doing things that I figured that He should. He finally was able to get through to me that it was not Him that was causing so many problems. I had to learn that the devil was behind so many things and that I had authority over him. Now I know who to get mad at. God is a good God and wants good for His kids. We have an enemy and for the most part the church just disregards him. He doesn't go away just because we don't believe that he exists.

The books that I write reflect that we do have an enemy. We do have a God that if we will learn to walk in the Spirit instead of our head and/or flesh, that God will show us things that can change our world. Many articles I write are designed to help people find new freedom in the Spirit that they may follow Jesus. Until we get out of the way with our own ideas and plans, God cannot do what He really wants to do. We have been asking God to come into agreement with us instead of finding His mind and coming into agreement with him. What I write will help others learn to find His mind and find a closer walk with the Holy Spirit.

Table of Contents

About the Author

1. A Lie in the Hand

2. A New Thing

3. All the Marbles-The Great Deception

4. An Angel

5. An Eternal Purpose

6. Back to the Upper Room

7. Exceeding Abundantly Above

8. Fear Will Cost Us

9. Food for Thought

10. God Did It - No More Strings!

11. God Gave His Word

12. God is at Work and is Answering Your Prayers

13. God's Unfathomable Love

14. God's Ways are Miraculous

15. Learning to be Content

16. Love Never Fails

17. Marriage and Divorce Is it God's Will?

18. More than Just in Our Midst

19. My Experience of Being Baptized in the Holy Spirit

20. Offended.doc

21. Power Prayer

22. Show or Tell

23. Some Trying Times

24. Suffering to Win Christ

25. Surrender

26. Taking the Sword of the Spirit

27. Letting Go

28. Thanks Giving

29. The Abundance of the Heart

30. The Answer of Peace

31. The Blessing

32. The Blinders

33. The Bottom Line

34. The Election

35. The Greater One is Coming

36. The Joy of Duplication

37. The Keys

38. The Right Foundation

39. The Singing Toilet

40. The Spider Web

41. The Truth Shall Set You Free

42. The Weapon of Love

43. True Prosperity

44. Truth Dispels the Lie

45. Turn the Ringer On

46. Understanding God's Word

47. Unity of the Spirit

48. Unity

49. Victors or Victims

50. What is the Value of Peace?

1. A Lie in the Hand

Recently a friend a mine told me a true story about himself that was totally hilarious yet had such implications I thought I would share it.

A few weeks back, this friend had gotten the flu. He hadn't felt well at all. He would take his temperature and find that his feelings were correct as he did have a fever. This went on for a few weeks and he wondered why he still had a fever, as he seemed to be feeling better. Somehow he decided to go buy another thermometer. He bought an inexpensive digital one and took his temperature. He was amazed. He had no fever. The old thermometer he told me must have been a pre-1940 one. It said he had a fever of 99.6. He had believed the thermometer. He had believed a lie.

Often times we believe things that are untrue just as my friend had done. The devil is quick to put into our mind lies, as he can never tell the truth. He can only tempt us to accept or believe the lie but we are the ones that decide to call it truth. We are told that as a man thinketh so is he. I imagine that if this man had believed the lying thermometer long enough, the devil would probably have accommodated him and he would have had a fever. He definitely believed a lying symptom. Many times what we believe does not line up with God's Word and we call it truth. To me this is why that Gods word is so important. We must know what truth is to be able to recognize when a lie has approached our thinking. Many times we think we are a certain way yet we are not. We may believe a lying symptom instead of the truth of what God says about it. Sometimes when we think that we are sick, we are going by feelings and those feelings are just lying symptoms from the devil.

I am reminded of the scripture about love. 1 Cor 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. The scripture says thinketh no evil. How often does the enemy come at us because of something that was said to us about someone else and we find that we end up thinking evil of the person? The thermometer can be another person or the devil. We need to get our facts straight sometimes before we accept these words as truth. Sometimes what we gauge our belief upon is inaccurate. We are to make righteous judgments not unrighteous ones.

2. A New Thing!

God desires for us to walk in a new thing. A new thing means we can no longer walk in

the old thing.

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Isaiah 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

2 Corinthians 2:7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Jesus broke down the walls between us, so if they are there, then why? The enemy likes to put up walls. If we are going to go forward in Jesus, then the enemy's walls must be broken down. We must put things (hurts, wrongs, etc) behind us. We must not give place to the devil of past things. God wants to wipe our slates clean. He wants to do a new thing. God forgives and forgets. Love forgives and forgets. We must do the same thing. This will kick the enemy in the pants, and keep him from entering in. God wants to accomplish things, but if the walls are allowed to exist, then God cannot do fully what he wants to do in our lives. The choice is ours. Do we forgive, forget, put things behind and go forward in Jesus, or do we hold on to the past hurts and be swallowed up in sorrow?

We are told to confess our faults, one to another and pray so that we may be healed. It doesn't really matter as to what was said or done, who is right or wrong, all that matters is that there are no walls between us that satan can get advantage from. If we really love each other, then we should be able to sit down in the presence of the Lord, confess, and pray for each other. If we can't do that, then there is something really lacking in the area of love within us.

3. All the Marbles-The Great Deception

As a child, did you ever play a game of marbles? Many I am sure have at one time or another. The object of the game was to get all the marbles. The one that got all the marbles was the winner.

I have been thinking much about all of the wars that are going on in the world today. I was thinking how that mankind has just not learned very much over the centuries. I was thinking of how that killing others has never stopped and how little that it has really accomplished. I thought why is man still so stupid to believe that going around killing people will solve anything? Then I realized that it is all about sin. The deeper sin is that man refuses to believe that there even is a devil. The sin is the sin of unbelief. Whether the world or the church, it seems the belief is much the same. The word of God clearly tells us that there is a devil. Satan is real. Just because you don't believe that does not make it untrue. Scripture says:

1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

John 10:10 The thief (devil. Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The devil is the one that deceives and lies to us. He tells us that having our own kingdom will make us happy. He tells us that if we rule over others that we will be happy. He makes us think that when we have all of this that we will be looked up too (pride). You know, look at me, I have all the marbles. He is the one behind all of the killing. Every person killed that has not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, according to God's Word, is headed for hell. I don't want their blood on my conscious, do you? He tells us that this is life, when in fact we are void of life. Society as a whole teaches us that we are a winner if we get all of the marbles. They will allow others to go without so that they may have all of them. They seem to believe that by having all the marbles that they will be happy and that is what real life is. They do not realize that this is actually just sin. The devil wanted to be in control. He wanted to be like God. He wanted it for himself. When it is all about us, we are in agreement with satan. Yet as I look at some scripture and my own experiences, I know that this is not correct.

1John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

It is the spirit of God that gives life, not the wealth of the world. All the things of this world will pass away, but the Spirit of God will be forever. You can't take the worldly things with you, but you can take your relationship, and pleasing the Lord by your obedience, and your love and worship to God with you. Nothing else will go with you other than that.

Yet, I realized that the root of the killing is all about the marbles.

Having all of the marbles is not bad in itself. The two questions that come up are: what a person did to get all of the marbles, and what did they do with the marbles once they got them?

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Life is not in the thing's which we possess. This is a lie of the devil. This is the same lie that the devil used on Eve in the Garden of Eden. It is the same lie that he tried to tempt Jesus with when he told him that he would give to him the whole world if he would bow down and worship him. Jesus already had the whole world. He didn't buy into the deception that he had to bow to satan to get it. Satan was trying to tell Jesus that he would find life by having the whole world. Sounds like what we hear taught this day doesn't it? The lie is that it is only about us and what we can possess. If I just had this or that I would be happy. If I could just do this or that, I would be happy. I know of many people that have abundance. I know of some that have obtained the abundance at the expense of others. One couple I know had a million dollar home. Yet, they lived in the bedroom and kitchen. Was that a need? They got much of their riches honestly, yet they paid psaltery sums to people in need. They profited from the needs of others. They used others lack for their own gain. They were Christians, at least in name. The laborer is worthy of his hire. I don't know about you, but when we pay some person substandard wages because they are in need and will work for anything to get some money, that to me is ill-gotten gain. The Bible says:

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Sounds like esteeming others has been missed a lot these days. The word says in John 3:16, that God so loved the world that he gave...Love is about giving, not taking. God sacrificed to give. Is that not esteeming others higher than self?

The second question I had was what did we do with the marbles after we got all of them? Many people have been given all the marbles. Some got them by ill-gotten gain. Some got them honestly through hard work. Yet what did they do with them? The Bible says that we are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and that all things would be added unto us. (Mathew 6:33). As stated earlier, we have believed the lie that is all for me. We try to build our own kingdom. Many have all the nice things, cars, houses, money, vacations etc. God has allowed many to have all of this, but when we saw another that was cold or naked, did we just say go and get warm? Did we give to them a coat?

James 2:

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

1John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Yet, I must wonder what God will say to those when they stand before Him and He asks, but what did you do with the riches that I gave to you? Did you build My kingdom or yours? Did you heap up the treasures for yourself? Did you learn the joy that comes by sacrificial giving to those in need? I think many are going to say a big "ouch" to that one. Many have much that they could do for the kingdom. They could live in a modest home and have the joy of giving to the work of God's kingdom. There are many anointed people out there that are going without and cannot fulfill their call because there is no support. God calls each differently. Some He anoints to go and do. Some He anoints to pay for it. All of the gifting is supposed to come together to promote the kingdom of God.

I think of the upper room in the Book of Acts. They had all things common. They sold what they had and distributed to every man that had a need (Acts 2). We don't see that much in the church these days do we as it seems that most are in it for them self. They had one goal to corporately find and do the will of God. No man had lack. The focus was not on self, but on fulfilling the will of God. I see so many these days having become millionaires. The actors and singers, the sports figures, the doctor and lawyers, the corporate heads, so what are they doing with the money? Do they really need all of it to live comfortably? Do they sleep well at night knowing that they could make a major difference in people's lives or finance works of ministry for God's kingdom? Or is their conscious seared? Having all of the marbles is just not what it is cracked up to be, unless you get them honestly, and you use them for God's glory instead of your own.

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

If the Lord gives to you any marbles, be mindful with what you do with them.

4. An Angel?

Years ago I had a motorcycle that I would ride often. One particular day I had quite an experience.

I had friends that lived six miles away from the little town in Illinois where I was living at that time. I went for a visit and had a great time as usual. On the way home I had an impression to watch out ahead. Here I was peacefully riding the motorcycle and here is this alarm in my spirit. I looked ahead yet couldn't see anything that would be a danger. I didn't reduce speed as I was actually going the speed limit. Then, all of the sudden I saw a dead dog in the middle of my lane. By the time I saw the dog it was too late. My front tire hit the dog and I went airborne. The back tire never hit the dog. The motorcycle was weaving back and forth in mid air and I had no control over where it was going to go. I saw approaching cars and thought I'm in trouble here. I wasn't sure that I was going to live through this one. I got a surprise.

All the sudden the motorcycle quit weaving and landed gently on the pavement at 55 miles per hour. I rode on into town and then just stopped and parked. I got off the bike and shook once I had realized what had really happened. I looked at the front fork (the part that holds the front wheel on and has shock absorbers of sort for those unfamiliar with what a fork is) and noticed that it had collapsed further than ever as I saw the clean spot on the metal. I can't prove it, nor did I see anyone or thing, but I knew that God had protected me by either sending an angel or just intercepting me in my dilemma. Either way, I know that God did intervene in some way or I don't believe that I would be here today to write this.

I sure learned a great lesson that day also. When the Holy Spirit puts a word of caution in me, I will listen next time.

5. An Eternal Purpose

Luke 4:

5. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him,

6. All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

8. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Mr 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mt 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

2Co 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

God has a purpose that is eternal. His thoughts are much higher than ours are. Man often times views things from a temporal perspective so they devil gains an advantage by utilizing mans carnal lust. God desires that all be saved, healed and delivered. Man seems to be more concerned with the temporal things such as money, jobs, houses, and the praise of man. As nice as these all may seem, those who focus on these are deceived by the devil. They have bought into the lie that "things" produce real life. True life only comes by the Spirit.

Lu 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Just as the devil tried to deceive Jesus, he is still trying and succeeding in deceiving the lost and unfortunately many of the saved. Many people have yet to come to Jesus as the many riches and possessions are their god. They see no need to pray and seek the Lord as they are in control; at least they think they are. The truth is they have been deceived. Until they lose their life, they can never find it. (Mt.10:29,16:25). We hear many asking God to bless America. We need to ask God to save America, and forgive them. America is operating from a temporal perspective instead of eternal one. The riches won't get us into Heaven. The only thing that will cause us to live eternally with Jesus is being born again.

So here lies the dilemma. Since we know that many are blinded what then will cause their eyes to be opened so that they will cry out to a loving forgiving Savior? Maybe they must experience as I did, the loss of everything that they hold dear before recognizing the need for help. I was my own god which led me to become a man with no hope and no reason to exist. I then gave Jesus a try. I am glad I did as He gave me what I needed and what I was really searching for all the time. He gave to me Himself. So how are the blinders to come off of people?

God gave to us authority in Mathew 18:18 and 16:19 to bind the devil. We can bind the spirits that have blinded a person's mind and command them to loose their hold that the person my see. We also, because the Word says "whatsoever", can bind the devil from supplying any resources to the person (as led by the Holy Spirit of course). Please remember here that God is the one in control. We bind and loose as the Holy Spirit leads, not our carnal mind. There are times that God has allowed the devil to do things in a person's life so that they will cry out to Him. If we are to bind spirits which God sent or allowed we are walking in rebellion against the will of God. Therefore the Holy Spirit must lead us. We must be as Jesus when He said I speak what I hear the Father speak, and I do what I see Him do.

What needs to be our motive in binding and loosing? The devil likes to "enable" people to go in opposition to the Lord. Just as at times we enable someone to do the wrong thing by giving them money, the devil does the same thing. He said he would give all if they would worship him. If we through spiritual warfare can cut off the supply the devil is giving, then people can see a need for Jesus. This is no different from in a natural war. If we can cut off the enemy's supplies, then very soon he can no longer fight. Our view must be from an eternal perspective. Our motive must be from love and concern for their eternal life as opposed to their temporal life. A person's soul is much more important than what they possess here on earth. Just as God heals many yet it seems others are not healed. Consider this. Some that are healed go all out for the Lord and follow him with their whole heart. Others, even if they are healed, go back to their plans and leave God out. Case in point was my own mother. God miraculously healed her of cancer. Yet, she refused to acknowledge the Lord. She gave credit to chemotherapy. She was healed and then went on living her life for self, not for the Lord. She just couldn't believe in God as a healer or Savior. (She did finally accept the Lord about eight years later two weeks before she passed). Just as I said about money enabling, healing sometimes just enables also. What is the prime objective? It is an eternal objective, not a temporal one. We all will get a new body someday, but unless we meet Jesus we will have an eternity where none of us really desire to go. We can be healed and prosper in this temporal life and still be eternally lost. We must get a different perspective. We must look at things from God's eternal view rather than from a carnal temporal one. God has a plan for each of us that is for our good, yet until we focus on eternal things, we will never find out what it is. By the grace of God may we learn to surrender our own will and plan for self, and find the glorious one that He has for us instead.

As long as we think that it is just about our self rather than about Jesus and His will, we are missing the mark. If we are truly crucified with Christ then what the Holy Spirit desires will be preeminent, as this always places the eternal purposes higher than the temporal.

6. Back to the Upper Room

I recently had a conversation with a pastor friend of mine. He made the comment that several churches in his town were getting ready to shut their doors, as they just didn't have enough money to keep them open. My response to him may seem odd, but I told him "good". In fact, this may cause you to wince, but I would like to see most of the church doors shut. You might like my reason after you see the explanation of that statement.

When Jesus was on this earth before His crucifixion he spent many hours with his disciples. They had an intimate relationship. Jesus taught them and directed them as to what to do and when to do it. Yet, after Jesus was resurrected this intimacy stopped for awhile. Jesus promised them that he would send the comforter, the Holy Spirit, so they would not be comfortless. What then did the disciples do? They went to the upper room until they were endued with power. They waited on the Holy Spirit. They could have just gone into the entire world and preached. They had a command of the Lord to do so. Yet, they knew that it took the power of God doing the preaching through them. So they knew that they had to wait and be endued with power before they went out. Had they not done this they would have become religious. They would have become under the law. All the things that Jesus had told them to do they would have just started doing by their flesh. They were smart enough to know that by the flesh they could not please God. They knew that they needed power; the power of the Holy Ghost. So many churches walk the word in their own strength. There is no power. This is for the most part why the churches are dying. They do not have any rhema words from the Lord and the knowledge of specific plans for that body. The world does not see much difference between the church and the world so they are not drawn to come to the services. Here is something that if you really will consider you might be shocked. We are told that we are not under the law. We are told that he that is led by the spirit is not under the law. We are told to be led by the spirit. We are not told to be led by the word. If we are led only by the word then we are practicing religion and legalism and our relationship with God is only based on the law. We have put our self into trying to fulfill the do's and don'ts of the word. The problem is we cannot fulfill the law. If we are guilty of one then the word says that we are guilty of all. God did not intend for us to walk the word in our strength. He intended for us to be endued with power, the power of the Holy Spirit.

If churches were to close their doors and go to the upper room once again, then when they were reopened there would be power. They would be opened not to the programs and religious works of man's flesh, but to a mighty anointing as people have heard from the Lord and have an anointing that will break every yoke.

Intimacy with God only comes by allowing the Holy Spirit to teach, lead, and empower us. It then becomes God as we are just the vessel. It is no longer religious dead works, but it is the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us. The Holy Spirit will then draw people that do not know God to the church. The power of God will always bring life to a spiritually dead person.

If we could shut the doors of the churches and go to the upper room once again and realize that it is nothing to do with us, but it is about Him alone. It is about what His plans are and how He would have us involved in bringing them to fulfillment. We have so made church about us and left Jesus and the power of God outside the building.

I remember revivals where the people in town were constantly talking about and commenting about what is going on in that little church. When the power of God is in the church, the world takes notice. They know this is what they need. The Holy Spirit will draw men to life, not dead works. Religion and dead works do not work. They do not save or change anyone. It takes the anointing to break the yoke. Many churches are having a form of godliness but are denying the power of God. They are trying to run things and let's face it; it is not working. Unless we go back to the upper room once again we are not going to see happen what needs to happen.

7. Exceeding Abundantly Above

A few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit told me that He was pulling back the covers in people's lives. This was based on Isaiah 30:1. The scripture says that we are covered with a covering but not of God's Spirit (paraphrased). He has been doing just that even in my life. He has revealed areas in me that need changed and has been changing me. Praise God! In this article, I desire to bring a few things out that may help some people that are struggling as things just don't seem to be going right for them.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

In the scripture above, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. The scripture shows us how this is accomplished. It is accomplished according to the power that works within us. The abundance comes through His power working in us. The carnal Christian finds that they have a physical, financial, or material need. In their thinking if God would meet that need, they would be fine. The problem is that they may not be taking into account that God wants much more for them. He wants exceedingly above all that we ask or think. The carnal Christian cannot see the above all as the natural man receives not the things of God since they are spiritually discerned. The Holy Spirit recently told me something that many may have a problem with if they are looking at it through carnal eyes. He said that He could heal a person any time He chose too, but why do it if by healing them they will go right back to what they were doing before. God can produce any amount of healing, money, and material things any time He chooses. God and the Spirit led Christian are looking from an eternal perspective; and the carnal Christian is looking through a temporal one. If by healing or meeting a financial need allows a person to go back and be in control or continue down a road that does not really bring them real life in Jesus, then it does not accomplish an eternal result. God allows us to go through things because He desires us to come to Him. He wants us to be intimate with Him and be filled with His power. When we are filled with His power we then start realizing the exceedingly abundantly above as it comes by the spirit not the carnal man. For too long many of us have settled for so much less than what God desires for us. Until we learn to spend time with the Holy Spirit and allow the struggles that we must go through to change and die to self, we will never realize His power working through us and realize all that He desires for us. One thing that I have learned is that what God does in me and for me far outweighs anything that I have ever desired for myself. I think of the scripture which says "the blessing of the Lord maketh rich and He adds no sorrow with it"(Proverbs 10:22). What we come up in our natural way of viewing things for our self usually has sorrow with it. Only what God adds has no sorrow.

I am seeing many people lately that are going through many struggles and wondering why God has not answered their prayers yet. I believe the reason is that He is doing things behind the scenes. It takes a struggle and a lack for us to see that God will provide and be faithful to do what He promised. If we have everything then there is no need for God to fill it. There must be a need first. We are learning to trust that God will provide for us. Who knows what will happen in this world before Jesus comes back for us. God is preparing us to be able to stand through whatever comes our way. We are learning to be content like Paul said, with or without. The most glorious revelation I think I ever had, is that if I am in His presence, I need nothing else. It is only when I get in the carnal man that I find I seem to have a lack. Jesus wants to do the exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, but it is contingent on the power working in us. If we don't know the Holy Ghost then we are not going to get the above all. When everything seems to fail, we usually will start praying and crying out for help. This is when we learn about God, get to know Him, and learn that we can trust Him with everything.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

God will and does come through. He is faithful and will never fail us. Let's let patience have its perfect work. Let's allow the Holy Spirit to change us and perfect what concerns us. It is for our good and His glory. If God be for us, who can be against us?

8. Fear Will Cost Us

Out in the yard in a place where I once stayed was a nice little apple tree. It must have been a great year, because it has full of nice red apples. When I first got here, many apples were on the ground. The deer would come up and seem to gorge themselves on a tasty delight. It was really fun watching them. I noticed one evening though, that they were not eating. I went out when they were not there and noticed the apples weren't falling anymore. I thought that they needed their treats, so I started shaking the tree so apples would fall. I didn't know what I had gotten started.

It seems every evening now about 5:30 p.m., one to 5 deer will show up. This one deer seems to stand right on the edge of the mound below the tree and watch me. Well, the other night there were five hungry deer under the tree with no apples. It was time to shake the tree. As I started walking towards the tree, four of the deer ran away scared. The one little deer just backed up and watched me. I shook the tree till about a dozen apples had fallen, then walked back to the porch. This one deer then came and had a feast. The other four never came back that night.

I thought to myself, what an example of what fear does. The one without fear had a blessing. The other four that gave into the fear, lost out on a tasty meal. Seems what God says about fear is true. The devil comes to kill, steal and destroy. God has not given to us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. Since fear is a spirit, and anyone that has it or yields to it, will always be stolen from. That is fear's fruit; it will kill, steal or destroy.

Next time fears try to grip you, maybe you will remember this little story. Give in to them, it will cost you something. Walk through them, there may be a blessing for you. We will never know till we try.

9. Food for Thought

Ga 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (KJV)

Ga 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Jas 4:3 or you pray and yet do not receive, because you pray wrongly, your object being to waste what you get on some pleasure or another. (Weymouth)

Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (KJV)

Jesus came to do the will of his Father, not his own. He gave up any life on earth that would bring satisfaction to him. He had to lay down any fleshly desires, wants, needs, passions, feelings, emotions, likes or dislikes, as he came to only do what the Father showed him and asked him to do. We are told that we are crucified with Him. Crucified means put to death. If I then read this correctly, we should be dead to everything except Jesus living in us and doing the same thing that he did in his earthly body. He just should now be doing it through us instead as it is Him living in us and not us.

I think of this in regard to prayer. He said that we ask amiss and don't receive because we want it for our own lust. Weymouth says that we want it for our own pleasure. How much do we pray that we know that it is nothing about us or for us and know that it is only about His revealed will and for His kingdom? Is this why we have so few prayers answered? Is it because we want something however noble and good that it may be, is it for our pleasure or his? I wonder.

So much is taught today about self receiving for self. Prayers for money cars houses etc. This is all about self pleasure. We are told that they which are in the flesh cannot please God. When we pray and ask for things that bring satisfaction to our flesh instead of our spirit are we pleasing God? Haven't we given in to the cares of this world and it is choking out God? Jesus came to do the father's will alone. You may say well that was Jesus and he is different. But is he? We are supposed to be crucified with him and it is him alone living in us. This is something to consider. How much is for our self pleasure as opposed to satisfying what the Holy Spirit desires? How deep can this go? Could it mean that we are to have no desires for self at all? Does it mean that our emotions, feelings, wants, and desires are really unimportant if we are really crucified with him? Could it be that the only things that we should desire are what he has revealed to us that are the things that he alone wants for us? We know that when his presence comes upon us that we desire only to be with him. All the things that we thought were important don't even enter our minds. So are all those things that we were concerned about outside his presence mean that they are all coming from our fleshly desire and not our spirit? Mathew 6 says that we are to take no thought of the basics such as food or clothing. When we are truly in the spirit, we don't think about even the basic of things let alone all the other things that we seem to say make up our life such as money, possessions, jobs, houses, etc. This is just some good food for thought.

10. God Did It – No More Strings!

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew that there was a problem and that if you said something you knew that it would cause hurt to someone that you deeply cared about?

Just recently I was having a struggle in how to deal with a situation. I live by faith and live on whatever the Lord does provide. My income has been very minimal but God has always taken care of my needs, maybe not my wants at times, but always my needs. I have been considered to be a pastor to this person, as they are elderly and unable to really get to church any longer. Daily telephone conversations were the norm. This person had been told by the Holy Spirit to give to me their tithe, as they knew the Holy Spirit consistently was using me to speak to them the words that I was given.

This person was very manipulative in so many ways yet I knew I was to help them not only spiritually but also I would go and spend days at their house and do things in the natural that they could not do. For the last two months I had felt a real manipulation and control through them. I have always trusted the Lord as my source and I knew that them helping me financially was right. I then was faced with a decision. I sensed the bondage that they were putting me in over the money, They started having expectations that I could not fulfill. Physical problems that I am in the midst of prevented me from physical labor to help. Yet they expectation seemed to remain from this person. I was expected all the sudden to provide things for them in payment to them for giving me the tithe. I knew that this was not of the Lord. It seemed my freedom of choice was being attacked. I did not want to hurt this person so I pulled back for a few days. I kept crying out to the Lord and praying for them and for wisdom for me in what I was to do. I had come to the decision that even if I had to go without money totally, I would rather do that than live in bondage. Jesus came to set at liberty them that were bound; not cause them to get bound.

I had resigned myself to not call until I heard from the Lord. God's Word says:

Ps 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

Well after two days of not calling this person, they started calling me. I was in no hurry to talk to them, as I still had not gotten any direction as to how to deal with the situation. I finally called them, as I didn't want them to feel abandoned by me. To my surprise I was told this.

After you had not called I started crying and seeking the Lord as to why. The Holy Spirit told me what I was doing wrong and that I was putting you into bondage. I am sorry, please forgive me. I was told that I was to give you the tithe as God said that it was to be your money. I will give this to you without any more strings. I release you from all bondage.

This I know was only a portion of what was said to me. They had written a letter and had included every concern that I had. God had shown them everything that I was sensing bondage over. I did not have to open my mouth at all. God delivered them and in the process kept me from getting bound. The person was crying as they shared the letter with me as was I listening in amazement of how the Lord intervened in every area of my concern. This was a miracle to me, as this person has been known to be that way for some time. I had been told by many that they were very manipulative and had a way of getting what they wanted. They had been trusting in their ability out of fear to get the things that they wanted. God delivered them. God changed them! Praise God!!!!!

Often we get into situations that we say things that we should never say. We may be right in our words but really harm a person by saying them. We cannot play God over people. Jesus is the deliverer, not us. Even though we know the truth at times it is our job to only pray and trust, not speak until the Holy Spirit empowers us to do so. Once again I think a four lines of a poem the Holy Spirit gave to me years ago. It applies once again.

The words may be right

Yet the spirit or motive is wrong

The timing may be off

As we want to sing our own song.

Poem verse from "Words", copyrighted by Rick L. King, Ministry in Poem "with a message for you". Please do not reuse this outside of this article.

Oh for wisdom to speak as the Holy Spirit wants to speak. God knows the person's heart and when they are able to hear the truth. Beating one over the head with truth does not work. God goes before and prepares the way. The person's heart must be softened that they not only want to hear truth, but are in a place that they can handle it. Remember that we are told that God never gives to us more than we can bear. Sometimes we must just give grace to the person until they are able to handle the truth. God gives to each of us much grace. We all sin and come short of the Glory of God. God does not come down on us with a rod and beat us over our fault. He comes as a gentle lamb mostly when we have open ears to hear his correction in love. Sometimes we forget that we need to treat others as Jesus treats us. Give to them grace till they are able to receive.

I thank God for His delivering power and delivering this person that I cared for as well as me out of this distress. By waiting on Him and not taking matters into my own hands, I got to see Him do a miracle for both of us. I got to keep them as a true friend and no walls came up between us. He is faithful to deliver us out of all of our distresses, if we will stand back and allow Him to do it His way.

In closing I remember a story by Pat Robertson of the 700 Club. Hopefully I remember this correctly. Pat was just starting out and needed money for the television station. Someone offered him 1 million dollars. The Holy Spirit told him that he was not to take it. The reason that the Holy Spirit gave was that if he was to take it, then this person would have control over his ministry. Pat would have been bound.

I feel in some ways that this was a test for me. Would I go into bondage over money or the lack of it? What was more important, money or liberty in the Spirit? I chose liberty.

11. God Gave His Word

Jer 1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten (watch over) my word to perform it.

Nu 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Ps 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mathew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

God gave us His Word. That statement can mean two things. He gave us His Word meaning he gave to us the Bible, His Word. It can also mean that God gave to us His word meaning He gave us His promise. Scripture above states how important God's Word is to Him. If He said it then according to His Word, He meant it. What He said that He will do, He will do.

We have many promises that the Lord made to us. We often do our part yet we do not see the fruit from His side. I have questioned this at length. I went to sleep last night with the impression in my spirit that "God gave to us His Word". God promised. So regardless of what we may feel or see, God promised. If we ask according to His will He hears us. If he hears us then we have what we have asked for. No matter that we don't see or feel it. We have it. It is ours. We are just waiting for the manifestation to take place. Mark 11:24 says that if we believe that we receive when we pray then we have what we asked for. I have always wrestled with the idea that until I saw it I didn't have it. God said we must ask in faith. Faith is our knowing without our seeing. Since God cannot lie, then when we ask we already have it. We are just waiting on the manifestation. This has to be true because God watches over His Word to perform it. Signs follow them that believe. It doesn't say that it necessarily manifested at the same time, it said they would follow. The real key is that regardless of what we see or feel, faith says that we have it. It is ours. We must start believing this if we are to receive. I wish that I could convey in words what I sense in my spirit over this. When we ask, it is settled that we have it. God cannot lie. Just because we don't see or feel it, does not mean we need to ask again or that the manifestation won't catch up with the words. It will catch up if we keep faithful and do not waver. When we waver we sign a death warrant to our requests (James 1:6).

We are told that by His stripes we were healed. Why would Jesus take those stripes and not cause the manifestation of healing in those that believed? It would have been in vain wouldn't it? Jesus did not do this in vain. He did it for you and I to be healed. We are told to lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. A miracle would be instant though recovery may take time. But God said "shall" recover. Can God lie? God gave His word, so they "shall" recover if we believe and receive. The timing of the manifestation is up to the Lord, but God cannot lie so they "shall" recover in God's way and time.

I know that it may seem strange thinking this way as it is opposed to our natural way of thinking. If God gave His word and we have done what He asked us to do, then we shall see the manifestation, as it was ours as soon as we asked the Lord for it. The key is our believing that we receive it. We believe this never seeing anything. We know that God cannot lie and that He is watching over His Word and performing what we requested. We just stand believing that we have it already and praise and thank Him ahead of time. This is faith in action. These are the works concerning faith that we must learn to do. God honors His word. Signs will follow once we believe and receive.

Do we do what we should?

Wait upon the Lord (James 1:4)

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness ( Mathew 6:33)

Believe that we receive ( Mark 11:24)

Praise and worship and thank him for it before we see it?

Decree a thing and it shall be established (Job 22:28)

12. God is at Work and is Answering Your Prayers

So often when we pray we wonder if God has heard us or we wonder why we never seem to get an answer. We are told in:

Isa 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

God hears us when we cry out to Him. He says He answers. Yet, we seem to not see the answers even though He says that He does answer. Years ago, the Holy Spirit told me to stop praying the leaves off of the tree. The leaves will come back in another season, so this makes only for a temporary fix to the problem. The problem usually goes much deeper. The best fix is to chop down the tree and pull up the roots so it can never grow again.

I was watching a man digging up a small bush and working very hard to get the roots out. It was not an easy task. Our roots are the same. Sometimes there are many that are so tangled with each other and other things. This takes time to unravel and remove these. God is doing this in each one of us. He is going to the root. He does just not want us free, He desires for us to be free indeed. He does not just want to remove the leaf from the tree; He wants to stop the leaf from coming back at a later time. This is where our faith must come in. We must stand by faith, knowing that He has heard our cry and is answering us. We just don't always know the work that has to be done to get all of the root causes out of us so we may be free indeed. Be encouraged. When we cry out to Him, He does hear us and will answer us. He cannot lie. His Word is true.

13. God's Unfathomable Love

I have read so many things and heard and seen men's viewpoints concerning this word called love. Had I never experienced what I am going to share, I may have come to many of the same conclusions that others have.

The Lord uses me as an intercessor many times. I know that it is part of my calling. During several times of intercession I experienced His love for another person. Even though that I was aware of the things that the person was doing wrong, I could only see the person as God sees them through our Savior Jesus Christ. I saw the finished work. I saw them complete and perfect. I found that instead of looking at the faults or sins of another, I was only looking at what the Lord wanted to do in the person's life. The Holy Spirit once told me that what others do is not my concern. My job is to lead them into His presence and He would fix what He wanted fixed. Oh how this took the responsibility off my shoulders. My job was to just be obedient to what he asked of me to do nothing more. I was not to take on a false burden. God's burden is easy and yoke is light. Taking on His burden we become as Jesus. What He saw the Father do, he did. What He heard the father speak, he spoke. It really is simple, yet learning to let go and allowing the Holy Spirit to totally rule can be a struggle, as our flesh loves to be in control.

Saying this we need to look at a few scriptures about God's love for us.

Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God knows that we sin. We all sin. Yet, even though we were in sin, Jesus still gave His life for us that we might be reconciled with God Almighty. That is love beyond our comprehension. We lived for self, served the devil, yet Jesus dies for us because he loved us so much. Do we deserve His love? There will never be a chance of our deserving this kind of love.

1Jo 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

God's love for us is not based on whether we sin. If that were true, we all would be lost as we all sin. God's says that rebellion is sin. We all get into rebellion when we trust in our flesh or man rather than in His Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 30 & 31). Do we trust in the Holy Spirit all the time and not do anything except he leads us?

Our concept of love is so far different than God's is. Love is not self-pleasing. Love does not push itself forward. Love does not seek for its own. When we say that we love someone can we look at those words and really say that we love them? Love is usually about us in some way. The Word says:

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.

How many friends could we say that we would lay down our own life for so that they might live? Could we honestly pay that cost for another? That's what Jesus did for us. We are supposed to be able to do the same if it is really Jesus living in us and we are submitted to God and dead to self. When we are truly in the Spirit, I have found that it is easy to do this. It is not easy in the flesh.

How often were we going through a struggle of some kind and God hit us over the head with a 2X4? God gives to us so much grace to change. He changes us, as we are willing and able to handle the change. He does not put on us more than we can bear. How often do we put on others more than they can bear? How often do we put them in religious mold and try to make them conform to our expectations? The same grace that God has given to us, we must learn to give to others as it is supposed to be Him living in and through us. Love gives grace. Love may know of things wrong, but love gives grace till a person can handle being cleaned up of the wrongs that they do. A person can only walk in what they personally know. We may know it but they may not. We didn't know it till the Holy Spirit revealed it to us and changed us. How can we expect another to change without the same revelation that God gave to us? We put them into bondage and under the law when we expect that of another. God's love is so great, that He gives grace as he gently draws a person to Him and speaks to them and shows them His way of doing things. He even gives them a choice? Even though they may make the wrong choice, He sets things in motion and allows things to happen in a person's life that will cause them to become willing to choose His way. He does not take our freedom to choose, but he will allow situations so that we will choose His way. God perfects what concerns us. He promises to do that in His Word, and he does do it. It takes a long time with some as they have been born under demonic influence and there may be so many demonic strongholds in their mind that they cannot just change overnight. He loves them through it. He gives them grace to change. The same grace that he gave to us to be saved is the same grace that he gives to us to be delivered and changed.

I pray that we each may experience His love for another in our body that our view of real love may line up with what truly he is all about. God is love. Love covers a multitude of sin. Love never fails. Everyone needs to be loved with God's pure love, not man's selfish love. Love won't put things on a person that they can't handle. We are not under the law anymore. Until we draw near to the Lord and experience His true love, we are not able to show that pure love to another, as we don't really know that it exists. God's love working through us for another will change our whole walk and viewpoint, and we will see fruit that we never thought possible. The greatest of all things is charity (love).

14. God's Ways are Miraculous

Have you ever considered that you are striving? Even though the motives may be right for some reason it is taking all of your strength and ability and something just isn't still working out? Please consider the words I say here. They will set some people free.

Pr 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Years ago, I wrote a series of many poems. I sensed the Holy Spirit tell me to put them in a book. I took what he had said literally and tried to do just that. Five years down the road I just gave up. No matter what I did nothing would come together. It seemed there was always one variable missing. Sometime after I had laid the idea down I had gone to church on a Sunday morning. During worship I sensed the Holy Spirit tell me that I had been striving. I thought, striving, how so Lord? He told me that yes he had told me to put the poems in a book but. He said that he didn't tell me to do it without Him. Oh what an interesting lesson that changed my life and walk with Him forever.

The Word tells us that the letter of the law killeth, right? What I was doing was no different than taking a scripture and trying to walk it in my own strength. I was walking in the flesh, not the Spirit. The Bible tells us that we are to be led by the Spirit. Think about this. Any person whether saved or unsaved can take God's written Word, the Bible, and walk it in their own strength, or at least try. I think of the disciples in the book of Acts when the y went to the upper room and waited till they were endued with power. Think about this as they were the ones that had intimate one on one times with Jesus. They learned from Him and saw Him in the flesh. He told them things that he wanted them to do. Yet, after His crucifixion, did they run out and start doing those things? No they didn't. They waited on the promise of the Holy Spirit so they would be like Jesus was in His ministry, endued with power. So often we run out in our strength and miss what God desires to happen because it is us doing it and not Him through us. I think of the scripture:

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

When we do things in our strength it may tickle some ears, and make us look real religious, but it lacks the one ingredient that we must all have for it to bear good fruit. That is His power! To have His power will cost us something. His power comes as we learn to wait on Him. He prepares us and changes us and equips us for the task He wants done. Our only desire should be to please Him. It should never be to please self or look good to others, as this is a very wrong motive that will always leave us void of His power.

The reason I had this subject on my heart is because I had just prayed with a friend of mine a few days back that had not learned this lesson yet. The Holy Spirit apparently had directed them to do something. They tried to get me involved and I knew that I was not to be. They called and finally asked for prayer. Their ways were causing death to them. Their blood pressure was all messed up and their bowel was all plugged and causing severe pain. They had wanted me to pray for the bowel. The Holy Spirit directed me to pray for something totally different. (Note that there is usually a root problem deeper than what we see on the outward). They had not given up their control. They had not learned to rest in the Lord. They were doing things out of their own strength. They had no strength for the task. Come hell or high water they were going to do this thing. I shared with them that the problem was not the bowel. The problem was that because they were intent on doing this that they were so stressed and the muscles in their body were all tensed up. I told them that we are to go out with joy, which the Word says is our strength, and be led forth with peace. I also said that so often that you tell me that you need to unwind. This statement would come over nothing. They would be fine one minute then wound up the next. I shared with them that this was not of the Lord. We are to be anxious for nothing. We are to cast our cares upon Him because He careth for us. We must apply 2 Cor 10:5 and get our head emptied of all of the imaginations before we can have the mind of Christ. When we have our head full and try to act, of course we are stressed and get worn out. We must be led by the spirit; not our head. The Lord leads us from a place of rest and peace, not in turmoil. The Word tells us that it is not by our might or by our power (our strength or ability), but by my Spirit saith the Lord. (Zech 4:6).

Church, it is time for us to give up our control and quit trying to work the word in our own strength. It is time to quit striving, as it is killing us and not producing good fruit. It is time for us to go to the upper room and wait till we are endued with power. We can't keep running around religiously as we are killing self and many others in the process. In the articles and poem that I write I look at what people look at most. People are hungry for the power of God. They are hungry for miracles. They are hungry for something that works. They are tired of the religious show, as it does not produce life in any one. It is the Spirit alone that gives life. I hope that soon the church will quit trying to play church, and have church. God wants to run things. Until we give up our control, humble ourselves, and wait till we are endued with power, we are not going to see what our hearts really cry out for. I have said for years this. It is not about me, it is only about Him. What I want is of no significance. What will please him? Lord teach me to do things your way and be endued with your power that I may bear good fruit for your kingdom. God's ways are miraculous and will produce miracles.

15. Learning to be Content

Learning to be content is something we all are learning. God is endeavoring to bring us all into that place of rest no matter what is going on.

Paul said in Philippians 4:11, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content".

The word "content" in the Greek taken from the Online Bible means:

1) Sufficient for one's self, strong enough or processing enough to need no aid or support

2) Independent of external circumstances

3) Contented with one's lot, with one's means, though the slenderest

Note that Paul stated that he learned to be content. He learned it in the state that he was in. In other words, he learned it in the midst of the storm. It was not an automatic thing. All of the struggles and circumstances that we seem to face, we are to learn to be content in the midst of them. Jesus even learned obedience by the things which He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). Years ago the Holy Spirit told me "Circumstances are not the problem, when we change, circumstances will automatically change. They are only circumstances because of the way that we view them". How often do we come up against a wall so to speak and ask the Lord to change something? Do we ever stop and think that maybe He wants to change us more than the circumstance? When we learn to trust and walk by faith, the journey gets easier. Our frustration and struggle is born out of our carnal nature. We get frustrated when we don't get what we think we should or something doesn't happen when or the way we thought. The real problem is that we must give up our control. Jesus may be our Savior, but is He our Lord? God said in Isaiah 55:9, that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours. We must learn to get His perspective rather than our own.

Years ago the Holy Spirit asked me to do something. I tried for a long time to do it, yet nothing ever came of my efforts. I got very frustrated and gave up. Later on a Sunday at Church, the Holy Spirit told me that I was striving. I thought, striving, how can that be? He then told me that, yes; He had asked me to do the thing, but not without Him. Oh, what a lesson I learned. I tried to do it in my strength with me in control. A statement that the Holy Spirit once gave to me is: "Focus on the problem; it never gets resolved. Focus on Jesus; I find that it rarely was a problem at all". I have since learned to look at the Bible and God through one scripture. Zechariah 4:6 says, "....Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts". I've learned that it is never about me, that it is only about Him.

So where does this contentment come from?

Galatians 5:22-23 says: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance

The fruit includes the word's peace and faith. We are to be as Paul, at peace no matter the storm. Remember the story about the disciples with Jesus in the boat on the lake? A great storm came up while Jesus was asleep, (Luke 8:23-24). The disciples feared for their lives. Jesus just rebuked the wind, and the storm was gone. God is endeavoring to teach us to be able to sleep in the storm. If we are in the spirit and allowing the spirit man to rule, we can do as Jesus did; just rebuke the storm and go to sleep. Jesus is trying to get us from the disciples' view of the storm, to His view. We must notice that peace is one of the fruit of the Spirit, not the flesh. The more that we die to self and allow the Holy Spirit to rule, the more this fruit will become evident in our lives. Why faith? Faith is our believing no matter what we see. The devil hates us walking in faith. If we stand in faith and at peace, then how can the devil get to us? No matter his best shot, we will not be moved by the attack. We are told in:

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Faith therefore is a defense. With a shield of faith we are protected so the enemy's darts just bounce off.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him".

We keep the enemies darts from penetrating us as we please God. As we exercise godliness with contentment we also have great gain. Contentment does not allow us to be ruled by money, food, material things, fleshly lusts or any externals. The cares of this world will never choke out God's word. Contentment comes by being ruled by our spirit man. This is one of the most important things that God has been doing in us, as it makes us free to follow Him. I am not saying that is easy because the world's way of doing things teaches to always be in control. But I've found that God's ways are always better.

1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

The gain we have by allowing our spirit man to rule no matter the circumstance is the best possible gain that can happen to us. We please God, squelch the enemy, and God is able to use us, as we are no longer ruled by anything other than His precious Holy Spirit. To me, that is contentment and great gain.

16. Love Never Fails

Love: what is it and where does it come from? The Bible says that God is love. Sometimes what we call love is our love and not God's. There is really a difference. Let's look at God's love verses our love.

The Bible is full of the word love. I want to show a few scriptures and see what they mean. Jesus said that when we know the truth, the truth would set us free. This is not my truth, but it is the truth from God's word.

1 Corinthians 13:

4. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil

6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, and endureth all things.

8. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (KJV)

The word charity defined is love. This is God's love. God's love will produce what it says in the scriptures above. Our love can't accomplish this. The major reason is that our love is selfish usually. God's love is not selfish. God's love lays down His life for us. Our love cannot do that. We can't lay down our life for someone else with our love alone. Our love does not go that deep. When we can lay down our life for someone else, then we know that it is God's love in us. Laying down your life does not mean just that you would die for someone else. It also means that you would live without to make them happy. You would esteem them more important than yourself. Their needs being met are more important to you than your own needs. Why are we told that to be the greatest that we must be a servant to all first? The answer is that being a servant to all is love. God builds our lives and ministry on love. When we can be a servant to others more than a servant to self, we have gained some major ground in Jesus. We are becoming like Him.

A Testimony

When I met Jesus it was because of one thing, love. The people that had led me to the Lord had only once tried to share with me about Jesus. I did not respond to their words, in fact I became defensive because I was full of pride. They visited me often after that and never tried to hit me over the head with the Word again. They just accepted me where I was and loved me. I watched this married couple which to my natural eye should not have been in love. They didn't seem right for each other. Yet, they would walk down the street after twenty-five years of marriage holding hands. They would be like two school kids on a date driving the car as no matter who was driving the other would sit right beside the other. How could this be? How could they love each other this way? Even though at the time I was married, I didn't have that kind of love and I knew it. When the time came for me to meet Jesus I was drawn to them. I was getting ready to commit suicide and found myself going to see this married couple I guess as a last resort. I received Jesus as Savior.

The point of this testimony is to show one thing. They did not win me to Christ because they preached to me, or used the gifts of the spirit; they won me by being an example of Love. I felt loved. Whether I agreed with what they said or did really didn't matter. There was something different about them. The love of Jesus came through them for me. The one thing that I had never known but wanted was love. I knew a form of love from a fleshly selfish perspective, yet I didn't know the real God kind of love. The word says that God is love. Real love was God. I wanted God, the God that loved me no matter how evil and rotten I was. That love drew me to God.

Often times we do the works of God by giving and preaching etc., yet people do not feel God's love through us. Love never fails. If the love of God is in our hearts for someone then we will never condemn or judge them. We are willing to lay down our lives for them (see 1 John 3). Their life becomes more important than our own. Over the years of walking with the Lord, I have experienced many lessons. I have learned about the gifts of the spirit and how wonderful that they are. I have learned the joy of giving to others material things and money. Yet, it seems that God has taken me full circle. I am learning that what everyone really needs is to be loved by God. They need to know inside that they are loved unconditionally. If the gifts are used with God's love as a basis, look at how powerful that they will become. The gifts help us to minister to someone that is drawn to us because they feel loved. They are not so much drawn to the gifts of the spirit they are drawn to the spirit. God is a spirit.

I have many people that seem to be drawn to me. I have often questioned why this happens. I have rarely been in a position to help them with their physical needs. I just give to them what I have. I have come to understand that the love of God pours through me for them. I will and will give up everything for them. I never condemn them. I find myself being a servant to them. I didn't do this in me; it only came by me going through many struggles and battles of dying to me. Oh, I have a long ways to go in areas, yet it seems that God has been able to change me in some that His love can now come out of me for some other people. I thank and praise Him for His patience with me. He doesn't seem to ever give up on me and because of that I am privileged to experience His love through me for people that He brings into my life.

The scripture in Mathew 7:23 that talks about though these people prophesied in Jesus Name, cast out demons, and did many works, Jesus said that He never knew them. Did you ever wonder why that He said that? The one thing that was missing was love, God's love flowing through them. It is easy in self to do the works, yet it takes time and dying to self to have the love of God come through you. Since God is love unless we have God's love pouring through us, then it makes sense why He said that He never knew us. We had not become one with Him. We had not learned to dwell in Him. We were not intimate with Him. Intimacy with Jesus will produce His love in your heart for others. What you may have done out of Christian duty before (works) you will now do out of His love. There is a major difference. If we could but learn to spend more time with Jesus and less time with self and what self wants, we would find a new love flowing through us for others. As we spend time with someone we become more like them. This love draws people to you. We all desire the same thing. We all want God. We all want to be loved by Him. The substitutes seem to no longer work for people. There is a hunger in many hearts for real love.

I firmly believe that when we as the church learn to love as Jesus did, we will then see churches packed with the people that are starving for God's love. We will see God's glory in the Church. We will see the gifts of the spirit in operation as never before. We will see lives changed before our eyes. We will be helping others with all of their needs and accepting them right where they are. They will not feel condemned or judged as all they will feel is loved. We will be using all of the resources that God has given to us for others instead of on ourselves. They will come to church to be in God's presence, not ours. This is the true God. This is love. This love will never fail.

I think of the old hymn that we use to sing. Just as I am without one plea, His blood was shed for thee. Maybe we need to just start loving people just as they are and allow the Blood to do the work instead of us.

17. Marriage and Divorce Is it God's Will?

I see so many articles on marriage and the divorce rate even in the Christian community. I see people wonder as to why a Christian gets a divorce without proper Biblical grounds. What I am going to write may disturb some, yet I believe that it is the truth.

First of all man can walk in the flesh or in the Spirit. Decisions we make are quite different depending on where we are in the Lord. Scripture says that we are to "Let" this mind be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus. Unfortunately many believe that just because that they are saved that they automatically have the mind of Christ. If that were to be true then 2 Cor 10:4-5 would not be needed. We are told "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ". It would not be necessary to get rid of our imaginations if we automatically had the mind of Christ. We actually can walk in agreement with three minds. It can be our own fleshly carnal mind, it can be the mind of Christ; or we can also walk with the mind of the devil. This is why we are told to "LET" this mind, as there is a choice involved by us. God did not make us to be a robot but He gave us free will to choose.

We also know that there are many spirits in this world that the bottom line objective is to kill, steal, or destroy. They come and deceive many. There are spirits of lust, fears, and deceptions, etc. So consider the root reason a person gets married in the first place. I am going to make a bold statement that some may find alarming but I feel it is time to say this. Just because a person gets married does not mean that God was in it or ordained it. Where in the Bible does it say that once you sin that you must stay in the sin? Is this not the reason for the Blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all unrighteousness? Is the area of marriage excluded? How many were joined in the flesh but never in the Spirit? How many got a legal document saying that they were married but God never joined them in the spirit? Just because a person gets married does not mean it was a marriage that is ordained of God. It may have been a marriage of the flesh, but God joins two in the spirit. I am not advocating divorce, but if the marriage was a "God joined" marriage, I don't believe it would be that there were so many divorces. Sometimes we must look at the letter of the law as opposed to the spirit. Even if there is a divorce the Blood of Jesus even cleanses us from marriages that were sin in the first place. God makes "all" things new, if we allow Him too and do it His way. According to Isaiah 30-31, we are in rebellion when we do anything outside of listening to God's Spirit. That may be hard to swallow, but that is what is said. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Witchcraft is mind control. Whose mind is in control?

In the church we seem to have this religious thing going that regardless of the root reason that a person got married, that they must stay in the marriage except of course for infidelity. I am in no way advocating divorce. But I think it is time we looked deeper into the marriage thing and realized the scriptural basis for the marriage to be in the first place. How many actually sought the Lord and waited for Him to say whether or not it was His will for them to marry? How many were unified in the Spirit and were walking with the Lord and His will? The Lord gets a bad rap as often He gets blamed for the things and decisions that we make when we don't even consult or care what He wants over what we want.

Scripture says:

Mt 19:6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Mr 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Pr 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Ps 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

My question is this. Did God join them together? Is the marriage a house that God built? God said that His blessing makes us rich with no sorrow. Were they joined out of a sexual lust? Were they joined for fear of being alone? Were they joined for financial security? Were they joined by what? There are so many reasons that people get joined, yet many may not be of God. Just because people get "joined" together does not mean that God had anything to do with it.

In the Old Testament God told people to do something that many are unaware of.

Ezra 10:1-4.

1. Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.

2. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

3. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

4. Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

It happened in those days and is still happening today. I do believe that if the husband and wife surrender to the Lord completely and allow the Holy Spirit to reign, then God can cause any marriage to come together. Yet, the decision on that rests with the Lord as sometimes He has a different purpose for people. His ways are higher. His thoughts are higher. We forget that it is supposed to be as Jesus when He said that he didn't come to do His will but the will of the Father that sent Him. It is about Jesus not about us.

If Jesus is really Lord, then I say do without if in doubt. Wait on the Lord until you know that it is His best for you. The devil has many substitutes that look and feel good, but actually steal from you what God has in mind. Every good and perfect gift comes from God.

We all sin and make mistakes. Even the big named ones. They are human too. Until we really grasp the fact that in our flesh dwells no good thing and they that are in the flesh cannot please God, we are going to mess up. It is the Spirit that gives life. No one else can give real life. It is just a choice we must all make to go with God or our own desires.

Consider this thought. People are all looking for intimacy with the Lord and end up looking in the flesh for what only God can give to them. Often since that void in their heart is unfulfilled, they keep trying to find what they are looking for in a person. The only one that can satisfy this hunger is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Until they are filled with him, they will never really find what they are looking for.

Scripture says, we are complete in HIM only.

18. More than Just in Our Midst

The following scriptures are two promises that we have been given to let us know that we are never alone. Even though we are never alone, let's look at these a little deeper.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Jesus said that He would never leave nor forsake us and also where two or three are gathered together in His name, He would be in their midst.

Many times we have three friends over. Maybe one or two dominate the conversation. The other is just actually observing. Because of the two dominating, the other never gets to say anything or if they do, the others are so busy talking they didn't hear what was said anyway. Let's look at this in relation to Jesus and how He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. When we were saved, the Holy Spirit came into us so that we may have communion with the Father through Jesus. The Holy Spirit never leaves us, yet often we never hear Him speak. When we are so busy running the show by our own programs or talk, we miss the greatest blessing that we can have, fellowship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Just because He is in our midst, does not mean that we acknowledge Him or allow Him to speak. We must take time to listen. We must learn and desire to listen to what He has to say. Many people are satisfied just to know that Jesus is always with us. This is just the first blessing. The deeper blessing is allowing intimate fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit in our lives. This requires a cost however. We must learn to give up our control and we must lose our life to find it. The Holy Spirit will take you on many adventures and give you the greatest peace and joy that exists. I have found that intimacy with Him is worth the cost. The cost is sometimes hard to pay, but always worth it on the other side. I pray that you will desire and intimate relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit as you will find the greatest life that there is. You can just allow Jesus in your room or you can go deeper and have an intimate fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit. He wants to be more than just in your midst. He wants to speak to you and give revelation, guidance, and blessings that can only come as you learn to listen to what He desires to say.

19. My Experience of Being Baptized in the Holy Spirit

I met Jesus when I was age 28. I am now 62. My conversion was quite remarkable, as I was not looking for the Lord at all. My life had fallen apart, as my wife and I split up, my job was gone, and I had little money. Everything that I had considered to be my life was gone. I was a mess and became suicidal. Friends that I had had tried to tell me about Jesus but I was so proud I cursed at them thinking I knew it all. But, when the time came, they were the ones that led me to know Jesus. I had planned my suicide and was just about ready to go. I found myself going to their house. They told me that if I would just say this simple prayer that all would change. I would get a new life in Jesus. I can't say that I really believed what they had said, but I did as they asked. Immediately it was like someone lifted 2000 pounds from my shoulder. I felt free inside and at peace for the first time in my life. I went outside and looked around and saw things that I had never noticed before. The trees and the sky were a different color. They were so beautiful. I was seeing them through God's eyes now. It was an awesome time in my life, as my life now finally was just beginning to take on purpose.

Though as awesome a conversion that I experienced, this is not what this article is really about. I received power from on high a few years later. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. Do you think I believed in any of it? No way. This was too far about and rather unbelievable to me. But, God being God had other plans for me.

I had gone to a Women's Aglow meeting with the lady that led me to the Lord. I think that I was the only man there. During worship I had raised my hands to the Lord in worship and all the sudden my knees seemed to become like rubber. I just couldn't stand up. I was holding on to the back of a chair rather than fall down. I asked a lady what was wrong and what should I do. She told me to go up front and be prayed for. Me, being so new in the Lord and not having a clue just did as I was told, as I knew something was going on in me. I went up front and the lady that was praying for people asked me if I knew some scriptures. She asked me about many. I had told her, heck no, I don't know anything. I am just a new kid on the block. She then said well, let me just pray for you. She touched my forehead with one finger. That is the last thing that I remembered. I woke up twenty minutes later under a chair. I tried to get up and it was like I was drunk. I could hardly walk. I was determined to walk I guess and staggered all over the building. I found myself up near the front again and the lady who prayed for me asked me if I wanted some more. I said no way! I can't handle what I have already. Even though I felt so drunk, I felt strength, a freedom and a peace inside that I never would have known could exist. I stayed drunk like this for about 4 hours. I had gone home and was lying on the couch and just worshipping the Lord. All the sudden I was speaking in another language. No one had told me about this, so I was needless to say concerned. I found that I was speaking in tongues. It was such a glorious experience that I will never forget. I have not stopped speaking in tongues since. I have since realized the value of tongues and the power of God that comes as a result. It takes me from my natural carnal man into the spirit realm. I am able to hear what the Holy Spirit wants to say to me. He shows me how to pray. He gives me guidance. He fills me with His power so I don't have to rely on my own (which by the way put me on course to die through suicide, as I had no clue of really how to run my life).

Prior to that experience I had gone to meetings where people were prayed for and down they went. I thought it was so silly and said I don't believe this to be of God at all. Well, interestingly enough it seems the Lord decided to show me anyway. I found that it is truly of the Lord and the second best thing that ever happened to me. I have learned to use a scripture as the basis of my walk with the Lord. It is Zechariah 4:6. It says...Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit saith the Lord

I have learned over the years it has nothing to do with me. It is only about Him. I gave my life to Him to rule and reign and be Lord. He decides what He wants for me, as it is His life in and through me. He is taking me on a journey that I never would have dreamed could be. Sure it has its ups and downs, but experiencing the power of God and Him in control is the greatest thing that I could have ever gotten.

I am writing this in hopes that someone will read that really needs to know His power. It is very real. It is available to all who ask. Yes, it blows our natural thinking, but scripture does say that he natural man receives not the things of God. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours are. If you really are tired of the dead religion that is so prominent today in the majority of churches, I would encourage you to ask the Lord to baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. You will find that this is one of the wisest decisions that you ever made. You will taste of the Lord in ways that you never could have imagined. Seek and ye shall find!

There are so many people that have experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Granted, not everyone experiences the same thing or maybe not as dramatic. Why he decided to give me this blessing like he did, only he knows. But I do know that we must surrender our lives totally to Him if He is to be our Lord. He will empower us to walk in ways and places far above anything that we can come up with. It is a glorious gift from God that I am so thankful that even though I didn't want or believe for it, He gave me grace and gave me so much anyway. May the Lord bless and guide you on your search for more of Him.

Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Lu 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The key to receiving is just asking! Ask and trust Him to do this for you in his time and place.

20. Offended

Mr 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

Strong's Greek-4624 skandalizw skandalizo skan-dal-id'-zo ("scandalize")

from 4625; TDNT-7:339,1036; v

AV-offend 28, make to offend 2; 30

1) to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend

1a) to entice to sin

1b) to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey

1b1) to cause to fall away

1b2) to be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority

1b3) to cause one to judge unfavorably or unjustly of another

1c) since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed

1c1) to cause one displeasure at a thing

1c2) to make indignant

1c3) to be displeased, indignant

Ac 24:1 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Strong's Greek-Offence-677 aproskopov aproskopos ap-ros'-kop-os

from 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of 4350; TDNT-6:745,946; adj

AV-void of offense 1, none offence 1, without offence 1; 3

1) having nothing to strike against, not causing to stumble

1a) of a smooth road

1b) metaph. of not leading others to sin by one's mode of life

2) not striking against or stumbling

2a) metaph. not led into sin, blameless

3) without offense, not troubled by a consciousness of sin

Pr 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Are we ever offended? Why is this such a battle at times? We always have opportunities to take offence because of what people say and the actions that they make. Why is this such an important issue that we all must deal with?

First we must realize that the devil is behind this. He desires to kill steal and destroy. When we become offended it causes a stumbling block in our path. We are unable to go forward. Jesus even told us that when we do not forgive, that we will not be forgiven. He also said that unforgiveness would hinder our prayers. God desires that we walk in love towards all men. When we look at man's faults, our focus is changed from focusing on the Lord to focusing on man. Man will never do everything that (we) think that he should. He will always be imperfect as long as he lives in a fleshly body. The trick of the devil therefore is to get us to focus on the circumstance or person rather than the Lord. The Holy Spirit once told me this: "Circumstances are not the problem. As we change, circumstances will automatically change because they are only a circumstance because of the way that we view them". I also have been told when I was complaining about something that a person was or was not doing: "What other people do is not your problem. Do what I tell you only and leave the rest to me". This requires a single-minded focus. Once we take our eyes off of Jesus, we are going to go downhill.

A few years back a situation came up that I could have gotten offended. I knew that the person was doing only what they knew to do so I could not expect them to do differently even though I was not very happy about what they had done. Jesus had put His love in my heart for the individual so I was able to look beyond their faults. Next thing I knew the devil started putting all kinds of things in my head so I would become offended at the person. I kept standing my ground saying that I choose to not be offended. I battled this attack for three days but because of God's love in me for the person the demon spirit finally gave up and left. Had I signed on the dotted line and bought in to the offense, there would have been a wall between the person and I and I would have been unable to pray with love for them. Offences separate people. They cause division and strife. God said that we are to forgive. True, maybe what they did is wrong, but we lose more than they do when we take offence.

I know a person that has had a very fruitful ministry in the area of deliverance. They have faced the devil doing all kinds of things. They have had to walk in the spirit and in love to deal with all those things the devil throws. Now unfortunately they have become critical and easily offended. Their eyes are more on the person and offence than on the Lord so their ministry is suffering. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. We must be careful and not allow offences in our heart. It is a killer.

21. Daily Prayer in Authority

Note:

This is a prayer that the Holy Spirit directed me to write. It is for knowledge and instruction as to how that we can pray. It is not meant to be a form ritualistic prayer. It is more an example, Please use this for learning and allow the Holy Spirit to lead in how He would have you do warfare or pray in a given situation.

Father, I come to you in the Name of your Son, Jesus Christ. I thank you for the day and for what you have in store for me this day. I thank you for answered prayer, past and present blessings and provision. I praise you for your love, mercy and grace. I thank you for your salvation, the blood of Jesus that cleanses me from all unrighteousness, and the power of your Holy Spirit working in and through me. I thank you for your Word, and that it is true, and it shall not return unto you void as stated in Isaiah 55:11, but it shall accomplish what you please, and prosper in what you sent it to prosper in.

According to your Word in Ephesians 6:16, if I take up the shield of faith, then, I shall quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. You also said in Philippians 2:10 that at the Name of Jesus every knee must bow in Heaven, earth, and under earth. You also said that you gave to me the keys to the kingdom in Mathew 16:19 and that whatever I bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatever I loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven. You also gave to me power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy in St. Luke 10:19. I take up the Name of Jesus, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, (your Word) and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Since, I choose to let this mind be in me which was also in Christ Jesus: Father, I ask you to forgive me for allowing any thought that has exalted itself over your knowledge working in and through me. I take authority over all thoughts that have entered my mind which are not of the Lord Jesus Christ and I command them to loose my mind and go. Because I choose to have no other gods before you, I cast down all imaginations, and every high thing that has exalted itself against the knowledge of God that has been erected in my mind and in the mind of all the people that I am praying for. I bring into captivity every thought to the obedience (purposes and plans) of Jesus Christ, that your will alone will stand in our lives in accordance with 2 Corinthians 10:5. I also pull down every stronghold of the enemy in our minds and lives, that you alone will be glorified.

In the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I take up the sword of the Spirit and break every assignment of the enemy this day to kill, steal, and destroy in my life and in (Fill in other people's names). Jesus came that we might have life more abundantly (John 10:10), and satan, you shall not kill, steal or destroy in the names of the lives mentioned. I loose the blessings of God and life abundantly this day upon the people I have mentioned. I also take the sword of the Spirit and cut these people loose from all generational curses and witchcraft prayers that have been prayed against them. I bind you satan from interfering in the plans and purposes of the Lord Jesus Christ in these people's lives this day. The will of God shall stand in Jesus name in all the people's lives this day. I command you satan, to loose these people now and go, in Jesus Name. I also state according to Isaiah 54:17 that no weapon formed against these people this day shall prosper as I come into agreement with God's Word by faith in the Name of Jesus and the through the power of God's Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ alone is my Lord, and satan you or your lies and deceit is not.

Father you have promised to meet all of my needs, and that I shall lend and not borrow, that you will bless the works of my hands, and that I will prosper and be in health. Father, in Job 22:28, you said that if I decree a thing that it shall be established, So Father, I decree this by faith, and I receive your promises as mine this day in Jesus Name, and I thank you ahead of time for them. You told me that the Holy Spirit would lead and guide me into all truth and I also receive all truth needed for today according to your Word and promises. You said that you would make a way where there seems to be no way, so I receive as mine your way.

I Praise you, I thank you and I give you all glory for what you are doing in my life today, and the lives of the ones I am praying for.

In Jesus Name,

Amen

22. Show or Tell?

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake.

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

We may say or preach many things to people; yet, our works will speak much louder. Do they see the nature of Christ in us or are our words just talk? Do they see grace coming from us instead of criticism or judging when they do something, which is not Christ-like? Do they feel love and compassion coming from a gentle kind spirit in us when they are hurting or having a tough day? Just as Jesus said, believe my works if nothing else. Often we preach or try to correct another's wrong but what do they see when they look at our fruit. If we know to be or do something and we are different, then our words mean little. The true testimony is about the changes God made in us that are visible to others. Our words with this testimony mean so much more than our religiousness being pushed on someone. Let us not just tell others the right way, but let us show them by example of our good works.

We also can tell someone what to do, yet is it not more effective if we are doing what we say and have the good fruit to show as a result?

Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

23. Some Trying Times

Have you ever considered how much trouble that we get ourselves into just because we did not seek first His kingdom and wait for His counsel? The word tells us that he will lead and guide us into all truth. Are we willing to wait to hear from him or do must we just go our own way and trust in our thinking and abilities?

A friend of mine just had his van wrecked. He wasn't driving but allowed someone else to drive it. This person had a current driver's license, he thought. Come to find out the license had expired. He now is faced with whether or not the insurance is going to cover this accident. He only had liability so the parked vehicle that was hit won't be covered. Often the Lord tells us things that are for our protection. Yet if we go our own way and do not seek or wait for his counsel then we are open game to the enemy to kill steal or destroy. The Bible says that sin brings forth death. You may say that there is no sin in what happened. Well in Isaiah 30 and 31 the word tells us that listening to anything other than the spirit of the Lord is rebellion and therefore is most definitely sin. I seem to be looking around and noticing the many things that are going wrong in people's lives and why that much is happening. It is called wrong self-centered choices. We are trusting in self and our own thoughts and wisdom instead of spending time and getting into his presence and receiving his counsel. Much of the bad that happens to people could have been avoided if they would just decide to seek Him first. The Lord will lead and guide us but we must choose to have him do so. We must spend time with him. This must become of major importance to us. I think maybe the Lord is allowing much that happens so that we will realize that we need him to guide and lead us instead of trusting in our own thoughts and ways. I think if we will be honest and look back at some of the bad things that have happened to us, we will find that we made some wrong decisions and had not waited to hear from him before we acted. Patience is a good thing to have. It may save us much trouble. I would encourage all that may read this to consider spending more time seeking and waiting for his counsel before just running out and doing things. This may save you many problems and heartaches.

Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

24. Suffering to Win Christ

This story I am sure some can relate too, yet many I feel would have no idea.

I have known the Lord for over 30 years. He has taken me through many experiences that have caused me to have to die to me. Anyone relate? Well, two and half years ago as I was driving the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said "Believe me for a new vehicle". I thought, why would I need a new vehicle, as this one is fine. Little did I know that one week later my vehicle was to give up the ghost. It blew a head gasket and water and antifreeze was hitting the exhaust manifold as I drove leaving behind me a major cloud on the highway. It was so bad I got pulled over by the state police and was told they could not even figure out what was doing this, as they couldn't see the car. God's grace must have kicked in, as I didn't get a ticket though I am sure I could have. Anyway, that was two and one half years ago. I still do not have another vehicle, yet. (At the time this was written I did not yet have another vehicle. He has since provided another. It is not what I hoped for but it does serve the need.)

I have gone through having to learn to be content as Paul said with or without. It has seemed to me that it has been more without than with. I have lived on a total of $100.00 a month for several years so I could not do many things. It really can be done if you are trusting the Lord with everything. I decided since I was 62 to retire from the work scene as my body just didn't want to be as agreeable as it use to with the things that I liked to do. I thought well now I will have an income. What a new concept; money to spend. My first thought was I was going to buy a car. I missed going out different places with that freedom. I found one I liked but ran into a major snag. I have no credit. As I have not purchased anything on credit for over 15 years. Well much to my surprise, I could not get financed anywhere. This was a tough one for me to handle as I had it all planned out. (Sound familiar to anyone?) I found myself really devastated and wondering why I can never have things work out. Others can get a car, and the things that they want. Why not me? I asked the Lord if I had done something that made Him mad at me. I was beginning to feel like a leper to God and couldn't understand as to why. After two days of deep crying and heartfelt searching the Holy Spirit sent this scripture to me.

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Paul said that he suffered the loss of all things that He might win Christ. Now this is not the scripture that we would think normally to find peace. Yet, it brought to me peace. I now knew the reason that I had not been allowed to have many things. Of course my flesh was never real happy by not getting the things it wanted, but I was forced to learn contentment in whatever state that I was in. I learned that we do suffer deeply at times though we don't understand God has a higher purpose. The word suffer is a very accurate word also as I understand the pain and hurt of feeling rejected by God and no matter what I prayed, did or said, nothing would change for me. So though it has been a tough road, it has all been for my good. I can be at peace with or without.

As far as the car goes, I had to lay it down. Two friends have told me that they believed that God had something better for me than I had considered. He does say that he would do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think according to the power that works within us. I also had an impression about a week ago that God was saying that he was going to do a miracle.. How and when I don't have a clue. I have had prophetic words that it was His will for me to have a vehicle. So I am the perfect candidate for a miracle.

Do we really want to suffer? I don't, yet if it causes me to win Christ, then so be it. I think of the following scripture as a final thought.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

25. Surrender-the Key to Victory

Do you think that you have things in your life that need to be different? Do you have struggles that seem to never lose power or stop no matter what you do? Do you have desires that you believe are unpleasing to the Lord, yet you can't seem to change? Do you lack power in your walk or do you never sense Gods presence? Do you find yourself unable to pray or really know what to pray that is effective and brings results? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this article could revolutionize your life.

Years ago, the Holy Spirit told me to do something that He wanted me to do. I tried for five years, yet it never seemed to come together no matter what I did. I finally got frustrated and gave up. Then, one Sunday in Church, the Holy Spirit told me that I was striving. I thought striving? How was I striving? The Holy Spirit then told me about what He had asked me to do. He said that yes, He wanted me to do something, yet, I wasn't to do it without Him. This was a valuable lesson for me. It is not about me doing something for Him. It is about Him doing something through me.

Often I see how we as the church have missed it. God gave us His Word and the Holy Spirit, yet more often than not, we try to walk the Word in our flesh. God gave us His Word that we might learn about Him. We can have our head full of what He said, yet never know the one that wrote the Word. I can write something, yet unless I spend intimate time with Him, I will not really know Him. Jesus desires for us to become intimate with Him and get to know Him; not just have knowledge of what He said. Yes, we need to know the Word of God, but we also need to learn to allow the Holy Spirit to show us what to do with it. He will lead, guide, and direct us to where, to what, and to when we are to use it and how. With His leading, it is His will and we will be empowered and anointed. It must be His leading. Many people memorize the Word. They may not even be saved. The devil knows the Word. The only one that can and will anoint Gods Word, is the Holy Spirit at His leading, not ours.

I have heard many ministers tell us to love and forgive others. I have heard many say that the way to change is memorize God's Word, confess it over and over and things will change. Though there is an element of truth to this, it is actually not scriptural. The Bible says in Romans 8:8; "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God". The word "flesh" in the Greek means, carnal mind. Here is the real issue. We are told in Galatians 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh". The word "flesh" also means carnal mind. According to this scripture, we can either walk in the Spirit, or by our carnal mind. This indicates that we have a choice. This also agrees with the scripture in Philippians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus". We must choose to walk in the Spirit. If we truly desire to walk in power and gain revelation knowledge of Gods desire and will, and then we must learn to become intimate with the Holy Spirit. We must choose to have the mind of Christ. So then how do we do this?

When we do things without the leading of the Holy Spirit, we are doing things through our carnal mind or our flesh. The problem is we cannot please God by our flesh. We can only please Him by our spirit. This becomes a focus issue. When we try to change our self or others, we are doing so by the flesh. I have found that when I have done this, that first the thing I want to change seems to get worse, and then I end up just being frustrated. I cannot change myself. I cannot change others. The Holy Spirit once told me that what others do is not my problem. My job is to bring others into His presence, and He would change what He wanted changed. My job is to just be obedient to what He asks me to do.

When I focused on a problem I had years ago, the Holy Spirit talked to me. He asked me if I could save myself, to which I had to answer no. He then said, so then how do you think you can deliver yourself? If you could do it then you would never need Me. I had to come to the realization that God knew the good and bad that I was doing, at least from my perspective of what was good or bad. I had to accept me for me. If I was to be different, then it was the work of the Holy Spirit that was going to bring it about. He would change me in His time and way, not by mine. My efforts always brought frustration and failure, as I wanted God to do what I thought I needed, rather than finding out what He thought or desired. I was unknowingly trying to make God my servant, rather than me being His. It wouldn't work. Thank God! My job was to just focus on getting into the Spirit, and just let Him change what He wanted changed, when He wanted to do it. He alone is the deliverer and Savior, not me. Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord". It is what He does, not me. Once I learned this lesson, I found a freedom that I never knew. I learned that if I focused on the problem, it never got solved; but, if I focused on Jesus, I found that more often than not, there was not a problem at all. All pressure was gone that tried to put me into works to change. My job was to seek Him, worship Him, and do what I knew to get into and follow His presence. Being in His presence will always bring change.

Behind all this is one major problem that we all must deal with. We must surrender. When we are in control, God isn't. We must learn to give up our control and give total control to the Holy Spirit. When we give up our control, the Holy Spirit can do things with us, through us, and for us. When we try to do it, we fail. The Word says in Romans 7:18," For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not". If there is no good thing dwelling in our flesh, then how can a no good thing fix or change a bad thing? Our power won't change us. Even if it could, then who would get the Glory? Would it be God or us?

Here is now a great comparison: religion or a relationship. Religion pushes us doing things in the flesh. A relationship with the Holy Spirit causes us to do things in obedience to His leading and wishes. Religion leaves out the Holy Spirit. Just before Jesus left to be with His Father, He had spent much time with His disciples. I'm sure that much conversation took place back and forth with Jesus. They had an intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus told them that it was expedient that He went away so that He could send the "comforter". The comforter was the Holy Spirit. Consider this. After Jesus was crucified and went to be with His Father, then what happened to the intimate fellowship the disciples had with Him? The fellowship stopped! The disciples knew what Jesus had taught them, yet they had no fellowship. Fellowship with God was not restored until they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Comforter had come that Jesus had promised. Once again they had two-way communication with Heaven. They were now empowered to pray, walk, and be led by the Holy Spirit to do what God the Father wanted them to do. Many may not like this statement, but yet I firmly believe it to be true. Without a relationship and intimacy with the Holy Spirit, it is our flesh running things, which makes us only religious and unpleasing to God. Our works mean very little. Jesus said that He came not to do His will, but to do the will of the Father that sent Him. He came to do God's will not His own. The mind of Jesus was actually the mind of God the Father. Jesus let God's mind be in Him instead of His own. We must do the same thing.

This issue continues also in another area. Often we ask God to do what we want to do instead of our getting revelation as to what God wants to do. Jesus did only what He saw or heard from the Father. The Holy Spirit only does what He hears from the Father. We must do the same. Somehow we have a misconception that it is about what we want or our desire. It wasn't for Jesus and shouldn't be for us either. If we are really crucified with Christ and it is not us living but Christ living within us, then it should never be about what we want. It should always be only about what God wants. We must stop asking God to come into agreement with our will, and start finding out what His will is and coming into agreement with Him. The only way to know what He wants is to go into the spirit and hear from Him. Paul states in 1Co 2:14, " But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned". Revelation and spiritual knowledge come only through the Spirit, not the carnal, fleshly, natural mind. It is about laying down our life and our control and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, teach, and empower. This is when and only when that God is pleased with us as He alone gets the Glory.

This is not a sugar-coated message. To surrender, will cost you something. To gain intimacy with the Holy Spirit, will cost you something. It will cost you your natural, worldly life. It will cost you everything. You will have to give up your own will and kingdom desire, for His.

Mathew 16:25 says, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it".

Jesus did it as an example for us that we may know what we are to do to please the Father. If you will lose your life for Him, you will find the greatest life beyond your dreams that will be powerful and actually fun with Him. Remember that Isaiah stated:

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Let's all get the mind of Christ and gain God's thoughts instead of our own. Truly, God has a better life and way for us if we will go His way alone.

26. Taking the Sword of the Spirit

Are we taking up the sword of the spirit or our sword? There is truly a difference.

Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

In the above passage the words say the sword of the spirit. We have been taught that the Bible is the sword of the spirit. This is true but this has a twist to it that if you do not grasp, then you will not walk in power. This is the spirit's sword, not ours. The Bible tells us that:

Ro 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

We are to be led by the spirit, not the word. I know that raises some eyebrows. We can walk by the flesh or our carnal mind or we can be led by the spirit. We can preach and teach by our carnal mind or do so by the spirit. There is a major difference. When the disciples went to the upper room in the book of Acts, why did they do so? They were taught of Jesus and could have just said all the things that they were taught to the people. It was His Word right? So why could they not have done this? They learned that the kingdom was about power. They waited on the Lord until they were endued with power.

The word "word" in Ephesians 6:17 in the Greek text is a Rhema word and not a logos word. The Rhema is a now spoken word where the logos is the written word. In other words, the sword of the spirit is the Holy Spirit speaking now. It is the Holy Spirit leading what is said by His own now words.

Mr 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The upper room experience was that they waited till they were led and received the power of the Holy Ghost to teach and preach. When we wait, we find that it is the Holy Spirit through us and not us. His words will bring life. When we do it without the power of God then we are being religious and walking in the flesh. God said that we cannot please Him if we walk in the flesh (Romans 8:8). The motive may be correct to preach the Word and help others find freedom and salvation, yet we must realize that we in our flesh cannot do this effectively. This is why Jesus told them to wait till they were endued with power. The Holy Spirit wants to lead.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

When we wait as did the disciples in the upper room, we receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. It then becomes Him through us, as it is His words spoken by His Spirit through us that will cause us to be an effective witness. I think the main issue is that we tend to not want to wait. Man and patience is like water and oil. They just don't mix well. We must learn to wait. Though our motives may be correct it is still the motive of our flesh. Unless we wait and find out what the Holy Spirit desires to do and say, we go off in the flesh and are ineffective. God wants to minister to people more than we do. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. We must wait until we hear from Him and are empowered and led by the Holy Spirit. Just taking the Bible and quoting verses is not the sword of the spirit. Who asked us to do this?

Zec 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

Once we get a hold of this passage and allow only the Holy Spirit to lead us, we will then find that we experience His power in our lives. I have come to base my walk on the scripture. It is not by might or by power (mine), but it is only by His Spirit. It is not automatic, as some believe. We must wait on the Lord to be endued with power.

1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

The word "power" is the same word used with power of the Holy Ghost. Defined in the Greek is Dunamis. It means miracle working power and ability. Let's allow the Holy Spirit to use His sword and lay down our own religious one.

27. Letting Go

Often we can get our self into trouble because we seem to forget some things. We are in the world, but not of it. Our focus gets so on temporal worldly things that we forget that we are a spirit being designed to fulfill a master plan of the Lord. Though we accept Jesus and are born again, somehow we forget that we gave our life to Him to use and do with what He pleases. We seem to get saved but then go about living for self and satisfying our fleshly desires. The Bible says that we are to be crucified with Christ. Crucified means our natural carnal self nature is put to death. Like Paul says, it is no longer I that liveth but Christ that liveth in me. A dead man can't want things. If we will yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to reign and rule we will find life comes by His Spirit alone. We can have all that the world or flesh has to offer but the problem is we are not really fulfilled or happy. It is only the Spirit that gives to us life.

Mr 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

So how do we make this transition?

Letting go seems to make no sense to our natural. It seems that until we are able, we keep God's hands tied so that He cannot do what He wants to do, which by the way is always for our good. The Lord used Hebrews 13:1 for months on me about laying aside every weight. The things we hold on too, people and material things are a weight to us though we can't see it. There is such a freedom in the spirit that comes to our spirit when we are able to let go. Over the years I have found that when I have let go that I was actually happier. Things I let go of I always seem to have when needed but I don't have to deal with them by owning them. I really believe that we have believed this lie that we must own things to have them. This has to do with our trust in Him. We seem to have this false security. He provides our needs when we need them. I remember when I had to live in the car for six weeks. Boy what a revelation that was. I realized the differences between needs and wants. So many things that I thought was a need was only a want. It was only satisfying my flesh and did nothing for my spirit. When I am in his presence, it is amazing how nothing of this world even enters into my mind. I feel no loss without anything as long as I am just close to Him. I think that is what the Lord is trying to accomplish in all of us. I think of the scripture about the cares of this world choking Him out. It is so true. The cares of this world are only a weight to our spirit and will keep us from entering into what He really has planned for us. When I went from a steady job to having to walk by faith, the transition was very difficult. My flesh was not real happy to say the least. I got so use to so many things and thought I had to have them. Yet once the Lord weaned me of things, I was freer and happier than I ever was.

People we hold on too are the same. I learned a real lesson with a friend of mine. He took on the responsibility of His mom. The problem was he ended up frustrated and angry because he couldn't help with what was needed. He forgot that she was first God's responsibility and that God loved her more than he did. Once he let go God did things so fast. God's burden is light. The enemy will always try to weigh us down with burdens that we can't even pray through. If it is God, it will be light and prayer will give us a release. All others are false burdens. No matter what we do as long as we carry them there is no relief from the weight. Letting go can be tough I know. I have been there and done that over and over. I just know that we are always happier and freer once we can. The old statement we use to say, let go and let God, is so very true. The Lord told me once and I hold to it strongly now. What other people do is not your problem. Just do what I tell you to do, and I will take care of the rest. Our responsibility is only to be obedient to Him. He has other people he chooses to use also to help people that he has not asked us to help. I see it as a very narrow focus that we must have. It is what Jesus did. What he saw his Father do He did, what He heard him speak, He spoke. That was all. That is what the Lord desires for us and how we are to walk in this world. If we take on the cares of this world we are weighted down. We are a spirit being in a body. We should be living to feed our spirit not our body. Weights keep us from doing that. Our focus gets on things or people no matter that it may seem right. I like the scripture there is a way that seemeth right unto man but the end thereof are the ways of death. Somehow he gets our emotions and will out of the way like He did with Jesus so we can just do what He wants alone. The freedom is great...the transition to that place can be real tough.

If we can just learn that what God does is more for eternal things than temporal. Living on earth is not really our life. It is just training and a time of preparation for eternity. Somehow we seem to try to park here and build a kingdom that will never stand. Especially in these times we need to become more eternal minded than temporal minded. The eternal is forever, the world and the cares in and of this world are temporal. We just need to draw near to Him and let Him be Lord instead of us. His thoughts and ways may be higher but they are also things that produce life and happiness within us.

28. Thanks Giving

Thanksgiving is approaching. I have always heard that we seem to celebrate this day for all that has been given to us. We should celebrate (actually daily), as we are a very blessed country. We have many things to be thankful for. Yet, for some reason this thought hit me about Thanksgiving that I had not considered before.

The word Thanksgiving has two words in it. It has the word "thanks" and the word "giving". We offer thanks for things given to us. Yet we maybe need to look at this a little closer. We need to give thanks for God giving us the ability and or the resources to give. If it were all about what we get it would be one-sided. The greatest joy is being able to give to others. Scripture even says that we are to:

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Because the Lord has given us the ability to give, it causes us to receive. We can be thankful then that God has allowed us to have things to give so that it comes back to us. I think our motive must be just to minister to the needs of others. Getting back for doing so is a result, not a motive. I think about the scripture that says:

2Corinthians 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

God gives us seed to sow and He then multiplies our seed if we do sow to others. Some unfortunately eat their seed and never get God's blessing. Their seed is never multiplied back as they just use it on self. Those of you that have learned that Thanksgiving is all about giving, gain a blessing from the Lord and have your seeds multiplied by God. For this, we all can be thankful this year that God so graciously gave to us seed to sow that He multiplies it back, as we are obedient.

So for this Thanksgiving I pray that you can be thankful for not only what has been given to you, but also that God has enabled you to give and be a blessing. Obedience to Him and His Word then brings a blessing back to you. Thank You Lord!

Happy Thanksgiving all!

29. The Abundance of the Heart

I have heard many teachings on the importance of what we speak. I agree that what we speak is wrong at times. I want to submit to you that our words are spoken because of what is in our heart. The words are not as much the problem as they are just the fruit of our hearts. Our hearts are the real problem.

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (KJV)

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (KJV)

In the above scripture we find that we speak because of the abundance in our hearts. Let's first look at the word abundance and then the word heart. I have listed the Greek translations to these words from the Online Bible Greek Lexicon so that we may have a better understanding of what scripture is really saying here.

Abundance- abundance, in which one delights

1a) of that which fills the heart

Heart

2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors

2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence

2b3) of the will and character

2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions

The abundance then means whatever fills our heart. If whatever fills the heart is what we speak, then we may say that whoever or whatever rules our thoughts will be behind all the words we speak. The heart is our soul or mind, thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors. These can be good or bad as the translation says. So what is scripture then telling us? It is saying that the words that we speak are only the fruit of what is in our heart. I have heard often that we need to learn to speak correct things. We need to speak words in accordance with God's Word. The problem here is that when our hearts are full of other things, this becomes quite difficult to do. Learning to speak correctly based on our efforts is missing the real problem. The words we speak are just the surface problem of a root deep within. If our heart is right our words will be right also. For us to continually strive to speak correctly does not go to the real root of the problem. We are told:

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

When Jesus increases and we decrease then it is no longer us that does things, it is Christ within us. It is not us living as it becomes Christ living in us. If we are no longer living, and self is dead; how then can self be the one that rules our thoughts and words? If we think that we have died to self, but try to keep speaking the correct words in our own ability, we have missed the point. Self needs to die out and not be given something else to do. In Philippians 2:5 above I have continually taught on the word "let". The word let implies that we must choose to have the mind of Christ, as it is not automatic when we accept Jesus as Savior. For us to let His mind be in us, we must choose to allow Him to rule our thoughts. We must choose to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to us and acting on what He says instead of listening to and allowing our carnal worldly mind to rule our thoughts. There is definitely a choice here. The second word in the above scripture is the word "this". The use of this word implies that if we must choose this mind, then we have others to also choose from. We can choose our carnal mind, or we can choose an evil mind. Our carnal mind is fleshly. An evil mind is demonic. We can have then three different minds.

  * the mind of Christ

  * the mind of self...our natural carnal mind

  * the mind of demonic spirits

The mind that we have is only determined by which we choose or "let" be in us. In actuality then whatever we allow to rule our minds is whom we choose to allow to be the Lord of our minds. Whomever we allow to be Lord, we are a servant to and will speak those things that our lord speaks. These can then be evil, or carnal, or good. In 2 Cor 10:5, we are told to cast down imaginations (thoughts) and bring all of our thoughts into the obedience of Christ. Doing this implies a choice we make again. Do we "let" the mind of Christ be in us or do we allow our carnal thoughts or the demonic suggestions of the demon spirits to rule our minds? We must cast down the ones that are not in obedience to Christ. When our mind is right, our words will be right, as by the abundance (whatever fills our mind or thoughts) of our heart (our mind or thoughts etc.) our mouth will then speak.

Jesus said that the carnal mind is enmity against God. (Romans 8:7)KJV

He also said that to whomever we yield our self to, to them we are servants (Romans 6:16) KJV

Also He said in:

Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

For us to then say that we can make our fruit good by self-actions then we are against the Word of God. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit. To say then that we must say the correct words through our own ability is then against the Word of God. Jesus said that we need to take an ax to the root of the tree (Mat 3:10). The bad trees in us must be cut down at the root. The Holy Spirit is the one that will do this in us as we yield to Christ. As we keep surrendering and allowing the Holy Spirit to rule within us, then he will take the axe to the things within us that are of self or of demon spirits. This is His job, not ours. We decrease and he increases. When the tree that grows and lives in us is Jesus Christ, we will by nature speak the correct words. Jesus in us will have only good fruit as a good tree can only bear good fruit.

The bottom line then to this teaching is this. What is in our heart is the root of the words we speak. The whole teaching of the Bible tells us that we must die to self and allow Jesus to be Lord. If we could just learn to do the crying out to God for Him to change us, we would find that we no longer live and Christ would be living within us. As we allow Him to rule our minds through the Holy Spirit our words would become words that would line up with God's words. It would be Jesus by the Holy Spirit speaking in us and not us. Our heart or mind and thoughts would be full of Him, which can only bear good fruit.

I do not know any people that are totally dead to self. The apostle Paul even said that he died daily. He had the same problem that we have today. We were saved by grace and not by our works that will allow us to boast. It is not what we do; it is what God does by His Grace. Religion keeps trying to say that it is what we must do. We cannot keep the law that is why Christ came. He keeps the law in and through us, as He alone becomes our Lord. We are told to walk in the Spirit and then we would not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16). When the Holy Spirit rules, our carnal mind and any demonic mind that we may have no longer can produce fruit. It actually dies out. The whole key is for us to humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to rule. As we give up our control and any control that a demon spirit has as a stronghold, Jesus can then be in control. Not until! Our heart will change, and then our words will also change.

30. The Answer of Peace

What is peace? The dictionary defines this as: (3 definitions listed)

1. a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations

Try to live in peace with your neighbors.

2. The normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order

and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace.

3. Cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.

To be at peace means: to be untroubled; tranquil; content.

The world seeks peace.

Eze 7:25 Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.

Peace is something that we all seek and need. Peace is one of the fruit of God's Spirit. Peace is based on our internal state not from any external thing.

Galatians 5:22 says: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

God has promised to us peace if:

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

To have peace is then having the fruit of the spirit and knowing that your mind is stayed on the Lord and that you truly trust Him. Years ago, I had an interesting experience that I needed to have. I had been upset about something. All the sudden God gave to me His peace. I was unhappy that I only got peace. I felt like because the problem still existed and did not change, that peace was a copout. I mistakenly complained to the Lord and found that my peace was taken then for 3 weeks. I needed to learn a good lesson. I had to cry out and repent and ask for this peace to return. He did give it back to me, thankfully. Often we pray and ask for something specific from the Lord. Yet we seem to not realize that not all requests can be answered in seconds. Some at least when they are about something going on in us, He can answer very quickly. Yet others take time as they are about others and situations that just don't change overnight. Those answers take time to bring change in other peoples thoughts or an action so that they will line up with God's will and purpose. Let's face it, we all have thoughts and hold on to things that we really shouldn't. It takes time to get through to us that these are not the best thoughts that we should have or we need to change some actions that we take to please the Lord. These all take time.

I have found that peace is God's way of letting us know that all is all right. When we are at peace we know that God has the problem in His hands and we are no longer to be concerned over it even though we may not see changes. We can trust in a very big, loving, all-knowing God to take care of the issue at hand.

Much of the world does not have this peace. They carry many burdens and weights that they need not carry. They have not learned the value of coming to God with their cares and concerns. They don't realize that Jesus is the burden bearer. He does not want them weighted down but actually wants them to be at peace. We are told to cast our cares upon Him for He careth for us (1 Peter 5:7). If we are trusting in self to carry these things we are deceived. We were not designed to carry these things. God wants to carry these cares. Scripture says that we go out with joy and are led forth by peace (Isaiah 55:12). If we have no peace it is difficult to be led by the Lord. So even though we may not see a quick answer or change as a result of our prayers, when God gives to us peace we can know that all is well. Peace may not be the answer we desired necessarily, but it is often God's answer and is a good one as He can lead and guide us when we remain at peace.

31. The Blessing

Ps 133:

1. A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to

dwell together in unity!

2. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even

Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; Anointing

3. As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Pr 10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Ac 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Ac 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Ac 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

Ac 5:12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

Ac 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

One accord: with one mind, with one accord, with one passion

In Acts they were in one accord. There was unity. There was the same passion and they had the same mind. There was no division. There was agreement of purpose.

Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. KJV

Eph 4:3 in the uniting bond of peace, the unity given by the Spirit. WEY

Unity comes only through the Spirit. So the key is, everyone "letting" the mind of Christ be in them. We must lay down our own agendas, will, desires and wants. We must get serious corporately about finding out what the Holy Spirit desires, come into agreement and be obedient to Him, and allow the Holy Spirit to bring the unity, direction, and purposes. We then will experience His anointing and God will command His blessing. The blessing that will make us rich that has no sorrow with it.

32. The Blinders

Why do people and or churches tend to put one sin over another? I sensed the Lord saying to me that no sin is worse than another for the simple fact that all sin is of the devil. All sin has the same origin, the devil. He is behind it all. It is all based in the root cause of rebellion and being in control instead of allowing God to be in control.

1John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

No matter which sin, the person had to yield to the devil. The word tells us that if we do one sin we are guilty of all of them. So because we have yielded to the devil then we are not yielding to the Lord. That is the greatest problem or the root of course of all sin. The real issue is that man wants to be in control just like the devil did and still does. Until man has his eyes opened that He is not God and that God did create him, he will continue to try to run the show. God made a way for us to come back to him if we sin; the devil has no way back.

Unregenerate man and the devil have one thing in common. First of all they are both rebellious. It seems that God placed this ability in both to want to be God. Both seem to believe that they don't need God and can run things. I believe that we call this a sin nature. It is interesting to me that even though we are created beings; we seem to think that we don't need the one that created us. We seem to think that we know better. Why does the world promote that we are not created or that there is a God? Why is there such a battle in schools trying to keep creationism out of the classroom? The reason is that it rains on our self-centered parade. It calls the lie of the devil, true and the belief that we can be God and in control. These are the blinders that the devil has on man's eyes. Man is unaware of the fact that we are created and need God. Satan blinds mankind so that they unknowingly remain a servant to him. This of course is the biggest lie of all. Without God we are nothing. Until a person can grasp this and surrender to the one that created Him, then he will continue to be as satan, and want to be God and in control. The blinders keep the person from realizing that it the spirit alone that gives to us life.

John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Obviously this lie has not worked. Look how bad things in this world have become because man is still running things his way and in charge? He is still trying to do things out of his flesh. Yet this cannot please God.

Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

2Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Unlike satan, man has a way to be redeemed. Satan fell and can never come back to God. He is eternally doomed to hell. Man has been given the opportunity to return to God.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Man can come to God as their eyes are opened. Praise God that many do come to God and are forgiven. Thankfully forgiveness is ongoing during this process of submission to the Holy Spirit, as he gives place to the devil and sins while learning. I think that the real root problem is that man perishes through a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). If man truly understood where sin came from and why that we yield to it, many would never fall and die. Until the blinders of the enemy come off the eyes of mankind, they can never understand the real problem and truth. Man must be able to admit that they are created and realize that God is actually a good God, contrary to the belief of many. If he is a good God and wants only good for His people, then why would we not want to submit to Him? God gives life. Satan brings death (John 10:10).

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

We have in the natural tried to force people to believe in creationism through legal methods. The problem is that there are blinders on their eyes. I have said often and say this again. We cannot fight a spiritual war with carnal weapons. The fight is a spiritual one. Until we use our God given authority over the devil and command the blinders off of the people's eyes, we cannot win this war. We have authority over the devil. We can use this to demand that he loose his hold off of the people. We cannot force people to believe but we can do warfare and remove the strongholds of the enemy that have kept them in bondage believing the lies of the devil. Did not the above scripture tell us that once the blinders are off, that the light of the glorious gospel would shine unto them? The people are not the problem. The blinders of the devil are the problem. The people are ensnared and trapped spiritually and can't see the truth.

Until we can truly grasp the sin concept and understand that we are not fighting people or self, we cannot gain true victory.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;)

The battle is a spiritual battle. We must use spiritual weapons of war to win this battle. God gave to us the weapons that we need to fight and win. We have not for the most part used them. God gave to us the keys of the kingdom. How long before we will use them? When will we use them instead of giving them back to the devil or just throwing them on the ground? We must take up our spiritual weapons of war. We must get intimate with the Holy Ghost and allow the anointing to flow through us in word, prayer, and spiritual warfare. There is no other way to win. We keep asking God to do this or that, but we reject his way of bringing the victory. We must fight God's way instead of our own. He is God. He knows how to win this war, we don't!

33. The Bottom Line

There is an easy answer to all of our struggles. Though the process of doing what is needed may be difficult at times, God has provided an easy remedy.

We tell people to forgive, we tell people to love their enemy, and we tell people to do well. The problem is that in our flesh dwells no good thing. We can get religious and walk the word by our flesh. Does it really produce the fruit that we are seeking? Most often the answer is a big no. The problem is the "I" or the "WE". The Word tells us that we are crucified with Christ and that it is Him living in us. It cannot ever be us doing thing as this is works by our flesh. A dead man cannot do anything. How can a dead man forgive? How can a dead man love? How can a dead man walk the Word? If we are truly crucified then it has to be Him and Him alone. Jesus did what he saw the Father do and he spoke only what he heard His father say. It was all about hearing the voice of the Lord and doing what He was told to do. Jesus gave up His will to do the will of the Father. Unfortunately we have placed the Lord in a box telling Him that he must do things a certain way, our way. We have adopted so many formulas that we expect the Lord to bless and follow. God is not a formula. God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours are. God is never limited to our way of thinking or doing something. The Word says that they who are in the flesh cannot please Him. Have you ever considered what that means? We can walk the word in the flesh. We can pray in the flesh. We can love or forgive in the flesh. But, this does not please God. Anything that we do by the flesh is not pleasing to God. It does not matter how good it looks or feels to others or us. It may look so religious but still is not the Lord. Religion is flesh at work. It lacks power. It lacks God's anointing and blessing. So what am I really saying here?

Years ago the Holy Spirit told me that I must minister to Him. He said according to many passages in the Old Testament that His priests minister to Him. Are we His priests? If so then we must minister to Him. He told me that until I learn to minister to Him that He could not minister to or through me. In other words, we must learn to get into His presence. God inhabits praise. In His presence he speaks to us and leads us. He empowers us to do what he chooses for us to do. He changes things in us that need to be changed. It only happens as we allow Him to do so by getting into His presence. Without getting into His presence we are just operating by the flesh and have given in too religious works that don't please God and profit very little.

We have taught in the church works. We tell people so many things to do. Do this and God will do this etc. We have missed it. Instead we need to teach people how to get into His presence. We need to teach people how to minister to the Lord. This is where their hearts desire is reached. This is where the needs are met. This is where the answers come. This is where they find victory and peace. It is not about what we do; it is only about what Jesus does while we are in His presence. It must become that we are dead, crucified and our old man laid to rest. It must become Him in us instead of us. He has all we need. He is all that we need. We just become crucified and allow Him to work through us by His Holy Spirit and we will walk victoriously. We won't have to be concerned about forgiving or loving or doing this or that. We just walk obedient to His leading and all this will happen. It is about Him not about us. He told me once years ago when I struggled about doing something. I focused on changing it, to no avail. He asked me if I could save myself to which I had to say no. He then asked if I could change myself to which I also had to say no. He then said that if I could save or change myself that I would not need Him. Church, it is not what we do; it is only what Jesus does in and through us. It is only about Him. We must learn to let go. We must learn to cast all of our cares upon Him. We must lay aside every weight that so easily besets us. We must get out of doing things by the flesh in our own strength and draw near to Him and allow Him to work for and through us. We then will find new power and strength. I have adopted a scripture as something that if I will remember when I study the Word or try to follow him as a good foundation to build everything we do upon. Zach 4:6 says "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit saith the Lord". It must be by His Spirit if it is to bring good fruit that will last. So bottom line is this. We must stop focusing on the problems, others, and self. We must come just as we are and learn to minister to the lord so that He can minister to and through us. We will experience change not only in self, but also in the people we love. He will show us how to pray for people. He will show us how to war in the spirit. He will show us how the fight for our country with spiritual weapons of war. He will show us how to walk in victory. It is only about walking in the spirit in intimacy with Him. His ways and thoughts are higher. If we want His we must eliminate ours. We do that by entering into His presence just as we are, and just focusing on Him and what He desires. We spend so much time asking God to fulfill our desires that we seem to forget His will or desires. We must get out of the religious works and walk with Him empowered by the Holy Spirit if we are going to advance His Kingdom on earth. We must start looking from an eternal perspective rather than from a temporal one that makes everything about us alone.

In His presence is fullness of joy. What do we want?

34. The Election

I was watching a show on television where a panel of Christian ministers was discussing the state of the Church and also about the presidential candidates. I found that many great points were discussed, yet I wondered about a few things, which were not mentioned.

They told of the way that we vote for a candidate was choosing someone that stood for our ideals or desires. They mentioned about the idea about having only a Christian president. I tended to agree with them on many points. They said that it was not as important to have a Christian president as was whether or not they were conforming to the moral values that we want to see in our leadership. The one thing that they failed to mention was our seeking the Lord as to His will on how a person should vote.

I had to think of something that I have believed for some time. Just because a person is a Born Again Christian, does not mean that they are following the leading of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians unfortunately are walking in the flesh. God says that this is not pleasing to Him. God did use a donkey to speak through as I remember. He can use anyone that he desires. I am also reminded of a poll or survey that was taken after the Bush/Gore election. The poll said that the Christian vote was about equally divided. It seems that we cancelled out each other. Here is my concern.

Does the Lord have someone that He desires to lead this nation? If so, would he lead one half of the Christians to vote one way and the other half to vote another? I see this as one problem. Are we not to be led by the spirit? Are we not told to have no division among us? Sometimes we get our own agenda in the way. What about God's plan or agenda? Does this matter? What about who or what God wants? Does this matter? If it does matter then how do we go about finding out what it is? The first thing is that we must humble our self and give up our control. Does it really matter what we want or think? Are God's ways and thoughts much higher than ours are? I firmly believe that because God's blessing is poured out when brethren dwell in unity, that God would not have a split in the vote if we are all listening to him. Somehow we must get to the place that we desire God's will more than our own. The Bible says that we are to seek to find, and ask so that it will be given. We are also told to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We are also told in 2Ch 7:14, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Instead of us enhancing or building our own kingdom, shouldn't we really be considering His kingdom first?

35. The Greater One is Coming

Some time ago I wrote an article concerning a spider. The spider had a large web and was waiting for its prey. To the spider's surprise a bee came into the web. The spider attacked the bee and I thought the bee was history. There was quite a struggle for a few seconds. But, to my surprise the bee fell out of the web and flew away. I watched the spider. It no longer moved. The spider was dead.

I used the following scripture before and once again sense a strong urging from the Holy Spirit about it. It reads:

Lu 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

I want to approach this from two angles, as both are important. First of all we know that the enemy, the devil, has woven a web of deception and bondage to a countless number of people, Christians and non-Christians. He thinks he has them bound and they won't get free. He forgets about God. He forgets about the Holy Ghost. He forgets about Jesus. Jesus came to set the captive free. Jesus came to set at liberty those that are bound. A greater one than he, the devil is going to come upon the devil and overcome him. He is going to spoil the devil's goods. He is going to divide the devils spoils. The devil is no match for the Lord. The stronger one is going to set people free from the grasp and holds of the devil that have been upon them. Just as Jesus was walking and the devils cried out and ran into the pigs, it is going to happen and I believe is happening. The anointing that comes upon man from the Holy Ghost will make the devils of hell flee.

The second angle is this. Man also has built a web. In this scenario the web is man's own kingdom. They have built these thinking that they will stand. They have built them for self for the satisfying of their flesh thinking no man will take it from them. I am here to tell you that the kingdoms of man cannot match the kingdom power of God. Jesus upset the moneychangers in the temple. Seems there are a few of those these days. God's house has become in many places a house of merchandise. God's house too many is more about money than it is of Him. A greater one than he (man) is about to overthrow some kingdoms. The wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous. I don't know the day or hour, but I do know by the Spirit of God that an overthrow is going to take place. I have seen the aftermath of all the terrible weather of storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods on the news. I think of all the kingdoms that man built that were demolished in a split second. Our security is not in the things that we possess as stated in:

Luke 12:

15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17. And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18. And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21. So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Be careful as to whose kingdom you are building. A greater one is coming. Man's kingdom is no match for God's kingdom. It is no match for His power. If your kingdom were demolished, then whom or what would you serve? People need to think about this. I am sure that the many that lost so much wish they had something or someone to hold on to and trust right about now. If their security had been in the Lord beforehand, their lives would not have been so devastated. Sure they lost material things, yet those are not life; they are replaceable. There is no replacement for the one that will give peace in a storm. A greater one is coming. Are you ready for His coming? Are you building His kingdom and not your own? He is coming! The Greater One is Coming!

36. The Joy of Duplication

After I was saved, I saw many people doing things in ministry that I saw as fabulous. I found that I wanted to be able to do the same thing. Little did I realize that it was a noble desire but my motives were all about myself. I would look good to others and be in demand, even though I was a little deceived into thinking that it was only bringing glory to the Lord. It was actually more self-glory than it was for God's glory. I had suffered much rejection as a child and through life. It would finally show people that I was somebody. Little did I know though maybe the desire was not totally bad, my motives were out of order. As I have walked with the Lord, I have found that He is very concerned about our motives. This is some of what I have learned.

The Lord has blessed me with an anointing in prayer, intercession, teaching, and preaching as God wills. It is a great joy to be used of Him. I have to admit that there is a satisfaction and completeness that comes after the Holy Spirit has done something through me. It has taken many years of seeking and crying out to the Lord for this to take place. Many of the desires that I had earlier I have realized. But little did I know that a greater satisfaction was available. In the beginning it was always about me. I have since learned that it is never about me, only Him. The Lord has taught me that there is a greater joy.

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Consider this. Jesus actually duplicated Himself after his death and resurrection. Every one that accepts Him as Savior becomes like Jesus through a continual process of dying to self. Instead of one Jesus, we now have multiple millions. Our ministry is the same. We learn that the greatest thing that we can do is to duplicate our self so that many more can hear the message God gave to us. Singly we can only reach so many. But every time we duplicate our self, we reach through someone else people that we would never meet. The Lord gives to us gifts and different anointing. If we can teach, train, and impart what God has given to us to others, we then duplicate ourselves. I think this is maybe like a father and mother with children. They train or disciple their kids and when the kids grow up they go out and promote much of what they have learned through their parents. The parents are thrilled as they see what the kids accomplish. For me now my greatest joy is to see someone else flowing in God's anointing and touching others lives. It has become much more joyous than me doing it. I have learned that esteeming others higher than self is a much greater joy than me doing something and getting the glory. It really no longer matters to me who has the anointing and is being used by the Holy Spirit. The joy is that at least some one is flowing and allowing the Holy Spirit to rule and reign in their lives.

The church in my estimation is a training ground. Many people come in and God places an anointing upon them. Our job as the church is to build them up, promote them to become all that God has ordained for them. As they progress and at the leading of the Lord we allow them to use their anointing and gifts we are training them to go out elsewhere and be used of the Lord. They are not there to take our place but to just gain whatever is needed to become strong in the Lord to walk with just him. Often many in leadership seem to fear that if they allow people to flow, that they will end up out of a job. Many pastors place such a tight hold on what ministry takes place out of fear. If God should call someone else to take over what we are doing then so what? If we are dedicated to following Him then when God shuts one door, He will always open another. We never have to fear but should just flow in whatever the Holy Spirit asks us to do. We get selfish at times and start thinking that it is about what we want, not realizing that we are only doing what we are doing because God chose it and gave us the power to do it. He can withdraw His anointing and power at anytime if were become disobedient or selfish.

I think we all must learn to stop boxing God in and saying that things must be done a certain way. We must take all the limits off of God. He is God; we are His servants.

37. The Keys

What are keys for? If we have a set of keys, we usually put them into a lock and open something that was shut. Keys have no value if they are not used. Jesus gave keys to the Church. What is the Church doing with them? Are they being used, or are they just tucked away somewhere accomplishing nothing?

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Greek Translations of:

**Key** -since the keeper of the keys has the power to open and to shut, denotes power and authority of various kinds (OLB Greek Lexicon Translation)

**Kingdom of Heaven** -royal power, kingship, dominion, rule

1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom

1b) of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah

1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom

2) a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king

**Bind** -to bind tie, fasten

1a) to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains

1b2) to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc.

1b3) to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit

**Loose** -to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened

2) to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free

2b) bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go

**Dominio** n--rule, reign, power

1) to rule, have dominion, reign

1a) (Qal) to rule, have dominion

Psalms 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

What is the mission of Christ on earth?

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

The kingdom of God is upon us as we cast out devils, heal the sick, and preach the gospel. The keys to the kingdom are just this. If we do these things by the Spirit of God, we are doing what Jesus does, opening prison doors, setting at liberty those which are bound, and setting the captives free.

The problem we seem to have is this. Jesus had the keys. He gave them to his church. Much of the church gave them back to the devil. The devil is supposed to be under our feet as Jesus gave to us dominion over all of the earth. We seem to have given the dominion back to the devil. Instead of us telling the devil what he can do, the devil has been telling us what to do. He only has power if we give it to him. The key to most of our problems is that we do not take our God given blessings by force. We must learn to stop wrestling against flesh and blood, and start fighting the principalities and powers and the rulers of darkness. It was not God's design for us to be under satan's dominion. It is that he should be under our dominion (rule, power, authority). As long as we fight a spiritual war with carnal weapons, we can never win. Unless we use the keys given to us given by Jesus, and fight spiritual battles with spiritual weapons instead of carnal ones, we are in trouble. Look at a few scriptures of our authority through the Holy Spirit:

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;)

Lu 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

What if we had the same number of warriors doing battle in the spirit as we had warring in the flesh in the Mideast; I wonder what result that we would see. Would the power of God destroy our enemies? Realize also our enemy is not man. Our real enemy is the devil. He is behind what is happening. When we use the keys to the kingdom, we will do battle with spiritual forces.

38. The Right Foundation

In order to stand in this world at present and in the time to come, we need to be on a correct foundation. The word foundation means in the Greek:

1) laid down as a foundation, the foundation (of a building, wall, city)

2) metaph. the foundations, beginnings, first principals

2a) of institution or system of truth

The Hebrew has one meaning:

Appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, X sure.

A foundation then is pretty much then what something is built upon. It is something that is the bases of what we believe and build our life or house upon.

The Lord showed me this. Many foundations in the natural are made of concrete. Concrete has cement and water. I saw the bag and the water side by side. Just because they were next to each other, did not make them to become concrete. It was not until they were mixed together did they become concrete and become something that would make a strong foundation.

Our foundation must be Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We must become mixed with Him. We must become so mixed, that you cannot tell that there is two parts to the mixture. We must become one with Him.

Am 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

(agreed=betrothed)

We can ask God to agree with us, or we can agree with him.

Betrothed or agreed means that they become one.

Mt 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

Divided = flesh-spirit

Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

We can't walk in the flesh and spirit at the same time. One or the other will be dominant and rule.

If you build a house on the water bucket and the bag of cement, you are building on something that is not a good foundation and it will not stand. Until it is mixed or married together, until it becomes one, it is not concrete.

Let's look at the word divided. We know that God's thoughts are neither our thoughts nor his ways our ways.

Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

If the correct foundation is spiritual, God's thoughts and ways, and we are walking in the natural, then we will have a divided house or a poor foundation. If we take the counsel of man instead of the counsel of the Holy Spirit, we also are building on a poor foundation. In Isaiah 30:1 the Lord actually says that this rebellion. When the winds come, the house will fall.

The Lord wants us to build our life on a correct foundation. This foundation is one that is comprised of us and the Holy Spirit. We are so mixed with the Holy Spirit that all a person sees is HIM. They cannot tell the difference as the person is married to the Holy Spirit. They have become one. The persons counsel that is the foundation of their life is not built on natural wisdom or thoughts, but is based on the spiritual wisdom of God through the Holy Spirit. We need to fall in love with Jesus...not so much what He said, but HIM!!

Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Zech 4:6 not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord

Many tell us to walk by the Word of God, this is true, but a half truth. I heard someone say recently that when we walk the word that we are walking in the spirit. I say that is untrue. The devil walks the word, but is he walking in THE spirit or in another spirit? We can walk the word and not be saved, so does that mean that we are walking in the spirit? No it doesn't. Any person can walk the word. That is law and religion. We are to be led by the Spirit not the word. A foundation that is sound and that will cause us to stand is that the Word of God and the Spirit of God become so mixed together and become one with us, we then are walking in the spirit. You cannot just walk the word as it just makes you religious. We must know the truth, the word, so that when we hear the Holy Spirit talk and the devil talk, we know which is truth so we may follow the correct one.

Paul said:

1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

We must have power. Power is the truth of the Word of God, mixed with the Holy Ghost, and led by Him alone. It is not the natural counsel of man, but revelation through the spirit of God that empowers His Word. The Holy Spirit is needed to know how to apply the Word and when. Jesus himself only did what he saw the Father do and spoke what he heard the Father speak. Where in the Word does it say that he stopped doing this? If we are crucified with Christ and it is only Him living in us, then this will be the same as it is Jesus and not us.

We must become married or one with the Holy Spirit.

We can be so full of the word of God, yet when the storms come, we don't know how to apply it. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to teach and empower us to know what to do with the written word. The Holy Spirit leads according to God's word. He does not lead in opposition to God's Word.

39. The Singing Toilet

Every once in awhile seems something happens that blesses us that we do not expect. I woke up last night actually around 4AM for a nature call. I went into the little room and heard singing. I looked around and couldn't figure where it was coming from. I kept hearing 'Hallelujah" over and over. I went towards the toilet and it was coming from it. Just as clear as if someone was singing I kept hearing the word "Hallelujah". Apparently there is a small water leak in the tank but it made that sound so clearly. I really hated to flush it.

It just put a smile on my face as I thought about these scriptures:

Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ps 150:6 Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

A toilet is a thing and even it can Praise the Lord. Are we not much better and smarter? Look at what all a toilet must endure. Do we have to put up with all of the (blank) that a toilet does? It can say Hallelujah and praise the Lord. Shouldn't we be able and more willing to praise Him much more than a toilet? Does God have to depend on a thing such as a toilet to praise Him after all He has done for us? No matter what you have gone through remember the toilet because if it can do it then so can you! God desires to inhabit the praises of His people. Shouldn't we say Hallelujah and Praise the Lord more than things? Let's just praise Him!!!

40. The Spider Web

Have you ever really considered a spider web and its purpose? What about what the little spider has to do to make the web?

The little spider finds a good spot and toils for a very long time to make a web. It may be hot or cold, wet or dry, but he seems to get the job done. His life really depends on it. There is so much air space around the web that many of his prey will never even get near the web. Yet, by faith he works hard and prepares the web, because if he doesn't he would die.

Spiritually speaking, God has us prepare many things. We seem to go through obstacle after obstacle in order for us to make our web. But we must have tenacity and keep our focus on the task at hand. We may get hungry along the way, just as the little spider, but if we don't complete the preparation that God has ordained, we will starve spiritually or even physically. Our preparation includes many things. We must draw near to God. We must not allow any outside distractions to take our focus away from the task at hand. We must spend our time in prayer and intercession. We must spend much time in worship and praise. We must discipline our self to stay unspotted from the world and all the temptations that come to change our focus from kingdom thoughts into fleshly thoughts. We must read God's word, as it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. If we will stay our course and not allow the distractions to affect our vision, then our web will get built. We do all this by faith of course as it takes faith to please the Lord. Faith says, that God will provide what we need. Just as the little spider really builds his web by faith that something will fly into it and be caught. What we catch though is God's power and anointing that will also bring His blessings. We may be thirsty in the beginning of the task, but God said that he that is thirsty he will give water that will cause us to never thirst again.

Though the struggle to build may seem difficult and at times maybe hopeless, if we will continue and do our part, God will do His. We can count on God, as He is very faithful to fulfill His promises. The little spider won't go hungry, and neither will we.

41. The Truth Shall Set You Free

In this article, I want to expose the lie of the devil that we often buy unknowingly. The devil is a liar. There is no truth in him. He cannot tell truth. He operates only through a lie and a deception. Let me show you what I mean according to the scriptures.

Psalms 119:130 The entrance (opening, unfolding, doorway) of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Let's say we have a splinter in our finger. We know how painful that one little splinter can be. It just seems to make us hurt big time. Our hand may hurt allover because of it. Yet it is still just a splinter. But a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Galatians 5:9). We may get these thoughts that something major is wrong with our hand. Some doctor may not see the splinter and do all kinds of things with medicine and so on. Yet the problem is the splinter. The root cause is just a little splinter. The devil is like the splinter. Since the devil is a liar, can you see how that little splinter can be exploded into something big? Satan is already defeated. His demon spirits are just like a little bug or a splinter that we should be putting under our feet. The problem is we do not see him that way. He has lied to us that whatever the problem is in our life is a giant. Instead of it being a little bug, it becomes this giant monster. Yet that is the lie. It is not a giant monster; it is only a little bug. This is how he traps us. He lies to us. He keeps working on us and as we accept his lies the little bug becomes a monster in our minds. The problem we now face is that we have fed this little bug until it has become a monster. Instead of feeding the truth, God's Word is truth; we have fed the lie. The lie became bigger. The lie became this giant monster that we are scared of and feel that we have no ability or power over it. Fear takes our sound mind, power and love. (2 Timothy 1:7)

So what is the remedy for this?

Just like the splinter the little bug is actually small. It really is powerless. We have just believed it is powerful thus giving it power through its lies and deception. We are told that the entrance of Gods words gives light (Psalms 119:130). What is God telling us here? He is saying that when we know the truth that the truth will set us free (John 8:32). Why does truth set us free? Truth comes in and dispels the lie. Truth exposes the lie. Truth shows us that we are only dealing with a little bug of a splinter and not this great big Goliath monster. Truth shows us that we have the power over it and that we can step on it instead of allowing it to step on us out of fear, (which by the way is a spirit), (Luke 10:19). Truth gives to us a defense or shield against the lies or fiery darts of the enemy. Example is that when we are saved we know down deep within us that we are saved. No man or demon can steal or convince us otherwise. That is truth. We know truth then we have a defense against the lies. We just don't accept the lie, as we know otherwise. We are told that the when the Word is hid in our heart we don't sin (Psalms 119:11 paraphrased). When we see the enemy enter in and we remember that he is just a little bug of a splinter, we do not get upset, we just step on him and go on our way. Truth is power over the enemy. We cannot know that what the devil suggests is a lie unless we know what the truth is. The word (truth) protects us from sin (the devil and his lies).

Sin is of the devil. The devil is a liar. So the devil lies to us that we need to do something and as we accept and act on the lie it becomes sin, right? If we have the Word of God in us and we believe it to be true, then when the lies of the enemy come and attack us, we can just ignore them. We are still just like Eve in the Garden. We are tempted just as she was and as we give in to the temptation (the lie of the devil that we need something), then we sin. The devil is behind all sin. He sinneth from the beginning. The devil cannot take us out of God's presence in any way except by temptation. The temptation is always a lie. There is no truth in the devil. He cannot tell truth. Jesus is truth; the devil is a lie.

Most of the battles that we go through in life as Christians come because we have believed the devils lie. When we need deliverance from an evil spirit, truth is the first part of what we need. The spirit came in because we accepted the lie and gave it legal ground to be in us. Had we known truth, we would not have accepted the lie in the first place. One of the greatest lies the devil uses on us is the deception that it us that has to have this sin to survive. He tells us that it us, which is a lie. The truth is that it is an evil spirit, and it is not us. Once we can separate the evil spirit from self, we can then deal with the little bug. As long as we are convinced that his lie is truth and that it is us, we will have no power over it to gain victory. The entrance of thy word gives light, right? Does not light dispel darkness? Darkness is an evil spirit. Light causes darkness to be revealed. It cannot hide in a room any longer when there is light in the room. Light is truth. Darkness is a lie of the devil or an evil spirit within us. Truth and light will always expose the devil. This is why sometimes when preaching or teaching the truth of the Word, that we find people get very upset. Actually, it is most likely not the person upset. It is the demon spirit that has been allowed to be in them because they believed the lie. The spirit gets very upset and nervous, as it cannot handle truth. Truth causes us to see it for what it is and come out of agreement with it. When that happens it no longer has power over us.

I remember years ago that I was going through a major struggle. I ran to preacher after preacher asking for help. What was I doing wrong, I kept asking? (I am the only one that ever did this right?). Well, the answer I received from each one was simple, yet I didn't want that answer. They each said, "get into the Word". I wanted a quick easy fix to my problem. My problem was that I had believed some lies and didn't know it. The devil had me deceived. He had blinders on my eyes so that I could not see the truth. They were correct in what they told me. I needed to get into the Word so that I would know truth. I needed some protection from the lies of the enemy. Not that anyone else has ever done this, but I wanted a quick easy answer with no effort on my part. Sorry, it doesn't work that way. God could easily fix all of our problems with just one little word from Him. Yet, what would be the point? If we did not know truth, then next time the enemy attacked we would be hit with many darts, because we had no defense (the truth of His Word) against them. We would be in worse shape than before. God wants us to learn some things. We are not going to be robots. He desires for us to walk in truth so that we may stand and do His works.

If you desire to be set free, then get into the Word! When you know the truth, the truth will set you free. The devil has no power against us unless we give it to him. He is a little splinter bug that is powerless to harm us. Once we realize that God's Word is true, and the power of the Holy Spirit within us will enable us to defeat anything the devil has thrown at us we will become more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to set us free. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

42. The Weapon of Love

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

So often in the church, we focus on weapons being formed against us, though we fail to see that sometimes we are used as a weapon against someone else. When our words are of unkindness, criticism, judgment, discouragement, and anything that is not of love, then we are a vehicle transport for a weapon. When we tear down someone else we are a weapon. When we do not forgive someone else, we are a weapon. When we speak negative in opposition to God's word, we are a weapon. I have always wondered what it would be like, if surrounded by people that acted and spoke out of love, faith, and humility, what could actually happen? Scripture says in 1 Cor 13, that if we have not love, it will profit us nothing. It doesn't profit others either. Love changes lives and situations.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Our greatest weapon is love. When we act out of a lack of love, we become a weapon against others. Love creates good and the lack of love creates evil. Strongholds come down when we act in love. Belief systems change when a person receives love. A stronghold is a fortress in our mind set up by a past hurt, discouragement, teaching, or belief.

God said our weapons of warfare are not carnal. That means our weapons are spiritual and not fleshly. Since God is love and God is a spirit, when we are tapped into the Lord, love will prevail. The fruit of God's spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, meekness, and temperance (Gal 5:22-23). If we walk in the Spirit of God, the fruit has to be good. Everything that comes from God is good, not evil. We need to learn to be a positive force of love by seeking, humbling, and walking in the Spirit. In the flesh dwells no good thing

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Charity means love, and it will never fail. When I met Jesus, it was because of two people that loved me no matter what I did or said. They tried one time to talk to me about Jesus. I was so proud; I cursed them, as I couldn't accept that they knew something that I didn't. Yet, every time I saw them together, they walked hand in hand. They even sat beside each other while driving in the car. Didn't matter who drove, the other was beside the driver. They had been married for twenty-five years. I knew they had something that I didn't. It was the love in action that caused me to come over that day when I was getting ready to commit suicide. They asked me to say a prayer. I can't say that I really believed that it would help, but I said it anyway. I was gloriously saved. Love never failed. It got me, so if it worked on me, it can also work on others. We must use our greatest weapon, love them into the kingdom.

43. True Prosperity

We hear much teaching on prosperity these days. I wonder if some of it may be the doctrines of devils because of some itchy ears? Let me share maybe a different approach to prosperity that maybe you have not heard.

From the worldly way of looking at things, we are somewhat judged by what we own materially or how much money we have in the bank. The odd thing is that many people with many riches may look good outwardly, but can they say that they sleep well at night? Is their head all full of thoughts, worry and fear? Do they experience peace in their heart and also joy?

We as a church have gone many miles with Jesus and financially or materially sometimes have very little. We have tithed and made offerings, we have helped others. I want to submit this idea for consideration. What does prosperity really mean? Does it mean that we are rich financially or materially? Or could it mean we are rich in our soul (mind)? Scripture says, "for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15) KJV. According to this scripture material or financial possessions do not make the man of God.

Jesus told the man in Mark 10:21 in front of the disciples that to follow Jesus he needed to sell all he had and give it to the poor. This doesn't sound to me like he was going to have a big bank account following Jesus. To follow Jesus is done in faith. It takes faith to be saved, it takes faith to please God, and it takes faith to follow Jesus wherever He chooses to take you. It does not take faith to have a big bank account unless the bank account belongs entirely to Jesus. I wonder, has the majority of the Church gotten to the place that they can say with Paul, I have learned to be content with or without? If we have to have money or possessions to be happy, then we are still building our own kingdom for ourselves. When we give tithes and offerings what is our motive? Is it to receive back or is it just to be obedient to the Holy Spirit? Do we give thinking we are going to get back so we can build our selfish kingdom? Do we give all in obedience to the Lord and trust him to take care of us because of His promises to us? The word says where our treasure is our heart will be also. If our treasure is building an earthly kingdom for our self, then we are missing it big time. We are to lay up our treasures in Heaven instead where moth and rust doth not corrupt, and where thieves won't break through and steal (Mathew 6:19).

I have been concerned many times when I have heard preachers say that if you give a certain amount, that you will receive a certain amount back. Yes, God may answer in that way to some. Yet I have to look at the motives for giving. I have to look at the motives for the preachers saying what they say. Many Christians are still very selfish and are building their own kingdoms. These messages play right into their plans. The preachers get large amounts of money for their projects and comfort. Even if the person does not receive what the preacher said they should get, they are told their faith is weak, or they have to keep doing it till it works. Many finally give up disillusioned and wonder why it didn't work.

First, God is not a formula. If we give as led by the Holy Spirit, we will be taken care of by the Lord. I personally believe that our motive should only be obedience to what the Holy Spirit tells us to do. If we are like what Jesus said that we should be to follow Him, our focus will be on doing God's will and building His kingdom and not our own.

3 John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth". When a soul prospers does money make it happen? Not hardly. A prospered soul is one that is content with whatever portion God gives. This soul is ruled by the Holy Spirit as it has died to self-pleasure, and self-gratification. This soul has found peace, and is able to rest and trust the Lord as its total source of all things. This soul is happy as it has the mind of Christ not the mind of man.

I find an interesting contrast here with the scripture in Psalms 106:15. God gave the person their request, but with it came leanness of soul. Doesn't that say that you can posses materially and financially yet still have a lean soul?

I have become convinced over the years that true prosperity is not about money or possessions. True prosperity is the fruit of the Spirit whether we posses anything or not. True prosperity is following Jesus and knowing His power and presence. God will always take care of our needs as we have them: He didn't say that He would take care of all of our wants though. You may say that if we delight our self in the Lord that He will give to us the desires of our heart. Yes He may but what does delighting in the Lord mean? I think delighting in the Lord means that we have made Him Lord of everything. We have given up our own mind, will, desires, and impure motives. If we are truly delighting in the Lord, I believe we will have His heart not ours. I think a key here is that who rules our money? Is it Jesus or self? If Jesus rules it then we know it is not ours. We do with it as the Holy Spirit directs. We may at times have abundance then all the sudden we have little or none. We will not be swayed either way. We will be like Paul, content with or without. We will have learned who our source really is and that we can trust in His faithfulness.

One thing that I have learned is that when I am in God's presence, I find that I desire nothing more than Him. All of the things I thought I wanted or needed don't even enter my mind. The spirit gives to us life, not our selfish flesh. To me, true prosperity is having an intimate relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. I find nothing greater or more satisfying.

44. Truth Dispels the Lie

Recently the Holy Spirit talked to me about our dog Babe and how we are so similar. I looked out the window and watched when he was on his chain. He did everything he knew to break the chain or get loose. He wanted to be in the house. He could see the house and his owner, yet that chain kept him from getting there. When we let him off of the chain he ran and jumped, as he was so happy to be free.

We are so much like that. We sometimes can see where we want to be, yet to figure out how to get off the chain that binds and keeps us from getting there, we seem to have no clue. We do everything that we know to do, yet we stay bound. When Jesus comes on the scene and turns us loose, we jump and leap and get excited just as babe does. Sometimes we may be asleep thinking we are chained and awake not knowing that we are actually free. We stay bound by the lie that we carry in our mind. Sometimes we need to just take that step of faith and then all the sudden we realize that we are free and not bound. We are told that when we know the truth, that the truth will set us free. Notice that it is not the problem that has us in bondage. It is the lie that we have believed that actually binds us. This is why truth sets us free. The problem goes once we see truth. The lie is the bondage; the outward is just the fruit of the lie. Remember the scripture as a man thinketh so is he? As the truth comes in through the Holy Spirit, then the lie we believed no longer has power.

All the outward things that we desire to see changed will change when we see them through truth. The devil is a liar. We have believed so many lies and are walking in them and have no idea that we are doing it. We all walk in the light of truth that we have. May God help us by giving to us all wisdom and revelation knowledge through His Holy Spirit to see the lies we have bought from the devil unknowingly.

If you are bound in any way, then seek truth. Seek revelation as to all the things that are the root of the problem. When the Holy Spirit pulls out the roots, then there will be no more bad fruit. The devil seems to always insist that we focus on the problem to change it. That just puts it in our own strength to deliver our self. The Holy Spirit once told me this; "Circumstances are not the problem, as we change then circumstances will automatically change. Circumstances are only there because of the way that we view them". When we see the truth, we see circumstances through God's eyes, and find that they are no problem at all. When we walk in spirit and truth, the problems are no longer there. Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the deliverer. The closer we get to Jesus the more these lies will be revealed. As we look to Jesus, the truth, instead of the problem, then our victory will be assured. It will come in God's time and way, so we must just rest and trust Jesus to do what He is faithful to do.

45. Turn the Ringer On!

In this modern world of technology, we are able to turn the telephone ringer up high or down low. When we have such busy schedules we may turn the ringer down, as we don't want to be distracted by the phone ringing. We may even use an answering machine, as we just don't seem to have time to talk on the telephone. Even if we can hear the telephone ring, we still must stop and pick up the receiver to find out who is calling.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is making some Heavenly calls. When we have the ringer so low or the answering machine answering the calls, we miss what God is saying to us or don't get the message when we really need it. Our schedules have become so busy that the Holy Spirit has been turned down so low through our works and other distractions of this world, that we are missing His call. Jesus desires to be intimate with us through His Holy Spirit. In order for that to happen, we must be able to listen for His call. We must order our schedules different so that we have time for those calls from the Lord. We need to learn to just rest and relax in His presence and see what He would say to us. One thing I have learned by the grace of God is that I need to hear from Him daily. My life is not my own, I gave it to Jesus. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us for our good. When we don't spend the time with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to speak to us, then we are just walking in our own works, which really accomplish little for the kingdom of God. I am constantly seeing in the Spirit the disciples sitting at the feet of Jesus and having intimate fellowship with Him. There is constant two-way communication. This did not stop, or shouldn't have because Jesus went to be with His Father. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit so that this intimacy could continue. We cannot be led unless we learn to take time to listen. Did not the Word tell us that the Holy Spirit would lead and guide us into all truth? Did not Jesus tell us that the Holy Spirit would bring to our remembrance those things, which Jesus spoke? We need the Holy Spirit. We need His guidance.

So how do we turn the ringer up so that we can hear? We turn the ringer up by entering into His presence. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He doesn't go for the most part where He is not invited. He will knock or cause the phone to ring; yet we must either open the door or pick up the receiver. We are told that we enter into gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Consider when you have done things for someone and they never thank you. How do you feel? Does this really energize you to want to do more for that person? We need to turn the ringer up by entering into His presence with thanksgiving. We so often pray and ask God for so many things and then just go and do our own plans. If we would just stop our works and just start thanking the Lord for all that He has done yesterday, what He is going to do today and tomorrow, we would find that He would show up with His presence. We need to thank Him for things we so take for granted. We have clean water to drink, we have a toilet, we have a roof over our head, and we have food and clothing. Many countries cannot say all of that. We are blessed and take it for granted. There is always something to be thankful for. Once we spend time thanking Him and then spend time praising Him, His presence will come. He inhabits our praise. Our ability to hear Him speak always increases as we are listening and yielding to the Holy Spirit. As we pray in the Holy Spirit we gain our self built up on our most Holy faith (Jude 1:20). We now are in a position to hear should the Holy Spirit wish to speak to us. We must give Him the opportunity to speak to us. If we were the disciples sitting at the feet of Jesus we would be able to hear should Jesus desire to speak. We must get our self into a position to hear. This is turning the ringer up. The only way to do this is learn to spend time with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is speaking to many these days; will you allow Him the opportunity by spending time with Him? Will the cares of this world choke Him out so you cannot even hear the telephone ring? The choice is ours. If we draw near to God, He has promised to draw near to us. Notice that we must start the process. If you don't pay your telephone bill, you get your telephone disconnected. If we don't do things to take us into the spirit, we get disconnected also. We draw near, and then He draws near. We open the door or turn the ringer up, and then He will call. Jesus desires intimacy with His Church. He desires to tell us many things. He desires to teach us, lead us, empower us, and protect us. If we do not listen to Him through the Holy Spirit then how can He do this? I pray that we all will turn the ringer up and learn to listen to whatever He would desire to tell us. It is for our good always.

46. Understanding God's Word

I recently read an article posted on this site concerning Bible translations. I found the article to be accurate as far as I could tell and very thought provoking. The negative possibility of what is happening right under our noses was staggering. I am basing this article on some things I believe were revealed to me as a result. I would encourage others to read and be open to the Holy Spirit concerning Sandra Hicks article on Bible translations. It is well worth reading.

Many people say that they have a difficult time understanding the KJV. I want to submit this to you and others. First God is a spirit. To understand spiritual things happens in the spirit not the natural. The Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through man. It was spirit led and anointed by our Heavenly Father. God confirms His Word, not mankind's words. He watches over His Word to perform it, not mankind's words. I had never considered that some Bible translations we presently have were not the inspired Word of God. They may have some words correct but also may have many changes and or omissions as was mentioned. I see two things going on with this:

First we know that the enemy is out to deceive. I think that we all know that just because a sign on a building says that it is a church, does not mean it is an anointed Church that is of God. With the same token, just because a book says that it is a Holy Bible, does not mean that it is the inspired Word of God. Many things are written, yet not all are led of the Holy Spirit and have the blessing and anointing of the Lord upon them. We know that our enemy the devil is using many avenues to blind and deceive. I find it interesting that he has even snuck in and changed the Word of God and many of the church have bought into it. I had one pastor tell me that it didn't matter as Jesus was coming soon anyway. Since when does speaking the truth not matter?

My second observation is that many churches and people leave out the Holy Spirit. Being that the Holy Spirit wrote the Bible through man, it stands to reason that we need the Holy Spirit to understand what the Lord is saying through it. We are not to lean on our own understanding in other words our understanding is not an intellectual thing it is a spiritual thing. The natural man does not understand spiritual things. The only way to understand the Bible is the Holy Spirit revealing truth to us. Man has tried to make the Word of God understandable to the natural man. The problem is that if that were possible then where does the Holy Spirit come in? The Holy Spirit is our power. He is our revelation and brings forth those things which Jesus spoke of. He is the teacher. To just have our head full of some understanding makes us only religious. The letter of the law kills. The spirit gives life. The Word energized by the Holy Ghost is powerful and will change people and many things. Yet if we adhere to a watered down and incomplete book then we are only walking in a form of godliness but are denying the power. God's word was not designed to be figured out by the natural man. It takes the Holy Spirit to interpret what is said.

Proverbs 3:

5. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Mt 13:11 He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Lu 8:10 And he said, unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

**1Co 14:2** For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

I see many statements that people make that say they cannot understand the KJV. If we look at scripture we are too not lean on our own understanding. So of course in the natural we do not understand spiritual things.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

The reason that the natural man cannot understand spiritual things is that they are not supposed to. It takes the Holy Spirit to understand spiritual things. I know that this may not be popular to say, but if we want to understand spiritual things we must press into the spirit of God. The closer and more intimate we get with the Holy Spirit, the more revelation that will come of His Word. Scripture above tells that there are mysteries. The Word is a mystery. It takes the Holy Spirit to reveal it. The whole issue is the natural trying to understand God, which they cannot. There is a cost to understand. The cost is becoming crucified with Christ and allowing Him through the Holy Spirit to live through us. We must have and desperately need the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to have him and He was our example. So why do we think we don't?

47. Unity of the Spirit

Eph 4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Greek Translation:

Endeavoring-4704 spoudazw spoudazo spoo-dad'-zo

from 4710; TDNT-7:559,1069; v

AV-endeavour 3, do diligence 2, be diligent 2, give diligence 1, be forward 1, labour 1, study 1; 1) to hasten, make haste

2) to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence.

In a relationship, keeping unity is so important. Have you ever noticed a flow in the spirit then all of the sudden it seems so disconnected? We know that the enemy does not want us to be in unity. We know according to God's Word that unity of the spirit brings God's anointing and then His blessing, so of course the enemy would like to prevent or stop any unity.

I seem to be more sensitive these days concerning this. It is like a door is open and then when the unity of the spirit is gone, it is like a door shuts. Things can be powerful as we are in His presence, but then when unity leaves, things seem so empty and dead. It is more obvious to me that it is only the spirit that gives life. Without the flow of the Holy Spirit there is really death and emptiness. The Word says endeavoring to keep oh that it were that easy. There are so many things that we seem to face, which will distract us from His presence. The enemy uses all the things from the natural that we enjoy or are concerned with to draw us from God's presence. No wonder God says that he that loses his life will find it. Until the only thing that matters to us is His presence we will easily get sidetracked. We are told that:

Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

There are so many ways that seem right in the natural, yet to our spirit they produce death. They take us out of the spirit and into the carnal. Jesus was our example. He said:

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Jesus learned to seek not his own will. His feelings or His emotions did not lead him. Only God's Spirit led him. He laid down His own will and desires. He listened too and obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit alone. What He saw the Father do he did. This had to be what He saw in the spirit. What He heard the Father speak, He spoke. This also is what He heard in the Spirit. Though Jesus was crucified on the cross, He was actually crucified before. His natural man had to have been crucified way before that as He only did the Father's will while He walked on the earth. I had never considered this before, but Jesus was actually crucified at least twice. He was crucified once at least to His natural man and then to His body. Jesus would have said this scripture in this way concerning Himself:

Ga 2:20 I am crucified with the Father: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but the Father liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Father, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

This must be true as he did not live unto himself, but only allowed the will of the Father to flow through Him. The Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion. When man is in the carnal fleshly nature, each always has a different desire or idea. God does not cause confusion but brings agreement in the spirit.

Jesus:

1 Peter 2:

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Paul on the other hand:

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

48. Unity

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Ephesians 4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Two Greek Translations:

Unity-03162 dxy yachad yakh'-ad

from 03161; TWOT-858b;

AV-together 120, altogether 5, alike 5, likewise 2, withal 2, misc 8; 142

1) union, unitedness

adv 2) together, altogether, all together, alike

Unity-1775 enothv henotes hen-ot-ace'

from 1520; ; n f

AV-unity 2; 2

1) unity

2) unanimity, agreement

Unity!

This is a powerful word. When people are in unity or agreement it means strength and power. The word unity in the Greek means agreement. We are told in:

Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in Heaven.

Agreement is powerful in that Mathew says that when two or more agree in asking God, that it shall be done. Let's look at some differences in people.

You and I can eat the same food, yet totally disagree on the taste, smell, or even the color. We can read a book and totally disagree on whether or not it was a good book. We can look at a car and totally disagree on what the best one is to have. This disagreement is normal as we all have different likes, tastes, and dislikes. These are ruled by our senses.

The real agreement comes by the Holy Spirit. God can take two people totally different in their likes, tastes, and dislikes and cause them to be in total agreement. The reason for this comes in that the Holy Spirit is unity. Unity comes by the Holy Spirit, not by the flesh. Comparing spiritual things with natural things will bring disunity. Paul said that the natural man receives not the things of God, but they are foolishness to him. (2 Cor 10:4).

I believe that God wants His Church walking in unity of the Spirit. The only way that can happen is people yielding to the Spirit instead of the natural man or understanding. Have you ever had the Holy Spirit tell you something and found out that when you told someone else that they thought that it was ridiculous? The reason being is that their natural mind could not accept a spiritual truth. It made no sense to them. God's ways often make no sense to the natural mind. To think that everyone is going to agree with you about what the Holy Spirit tells you, is foolish. Here is an eye opener. Not every Christian is in tune to the Holy Spirit. Not every Christian even desires to be. Why is that? To be in tune means that we have to allow the Holy Spirit to bring many changes not only to our hearts but also to our outward circumstances. Not every Christian is willing for God to do this, even though in the end it is the most glorious thing that God could ever do. We get to become more like Him. We get to walk in Holy Spirit power. Not everyone feels that way though.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

The real point I wish to make is that people cannot really walk in agreement except by the Holy Spirit. If you want to walk in unity with others, then you must seek out others that desire to hear from the Holy Spirit as you do. This will bring a life of peace and power.

Results of Unity!

Psalms 133:

2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Greek Translation

Ointment-08081. Nmv shemen sheh'- men; from 08080; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness:— anointing, X fat (things), X fruitful, oil([-ed]), ointment, olive, + pine. Greek 1068.

Unity brings the anointing clear down to the skirts of a garment. This indicates that Aaron

was covered with the anointing. As a result of the anointing, God commanded the blessing.

So the progression is this:

Unity brings the Anointing; the anointing brings the Blessing from the Lord!

This seems a real great reason to walk in unity of the Spirit with another!

49. Victors or Victims

Recently I went to a spot on the river to just relax. I noticed a spider web. I found myself watching the web. All the sudden a big bumblebee got caught in the web. Instantly it seemed the big brown spider was there attacking the bee. There was a struggle but then the bee fell out of the web. I thought the bee had died. To my surprise the bee got up and flew away. The spider never moved again. The spider must have gotten stung by the bumblebee in the struggle. I thought of this and knew that there was a spiritual meaning to what I had witnessed.

Under normal circumstances most insects that got caught in the web, would have been the victim and dinner for the spider. But in this case, the victim was stronger than the spider.

In our walk with the Lord, the devil has many webs in which he will try to entrap us and wrap us up and choke the life out of us. The ones that are spiritually strong will be able to withstand the battle and become the victor. The ones that are spiritually weak will be become the victim. This little story shows how important that it is to spend the time with the Lord and do our praise, prayer, intercession, and to draw near to Him. This is a time in history that the battles are greater as the enemy has been attacking more and more. Unless we become strong in the spirit like the bee, the enemy, the spider, may end up having us for its lunch.

Lu 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.

May we become the victors instead of the victim.

50. What is the Value of Peace?

Many years ago I was partitioning the Lord for a particular thing to take place. I don't recall what the circumstance was, but I do remember being determined to have it change.

In the process of questioning the Lord, I found myself thinking of this scripture:

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

It seemed that no matter what I believed, did, or said that things were just not changing. Maybe I am the only one that would get frustrated over God not seemingly answering. Instantly God gave me this peace over the circumstance. I thought well peace is great, but what about the situation that didn't change? I found myself a little resentful of the Lord for Him only giving me peace. It just didn't seem to be enough. I was determined remember? Well, to my surprise the peace I had disappeared. It was gone for weeks. I struggled and struggled but found no relief. Finally I gave in. I said Lord; peace is a pretty good answer. No matter what happens in the problem I was facing, please return the peace so I can at least bare the wait. He then gave me back peace.

Sometimes, it seems that maybe we take the peace from God for granted. The scripture:

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Often we may not understand the why and the why not from God, but He does promise to us peace that surpasses our understanding. I have learned to just accept the answer whether I see God do it or not. His peace is far more important. Actually, the frustration I felt came from a fleshly desire. When we don't get what we think we want, frustrations can come. I have learned to rest in God and just know that what He desires or does is always far greater than what I could ever do for myself. This was a great accomplishment of the Lord in me. To me, the value now of peace is irreplaceable. No matter the situation or storm we face, God can give to us peace in the midst of it. Only His Spirit, instead of external circumstances moves us. Praise God that He was determined to do this in me.

Scripture in Galatians says that peace is the fruit of the spirit. The disciples on the lake had frustration and fear when the storm came, yet Jesus was at peace. If we are IN Jesus, then we will be at peace no matter what comes our way. We become moved by our spirit, not external circumstances. This must be our goal, to allow the Holy Spirit and our spirit man to rule. God said that we go out with joy and are led forth by peace. In God's eyes peace is very valuable. We can be led when we are at peace.

Books presently available on Smashwords by this author:

The Warrior Poet

Releasing God's Power in You

Pupper Tales

Colorful Truths Series

Can We Have the Mind of Christ?

The Chicken

The Fruit of the Spirit

Our Free Gift

Victory Over the Flesh

Do Miracles Still Happen?

Minister to Me

Peace in the Storm

Colorful Truths Volume 1, Volume 2

New Life Series

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Ministry In Poem Series

A total of 18 volumes

Please go to Smashwords and check for new releases or how to sample, view or make a purchase. Thanks for allowing me to share with you what the Lord has shared with me. May you be as blessed reading these as I was by the Lord in writing them.

Rick

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/believer
