Keys to the Kingdom

May 31, 2020

Sunday AM

Matthew 16:13-19 13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 

Jesus didn’t say the gates of hell won’t prevail against just any church. He said the gates of hell won’t prevail against the church I build. There’s lots of churches, but they are not all what He has built. That’s why we have the Bible. It’s our blueprint. We’re to line up with the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts.  This is a picture of what the church should look like; how we are to operate and function.  The disciples sat under Jesus and their soul was transformed. They saw Him healing, and ministering for 3 ½  years day and night before they were saved. The soul of man has the ability to transform you into whatever you subject it to the most. Their soul was seeing everything He did and said, day and night, for three and a half years. 

Battles you fail to win in the spirit, your children will have to fight in the natural.  9/11 wouldn’t have happened if the church would have taken her place and did what she should have been doing all along. If the church had won that battle in the spirit, we wouldn’t have experienced such loss and pain in our nation.  If you think for one minute that God didn’t know that was going to happen, and that He wanted to stop it, then you don’t know God.  God did everything within His power to stop it.  

False statement: God is in Control. 

If God is in control, why don’t He fix what were experiencing? Why, is it such a mess? The word doesn’t teach that. God is in control on planet earth when His people are in control. Why? Because He gave all of the authority on earth to His people! If God could do anything He wants at any time He wants, He would have come down here and slapped that apple out of Adams hand! But He gave us a free will! Adam was supposed to make earth look/function like heaven.  God gave him the word to do it and told Him exactly what to do. When Adam didn’t do that, God still had to honor it, because He gave him that authority. Adam handed it over to the Devil.  God is in control only when we are in control through His word. God has been endeavoring for His people to get to a place of maturity, where they can function in the privilege and the responsibility of being sons and daughters. “For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God.” 

The devil can only win in your life over what you don’t know. It’s what you know that gives you what you need to win over Him.  Heaven defined what Jesus was. If you will get from Heaven, what God says to you and about you, then you have what you need to defeat any enemy. There are 2 different kinds of knowledge. Natural human knowledge, and precise knowledge. One originates from man and the other originates from God. What Peter said in verse 16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” that originated from Heaven.  God builds His church when we are in a position to hear from Heaven what Heaven wants us to do.  The bible is God speaking to us.  When you live out the bible, it’s no different than if God Himself stood right beside you and spoke it out of His mouth into your ear. When a true word from God comes, it’s as sure as the written word. Somebody has to hear from Heaven, and if you’re going to hear from heaven, you have to take the time to get to that place. 

God can’t do anything in the earth unless someone gives Him permission.  We have authority on this earth because we live in a natural body. The devil has to work through people with bodies. In the garden, He had to go through that snake.  Jesus had to come from Heaven to get a body, to be able to function in the God’ given authority here on the earth. God can do nothing on planet earth unless somebody asks Him. 

Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 

Keys represent authority in this verse. Whatever you lock, God will lock. Whatever you unlock, God will unlock. Whatever you forbid, God will forbid. Whatever you allow, God will allow.  Bad things happen, because we don’t hear God.  We must stop waiting for the “booming voice” God is a spirit. He doesn’t speak audible English. That’s not his primary way of speaking. When you pray you develop a discerning ear. You become sensitive to his voice.  God sees your future. And when you can’t hear Him, He has to do some extraordinary things to get your attention.  It’s not too late! It’s never too late. 

What we are experiencing in our nation is not about race. It’s about right and wrong. Light and darkness. If you make it about race, you’re just fueling the flame. Words are a double-edged sword. Watch what you say on social media platforms. Just make sure what you are saying, is what Heaven is saying. 

The Importance of Worship

Matthew 15: 21-28.  21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

23 But He answered her not a word.

And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Have you ever prayed, and it seemed like nothing happened? Have you ever had others pray on your behalf and didn’t get an answer? Most people will stop there. When you have problems in your life most of the time it’s because God is on the outside looking in. God WANTS to help you. The reason God is on the outside looking in, is because people don’t worship Him. This woman came to Him because she was in trouble.  Don’t wait until you get in trouble to get with God. When you worship God, it gets Him on the inside. And when God is on the inside, the problems have no choice but to get out! There’s nothing more important than your purpose. Your purpose is found in the book of Revelation. We were created for God’s pleasure. To worship Him.  Your purpose is more important than your calling. If you get your purpose in its rightful place, your call will take care of itself. Keep your purpose first. We give God pleasure when we lift our hands to heaven and bow before Him to thank Him for every breath we take. Regardless of how good you have it, or how bad you have it, you have something you can thank God and worship Him for.  Worship is how you should live every day. You should be worshiping Monday through Saturday, not just on Sunday.  The Canaanite humbled herself.  People don’t worship God for 2 reasons. Because they don’t want Him, and their pride. Pride is the very essence of Satan himself. When you fall down and worship God with a humble heart, God begins to fix all your outward problems. We are all worshiping something. What are you worshiping?  You have to make this a practice in your life! 

 There are benefits for those who worship God on a daily basis. The evidence of that is found in Psalm 91. 

Psalm 91:14-16 14“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

When you choose to set your love upon God, He will be with you in trouble. He will be with you when situations arise, and you need help. You can have God on your side!  It’s best to set your love upon him BEFORE the trouble comes!  Base your relationship with God on fellowship, not need.  God will build a hedge around you. Nothing can penetrate that hedge. That’s what the whole Psalm is about! 

 Psalm 91:3-7  3Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day

6Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;But it shall not come near you.

God is giving you a picture of how he will protect you and your children.  God will get right in the middle of your life, but you have to invite Him in.  It’s easy to believe Him, when He is so real to you! 

 Psalm 91:11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.

 God is good! He wants to be God to you! Why don’t you let Him?  He is with you in trouble! If He never does another thing for you, you have enough to worship Him every day for the rest of your life! God has no favorites. Everyone has the same opportunity! Get before God and worship Him today! 

Secure Your Foundation

Genesis 41:50-52 And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” 52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

God wants us to be able to forget the past. To be fruitful in your present and your future, you have to forget your past. Don’t waste time living in the past. Very few people live with the future in mind. You have to get with God and let Him heal you. 

 In this time of preparation, we have to get ready for what is coming in the future. God did not cause this pandemic. But he allowed it to get our attention. We have to get our lives, and our churches back on track. From the bible, we know that in the end times there will be much deception and darkness. We have to prepare ourselves for what may be in the future. We have to ask ourselves, “where am I at?” Did you find yourself in fear? Did you find yourself worrying? Where are you concerning finances? 

 Revelation 3:1-3. “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things say He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 

 The king of Sardis was the wealthiest man on earth. They were the most powerful nation. They had such a fortress that there was no opposition. They became soft and too relaxed in their lifestyle. They had no real problems and they became complacent. They never had an enemy to even challenge them because they had such protection from within the walled city. As time went on and the ground eroded and shifted, there became cracks in the wall.  This is how the enemy got access to the city and took it over.  It was never the same again.  The devil is always looking for cracks in your wall! Foundation is very important. If you don’t have foundation, eventually you will fail. Preparing is foundational.  We must strengthen our foundation! 

Proper 

Preparation 

Prevents 

Poor 

Performance. 

 Everything that can be shaken is being shaken. Do you see that? The government don’t have the answer. Medicine don’t have the answer. Celebrities don’t have the answer. And the saddest part of all, the visible church didn’t have the answer.  For all disease, the answer is simple. “ I am the Lord that health thee.  I am the healer of all diseases.”  It’s God will that all be healed. 

 God warns us not to scare us; But to prepare us and keep us from pain. Don’t be negligent to secure your foundation or you will regret it.

The absolute necessity of obedience

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

In Genesis, we see the promise of the land. In Exodus, Moses takes the people of God out of Egypt to go to the land of promise. In Leviticus, you have the laws of God that Moses was to teach Israel before they got to the promise land. In Numbers, we see the wandering of the children of Israel in the wilderness. In this time, God purged them of four things. Rebellion, stubbornness, carnality, murmuring. Then in Deuteronomy, we see the preparation of the younger generation to enter into the land. In Joshua, we see them actually entering the land.  So when we look at the book of Deuteronomy we have to see the necessity of obedience, and this is why: We see what they were taught and we see their failures. We can learn from their disobedience. Their disobedience and unbelief kept them out of the land. Deuteronomy means, “to tell the record again, or say it again” God reiterated over and over that if the children of Israel would learn this one thing, all would be well for them.  

Deuteronomy 6:1-5  “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, 

For the most part, when fear is mentioned in the Old Testament, it means to revere. Reverence. It is spoken in the connotation of worship.  This is very important. 

2 that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.   3 Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly (increase mightily) as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!   5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

In other words, this should be the one thing you want. To love the Lord. All through the book of Deuteronomy, this is the theme. God used this whole book to get that point across. 

Deuteronomy 30:10; 15-20  if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Here’s the bottom line: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. 

 The Israelites fell to idolatry over and over again. God was trying to purge them of their ways so that when they got to Canaan, they wouldn’t turn it into Egypt.  He wanted to establish the fact that He is the source of all goodness in their lives.  There is only one God!  Don’t submit to other idols. If you can get this one thing right, He will increase you mightily.  The Israelites had a selfish nature. Worship that has to be commanded is not worship. Giving has to be something that comes from a willing heart. Under the New Covenant, we have the nature of God. God has a giving nature.  

 Why are people suffering? Depressed? Anxious? Poor? Because, God is on the outside looking in. You can be a born-again Christian living in a mess, because God is on the outside looking in. Your life changes when you get born again. But if you really want to flip your life around, you have to choose to worship God, and love Him with all of your heart, soul, and might. You have to serve him and chose him every day. The reason God is on the outside looking in, is because you are not worshipping Him.  Bow down and worship Him! Worship is something that has to come out of the sanctuary of your own heart.  It’s all a choice. Worship is not something that you do between 10-12 on Sunday and no other time. Worship is a way of life.  God gave us prayer, His word, fasting, and worship. These things will change your life. 

 Prayer (praying in the spirit) is a revelation gift. It deals with your spirit. An uncovering of mysteries. Things you don’t know or understand. You have to have revelation. Logic is not enough. Just because you know something don’t mean you possess something.  There is a difference between human knowledge and revelation knowledge. Praying in the spirit works from the inside out, not the outside in. 

 Worship is a presence gift. It deals with the soul.

 Fasting is abstinence of food. It deals with the flesh.

 Meditation of the word deals with the mind. It keeps you thinking straight and thinking like God thinks. 

 God wants you to have His presence on Monday just like He does on Sunday from 10-12. You can have the presence of God with you every day. It’s possible! God don’t want you to live without his presence. 

Exodus 33:2  “… for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”

 Stiff- necked means, “stubborn,” or “self-willed” or “selfish”

This is the nature of the devil.  It’s a miserable way to live. As a Christian, you have to drive this out of your life. If you want God’s presence, you have to get rid of being “stiff-necked.” God took them into the land because He promised it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God keeps his promises, but He would not go in with them, because they were stubborn and selfish.  The reason He didn’t go with them, was because the people didn’t want Him.  The reason you don’t worship God? Because you don’t want Him.  The reason you don’t pray until you are in trouble? Because you don’t want God. We’ve all been there, but you have to get that junk out of you! The way you do this, is fall on your face before God daily, and chose to worship, and serve Him. For you can do nothing without Him! Say it over and over! Tell God how much you love him with all your heart and soul! If you do this regularly, His presence will begin to come to you. He will begin to purge things out of your life like fear, torment, anxiety, and worry. He wants you to live a life of total peace! God’s presence is a result of choosing to worship Him.  His presence will start coming to you and you will notice a change in yourself.  You will see it most in the realm of your emotions. Emotions aren’t a bad thing, but you can’t allow them to control you. His presence will begin to purge inner turmoil, malice, anger, unforgiveness, and fear. If you begin to worship God, He will get rid of all of that.  You start doing this every day, God will go with you. You will have His presence, peace and love, along for the ride with you every day.  No one can do it for you. In the beginning, you will have to make yourself because your mind, and flesh will not want to. But you’re the boss not your mind and emotions. You must get in the habit and when the stability comes, you will be able to live above. Whatever is in you that don’t want God, you better get it out! It’s dangerous. How do you get it out? You bow before God and say, “I want you; I love you; I worship you!”  Do it day after day and your life will change. Problems will leave your life as God enters your life. To have more of God, you have to give him more of you! The way God fills your cup to overflowing, is through worship! You can have this every day, if you will choose Him. Decide to be a worshiper! 

 Exodus 33:12-15.  Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”

14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 

 Every morning wake up and say, “God, I can’t do anything without you. I don’t want to do anything without Your presence. I don’t want to go through this day without Your presence. I want You. “No other person on the planet wants you for you. God wants you just for you. If the whole world don’t care about you, want you, or love you, God does. You are loved! God loves you! When you start to feel that love you start to want Him like He wants you! You will enter into a whole new place in God!   Worship is a choice!  

Year of Preparation

Sunday AM, May 17, 2020

Luke 22:31-34. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

2020 is a year of preparation! There is something that God desires to do in the earth. All throughout the Bible we see that there is an increase in warfare and disruptions in the natural world anytime God is wanting to do something. It’s no different in our day and age. The reason we are in a season of preparation is for that warfare. We are about to enter warfare like you’ve never seen. The war is between good and evil. Our fight is not with flesh and blood. 

The church is not ready for what God wants to do. The church is the only entity that has authority over darkness.  This war is an unseen battle. The church is the one who should be recognizing that and using the God given authority to combat in this battle! If the church will take its place, we will see some things turn! 2020 is a year of consecration and dedication.   God needs everyone in their place and sensitive to Him! HE knows exactly where you need to be! You can change the world from your place of prayer. God is speaking to people so they can change things in the government of our nation, and people’s lives. Prayers can hold back the enemy! God is trying to get our attention! Distractions are your major enemy in this time of preparation.  

 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

 Peter thought he was ready! He wasn’t and Jesus knew that. Peter was dealing with unseen spiritual forces. Just like the ones coming against our nation. They are stronger than most people are spiritually. You must get spiritually strong enough to rise above those things. 

 John 21: 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son  Jonah, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

 We are not ready without God! Your spiritual wellbeing is measured by one thing. Your prayer life! Do you have one?  The problems in your life can all be traced back to your prayer life.  You must abide in the vine. (John 15:5) Apart from God you can do nothing! His strength comes into you through prayer!  Heaven is wanting to pour out the Spirit above and beyond what we see in the book of Acts. But for heaven to send what’s up there, we have to make some adjustments down here. We can’t get distracted pointing at everyone else; we have to focus on ourselves.  We need God to help us change! Pray and seek God. Let his life and love flow into you. It will drive out all fear and torment. He will turn you into a different person, into a person He can use! Let God deal with you and your heart!  He’s doing everything He can to prepare the church!

We have to get prepared! 

One day in the kingdom of God is better than your whole life in the world. 

Signs of the Times

March 22, 2020

Sunday AM

1 Timothy 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

In the second verse the kings that are mentioned would be equivalent to a modern-day president. We don’t have kings in our time. We MUST pray for our leaders and the people in authority of our country. In several previous administrations, God was pushed out of our nation. When the right people are in leadership, and the church is doing her part, the gospel can go out and people can hear the truth! People can be saved! People can be set free! 

 If you do the Bible, the Bible will work!

 2 Chronicles 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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

If you’re not praying, It’s because of your pride. You have to get up every morning and say, “God I can’t do anything without you!” There’s not a person on earth that don’t need God. You must humble yourself and recognize where your help comes from. 

 Luke 21:7-8  So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

8 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore, do not go after them. 9 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”

Signs tell us where we are, and how far we have to go. The number 1 sign of the times is deception. Men who once held firm moral beliefs, will gradually drift away from those BIBLICAL beliefs. We have seen that happen with our own eyes already. But this will become much worse. We have to reinforce our foundations! There are things GOD ALMIGHTY put in place that can’t be moved. Do not be deceived. 

The number 2 sign is “…for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and ‘the time has drawn near.’” This will not show up as much in such a literal way. But men will build something on the reputation of Jesus’ name, not because He told them to. You must know this. If we don’t do it God’s way, it won’t stand. To rise up and go out is the flesh. To be raised up and sent out is the Holy Ghost. People who have risen up themselves to go out and start their own thing aren’t led by the spirit and it will not draw the Spirit to them. It’s vital that we see these signs and recognize where we are and how far we have to go.  We’ve heard for years and years and years that we are living in the end times. But we have not seen the signs like we are seeing them in the present. 

Next, “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified” the emphasis here is DO NOT BE TERRIFIED. In Matthew its phrased as “Butwhen you hear of wars and rumorsof wars, DO NOT BE TROUBLED.” You become terrified when you let fear get inside of you. In our day and time that’s easy to do.  Jesus is foretelling of wars and commotions. We have an earful of these commotions and have an excess of information about these events as they happen across the globe. The text could be translated as “you will continually hear of wars.” It presents the idea of a nonstop flow of information. These wars and acts of terrorism may not necessarily occur in our own neighborhood, but the non-stop news will bring them right into our homes via television, internet, radio, and other means of communication. In generations raised with television and the internet the availability of information is more prolific than any other time in history. This pervasive availability will cause ears to ring with the sounds of casualties and conflicts. Jesus declared that an earful of various types of conflicts will be one of the most foremost signs that the finality of the age is approaching. Since we are living in the closing days of this age, we are a generation that will have an earful of these events. Therefore, it is imperative that we grab hold of the peace of God. And not allow apprehension, fear, and worry to control our minds.  So much that is happening in our world right now is based on fear. There is the same amount of money, jobs, people as before. But what has changed? The level of fear. The uncertainty. 

Luke 21:34“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.  

Do not be caught ill-prepared. When fear comes and finds you unprepared, that’s when it does the most damage. God spoke to us recently and said, “get prepared.” A lot of Americans lose heart when they see a dip in the economy. Why? Because their hearts were not in the right place. God is endeavoring to get our hearts, faith, and trust where they need to be. When it comes to our health, He don’t want us ill-prepared. He don’t want us fearing anything! God don’t want us in fear about sickness, nor does he want us in fear about our money and wellbeing. We will see great prosperity come to America! Things WILL turn around! Get prepared! 

 3 John 2  Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

 God wants you in health. He wants you to prosper. That’s the kind of God you serve. He’s a GOOD God. 

March 4, 2020

Wednesday Night Service

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

God wants his presence to abide with you. All the time! God wants to go through your day with you! He doesn’t want you just on Sunday morning, He wants to be with you all the time. That’s what worship does! It gets God with you ALL the time. Without His presence we can’t do anything. You can’t accomplish what He has for you.   

 Apart from Him, I can’t be healed and live in divine health. 

Apart from Him, I can’t have life, and have it in abundance.

Apart from Him, I can’t walk in the material and financial plan He has for me. 

Apart from Him, I can’t walk in supernatural peace and joy unspeakable.

Apart from Him, I can’t have council and wisdom that surpasses natural men’s intellect.

Apart from Him, I can’t walk in power and authority over demons and deception like he planned for me to live. 

Apart from Him, I can’t walk in divine love, forgiveness, and be without offense in my life. 

Apart from Him I can do nothing.  Know this and settle it every day and every morning. When you get this established in your life, you will see change.

John 15:10If you keep my commands, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and abide in His love. 

Abide – dwell, remain

There is a difference in dwelling in the love of God, and having God come visit you in a church service and bless you. When the presence comes on you, all the giftings in you come alive. God don’t want that to come once every 6 months! He wants you to have that all the time.

Psalm 145:8-9 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Gracious - disposed to show favors. God ALWAYS wantsto show you favor! This truth KILLS the “if it be thy will,” “in God’s own time,” “God’s got this” lies.  If God is in control, WHY IS IT IN THE MESS IT’S IN? You have to kill these man-made ideas, that sound good, but are only lies. Facebook posts are not scripture! God does not come into agreement with man! WE must come to agreement with Him. He’s always right. God always wants to! If God shows you favor, it’s not something insignificant. In Jeremiah we can read, “Call unto me, and I’ll answer you and show you great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” God’s will is so big for you that He can’t even tell you about it.  All of this teaching can be summed up in Psalm 23. 

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

The goal for all of us, is to be in the place where our cups are overflowing, and we can pray for others. God wants that for all of us! In the book of Acts, you see people praying for others! You see Peter at The Beautiful Gate, you see Paul’s handkerchief, you see Peter’s shadow, you see Phillip casting out devils. That’s what God is trying to move His church into. He wants to pour out His Spirit on His people so they can pray for the world! Right now, “the world” is not impressed with God or His church. But, if we start operating in this fullness, you will get their attention. We’re not there yet but we’re making adjustments to help us get there. If you don’t get up each morning and say, “Lord I’m not my shepherd, you’re my shepherd. Today, I don’t have any needs, because you meet all of my needs. I’m going to sit down at this table that you’ve prepared. I’ll bring all my fear, worry, and all my problems. I’m going to sit at your table, because you’ve already spread it with everything I need. Whatever I need is there. You’ve got what I need to counteract all my inadequacies.  I’ll sit here and let You feed me. Because you’re the shepherd.” If you don’t sit down at the table, He can’t feed you! He won’t chase you with a spoon and force-feed you! He prepares the table. You MUST sit down and be fed.  “He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters.”  When you sit at his table and He gets to feed you, an exchange takes place. Your weakness for His strength. Your inadequacies for His abilities. Your worries for His peace. Your sorrow for His joy. You have to make the Lord your Shepherd. A stillness will come on you just like water. You’ll get up from the table and go on with your day, and no matter what happens, it won’t rattle you.  Because you’ve got God’s stillness, and peace. God is with me. “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Why? Because GOD IS WITH ME. 

“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion” If you just touch Him, He will spill over onto you. You have to get around Him and quit trying to get Him to come around you. This is key!  You’re constantly going to be full of something. Let that something be the presence of God!  There’s a reverence and respect that you have to develop about the presence of God. You must approach Him on His terms. Leave your Phone in a different room. YOU’RE TALKING TO SOMEONE MORE IMPORTANT!  Respect the Almighty God. Approach Him with respect and reverence. It’s an attitude! 

Psalm 145:8-9 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

If you will get with God, He will make you like that! If you want to be full of compassion, and slow to anger, get with God. 

Hearing God's Voice

February 26, 2020

John 10:1-5 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  And when He brings out His own sheep, He goes before them; and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.  Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful, when the enemy starts shouting things at you, you don’t even notice? But when your shepherd says something, you hear him, and you run to him. A big part of turning aside (our main focus this year) is hearing His voice. People struggle with prayer and turning aside, mainly because they can’t hear His voice. If you had a question or a problem and you knew that if you prayed, you would get the answer, would you pray more often? Have you ever wanted a two-way conversation with God? Well, it is something that you have to develop. God’s voice is not a natural voice. It’s a spiritual voice. He doesn’t speak to your natural ears. Have you ever approached God with a question, and the silence was deafening? That’s because you’re trying to hear with your natural ears. That’s not His primary way of speaking. If you continue to expect an audible voice, you’re setting yourself up for a lot of frustration. God will never lead you on any path but success. If you think that it is not God’s will that you know EXACTLY what He wants from you, you’re wrong. God don’t just have two-way conversations with preachers. He wants that for all His children. 

In the day you and I live in, if you’re not hearing Him, you better get around somebody that is.  90% of the people out there who say they are speaking for Him, are not.  They’re speaking from the minds of men. In some instances, they are being inspired by seducing spirits. It’s imperative that you learn to hear from God. 

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

 You have a spirit that is alive unto God. Plus, you have the Holy Spirit living in you.  The Holy Spirit speaks to you through your spirit. Not through your mind, circumstances, or feelings. We seek the spectacular, and we miss the supernatural.  We want to hear a voice or see something, but that’s not the primary way that God leads all of his children. Even preachers. The primary way that He speaks is through the inward witness. You can read this in Romans chapter 8. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit because we are the children of God.  Most of the time the problem is not hearing His voice, it’s recognizing His leading.  But, once again, this has to be developed. If you want to be led by the spirit, you have to be serious about it. The desire has to be real. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is a spirit. And because you are made in his image and likeness, you are a spirit. You are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body. Every man is made up that way, whether they are born again or not. Every man is an eternal being. You are born spiritually dead. And If you don’t get born again, you go to where the spiritually dead go. To the regions of the damned.  Spiritually alive people go to heaven where God is.  A man doesn’t go to hell because he was born on earth and sinned. A man goes to hell because he was born spiritually dead.   So, you are a spirit, you have a soul, and you live in a body. 

God don’t lead you through your soul. He doesn’t lead you through your body. He leads through your spirit. You can be led by your body, just like you can be led by your own mind and imaginations. You must learn to differentiate between God’s voice and those voices. Most of the time people listen to their soul and they think its God. We’ve all fell into that trap. You can be led by your body or your soul, or you can be led by your spirit. They all have a voice. Which one are you giving the most attention to? 

You spirit speaks through your conscience.

Your soul speaks through reasoning and imaginations.

Your body speaks through feelings.

Listening to your conscience is huge.  Throughout the New Testament, the verses speaking about obeying your conscience is astounding. What makes your conscience so invaluable?  It will always lead you down the right path. 

Proverbs 20: 27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

 God guides you through your spirit! This is how He enlightens you!

 Acts 24:16 I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

 Paul worked very hard to keep his conscience clear of offence. You can offend God, and you can offend man. You must work hard to keep your spirit and conscience clear of offence. When you disobey your conscience it offends God. When you disobey your conscience, you sear it. And when you sear it, you miss the guidance it provides.  Most people don’t have a problem hearing God, they have a problem obeying Him. If you don’t obey your conscience, you aren’t obeying God.  

Con  - science

With  - knowledge 

We must become more spirit conscious! How do we do this?  We do more spiritual things. If all you do is feed your mind, you’ll be more naturally conscious. When you feed your spirit, you’ll be spirit conscious. Put a priority on spiritual things. Prayer and praise should be a priority. Give them your focus and your spirit will become stronger.  It is the same as physically working out, your muscles become stronger. If you work out your spirit, it will also become stronger. 

Keep a tender conscience! Work hard at it! God wants us all to have that tender side! Do not become hard and insensitive. You dampen your spirit and conscience with offence and unforgiveness. Stay away from ill-will! Unforgiveness clogs the arteries of compassion. No love or life flows out to others through unforgiveness. None will flow in either. You don’t just cut off other people from getting close, you cut off God from getting close. This is extremely important. Love worketh no ill to its neighbor. Love would never do anything (speech or action) to hurt another person. This is a challenge! But, as His children, we have His love in us. And it’s a lie to think you can’t do it. You can forgive, and you can be forgiven! Just as God has forgiven us. It helps keep your conscience clear toward God and man. You can be free to get divine direction rather than having your spirit dampened and clogged. His direction will only become louder and harder to ignore. 

Study of Exodus 32 - A picture of today's church

February 23, 2020

Sunday AM Service

Exodus 32:1-6 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!” 5 So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord.” 6 Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

 This chapter is a picture of the church today.  We do not want to be like it. This is not who we are called to be.  Most people don’t know the difference. They can sit in a church and think it’s God when it’s not. It’s deception. This teaching is to help you recognize the difference so that you can refuse to accept what man is offering. You don’t serve God on your terms. You serve God on His terms. 

Aaron took the people’s money, and fashioned their god like he wanted to. Not like God said. You can create any kind of church you want to. Most preachers give into the pressures of the people, just like Aaron.  They make a church/worship experience that ministers to the peoples wants. 

After Aaron made the calf, the people responded with “This is god” They woke up early to have a church service. They brought their offerings and praised this golden calf. After, they feasted and drank and celebrated with sexual immorality. They had a church service and then went on to live like the world. Whatever happened that day, didn’t have enough God in it to separate them from the world. 

 Our church is no good if it doesn’t separate us from the world. We’re not called to fit in the world. Jesus says, if you get it right the world will hate you! Because we are not of this world. This is not our home! You’re a new creature in Christ. God is your father now. 

If we don’t make adjustments down here in the church, God won’t send what’s up there. 

In the last few years, our nation came to the place where we needed to make some adjustments. We got away from God and off course. Now, we’ve got to turn our eyes to the church. Just like we needed to make adjustments in our nation, we need to make some adjustments in the church. Here’s why: The nation is a reflection of the church. Even if you’re not in the church, there needs to be adjustments to your home. Because the church is a reflection of our homes. Everything comes out of the home. The one basic thing we are focusing on right now is simple. Attitudes. 

What was the result of the people making their own choice not to wait on god, what he had to say, and what he wanted? Moses was taking longer than they wanted to wait. They were too impatient to hear what God had to say. The Egyptians were saying, “give us the god we want, the church we want and the life we want. So we can worship how and when we choose. Then we can go eat and play, live like the world until we decide to do it again.” Do you see the picture of that?

God didn’t call us to live part time christians! God don’t want us just on the weekends. He wants full custody!

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

 Jehovah is a jealous God. A God who claims absolute loyalty and exclusive devotion. If he’s just your God on Sunday Morning, he’s not really your God.  He wants to be your only one. 

 God is calling us to get our lives, homes, cities, and nation in order. We are to turn aside from our own ways, consecrate and dedicate our lives, turn back to what God has said to us. REPENT. RETURN. Get back to God. The one who never changes. Loyalty and devotion to Him is something that never should change. 

 Turn aside while the space of grace is presenting itself. It’s not a time to be luke- warm. Anything in you that don’t want God, you better get it out. 

Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, here am I.

 Notice that Moses had a job. He was the shepherd of those sheep. He had an everyday responsibility. He had a wife and children. Just like us. If Moses had not chosen to turn aside, God would not have spoken to him. That’s where we all are. If you don’t choose to turn aside and seek God, He’s not going to speak to you. Moses would have remained a shepherd and lived a natural life. It didn’t mean he was a bad person, but God had more in store. He would have never known the supernatural plan God had set before him. We read about the greats. Abraham, David, Sampson, Moses, and we think God don’t choose just anyone. That’s a lie.  God has a supernatural plan for EVERY ONE of his children.  You will never find that unless you take time to turn aside from your everyday responsibilities and let Him speak to you.  God wants to change your life and turn you into a totally different person. He wants to make your life into what He wants for you. If you’ve given up on that, you’ve given up on God. That’s a bad place to be. He’s got something better for you.

Then, what must we do? What do you mean set our lives, and house in order? How do we prepare? How do we consecrate and dedicate ourselves? What adjustments need to be made?

One simple attitude adjustment. It’s doable. Focus on this one thing. 

John 15 “I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

 FOR WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING. This is what has to get in us. When you wake up every morning. The first thing that has to be on your heart and your mind is, without God I can’t do anything today.  This is the attitude adjustment that needs to take place. This is what heaven is saying to us right now. It’s not overwhelming. It’s simple adjustments. If you want to change you have to do something. This is one thing you can do. Focus on this: I refuse to go into this day without God going with me.  Every day you have the opportunity to advance your life. And If God is going with you, you will succeed. You can only accomplish what a human is capable of. We want to step out of human capabilities and over into God’s capabilities. It’s called grace!  Jesus Christ said 3 times in the Gospels,” I can of my own self do nothing.”  If Jesus can’t do anything without Him, we certainly cannot. Humans are capable of good things, but it’s all in vain if God isn’t in it.  We must trade our human sufficiency for God’s sufficiency. You do that when you turn aside and pray. 

Psalm 27

February 16, 2020 PM Service

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

Notice the contrast. You have the Lord, and you have fear. You can’t have both, it’s one or the other. If you have the fears, it’s because you haven’t made the Lord your light, salvation, and strength.   You’re not seeking him. Also Notice, David said,” The lord is MY light.” David made the Lord his light.  If you’ll do this, then the Lord will begin to remove fear from your life. When God comes in, the things that aren’t God go out. People will go to counselors and will do things to get temporary help, but they don’t do the one thing that brings permanent change. The only permanent change in your life, has to take place inside of you;   And that takes place as you allow God to become to you personally what only He can.  That comes from seeking Him.  Salvation is complete deliverance. It’s not just talking about being saved.  Its’ complete deliverance from everything. 

The Lord is the strength of my life.

When you deal with fear, it’s not just natural things. You’re dealing with spiritual forces that come against you. And we have learned that spiritual resistance requires spiritual assistance.   Thoughts have to be dealt with. Because thoughts determine where your life goes.  Interrupt those thoughts with, “That’s NOT who I am. That’s not who I want to be.”  If you don’t put a stop to those thoughts, it’s who you will become.  Those thoughts will put you in a place where you don’t have any victory. When you put a stop to them, the depression will leave.  You have to draw strength from the Lord to combat those thoughts because they become so demonic. Any kind of thought that presses you down and reminds you of every failure, and shameful thing you’ve ever done, you have to know that its very source is darkness. Jesus is not going to come and do something about that FOR you. He gave you the authority to deal with that, and you have to do it.  You remind yourself, “that’s not who I am anymore.”  If God has forgotten it, I have to forget it and get it out of my life.   The devil wants to keep you in that cycle. He wants you to live right there. Demons are involved in depression. Suicidal thoughts are not to be trifled with or entertained. If you are dealing with that, you need to talk to someone. You don’t have to feel embarrassed. It does not make you a bad person. The devil is the bad person.

When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.

That is because of the presence of God in his life.  There is a place in God where the devil can’t get in. There’s a hedge that comes around you. We read about it in the book of Job, and it’s very real.  Its Gods will for every born again christian to have this in their life. You can get in that place of God’s protection and the devil is a million miles away.  Then, when He does attack, it’s so clear it’s the devil, and it’s so out of the ordinary, that you recognize it right away. But if you haven’t been giving God your time, you could be under that every day. You don’t know if it’s the devil, or you. It just feels like normal everyday life.  That’s how warped it’s become. God wants us to have his presence to the degree that the devil can’t get to us.  God’s presence will repel the darkness.  It’s a peace that surpasses human understanding, that this world knows nothing about.  This is available to every christian. 

Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.

Meaning this – I’ve got God’s presence to the degree that it repels my enemies, I am able to enjoy God’s beauty and ask him anything at any time and get an answer.  Most of us don’t believe that’s available.  How do you desire after him? It’s not a desire until there’s an action behind it. What proves the desire is pursuit. You have to do it. That’s proof to God. Intentions don’t cut it. 

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” 

This means, seek me! Consecrate yourselves. Dedicate yourselves. Prepare yourselves.

 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me. Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

 Don’t give up! Don’t cave in and quit. Why? Because you will see the goodness of God if you seek him. You’ll taste him. You see his goodness. You’ll see fear leave. You’ll see changes taking place. Only if you seek him. It is worth it. It is impossible for you to seek God, and it not work. It will work for ANYONE. 

 Exodus 32:1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

Get before God and stay there until you know what to do. The people weren’t willing to wait until they know from God what to do. When they wouldn’t wait for Moses, what there were really saying is, “God we aren’t waiting on you.” God sent Moses up that mountain. Moses wasn’t the hold up. Life and society will constantly apply pressure on you to move forward. You can’t become impatient. But what does God have to say about it? Sit down with God, until he speaks to you. You’ll know what God wants you to do. You CAN know. Your flesh won’t like it. Your mind won’t like it. But you have to do the same thing that every other human has to do. You have to get with God until your flesh shuts up, your mind calms down, get all of the distractions out of there, until you can recognize, where God is pointing you. IF you don’t wait on God, you’ll form your own plans, and your own ideas and make mistakes that could have been avoided.  It’s a skill you have to develop.  

You have to learn to wait. You seek God by waiting in his presence. It allows him to become your light and salvation. It allows him to become the strength of your life. It allows his presence to come into your life, so that when you get up from a low place, you don’t walk away without God. You walk away, and God goes with you. And then when your enemies come, you’ve got spiritual assistance and His presence, and his voice, and confidence that comes only through him. No man can impart a relationship with God through the laying on of hands or by speech. It only comes by your own pursuit and development. Your life will take on a whole new dimension.

Why do people run from God? Because they’re not willing to give up what they want for what He’s asking of them. He’s asking you for more of you. He’ll let you continue to do what you want, and He’ll stay after you while you do it. It’s his mercy in action. 

How do you seek God? You wait. You get in his presence and you wait. 

 2 Chronicles 16:9  For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.