What to Do in Times of Trouble!

Deuteronomy 4:30 “When those bitter days have come upon you in the latter times, you will finally return to the Lord your God and listen to what he tells you. 31For the Lord your God is merciful—he will not abandon you…nor forget the promises he has made…”

Jesus said “…In the world you will have tribulation…” John 16:33 All around me I am hearing the heart cries of people whose lives are being torn apart through trials, tribulations, turmoil and distress. Don’t be surprised because Jesus told us that those things were inherent in the world we live in. Tribulation is part of the sin infested world in which we live.

What is a Christian to do when trouble or calamity strikes? May I just share a few simple truths with you today? Tonight I rehearsed what the Lord has trained me to do as I have uncovered various principles in His life giving Word.

1) Check Your Current Connectivity… John 15:3 Jesus said that “…apart from me, you can do nothing.” I have learned that when trouble comes my way it’s time to stop and listen to the Voice of the Lord. Tell me Lord what do I have to do? Where have I gone wrong? I know that fiery darts (trials) are going to come my way, but they don’t have to get through unless I have broken the hedge of God’s protection. Ecclesiastes 10:8 “He that…breaks a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.”

When they have broken through, I immediately go to him so that He can honestly assess my current connectivity. Isaiah 59:2 “…your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Herein lies a major key. When I am walking in un-confessed OR un-repented sin, I have been separated from the ability to hear His voice (His directives or plan of victory or escape) or receive of His Divine ability and power in my situation. That sin which has not been dealt with breaks my fellowship (intimacy) with God. 1John 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth”

I allow Him to be honest with me…How’s my relationship? How’s my walk and my testimony? Letting God be honest with us is often very difficult, because His light exposes everything, and sometimes I look pretty ugly to myself.

2) Give Him Lordship Over All…Matthew 6:33 “Put God and His Kingdom first and everything else will be given to you.” Tell Him that you don’t want lordship over this situation or any situation in your life. Admit you aren’t able to handle it by yourself. Paul said that “…in my weakness, His strength is made perfect…” Proverbs 3:6 states “In all your ways acknowledge Him…”

3) Seek His Direction… Proverbs 3: 6 continues in stating that when you acknowledge Him, “He will direct your paths.” This is a difficult process which seems to take a lifetime of practice and submission to His Lordship, beginning with even the smallest of troubles. It’s also helpful to be connected with a Brother or Sister in the Lord, who is willing to remind us to seek the Lord and His directives. When He issues your directions, obey them, for without your loving obedience, you will be handling your trial on your own!

4) Rehearse His Names.. There is something in the makeup of God that causes Him to show up when His name is revered and proclaimed. David called on his deliverer when he faced and defeated the giant. Paul and Silas sang praises to His name in the prison and the walls fell down. Elijah called on His name on Mount Carmel and defeated the prophets of Baal. Jesus called on His name on the Cross and claimed victory over death, hell and the grave. Psalm 22:3 states that He “…inhabits the praises of Israel.” When His Name is called, He shows up on the scene and rescues His people.
Call on the Comforter, the Healer, the Deliverer, the Provider, the Champion, the Almighty, the Turner of Hearts, the Savior!

5) Expect His Victory… even in the appearance of defeat. Remember His Word! Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” No matter what the source of your situation, (self, world, devil or the Lord) He will work it out for your good! You will get the ultimate victory and He will get glory! 2Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ…”

No one ever said that this life would be free from heartache and hardship, but rest assured that He will go through it with you, if you allow Him! You don’t need to go it alone.
If you know someone today who is under assault, please share these words with them! God will use you greatly!

IT AIN'T OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER!

Exodus 14:9-10 “But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid:”

So oftentimes, we put limits on the abilities and desires of our God. We liken His character and His attributes to those of mere mortals and as a result we fall short of seeing His Glory on display. Israel was about to be miraculously delivered from 400 years of bondage and slavery at the hands of the wicked Pharoahs. Israel had obeyed the Word of the Lord and they were marching exactly as He had directed them, until they encountered their first obstacle. They had come upon the waters of the Red Sea. Mountains to the right and mountains to the left; the sea lay straight ahead and behind them were Pharoah and his army bent upon their total annihilation! And because they could see no way out, they “were sore afraid.” They were terrified and lost their faith. They reduced God down to their own capabilities. Somehow He had lost His capability for the miraculous in their minds eye.

So often in life we behave much in the same manner. We are total giants of faith until we run into our first major obstacle. God is in control and we believe in His Immensity as long as we remain somewhat in control. However, when we reach the place where we are no longer able to make a move (just in case God doesn’t) then we begin to lose confidence in His Word and His Abilities. WE forget those things that He has done in the past. Remember when David faced his giant, he began to rehearse those things which the Lord had previously done in his life. 1 Samuel 17: 36 “Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.”

Even though there appeared to be no way out for those Israelites, the Lord Who is our “WAY WHERE THERE IS NO WAY” made a way and miraculously opened a path into the sea. I would also remind you here that this same sea that was opened as a path of deliverance for the people of God, became the method of destruction for the enemies of those same people. Not one enemy remained! Exodus 14:28 “And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.”

Maybe you are currently facing an impossible situation; a situation of life and death; or something you’ve never encountered before. God wants you to know today that He is our POSSIBILITY! He becomes your possibility only in the midst of impossibility. The tougher the possibility, the greater He will shine on behalf of His people and the greater His Glory. Don’t give up on the brink of a miracle. Don’t ever quit! Refuse to agree with the world and those who are wavering in doubt and defeat.

I stated above that “It ain’t over until it’s over!” Now here’s the real awesome revelation about God’s Kingdom. Even when it appears to be over, it is only just beginning. Jesus’ friend Lazarus had died and been entombed for four days. John 11:14 “Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” All hope was lost. Everyone had lost hope in the face of the impossible. But God said “This ain’t over!” Jesus “…cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” John 11:43 The God of Possibility stepped in when all hope was gone. The people had given up and had committed him to the grave. They stopped believing and chided Jesus for delaying his arrival.

Whatever way God had chosen to respond to their heart cries, He would have displayed His glory. With God’s divine direction and orchestration, there would be no wrong choice. Either way God had chosen would have been just the beginning! Risen from the dead, Lazarus was given a new lease on life and an opportunity to give Him glory in the earth. If God had chosen to leave his body in the grave, it still would have been the most incredible day of his life. I’m not so sure that Lazarus had not struggled somewhat having to return to his old life, knowing what lie ahead just a few short days later bursting forth in Resurrection Power! Face to Face with God the Father or back to the dirt bowl we call life.

Let me ask you one last question. “If you were Lazarus, and God had given you the decision, what choice would you have made?” The Glory of God OR back here? I don’t think that would be too hard to decide!

If today you are staring impossibility right in the face, then be encouraged because your POSSIBILITY is in control! EVEN IF IT IS OVER, IT IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING! We are Kingdom people and we live by different rules!
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Joseph from the pit to the Palace.
Moses from a decree of death to leading Israel out of Bondage.
The widow of Nain receiving her only son raised to life.
Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
Joshua and the Walls of Jericho.
Gideon and his three hundred men.
Noah saving his entire household.
Abraham becoming a Father of many Nations.

Now what about you? What will be your testimony to His Glory?

IN THE FIRE!

Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Are you feeling the heat? Is the firey trial, situation or circumstance all around you? Do you feel like you're going down for the last time? If so, I have some good news for you!

First, we need to be truthful concerning fire. Fire is hot and causes pain. You should not be surprised or caught off guard when you enter into the fiery furnaces of life. Jesus warned us with these words in John 16:33..."These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation(pressure, stress,squashing,squeezing): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Everyone in this world goes through the fire at one stage or another, and oftentimes it seems that we go from one fire to another. Because He has overcome, we can walk in a place of peace no matter how immense the pressure!

Find His purposes in the fire and set your focus on Him. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6 Those who set their minds on matters of the Holy Spirit, experience life and peace no matter what the circumstances.

I was going through some pretty wild times a few years back and I cried out to the Lord saying "When will this end?" He simply spoke back in that still, small voice and said "It won't!" I have learned that as a Disciple (Not just a Believer) the heat is usually always on! As younger, immature Christians we sometimes enter in to a time of complaining, resisting and looking constantly for ways to escape the pressure.

I have learned that pressure is a good thing and that God will use the fires of life, no matter what the origin (Himself, Ourself or the devil) to mold, shape and conform us closer to the image of Christ in us, He desires.

I discovered and meditated on a very unusual Scripture in James 2:2-4 "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."

What? You want me to be joyful when troubles come my way? Am I to be a glutton for punishment? Isn't that crazy? Not when you begin to comprehend that in the midst of the fire, your faith is tested and grown. Going through the fires of life can equip you and get you "ready for anything!" Everyone in the Bible who became what God wanted them to become went through times of testing. Joseph in prison; Daniel in the lion's den; Paul imprisoned and beaten; Jesus in the Garden; Shadrach, Meshack & Abednego in the fiery furnace.

In reading the story of the fiery furnace in Daniel Chapter three we discover...
How to make it through the fire...

1) Know that everyone is currently going through some kind of fire, whether spiritually, financially, family, sickness, relational. You are not the only one in the fire! "But remember that the temptations (trials)that come into your life are no different from what others experience." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Personally, I believe that pressure is designed to create intimacy with God. Think about how distant we seem to wander when everything is going well. Hopefully, as soon as it gets a little rough we are smart enough to turn to God. Eventually, we learn to stay with Him and remain connected with Him in fellowship, praise, prayer and obedience. Daniel 3:21 "So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace..." Because of the sin nature of this fallen world, everyone goes through the fire at one time or another!

If you feel bad about the fire you're in, take a look at what the Apostle Paul had to endure; you'll feel better immediately. "They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not.I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27
Now stop whining...it could be worse!

2) Know that you are not alone God is with you! Psalm 118:6 states that "The Lord God is on my side; I will not fear what man can do..." He has promised He will be with us no matter what we do or what we feel. Even when you FEEL alone, He is with us! Heb 13:5 "…he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

3) You will be tempted to give up and succumb to the effects of the flames. The enemy of your soul will speak these words to you in the midst of your fire, attempting to have you give up and quit. "I will give you one more chance. If you bow down...all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?” Daniel 3:15

Remember that "...God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. 1 Corinthians 10:13” You don't have to bow!

4) Make a declaration of God's willingness & ability. Daniel 3:17 "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power..." Stop your mind from being overwhelmed with facts. God's Truth always over-rides fact! Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believes...and with the mouth confession is made..."

When David faced his giant, he prophesied the fall of the giant even before he engaged in combat. 1 Samuel 17:45 “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou have defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” Begin to prophesy your emergence from the fire and your ultimate victory!

5) Know that it may get a little hotter before it gets better! Daniel 3:19 "Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual." In the Kingdom of God, there are processes that we must endure in order for him to fulfill His purposes, maybe even in the lives of others. Have you noticed that our trials usually involve other people, as well ? He doesn’t always answer the way you think He should. He is God and He knows best. His timing is always perfect.

6) Connect with others in the midst of your fire. You are not designed to ever go it alone. We are the members of the Body of Christ. If you go it alone you will be burned. 1Corinthians 12:21 “…the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” You cannot state this either by your words or your actions; the way you live your life in relation one to another. If you disconnect and enter the fires of life by yourself, the odds remain against your survival. Daniel 3:23 23 “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.”

7) Know that the power of God is with you! Daniel 3:25 “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. His presence, His ability, His Companionship, His strength, His wisdom, His power, His destiny for you will all be present in the heart of the fiery trials of your life. Ask Him what good can come out of this trial. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Its refreshing to know that God has a plan that determines the final outcome of your trail.

8) You are destined to go through the fire and you will come out on the other side and people will see that “the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!.” 1 Samuel 3:27 You will not be consumed by your trial. The experience will not slow you down or defeat you. It will empower you to trust further in His ability.

9) God will receive praise for your personal victory. You will stand as an eternal memorial to the goodness and faithfulness of God as you rely on Him. The world needs to see His movement in your circumstances so they too can come into relationship with Him! Daniel 3:29 “Therefore I make a decree, That …. there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.”

10) Here is the best news yet. On the other side of your fiery furnace there is a promotion from the king for YOU! Daniel 3:30 “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego…”

STEPPING UP!

Ephesians 4:11-14 “He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring up to the full stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be like children…”

God wants you to grow up! A question I often like to pose in many of my classes goes something like this. “How many of you are Children of God?” Of course the majority of hands are immediately thrust into the air as they claim their rightful inheritance. My follow up question goes like this. “When are you going to grow up and become Men and Women of God?”

In today’s Scripture verse we are told of the growth process each of us must encounter if we are to “be mature and full grown, measuring up to the full stature of the Lord!” Whether you like it or not, you will encounter various trials and tribulations in life that will stretch you and cause you to grow. James 1:2-4 states “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The New Living testament puts it this way. “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

James is basically saying to “Get happy and let yourself grow up…” God does not want us to remain as little children and oftentimes uses the circumstances of life to assist us in our development process. The exciting news is that by the Grace of God and the movement of His Holy Spirit in my life, He will take me from my infancy to the fullness of Christ. That is an exciting prospect! Do you know that Jesus also went through the growing processes of life?

Hebrews 2:17-18 “Therefore, it was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters…Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.” He went through it all with great success, I might add. Therefore, He “understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.” Hebrews 4:15 In all of His Obedience He demonstrated for us that man could overcome the influences of the powers of darkness by relying on God’s Spirit and His Word! “It is written!”

In the order of nature, he went through the growth process; first He changed the water into wine; then He stilled the stormy sea and finally he walked on the water. Each successive directive from the Father required greater faith, fellowship and confidence in Him and His Word. Jesus had never experienced these events in life, but he was growing day by day and moment by moment, to demonstrate the fullness of God in His life. He is our model. God has promised that he will never allow you to be tempted beyond that which you can handle! (1 Corinthians 10:13) In fact, The Lord uses the obstacles and events of our lives to strengthen and grow our faith, character, and spirit, as we grow to be more like Him!

Matthew 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” In His ministry of healing he also developed over time, beginning with the healing of sickness and disease; healing the blind and lepers (Creative miracles); and through this process something within Jesus began to emerge with a Holy realization of God’s Power even over death.

Jairus’ daughter was only dead a short while; the widow of Nain’s son was dead for hours and Lazarus four days in the hole! Jesus took one step of growth at a time in every single realm until He manifested God’s Perfect nature!

What mess have you gotten yourself into at this point in your life?
What obstacles has The Lord placed in your life?

Regardless of the source of your challenge, God has promised that you are able (with His Ability) to overcome it and He also desires you to use it as a stepping stone to move higher and closer to conformity to the Fullness of the Stature of Jesus! You must get excited for the day is at hand to thoroughly defeat your adversary! Today is a great day to begin!
2Corinthians 2:14 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ”

Redeemed From the Curse!

Ga 3:13 "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:"

As a result of mankind's initial fall to sin we have been subjected to the curse of sin (Or the Curse of the Law) and it's effects. When mankind was walking in fellowship with God and obedience to His Word and His Principles, we were under the influence of the blessings of the Law.Both the blessings and curses can be found in Deuteronomy 28.

Let's begin with the Blessings and make ourselves happy:Dt 28:1 "And it shall come to pass, if you will hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments...that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings will come on you, and overtake you...Blessed will you be in the city, and blessed will you be in the field. Blessed will be the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground...Blessed will be your basket and your store. Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when thou go out. The LORD shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be smitten before your face...The LORD shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouses, and in all that you set your hand to; and he will bless you in the land...And all people of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD...And the LORD will make you plenteous in goods...The LORD will open unto you his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and thou will lend...and ...not borrow. And the LORD shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you will be above only, and ...not be beneath..."

In today's Scriptural nugget we are told that Jesus "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law." Redeemed is defined as "being set free, rescued or ransomed." Today's passage tells us that we have been set free from whatever the curse of the law is; so let's take a look in Deuteronomy and see what we've been set free from, especially in regards to healing!

Deuteronomy 28:18 "Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body..."vs 21... "the pestilence..."vs 22... "consumption(tuberculosis), and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning..."vs 27... "the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods(hemorrhoids) and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed."vs 28... "madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart..."vs 35... " in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head."vs 45... " all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed..."vs 60&61... " all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law..."vs 66... "And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life..."

You have just read a complete list to include "every sickness & every plague...". This is what Jesus Christ has redeemed you from. Jesus went to the Cross in spirit, soul and body; therefore He has redeemed us, spirit, soul and body! The Cross is the Center of Salvation for your spirit, soul and body! 1 Corinthians 6:20 "For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your spirit and your body because they both belong to God."

If He had not redeemed them, they wouldn't belong to Him.Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law! Sickness of every kind was included in the curse of the Law. Therefore Christ has redeemed us from Sickness and Disease! Don't you let ignorance keep you from getting what rightfully and legally belongs to you! Read God's Word.

Study the Character and Nature of God as revealed in His Word and in the Life of Jesus. ANYONE who came believing received!Mt 21:22 "nd all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.Matthew 7: 7 Ask, and it shall be given you...For every one that asks receives...If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Now you know better...go ahead and ask Him to heal you right now in the Name of Jesus!

I'd like to pray with you in agreement! Mt 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.

FEAR FILLED?

"That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. " 1 Samuel 17:48

Fear is one of the most amazing tools that the enemy has to paralyze our lives. I was at a conference for people with Prophetic giftings some years ago, when a brother preached on the topic of fear. At the end of his message he gave an altar call and of the over 1000 people in attendance, all but 3 or 4 of us got out of their seats and ran toward the altar. I was floored!

It really opened my eyes to the enormity of this spiritual stronghold in the lives not only of the world, but in the hearts of believers as well, even in the five-fold ministry gifts. Whether it's fear of failure, rejection, opposition, exposure, relationships, involvement, separation, inadequacy, inability, insecurity and so on, the fact remains that this is one of the major bondages that stifles the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

How do we defeat fear?

1) Let the Holy Spirit be honest with you? Ask Him to reveal where in your life fear is making it's presence known. Set aside time to be quiet before the Lord with pen and paper in hand. Write down what he reveals to you! John 16:13 "...when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth..."

2) Understand that fear does not come from God. 2Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Fear comes from the input( in your thought life) and influences of the devil and the direct result of walking in sin. Genesis 3:10 "I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." Fear is the reciprocal (opposite) of faith and whenever we exit faith we enter into sin! Romans 14:23 "...for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. "

3) Know that God is with you...He's on our side! Psalm 118: 6 "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear..." God is with you, for you and in you! 1 John 4:4 "You are of God, little children, and have overcome...because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." No matter who or what comes against us, they need to know Who is coming against them on our behalf! (You need to know too!) Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, who can be against us? "

4) Choose not to fear...your will is involved...you make the choice... Psalm 118: 6 "The LORD is on my side; I WILL not fear..." We must will not to fear.
Check out the classic battle in 1 Samuel 17 between David and Goliath. Fear can be the Giant in your life and may be holding you back from engaging in the battle at hand. Goliath was unusually large (Huge problem) and kept on taunting the people of God with words. 1 Sam 17:10-11 "I defy the armies of Israel! Send me a man who will fight with me!” When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken" Sound familiar?

5) Remember and rehearse what the Lord has done in your past. 1 Samuel 17:37 "The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." Think about all the things God has done both great & small in your own life. Remember His faithfulness and His greatness. Psalm 103: 2 "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

6) Begin to speak the Word of the Victory of the Lord to the giant of fear in your life! read the following classic out loud right now and let these words of Faith reverberate in your spirit. They will begin to come alive as you speak them over and over again. Listen to what these words are speaking to you!

1 Samuel 17: 45 "Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’S, and He will give you into our hands.”

7) Now here comes the best one...
RUN TOWARD THE GIANT
David took off "running toward the giant" 1 Samuel 17:48 Scare the hell out of that giant!

In Africa when a pack of lions hunt, the old toothless lion with the loudest roar sets himself on one side of the prey. Even though he can not run like he use to, he still roars a good game. The young able bodied hunters await the victim on the other side. When the prey hears the roar, their natural instinct prompts them to run away from the roar; right into the mouths of the young hunters! Don't run from fear... RUN TO THE ROAR!

If you're afraid of the dark and you hear a noise in the house that arouses fear, start speaking the word and walk toward the noise. The spirit of fear will break! Fear of heights...find the tallest glass elevator you can find; stick your nose on the exterior and ride up and down, speaking the Word "The Lord God is on my side, I will not fear!" until the spirit of fear breaks. Ephesians 6:17 "And take...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..."

Every time the spirit of fear raises it's ugly head, purpose in the Spirit that you will take the Word of God and cut it's head off. James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you... (in stark, shear terror)"
Now let's go kill a few giants and have ourselves some fun!

TOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH HEAT?

Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

If you are in the midst of the fire; the heat is being turned up and you feel like you're going to burst, then the Lord has given me a word to share with you!

First, we need to be truthful concerning fire. Fire is hot and causes pain. You should not be surprised or caught off guard when you enter into the fiery furnaces of life. Jesus warned us with these words in John 16:33..."These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation(pressure, stress,squashing,squeezing): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Everyone in this world goes through the fire at one stage or another, and oftentimes it seems that we go from one fire to another. Because He has overcome, we can walk in a place of peace no matter how immense the pressure!

Find His purposes in the fire and set your focus on Him. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6 Those who set their minds on matters of the Holy Spirit, experience life and peace no matter what the circumstances.

I was going through some pretty wild times a few years back and I cried out to the Lord saying "When will this end?" He simply spoke back in that still, small voice and said "It won't!" I have learned that as a Disciple (Not just a Believer) the heat is usually always on! As younger, immature Christians we sometimes enter in to a time of complaining, resisting and looking constantly for ways to escape the pressure. I have learned that pressure is a good thing and that God will use the fires of life, no matter what the origin (Himself, Ourself or the devil) to mold, shape and conform us closer to the image of Christ in us, He desires.

I discovered and meditated on a very unusual Scripture in James 2:2-4 "Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."

What? You want me to be joyful when troubles come my way? Am I to be a glutton for punishment? Isn't that crazy? Not when you begin to comprehend that in the midst of the fire, your faith is tested and grown. Going through the fires of life can equip you and get you "ready for anything!" Everyone in the Bible who became what God wanted them to become went through times of testing. Joseph in prison; Daniel in the lion's den; Paul imprisoned and beaten; Jesus in the Garden; Shadrach, Meshack & Abednego in the fiery furnace.

In reading the story of the fiery furnace in Daniel Chapter three we discover...
How to make it through the fire...

1) Know that everyone is currently going through some kind of fire, whether spiritually, financially, family, sickness, relational. You are not the only one in the fire! "But remember that the temptations (trials)that come into your life are no different from what others experience." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Personally, I believe that pressure is designed to create intimacy with God. Think about how distant we seem to wander when everything is going well. Hopefully, as soon as it gets a little rough we are smart enough to turn to God. Eventually, we learn to stay with Him and remain connected with Him in fellowship, praise, prayer and obedience. Daniel 3:21 "So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace..." Because of the sin nature of this fallen world, everyone goes through the fire at one time or another!

If you feel bad about the fire you're in, take a look at what the Apostle Paul had to endure; you'll feel better immediately. "They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled many weary miles. I have faced danger from flooded rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the stormy seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be Christians but are not.I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food. Often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 2 Corinthians 11:23-27

Now stop whining...it could be worse!

2) Know that you are not alone God is with you! Psalm 118:6 states that "The Lord God is on my side; I will not fear what man can do..." He has promised He will be with us no matter what we do or what we feel. Even when you FEEL alone, He is with us! Heb 13:5 "…he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

3) You will be tempted to give up and succumb to the effects of the flames. The enemy of your soul will speak these words to you in the midst of your fire, attempting to have you give up and quit. "I will give you one more chance. If you bow down...all will be well. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?” Daniel 3:15

Remember that "...God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. 1 Corinthians 10:13” You don't have to bow!

4) Make a declaration of God's willingness & ability. Daniel 3:17 "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power..." Stop your mind from being overwhelmed with facts. God's Truth always over-rides fact! Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believes...and with the mouth confession is made..."

When David faced his giant, he prophesied the fall of the giant even before he engaged in combat. 1 Samuel 17:45 “Then said David to the Philistine, Thou come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou have defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” Begin to prophesy your emergence from the fire and your ultimate victory!

5) Know that it may get a little hotter before it gets better! Daniel 3:19 "Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual." In the Kingdom of God, there are processes that we must endure in order for him to fulfill His purposes, maybe even in the lives of others. Have you noticed that our trials usually involve other people, as well ? He doesn’t always answer the way you think He should. He is God and He knows best. His timing is always perfect.

6) Connect with others in the midst of your fire. You are not designed to ever go it alone. We are the members of the Body of Christ. If you go it alone you will be burned. 1Corinthians 12:21 “…the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” You cannot state this either by your words or your actions; the way you live your life in relation one to another. If you disconnect and enter the fires of life by yourself, the odds remain against your survival. Daniel 3:23 23 “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.”

7) Know that the power of God is with you! Daniel 3:25 “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. His presence, His ability, His Companionship, His strength, His wisdom, His power, His destiny for you will all be present in the heart of the fiery trials of your life. Ask Him what good can come out of this trial. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28 ” Its refreshing to know that God has a plan that determines the final outcome of your trail.

8) You are destined to go through the fire and you will come out on the other side and people will see that “the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!.” 1 Samuel 3:27 You will not be consumed by your trial. The experience will not slow you down or defeat you. It will empower you to trust further in His ability.

9) God will receive praise for your personal victory. You will stand as an eternal memorial to the goodness and faithfulness of God as you rely on Him. The world needs to see His movement in your circumstances so they too can come into relationship with Him! Daniel 3:29 “Therefore I make a decree, That …. there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.”

10) Here is the best news yet. On the other side of your fiery furnace there is a promotion from the king for YOU! Daniel 3:30 “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

WATER WALKING

Matthew 14:24-27 “…the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water….But Jesus spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” he said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.”

One thing I know for sure, is that whenever I am caught up in one of life’s storms, I want to make sure my eyes are on Jesus and that I am close enough to get a good look at Him! The disciples never expected Jesus to handle the storm in this manner. It appears that they didn’t expect him at all, much less come walking across the water! Matthew 14:26 “…when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.”

We expect Him to show up at Church, or praise and worship; perhaps in our own private time with him, but in the middle of a storm? We never expect to see Him in the middle of marital stress, wayward children, financial problems, or sickness and disease. It’s extremely important for us to remain close to Jesus through fellowship with Him and obedience to His commands and promptings. Let me make it simple for all of us. The closer we stay to Him, the easier it is to take our eyes off the storm and to clearly focus on Jesus, the One Who stills the most violent storms.

Peter took his eyes off of the One who commands peace to the storms of life, or at the very least , He commands peace to us in the midst of the storm! Matthew 14:30 “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Let these words of Jesus resound in your inner being! “It’s all right,” he said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.” Perhaps the main theme of this passage is where we are to look in the middle of the storms of life. If you are giving the storm more attention than the One who calms them, then you too like Peter, will be overwhelmed with the strength of the storm! Read these words very carefully!

Psalm 121: 2-8 “My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth! He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep…The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade…The LORD keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” David knew!

Remember that storms often cause us to embark on expeditions we would never have ventured into without the storm. For a few brief moments Peter was thrust into the midst of the miraculous! “So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.” Matthew 14:29 Imagine his conversations after they reached the other side. How many times do you believe that Peter rehearsed that experience? Perhaps he even embellished the scenario each time he repeated the event! In the midst of his personal storm, He was graced by God to experience the Supernatural movement of the Hand of God!

Think back over the storms in your life. Reflect on the Goodness and faithfulness of God! Command your mind to rehearse the Goodness of God like David. Psalm 103:2-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

The most efficient way to prepare for a storm in life is….

1) Know that they will come. It happens to everyone!
2) Stay connected in intimate fellowship with Jesus (Before the storm approaches) through loving obedience.
3) Keep your eyes fixed on Him, He will guide you through the storm.
4) Know Him as your Help in the Time of trouble! (Psalm 27:5)
5) Be filled with anticipation and expectancy. Listen for His Word as He directs your path in the middle of the tempest. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
6) Do whatever He tells you when He tells you.
7) Focus on His promise! “It’s all right,” he said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.”

Suddenly my heart finds peace, no matter what life throws at me! I am no longer afraid and I know it will be alright! Remember, some of Jesus' greatest moments have come in the midst of the storm! Now that I think of it. so have mine!

FORGET IT?

James 1:23-24 “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.”

Many Christians fall under this same category that James describes. We love to dive into the depths and mysteries that we find in the Word of God, however, when it comes to applying those same truths in our own lives, we often become very resistant. I believe that we have the answer to this problem found in the Scripture stated above.

The mirror, spoken of, represents the Word of God in this passage. This passage simply declares to us as Christians, that we are to journey into the Word of God, with hearts and minds that are ready and willing to apply (obey) any principle that we encounter.

The passage further states that if we do not apply the principles, we discover that we will soon forget the liberating truths we have uncovered, especially when we face opposition. There is something about applying (obeying) the principles in the Word of God that causes these discoveries to stick with our spirit man. If we practice discovery and application of the principles contained in God’s Word, there are two things that occur as a result. This is a Spiritual Law!
1) We will not forget who God has made us to be!
2) We will not forget with what ability we have been enabled!

We find this exact principle summarized in Deuteronomy 28: 1-2 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey (apply His Principles) the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments…, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey (apply His directives) the voice of the Lord your God.”

The other truth that James states is that when we do NOT apply the principles (commandments) of God and we face an attack, we forget “what kind of man” we are. The spiritual glue, or power of the Holy Spirit, is activated in our lives when we obey. If we refuse to obey, the Holy Spirit can not activate the Reality of the Truths contained in His Word in our lives and we enter into the struggles of life, powerless, and uncertain of the great things God has done for us!

1Corinthians 2:9 “…it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.”

If you are walking in unforgiveness or bitterness, it is not worth the price you pay. God’s Principles declare the necessity to forgive. If you don’t forgive, then you will never reach the level where you realize Who You are in Christ and you will continue to walk in defeat!

John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…”

If you discover and obey God's Principles, you too will, like the kitten pictured above, will turn into a lion. When you encounter obstacles in your life, they will be transformed into stepping stones!

Encourage Yourself!

1 Samuel 30:6 “…David encouraged (strengthened) himself in the LORD his God.”

I like to sing (Make noise) in the shower and sometimes I have bad days! There, you now have two new personal revelations about me. King David had these same days and so do each of us. Listen to his words in Psalm 42:5 “Why art you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted in me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” It is a good thing to sing in the shower, especially if you are singing the song of the Lord.

1 Samuel 30 tells us a story about when David was having a particularly bad day. David and all of his fighting men had returned home from a brief excursion against the Philistines when they discovered that the Amalekites had come against their own hometown of Ziklag. They discovered that all of their women and children had been captured and taken away. The Bible tells us in verse 6 that “David was in serious trouble because his men were very bitter about losing their women and children.

Each of us in the very recent past has found ourselves in “serious trouble,” as well. Perhaps it’s your children, your spouse, finances, health, emotions, relationships, church, employment, etc.. No matter what the situation or circumstance, we would do well to see how David responded and found himself recovering all that had been taken from him, destroyed his enemies, and also took their herds and flocks as the spoils of war!

David did not sit on a log and cry out in despair, “Oh woe is me!” He did not call on his friends to have a group pity party. He did not run from his situation or drown his sorrows in the medication of the day. He did not allow himself to get depressed. 1 Samuel 30:6 “…David encouraged (strengthened) himself in the LORD his God.”

It doesn’t address in 1 Samuel what exactly David did, but we do have and entire Book of Psalms (Songs) that demonstrates quite clearly how David reacted when things went from bad to worse. David began to sing to himself and to the Lord. Feast on these words:

Psalm 103: 1-5 “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all thy diseases; Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.” David started singing to HIMSELF words inspired by the Spirit of God!

Anyway…back to me singing in the shower! I was having a bad day and headed downward. (Instead of looking upward) The Lord brought David’s experiences at Ziklag to my heart and I heard Him say to me, “…David encouraged (strengthened) himself in the LORD his God.” I’m smarter than I look, so I began to ask the Lord to give me not just any song, BUT a Song of the Lord! This is what He gave me…

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things His Strength has set me free!

When I get up in the morning
And I face a brand new day,
I lift my hands unto the sky,
These are the words I say

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things His Strength has set me free!

Then I dive into my Bible
And I feast on Words of Life.
No matter what the day may bring,
My strength comes from on High!

I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me!
I can do all things His Strength has set me free!

As I began to sing, the words came alive in my spirit and Victory for the day and following week burst forth! Just like David, I recovered all that had been taken from me, I saw my enemies destroyed right in front of my face, and I was given some spoils of war, as well!

Maybe you ought to try singing the Song of the Lord in the face of your enemy. Encourage yourself in the Lord right now! When you praise, He shows up on the scene! Psalm 22:3 “But YOU are holy, O You Who inhabits the praises of Israel.”

When he shows up…your enemies scatter!

DO IT!

"...why are you standing here staring at the sky? " Acts 1:11

Most Christians are very content simply playing the role of observers as we stand and gaze at the handiwork of God. In the Book of Acts when Jesus was taken up into heaven, the angels appeared to those who were left behind and posed this question. I believe the unspoken truth was to "get into the upper room and wait for the enduement of power from on high" that Jesus had promised, and then "DO IT!". Lu 24:49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but wait in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high."

I sense that its time to ask the same question of today's believers. We are all beginning to focus on the return of Jesus so He can get us out of this mess the world is in. Yes, He is coming back soon, however there is much work to be done before He returns. There are many souls to save and lives to be impacted. Holiness is to be obtained, and the glory of God is to be revealed in and through our lives. Isaiah 60 says that in the midst of "gross darkness" that "the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light..." Isaiah 60:2-3.

If there is so much to be done then the question remains of why Christians are not doing what we're suppose to be doing to prepare the way for His return?

1) We lack the vision... Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish." We are so self absorbed in ourselves and the lives of our own families that we fail to catch the vision for revival and worldwide evangelism. At least we could be concerned with our own communities and workplaces. Ask yourself..."How many people have I proclaimed the Good news to lately, either by my words or my life?"

2) We lack the power...I don't mean the indwelling presence as described in John 4:14 "...the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." I mean the river of water flowing out of our lives through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. "Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." John 7:37-38 Its sad to say...THE RIVER HAS RUN DRY!

3) We walk in fear...of the cost of paying the price to see the miraculous...of what people will say about us...of giving up the simple pleasures of the flesh...of having to spend more time with Him...or what IF God doesn't back me up? Psalm 118:6 " The LORD is on my side; I will not fear..." Notice that your WILL is involved with the refusal to fear! When you comprehend that God is on our side..then we refuse to fear!

4) We walk in ignorance..."It's the Pastor's job or the leadership!" Hogwash, our job is to train and equip the saints to do battle. The Bible says that signs and wonders will follow the BELIEVER as we go into the world proclaiming the good news! "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature...And these signs shall follow them that believe..." Mark 16: 15-17

5) We have become disconnected from the Body of Christ... "Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. " 1 Corinthians 12:27 You are designed to function as part of the Body. YOU WILL NEVER MAKE IT ALONE! You are not designed to function on your own! You are not the "Lone Ranger" or "An Army of One." Until you discover your function in the local member(Church) of the Body of Christ and begin to flow in that purpose, we the Church will be handicapped! One of my Spiritual mentors taught me that "a hand cut off from the Body, becomes a pile of dead meat." Have you gradually become a pile of dead meat? You are not designed to be so!

When the Patriarch David stopped staring at the night sky, he caught hold of the Heart of God, and discovered that there wasn't anything that could stop him from doing what God had called him to do!

LORD, you have brought light to my life; my God, you light up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. Psalm 18:28-29.

David knew that God was "a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6 In other words, God blessed those who worked at establishing relationship with himself. David refused to be a "do nothing" for his God.

He discovered that when he walked out of his time in the presence of God that he had a renewed vision; power and ability that enabled him to do anything; faith that would not fail; that Truth had been revealed to his heart; and a desire to walk knit together with other believers had been deposited within! "...it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Phillipians 2:13

Someone out there is waiting for you to respond with the Power and Authority of God that has been deposited within you! Please don't let them down! We don't want to leave anyone behind to experience what's going to happen when it all comes crashing down. Get in the presence of God...go after the "enduement of power" and when you get it; let it flow onto others!

THE SONFLOWER!

Sunflowers are amazing flowers. Have you ever considered that they grow larger and higher than all the other flowers in the garden?

Then they begin to unfold glorious yellow petals with a wealth of tightly packed seeds in their center...these seeds one day will feed birds, animals and people. They will also produce hundreds more sunflower plants.

Did you know that it is called the sunflower becuse of it's great love for the sun? After it grows tall enough to be free of the threat of any shade...it's face follows the course of the sun throughout the entire day...leaning and turning as it follows the course of the sun's circuit.
THE SUNFLOWER SEEKS TO BE AT ALL TIMES FULLY BATHED IN SUNLIGHT!

We need to follow the Lord(THE SON) the way the sunflower follows the sunshine. Seek Him First every morning and the last at night. Practice focusing on Him throughout the day!

THE SONFLOWER SEEKS TO BE AT ALL TIMES FULLY BATHED IN SONLIGHT!
Joh 8:12 ¶ Then Jesus said to them, "I am the light of the world: he that follows me will not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

His Promise here is this....That if we follow Him...hear His Word and do His Will...darkness will not overcome us...but our lives will be flooded with His Life...His truth...His directives...THE SON SHINING IN AND THOUGH OUR LIVES!

In order to grow above and beyond all of the other flowers(especially the weeds in life) we need to keep focused on the SONSHINE!

When we stay focused on the Son, then others can feed off of the fruit in our lives just like birds and animals feed off the Sunflower. We also produce other offspring for God as we plant our seeds into other peoples lives!

Follow the SON all day today!

JESUS IS COMING: PART FOUR

THE VALLEY OF MEGIDDO
Isaiah 24:23 "Then the Lord Almighty will mount His throne on Mount Zion. He will rule gloriously in Jerusalem, in the sight of all the leaders of His people. There will be such glory that the brightness of the sun and moon will seem to fade away.”

Israel has been re-established as a Nation and Jerusalem is her Capital city.
The United States has begun to lose her influence over the world.
Religions are now headed toward a one world ecumenical church, where any way to God is acceptable and sin is no longer deemed sin.
Fear of Nuclear holocaust has set the stage for a Global Community Leader…the Antichrist.
Nuclear war breaks out in the Middle East. You know it’s coming, the whole world knows it’s coming! Believers especially should know it. It’s in the Book!
1/3 of all the fresh water will be destroyed. (Undersea oil geysers?)
1/3 of the life in the seas will be destroyed.
The light of the sun and the number of stars in the heavens will be reduced by 1/3.
Vicious demons will be released upon unbelievers resulting in sores and pain unlike the world has ever known for a period of five months.
China will begin it’s march with a 200 million man army and 1/3 of the world’s remaining population is will die under their crushing blow.
In less than three years ½ of the earth’s people are killed and the worst is yet to come.
Cancers will be on all who have taken the mark of the beast.
The oceans will be turned to blood and all aquatic life will die and all fresh water turns to blood.

When the Church is taken up, Russia will make the biggest mistake in her history. Russia is already as mad as a hornet at Israel. Jews are like a bunch of pesky flies to Russia and her troops and allies will begin to march toward Israel. The battle is about to begin and Russia, with those who accompany her, will suffer an annihilating defeat on the outskirts of Israel.

Seven years from now the grass in the Valley of Megiddo may bloom for the last time. The stage has been set. Since Russia and her allies have suffered an immeasurable defeat at the Hand of the Lord, Europe, led by the antichrist and China will gather tohether in the valley of Megiddo to advance against Israel, and it is written that their blood will flow “in a stream 200 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle.” Revelation 14:20

Israel is under attack from these joint forces and she is going down in apparent defeat. The United States is busy and the United Nations is out to lunch. Israel is all by herself. The last Israeli tank grinds to a halt and their last missile is fired. CNN is capturing the carnage for the whole world as they watch the tiny little strip of land in the Middle East falter.

Just when it seems that the Word of God has failed them and Israel is shouting that the Promises of God have failed, those TV cameras will all of a sudden swing toward the Eastern Sky and all of the battle sounds will be drowned out by noise from the heavens. Every blood soaked solder will peer into the heavens and they are going to see an army like they’ve never seen before. Jesus, the Lord of lords and King of kings is descending from heaven with you and me, all of His saints and the angelic hosts.

Israel will proclaim “Jeshua Messiach” or” Messiah has come! His Word is true!”

Jesus said when that “fig tree” generation comes into being…that generation will not pass until all these things come to pass. We are the “fig tree” generation!
WE NEED REVIVAL NOW, NOT JUST FOR US, FOR THOSE WHO COULD BE LEFT BEHIND TO EXPERIENCE THE TRIBULATION. WE NEED AN AWARENESS OF CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM WORK SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE.

JESUS SAID THE HUNGRY PEOPLE GET FILLED. ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR HIM AND HIS PRESENCE? THERE’S GOT TO BE MORE THAN THIS! IT ALL BEGINS WITH YOU AND ME! ASK TODAY FOR HIM TO SET YOURSELF ON FIRE AND WHILE YOU’RE AT IT PRAY THE SAME FOR ME TOO!

JESUS IS COMING!

JESUS IS COMING: PART TWO

Isaiah 24:1 “See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants.”

We don’t have four hundred years or more until Jesus returns! His return is at hand. Jesus said no man knows the time, but we can know the seasons. I know the season and if you will take a moment and reflect on the times, you will recognize the season! In the year 1948 the “fig tree” nation of Israel was reborn. The Bible says the generation that sees this transpire will see the Day of the Lord.

Israel has been re-established as a Nation and Jerusalem is her Capital city.
The United States has begun to lose her influence over the world.
Religions are now headed toward a one world ecumenical church, where any way to God is acceptable and sin is no longer deemed sin.
Fear of Nuclear holocaust has set the stage for a Global Community Leader…the Antichrist.

Isaiah 24:5-6 “The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth's inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.

Isaiah 24:17-21 “Terror and pit and snare await you, O people of the earth. Whoever flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit; whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare. The floodgates of the heavens are opened, the foundations of the earth shake. The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is thoroughly shaken. The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls--never to rise again. In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.”

In a relatively short period of time from now, the earth will rock and reel like a drunken man. Buildings will collapse into heaps of dust and asphalt highways are going to flap in the winds of eternity.

There will be a world economic collapse (The stage has already been set). Food will be over priced and hard to find and buy. There will be epedemics, continued breakdown of society, and increased famines and wars. Initially, one quarter of the world’s remaining population will die. (Remember, the Church is out of here!) The wrath of God is poured out on the inhabitants of earth and their sinful ways, like we can’t even begin to imagine.

IT’S TIME TO GET TO WORK, IT’S TIME TO PRAY FOR A HARVEST OF SOULS BEGINNING TODAY. IT’S TIME TO GET HOLY, STOP PLAYING CHURCH AND SELL OUT THE WHOLE ROUTE.

You can call me a fanatic, BUT right before the world begins to disintegrate and die, the moon starts bleeding and the furies of hell are unleashed on this earth, THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE CHANGED IN A MOMENT, IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO TWINKLE YOUR EYE AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD! JESUS IS COMING!

Nuclear war breaks out in the Middle East. You know it’s coming, the whole world knows it’s coming! Believers especially should know it. It’s in the Book!

1/3 of all the fresh water will be destroyed. (Undersea oil geysers?)
1/3 of the life in the seas will be destroyed.
The light of the sun and the number of stars in the heavens will be reduced by 1/3.

Now here’s the good news! Prior to all of this, rolling off of His seat next to the Father, Jesus, the Name Above All Names, at the Command of Father God, is going to travel through space and time and break the eastern horizon and we are going to meet Him in the air. He will have the scars to prove that He is THE GREAT I AM, THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE FIRST AND THE LAST!

He will seemingly look at each of us at once and declare…” Come, good and faithful servant. Inherit the paradise I have prepared for you from the foundations of the world.”

The Stage has been set. I believe that the antichrist has already been born and is simply awaiting the departure of the Church, allowing him and his minions to exercise their rule openly and freely. It could be days, months or years from now…But one thing I know…Jesus is Coming!

Are you ready? Is your life a “living epistle?” What kind of Jesus do others see through your life’s witness? What kind of Gospel do you live? Is there enough power in your daily life, that others know that you are called by the name of the Lord? Are you living holy on Sundays and living like the devil the rest of the week? Are you praying for revival to break out in your own life; in the lives of your unsaved loved ones?

Re-read the two part series… it’s all going to happen, and we don’t want any of our friends or loved ones left behind to endure the tribulation of God’s wrath! Let’s all hear the call and rise to be the Church He has called us to be. A glorious, victorious Church, without spot or wrinkle walking daily in the power and proclamation of the Holy Spirit!

Next Blog: Jesus is Coming: Part 3

American Idol: Champion of the World!

We ARE the Champions of the World!

Jesus stated in John 16:33 “…take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Last year I watched the last 20 minutes of American Idol and I observed as the two finalists sang, together with the band Queen, “We are the Champions.” My initial thoughts were “How prideful and self centered can this show be?” Two contenders were sitting at the top of the television world, even if just for the moment, enjoying and singing their own praises, hoping to be the one selected for the Title…”Champion!” However, for this night, only one could be Champion! One was selected and the other took a back seat for the Grand Finale.

Over 100 million votes were cast, an indicator that America (And the whole world) is desperately seeking a champion! I’ll bet the majority of you don’t even know the winner’s last name or where he came from, without looking it up. Next Season he’ll be replaced by another Champion and the title will be passed on season after season.

There is but One Champion. Maybe he has never won the Popular vote or even been considered by a majority of the world’s citizens, but rest assured…HE IS THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. His title is settled…Phillipians 2:10…He has been given the Name above all names. He is the undisputed Champion of the world. He’ll never be defeated or dethroned. He’ll never be replaced, so you don’t have to wait until next season to see who’ll be replacing Him. Ephesians 1:21 from the Message puts it this way. He is “in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but FOREVER!” I think I just made myself happy! NOTHING ESCAPES HIS RULE!

Because He is THE Champion, he has shared His title with you and I. Romans 8:37 “In all these things we are more than conquerors (Champions) through Him who loved us.”

A Champion is firstly defined as…One that wins first place or first prize in a competition. Because He has been exalted we are also seated with him in heavenly places. ( You share in His Kingdom rule!) Ephesians 2:6

Secondly a Champion is defined as One who fights; a warrior; an ardent defender or supporter of a cause or another person. Mt 5:14 “You are the light of the world.” We are called to shine in the midst of a darkened world and give hope, direction and life to those who are in need.

Have you ever thought about why you are made the way you are? What makes you different? Why you are so gifted in certain areas? You are designed and called to be a Champion to someone! Mt 10:8 “…freely ye have received, freely give.”

Somebody out there needs you and your gifting and talents. Someone is worse off than you and needs some of the glorious light of the Good news shining into their life. God has chosen you for the task at hand. Take a look around. Who is it that He has positioned in your path? Who needs an introduction to the Champion? Who is waiting to cast their vote? Who is desperately waiting for the Champion to be revealed?
They come back season after season thirsting and looking for a Champion. Let’s tune them in to the right channel. Trust His words. Be a Champion for somebody…one who stands up and fights for the cause of another! “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

They are waiting for the Champion to be revealed through YOU!