What have you asked for? Matthew 7:8
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luke 11:10
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Hannah ask for a son 1 Samuel 1:27For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
Solomon ask for wisdom to lead the people1 Kings 3:10-12 10And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
Psalm 2:8
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Matthew 18:19
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Mark 10:17 He asked for eternal life
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Luke 11:10-12 10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
John 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
What are we asking for today? Get about the Father’s business and get into travail for souls.
I Thess. 2:7-12 Part of growing in God is to love the brethren (souls). You learn that this is not a bless me club, but a get about the Father’s business and be responsible for letting our Lord Jesus flow through you !
Until, Sister Kathy
Monday, March 12, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
2012 Government Authority
2012 12 Government authority! With greater Authority comes greater responsibility!
• 12 months in the year.
• 12 tribes of Israel from the 12 sons of Jacob
• 12 Apostles
• 12 year old Jesus spoke with authority with the reading in
the temple.
In 2012
1. Be careful what you wish for
With gov. authority comes more responsibility
2. Be careful what you speak out
3. Be careful to bless and not to curse
4. Careful to praise in all situations “He is beautiful for situations”
5. More than ever in 2012 your sins will find you out
6. Be careful how you address authority
Brownsville prayed for 19 yrs before revival hit
7. BE careful whom you get into agreement with
8.Seek in the Spirit realm and really seek!
1.Be careful what you wish for. David wished for water:
II Samuel 23 13And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
14And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
16And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
17And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
(When you have the authority of our Lord and people hear you wish for things, they want to please you. As with David lives can be placed in jeopardy. )
2. Be careful what you speak out (with more authority comes more responsibility)
II Chronicles 7:1-16 1Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
2And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
3And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
7Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. (Solomon gave more sacrifice than ever before and the people praised more than ever and go the attention of God)
11Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
12And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14If 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.
15Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
3. Be careful to bless and not to curse Genesis 12: 1-3
1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4. Be careful to praise in all situations
Psalm 48 1Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
5. Your sins will find you out Numbers 32 (with greater authority comes greater accountability)
22And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
23But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
24Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.
6.Be careful how you address authority Titus 3
1Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
7. Be careful who you get into agreement with
Husband and wife that agree to lie to Holy Ghost and both die.
Acts 5 1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12And 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.
The Group that agreed to build tower and displeased God were separated by God. Gen. 11:3-9
3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
8.Seek in the Spirit realm and really seek!
In 2012 remember when you really seek, you get all obstacles out of the way. I could not find a purse I was looking for. I felt a witness in my spirit. If you don’t find it on one level try another. So being a tri- bune person; spirit, soul, and body. I went and got my ladder and look up higher at another level; Still no purse. I prayed and said, “Lord I have tried the natural level. You know where it is. Tell me Holy Ghost”. I went to the knee level and then I went back to looking in the kitchen this time. I said, “I have exhausted everywhere that I know to look. It must have walked out!” After looking in the kitchen and giving up in the natural, the Holy Ghost gave me a witness to where it was. So, I took off to the closet and I remember putting some things inside a bigger bag as I cleaned out my closet. Sure enough there was the purse!
• 12 months in the year.
• 12 tribes of Israel from the 12 sons of Jacob
• 12 Apostles
• 12 year old Jesus spoke with authority with the reading in
the temple.
In 2012
1. Be careful what you wish for
With gov. authority comes more responsibility
2. Be careful what you speak out
3. Be careful to bless and not to curse
4. Careful to praise in all situations “He is beautiful for situations”
5. More than ever in 2012 your sins will find you out
6. Be careful how you address authority
Brownsville prayed for 19 yrs before revival hit
7. BE careful whom you get into agreement with
8.Seek in the Spirit realm and really seek!
1.Be careful what you wish for. David wished for water:
II Samuel 23 13And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
14And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 15And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!
16And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.
17And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.
(When you have the authority of our Lord and people hear you wish for things, they want to please you. As with David lives can be placed in jeopardy. )
2. Be careful what you speak out (with more authority comes more responsibility)
II Chronicles 7:1-16 1Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
2And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
3And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
4Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
7Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat. (Solomon gave more sacrifice than ever before and the people praised more than ever and go the attention of God)
11Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
12And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14If 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.
15Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. 16For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
3. Be careful to bless and not to curse Genesis 12: 1-3
1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
4. Be careful to praise in all situations
Psalm 48 1Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
5. Your sins will find you out Numbers 32 (with greater authority comes greater accountability)
22And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.
23But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
24Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.
6.Be careful how you address authority Titus 3
1Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
7. Be careful who you get into agreement with
Husband and wife that agree to lie to Holy Ghost and both die.
Acts 5 1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12And 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.
The Group that agreed to build tower and displeased God were separated by God. Gen. 11:3-9
3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
8.Seek in the Spirit realm and really seek!
In 2012 remember when you really seek, you get all obstacles out of the way. I could not find a purse I was looking for. I felt a witness in my spirit. If you don’t find it on one level try another. So being a tri- bune person; spirit, soul, and body. I went and got my ladder and look up higher at another level; Still no purse. I prayed and said, “Lord I have tried the natural level. You know where it is. Tell me Holy Ghost”. I went to the knee level and then I went back to looking in the kitchen this time. I said, “I have exhausted everywhere that I know to look. It must have walked out!” After looking in the kitchen and giving up in the natural, the Holy Ghost gave me a witness to where it was. So, I took off to the closet and I remember putting some things inside a bigger bag as I cleaned out my closet. Sure enough there was the purse!
Monday, October 31, 2011
A study on the Characteristics of Prophets
A Study on the Characteristics of Prophets by Sister Kathy Garner
Ephesians 4:11-1611And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
We will take a look into the characteristics of the Prophets in the Bible
1. Strong Prophets are strong in God. In Numbers 12:3 we read, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) The word meek means: to have power under control. Moses had great authority from God and had a gift to handle the power.
2. Sensitive to the Spirit of God All prophets, those listed in the word of God and those working to build the Church of today have to be sensitive to the moving of the God to be able to flow in the anointing. Note: Prophetic people have to guard their spirits. Don’t allow just any music, talking, movies, etc. into your spirit.
All Christians open their spirits with their listening ears, seeing eyes and minds. Be careful what you allow in your eyes, ears and mind.
3. Judgmental/opinionated Prophets seem judgmental and opinionated because the spirit of God is so strong in their lives that it makes sinners uncomfortable to be in their presence. Matthew 3:7-8 says, “ 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: John was bold for the Lord and seemed judgmental.
4. Bold /Stubborn True prophets seem stubborn because they hear the voice of God and if it lines up with the word of God, no one will change their minds. In I Kings 18, Elijah hears the voice of God and calls boldly for the prophets of Baal to come forth and eventually destroys them. Note: We also see the Lord using here Elijah in what seemed a very judgmental way. Prophets are not known for being politically correct.
5. Mouthpieces for God I Samuel 2 is one of many examples where prophets hear the voice of God and expound to the people what they have heard. Another example is where the Lord tells Samuel to go and anoint David as king and tells him who David is and what to do.
6. Psalmist/song leaders Of course we think of David as we think on the psalmist leading in worship but, don’t forget Miriam in Exodus 15: 20And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 22So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
7. Known for dreams/visions Miriam and Aaron were told in Numbers 12: 4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream
Also remember Joseph the dreamer: Gen: 37 5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed Gen 37: 19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
8. Leaders Abraham was a leader, Moses in Exodus 6 known as their leader. David, Samuel, Deborah, Isaiah, etc., all were known for being leaders. All through the word of God we see Prophets hearing the voice and God and leading the people.
9. Hermits In I Kings 19 :9-10 (Elijah goes to a cave to think about Jezebel’s threats). 9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. Prophets like to be alone and meditate on the word and hear the voice of God in prayer.
10. Very dramatic/see only black and white I Kings 18 15And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. 16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Leaders that followed God as King David loved the prophets but those that sinned dreaded the prophets and the judgment that followed.
11. Chosen/called Prophets are called by God. Only God chooses who will be a prophet. I Corinthians 12: 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
12. Obedient to the Lord and His cause I cannot conclude this study without recognizing the obedience in the prophets’ life. It is not easy being different or being sensitive in a sinful world, thank God for the vessels of honor that will hear the voice of God and boldly proclaim what He says.
Father we thank you for the 5 fold ministries in operation building your church. A-men
Ephesians 4:11-1611And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
We will take a look into the characteristics of the Prophets in the Bible
1. Strong Prophets are strong in God. In Numbers 12:3 we read, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) The word meek means: to have power under control. Moses had great authority from God and had a gift to handle the power.
2. Sensitive to the Spirit of God All prophets, those listed in the word of God and those working to build the Church of today have to be sensitive to the moving of the God to be able to flow in the anointing. Note: Prophetic people have to guard their spirits. Don’t allow just any music, talking, movies, etc. into your spirit.
All Christians open their spirits with their listening ears, seeing eyes and minds. Be careful what you allow in your eyes, ears and mind.
3. Judgmental/opinionated Prophets seem judgmental and opinionated because the spirit of God is so strong in their lives that it makes sinners uncomfortable to be in their presence. Matthew 3:7-8 says, “ 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: John was bold for the Lord and seemed judgmental.
4. Bold /Stubborn True prophets seem stubborn because they hear the voice of God and if it lines up with the word of God, no one will change their minds. In I Kings 18, Elijah hears the voice of God and calls boldly for the prophets of Baal to come forth and eventually destroys them. Note: We also see the Lord using here Elijah in what seemed a very judgmental way. Prophets are not known for being politically correct.
5. Mouthpieces for God I Samuel 2 is one of many examples where prophets hear the voice of God and expound to the people what they have heard. Another example is where the Lord tells Samuel to go and anoint David as king and tells him who David is and what to do.
6. Psalmist/song leaders Of course we think of David as we think on the psalmist leading in worship but, don’t forget Miriam in Exodus 15: 20And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. 21And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 22So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
7. Known for dreams/visions Miriam and Aaron were told in Numbers 12: 4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream
Also remember Joseph the dreamer: Gen: 37 5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed Gen 37: 19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
8. Leaders Abraham was a leader, Moses in Exodus 6 known as their leader. David, Samuel, Deborah, Isaiah, etc., all were known for being leaders. All through the word of God we see Prophets hearing the voice and God and leading the people.
9. Hermits In I Kings 19 :9-10 (Elijah goes to a cave to think about Jezebel’s threats). 9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. Prophets like to be alone and meditate on the word and hear the voice of God in prayer.
10. Very dramatic/see only black and white I Kings 18 15And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day. 16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Leaders that followed God as King David loved the prophets but those that sinned dreaded the prophets and the judgment that followed.
11. Chosen/called Prophets are called by God. Only God chooses who will be a prophet. I Corinthians 12: 27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
12. Obedient to the Lord and His cause I cannot conclude this study without recognizing the obedience in the prophets’ life. It is not easy being different or being sensitive in a sinful world, thank God for the vessels of honor that will hear the voice of God and boldly proclaim what He says.
Father we thank you for the 5 fold ministries in operation building your church. A-men
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Pickles, How to change from a sour vessel to a sweet one!
It takes faith to please God! Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How do you turn a jar of sour dill pickles (32 oz) into a jar of sweet ones?
(How does God take a sour unhappy person and turn them into a sweet smelling vessel of honor?)
2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
1. OPEN THE JAR He asks you to let Him open the jar (open up your spirit to Him)
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
2. We pour ourselves out to God. We trust you Lord with our Whole Spirit, Soul, and Body. Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved
We must allow the Holy Spirit to drain us of unbelief, past sins, unforgiveness and any other areas of our lives not pleasing to the Father.
3.Cut pickles into ½ inch slices
Once we except Christ expect the enemy of our souls to start cutting on you. ( you can’t stay a Christian, You couldn’t ever be a goody two shoes… Remember the enemy will use friends, relatives, etc… to try to get you back. Be wise to him!
Note: to believers, All things work for good to those that love the Lord, allow the Lord to use these cutting times to get closer to you. Learn and practice His presence.
4. Return to jar! Hey what happened? I am a new person but I still have the same body, the same job, the same school? But, even thou I look the same I am a new vessel. You will still be you, but with new thinking.
5. Add sugar! Time to get into the word.
Psalm 119:103
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Proverbs 24 13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
6. Time for the 3 Tablespoon of cider vinegar. This time God will put back a Spirit within you that still looks like you and tastes likes you, but because of the sweet word of God filling you and changing you, you will be renewed by the word of God. This time the vinegar is sweet, because of the word changing us.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
7. Add the 1 Tablespoon of onion (you will still have tears with your new life, but now we have the peace that passes understanding that yes, James 1 12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Also, as the great song says, “If I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that God could solve them.”
8. Add 1 Tablespoon of celery seed (It’s time to get planted in a church that teaches the word of God.) Only something with a seed planted starts growing. (Don’t despise small beginnings. 1 Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
9. Cover / put the lid back on 1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Psalm 91:4
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalm 3:3
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
10. Shake until covered Our Lord wants us all and He will allow us to be shaken so He can get to every part.
I Peter 4 12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
11. Refrigerate for at least 1 week,
I love this! A week is 7 days and 7 is the number of completion. Let the Lord do a complete work in you,
12. Shake occasionally remember be wise. The enemy of our soul is going to plan to shake you up , but God will be there to use the shaking to get closer to you. I love that the shaking is on # 12 Gov. Authority. Stand on the word and what you have learned. (Ep. 6 put on the whole armor…)
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How do you turn a jar of sour dill pickles (32 oz) into a jar of sweet ones?
(How does God take a sour unhappy person and turn them into a sweet smelling vessel of honor?)
2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
1. OPEN THE JAR He asks you to let Him open the jar (open up your spirit to Him)
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
2. We pour ourselves out to God. We trust you Lord with our Whole Spirit, Soul, and Body. Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved
We must allow the Holy Spirit to drain us of unbelief, past sins, unforgiveness and any other areas of our lives not pleasing to the Father.
3.Cut pickles into ½ inch slices
Once we except Christ expect the enemy of our souls to start cutting on you. ( you can’t stay a Christian, You couldn’t ever be a goody two shoes… Remember the enemy will use friends, relatives, etc… to try to get you back. Be wise to him!
Note: to believers, All things work for good to those that love the Lord, allow the Lord to use these cutting times to get closer to you. Learn and practice His presence.
4. Return to jar! Hey what happened? I am a new person but I still have the same body, the same job, the same school? But, even thou I look the same I am a new vessel. You will still be you, but with new thinking.
5. Add sugar! Time to get into the word.
Psalm 119:103
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Proverbs 24 13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
6. Time for the 3 Tablespoon of cider vinegar. This time God will put back a Spirit within you that still looks like you and tastes likes you, but because of the sweet word of God filling you and changing you, you will be renewed by the word of God. This time the vinegar is sweet, because of the word changing us.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
7. Add the 1 Tablespoon of onion (you will still have tears with your new life, but now we have the peace that passes understanding that yes, James 1 12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Also, as the great song says, “If I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that God could solve them.”
8. Add 1 Tablespoon of celery seed (It’s time to get planted in a church that teaches the word of God.) Only something with a seed planted starts growing. (Don’t despise small beginnings. 1 Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
9. Cover / put the lid back on 1 Corinthians 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Psalm 91:4
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Psalm 3:3
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
10. Shake until covered Our Lord wants us all and He will allow us to be shaken so He can get to every part.
I Peter 4 12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
11. Refrigerate for at least 1 week,
I love this! A week is 7 days and 7 is the number of completion. Let the Lord do a complete work in you,
12. Shake occasionally remember be wise. The enemy of our soul is going to plan to shake you up , but God will be there to use the shaking to get closer to you. I love that the shaking is on # 12 Gov. Authority. Stand on the word and what you have learned. (Ep. 6 put on the whole armor…)
Friday, June 24, 2011
Time for Streching!
Stretching 2 be all you can be
Allowing God to stretch us is walking in faith to do something that in our own strength we feel inadequate. As we allow the Lord to stretch us He will fill us with more of Him.
PS 81:10 Psalm 81:10
10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10
8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
Hebrews 10:23
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Romans 8:31-39
31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Perhaps one of the simplest illustrations of this is when Peter was standing in the boat on Sea of Galilee. He saw Jesus walking on the water and he said, “Well, Lord if it is really you, then I want to walk,” and Jesus gave him a stretching exercise—did he not. He gave Peter a one word sentence. Jesus spoke and said, “Come.” Now, does Peter have the Word of the Lord? Absolutely he does. Now, it is up to Peter to decide whether or not to obey. Do you think Peter might have been uncomfortable? I think that it was possible that he was uncomfortable, but he obeyed. He stepped out of the boat. Was that a stretch of faith? Certainly it was. That is a very good example of what I am trying to say here.
Jesus gave him the word, “Come,” which means—you can do it. Peter stretched, and he is the only other man that ever, as far as it is recorded in Scripture, walked on water.
Let me ask you this question. What happens to a muscle when it is regularly stretched? Could we say that it becomes flexible, versatile, efficient, strong, and growing?— Would you like those applied to your spiritual life? I would; especially, when I consider the antonyms—weak, brittle, and inflexible.
What happens to a muscle when it is not regularly stretched? Does it stay the same? No, it shrinks from disuse. I am very sad to say that I know literally thousands of people whose faith has shrunk because they had not been stretching their faith muscles in obedience to the written Word of God.
When I say that God is going to stretch you, I do not mean that you are human taffy. I mean that He is going to ask you to do something, and you will have to decide whether to stretch in faith. You will see it at every instance in the Bible that when you stretch, you will touch the hand of the God.
Have you ever heard of a comfort zone?
Well, I want you to think about your comfort zones as you are reading this transcription.I do not know about you, but I have a lot of comfort zones.
First, I want you to think about what we might call your spiritual comfort zones; in other words, do you need to stretch in
• your prayer life,
• your speaking in tongues life,
• your interpretation of tongues life,
• your prophecy life,
• your ministering healing life,
• your witnessing life, or your financial giving life,
.
Let me ask you this. Were you uncomfortable the first time that you ever prayed out loud in front of someone? Chances are that you might have been, but are you uncomfortable now? If the answer is no, what happened?
This happened because you kept stretching, and you got more flexible. Your comfort zone has now expanded.
Were you uncomfortable the first time that you ever spoke in tongues?
A lot of people were, but are you uncomfortable when you speak in tongues now? If you are not, your comfort zone has expanded.
If you are still uncomfortable, then you are not stretching enough. If you stretch enough, your comfort zone will expand.
In 1 Kings 17:17 we are going to see the same principle. This is about the man named Elijah a prophet who moonlighted as a weatherman.
One night, he was giving the weather forecast to King Ahab (who was not a nice guy). Elijah said, “Look, it ain’t gonna rain no more no more until I say so!”
Now I doubt if Ahab freaked out at that moment and tried to grab Elijah. He just probably thought Elijah was a nut, but some months later, not a drop of rain had fallen. A severe famine gripped the land, and Ahab was looking for Elijah; in fact, he had an “All Points Bulletin” out on Elijah. Elijah was hiding out at a place called Zerephath with a widow woman. A terrible tragedy took place there.
1 Kings 17:17
Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.
Now, God forbid that you even know anyone who loses a child, but think about this; do not just let this be words on a page. Look carefully at verse 18 because I am going to assert that from my experience, most Christians cannot accurately explain this verse. Look what she said to Elijah:
1 Kings 17:18
She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”
Think about this. Elijah has been staying there. She has been feeding him from the little food that she has. Now, she says, “Nice, I feed you, and you kill my kid.” Why did the widow woman attribute the death of her son to God? We are going to see in a couple of verses later that Elijah also attributes the death of the boy to God.
1 Kings 17:19 and 20 19And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
22And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
24And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
1 Kings 17:21 and 22
(21) Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!”
(22) The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.
I do know that the first time that Elijah stretched himself out on the boy nothing happened. Would you say that possibly Elijah may have been uncomfortable? He stretched himself again and nothing happened. Would you say that possibly Elijah may have been more uncomfortable? I think that he was. This is the next question: What if he had allowed his discomfort to stop him from stretching the third time? They would have had a funeral instead of party, but despite his discomfort, Elijah stretched himself one more time on the boy, and the child’s life came into him. Think about what happened in Elijah’s heart. Elijah said, “Wow!” He then took the boy down and said, “Hey momma check this out, dah-dah!” When you stretch in response to the Word of God, you will touch the hand of God.
John 21:18 (NKJ)…you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
Is this not a turning point? Yes, it is. This is what Jesus is saying, “Peter, up until now, you have done your own thing, like when you chopped off the guy’s ear. That was unbelievable, but in the future, shortly, when you are older, or down the road, you will stretch and someone else will gird you and take you places that you had never even thought about going.” Jesus is talking about what? He is speaking about the one-size fits all expando holy spirit that Peter was about to receive. What is Jesus telling him? He is telling Peter, “your capacity to stretch is about to be supernaturally enlarged.” John It [carry] is the same word which happens to be from the root word phero and is the same word that you will find in 2 Peter 1:21[moved].
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply [fervently—ekteino—stretchingly], because love covers over a multitude of sins.
God is going to ask you to stretch. The Lord Jesus is going to ask you to stretch as he stretched when he lived on this earth. They will always be clear about the stretching exercise. They will never ask you to stretch farther than you can stretch, but they will ask you to stretch as far as you can stretch. That is going to often mean that you are going to be uncomfortable, but if you will refuse to allow your discomfort, how about calling it fear, if you will have no fear that you allow to stop you from obeying God, and if you stretch, you will touch the power of God. That is what happened to you the first time that you opened your mouth to speak in tongues. You had to stretch in faith, and when you did, the words were there. If you do not step out of the boat, you will never walk on the water. If you step out of the boat, if the Lord told you to do it, then you will walk on the water, and your faith will grow.
The prophets needed to stretch. The school was too small…
II Kings 6
• Went to Master (leader)
• Behold (Look agree with us)
• Let’s get busy
• Prayed that the Master go with them
• They got busy (working as unto God)
• Integrity (it was borrowed, be sure to do right thing)
• Went to master
• Master gave instructions
• Miracles came
Allowing God to stretch us is walking in faith to do something that in our own strength we feel inadequate. As we allow the Lord to stretch us He will fill us with more of Him.
PS 81:10 Psalm 81:10
10I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10
8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
Hebrews 10:23
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Romans 8:31-39
31What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Perhaps one of the simplest illustrations of this is when Peter was standing in the boat on Sea of Galilee. He saw Jesus walking on the water and he said, “Well, Lord if it is really you, then I want to walk,” and Jesus gave him a stretching exercise—did he not. He gave Peter a one word sentence. Jesus spoke and said, “Come.” Now, does Peter have the Word of the Lord? Absolutely he does. Now, it is up to Peter to decide whether or not to obey. Do you think Peter might have been uncomfortable? I think that it was possible that he was uncomfortable, but he obeyed. He stepped out of the boat. Was that a stretch of faith? Certainly it was. That is a very good example of what I am trying to say here.
Jesus gave him the word, “Come,” which means—you can do it. Peter stretched, and he is the only other man that ever, as far as it is recorded in Scripture, walked on water.
Let me ask you this question. What happens to a muscle when it is regularly stretched? Could we say that it becomes flexible, versatile, efficient, strong, and growing?— Would you like those applied to your spiritual life? I would; especially, when I consider the antonyms—weak, brittle, and inflexible.
What happens to a muscle when it is not regularly stretched? Does it stay the same? No, it shrinks from disuse. I am very sad to say that I know literally thousands of people whose faith has shrunk because they had not been stretching their faith muscles in obedience to the written Word of God.
When I say that God is going to stretch you, I do not mean that you are human taffy. I mean that He is going to ask you to do something, and you will have to decide whether to stretch in faith. You will see it at every instance in the Bible that when you stretch, you will touch the hand of the God.
Have you ever heard of a comfort zone?
Well, I want you to think about your comfort zones as you are reading this transcription.I do not know about you, but I have a lot of comfort zones.
First, I want you to think about what we might call your spiritual comfort zones; in other words, do you need to stretch in
• your prayer life,
• your speaking in tongues life,
• your interpretation of tongues life,
• your prophecy life,
• your ministering healing life,
• your witnessing life, or your financial giving life,
.
Let me ask you this. Were you uncomfortable the first time that you ever prayed out loud in front of someone? Chances are that you might have been, but are you uncomfortable now? If the answer is no, what happened?
This happened because you kept stretching, and you got more flexible. Your comfort zone has now expanded.
Were you uncomfortable the first time that you ever spoke in tongues?
A lot of people were, but are you uncomfortable when you speak in tongues now? If you are not, your comfort zone has expanded.
If you are still uncomfortable, then you are not stretching enough. If you stretch enough, your comfort zone will expand.
In 1 Kings 17:17 we are going to see the same principle. This is about the man named Elijah a prophet who moonlighted as a weatherman.
One night, he was giving the weather forecast to King Ahab (who was not a nice guy). Elijah said, “Look, it ain’t gonna rain no more no more until I say so!”
Now I doubt if Ahab freaked out at that moment and tried to grab Elijah. He just probably thought Elijah was a nut, but some months later, not a drop of rain had fallen. A severe famine gripped the land, and Ahab was looking for Elijah; in fact, he had an “All Points Bulletin” out on Elijah. Elijah was hiding out at a place called Zerephath with a widow woman. A terrible tragedy took place there.
1 Kings 17:17
Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.
Now, God forbid that you even know anyone who loses a child, but think about this; do not just let this be words on a page. Look carefully at verse 18 because I am going to assert that from my experience, most Christians cannot accurately explain this verse. Look what she said to Elijah:
1 Kings 17:18
She said to Elijah, “What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?”
Think about this. Elijah has been staying there. She has been feeding him from the little food that she has. Now, she says, “Nice, I feed you, and you kill my kid.” Why did the widow woman attribute the death of her son to God? We are going to see in a couple of verses later that Elijah also attributes the death of the boy to God.
1 Kings 17:19 and 20 19And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
20And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
22And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
23And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
24And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
1 Kings 17:21 and 22
(21) Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!”
(22) The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.
I do know that the first time that Elijah stretched himself out on the boy nothing happened. Would you say that possibly Elijah may have been uncomfortable? He stretched himself again and nothing happened. Would you say that possibly Elijah may have been more uncomfortable? I think that he was. This is the next question: What if he had allowed his discomfort to stop him from stretching the third time? They would have had a funeral instead of party, but despite his discomfort, Elijah stretched himself one more time on the boy, and the child’s life came into him. Think about what happened in Elijah’s heart. Elijah said, “Wow!” He then took the boy down and said, “Hey momma check this out, dah-dah!” When you stretch in response to the Word of God, you will touch the hand of God.
John 21:18 (NKJ)…you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
Is this not a turning point? Yes, it is. This is what Jesus is saying, “Peter, up until now, you have done your own thing, like when you chopped off the guy’s ear. That was unbelievable, but in the future, shortly, when you are older, or down the road, you will stretch and someone else will gird you and take you places that you had never even thought about going.” Jesus is talking about what? He is speaking about the one-size fits all expando holy spirit that Peter was about to receive. What is Jesus telling him? He is telling Peter, “your capacity to stretch is about to be supernaturally enlarged.” John It [carry] is the same word which happens to be from the root word phero and is the same word that you will find in 2 Peter 1:21[moved].
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, love each other deeply [fervently—ekteino—stretchingly], because love covers over a multitude of sins.
God is going to ask you to stretch. The Lord Jesus is going to ask you to stretch as he stretched when he lived on this earth. They will always be clear about the stretching exercise. They will never ask you to stretch farther than you can stretch, but they will ask you to stretch as far as you can stretch. That is going to often mean that you are going to be uncomfortable, but if you will refuse to allow your discomfort, how about calling it fear, if you will have no fear that you allow to stop you from obeying God, and if you stretch, you will touch the power of God. That is what happened to you the first time that you opened your mouth to speak in tongues. You had to stretch in faith, and when you did, the words were there. If you do not step out of the boat, you will never walk on the water. If you step out of the boat, if the Lord told you to do it, then you will walk on the water, and your faith will grow.
The prophets needed to stretch. The school was too small…
II Kings 6
• Went to Master (leader)
• Behold (Look agree with us)
• Let’s get busy
• Prayed that the Master go with them
• They got busy (working as unto God)
• Integrity (it was borrowed, be sure to do right thing)
• Went to master
• Master gave instructions
• Miracles came
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Struggling with Strife!
Are you struggling with Strife?
Galatians 5: 19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Strife is a work of the flesh and needs to be met at the door of our hearts by the Holy Spirit working in our life. We overcome the flesh by reading the word and choosing to obey the word of God instead of letting our flesh lead the way.
What to do if a non Christian offends you:
Example: I am mad at Susie and I want to scream at her and tell her off, but I know the word of God.
1st The word says, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Proverbs 10:12
2nd I need to think of the consequences of my actions:
• Is screaming and getting to show my flesh more important than my witness with others?
• Is my relationship with Susie worth trying to get alone?
• Do I care that God sees and knows that I care more about my flesh getting its way than my obedience to His word?
But what if the person I am mad at is a Christian too? Good question, let’s see what the word of God says to us about this subject.
II Timothy 2:23-25 “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correction his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”
• Note those that cause discord among the brethren and avoid them.
• Be kind and obey God’s word! (use gentleness)
What if you go to a person and state your feeling and they want repent?
Matthew 18: 15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother, but if does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and If he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
So the word says:
• Go to that brother alone first, in love and state the issue
• If he will not listen or repent take one or two with you and discuss the issue
• The third thing is to bring it before the church
Proverbs 16:28 “ A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”
Proverbs 26:20-21 “ For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. 21. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.”
I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me of strife and an ugly spirit. I love you, more than I love getting my way and letting my flesh have dominion over your Holy presence in my life. I repent of strife and I surrender to your holy word and I choose to live my life as you taught us. A-men. UNTIL, Sister Kathy
Galatians 5: 19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Strife is a work of the flesh and needs to be met at the door of our hearts by the Holy Spirit working in our life. We overcome the flesh by reading the word and choosing to obey the word of God instead of letting our flesh lead the way.
What to do if a non Christian offends you:
Example: I am mad at Susie and I want to scream at her and tell her off, but I know the word of God.
1st The word says, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Proverbs 10:12
2nd I need to think of the consequences of my actions:
• Is screaming and getting to show my flesh more important than my witness with others?
• Is my relationship with Susie worth trying to get alone?
• Do I care that God sees and knows that I care more about my flesh getting its way than my obedience to His word?
But what if the person I am mad at is a Christian too? Good question, let’s see what the word of God says to us about this subject.
II Timothy 2:23-25 “Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correction his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.”
• Note those that cause discord among the brethren and avoid them.
• Be kind and obey God’s word! (use gentleness)
What if you go to a person and state your feeling and they want repent?
Matthew 18: 15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother, but if does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and If he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
So the word says:
• Go to that brother alone first, in love and state the issue
• If he will not listen or repent take one or two with you and discuss the issue
• The third thing is to bring it before the church
Proverbs 16:28 “ A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”
Proverbs 26:20-21 “ For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. 21. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.”
I have decided to follow Jesus; I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me of strife and an ugly spirit. I love you, more than I love getting my way and letting my flesh have dominion over your Holy presence in my life. I repent of strife and I surrender to your holy word and I choose to live my life as you taught us. A-men. UNTIL, Sister Kathy
Monday, June 7, 2010
10 Ways to hear from the Lord
For the month of June, I encourage you to seek the Lord more than ever! I challenge you to ask Him to speak, so you can hear Him as a mother knows her child’s cry.
Below I have listed 10 ways to hear from our Lord. Study them and read the scriptures and invite the Holy Spirit of God to come and fellowship with you afresh. In Him, Sister Kathy
1. Dreams
Gen. 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Gen. 31:11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. ( This was Jesus speaking to Jacob in a dream)
Matt. 1:20
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Acts. 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
2. Auditable voice
Ex. 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
I SAM. 3:6
And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
Gen. 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
3. Preaching
Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
Matt. 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Matt. 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
I Cor. 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:
Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour
4. Through Prophets or other people
Acts 21:11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
I Sam. 16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
5. Still small voice/ thought/ reflection
I Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
6. BY the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) Rev. 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Gen 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
Gen. 22:11And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
Judges 2:1-5 Angel talked as God.
Judges 13:3, 22 They saw God and lived.
7. The Word of God
I Sam 12:14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God
II Kings 18:12 Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
Jer. 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
8. Through Holy Ghost
Luke 2 :26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
I Peter 1;12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
9. Visions
Ezek. 40:2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
Dan. 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Acts 10: 1-10 visions of Cornelius and Peter
10. Angels (messengers of God)
Luke 1;13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name (Gabriel talking)
Luke 1:26-30 …you have found favor with God…
Acts 12:7-11 Peter says the Lord sent His angel…Peter did not say the Lord came to me…
For the month of June, I encourage you to seek the Lord more than ever! I challenge you to ask Him to speak, so you can hear Him as a mother knows her child’s cry.
Below I have listed 10 ways to hear from our Lord. Study them and read the scriptures and invite the Holy Spirit of God to come and fellowship with you afresh. In Him, Sister Kathy
1. Dreams
Gen. 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Gen. 31:11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. ( This was Jesus speaking to Jacob in a dream)
Matt. 1:20
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
Acts. 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
2. Auditable voice
Ex. 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
I SAM. 3:6
And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
Gen. 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
3. Preaching
Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
Matt. 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Matt. 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
I Cor. 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:
Titus 1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour
4. Through Prophets or other people
Acts 21:11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
I Sam. 16:1 And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
5. Still small voice/ thought/ reflection
I Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
6. BY the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) Rev. 22:8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Gen 21:17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
Gen. 22:11And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
Judges 2:1-5 Angel talked as God.
Judges 13:3, 22 They saw God and lived.
7. The Word of God
I Sam 12:14 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God
II Kings 18:12 Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
Jer. 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
8. Through Holy Ghost
Luke 2 :26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
I Peter 1;12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
9. Visions
Ezek. 40:2 In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
Dan. 1:17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
Joel 2:28
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Acts 10: 1-10 visions of Cornelius and Peter
10. Angels (messengers of God)
Luke 1;13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name (Gabriel talking)
Luke 1:26-30 …you have found favor with God…
Acts 12:7-11 Peter says the Lord sent His angel…Peter did not say the Lord came to me…
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
