Walking Close to Jesus

 

Pastor Allan was preaching as I took notes and present his digested Sermon here.

“A thriving church has all ages and all stages of growing up in Christ.  Each generation has something to offer. 

I am speaking “life” now onto those who are still in the grave.  Jesus is calling for you to come forth and receive His eternal life that he offers.  You can be set free from your grave clothes.

Realize that we are our brother’s keeper.  The greatest thing that can change our life is found in searching God’s Word. 

As a child I attended a strict church and kept hearing that I fell short.  I couldn’t keep up and often heard that I was not worthy.  It took years for me to realize “I am a work in progress.” 

God himself dealt with me to break down the walls of tradition and bring me freedom and deliverance which was definitely needed.

Some things I no longer do, because for me it is not necessary.  You may be doing these same things because you aren’t there yet in your spiritual walk with Jesus.

Acts 2:1  “And they were all together in one place. . . .

Can you be a Christian and not attend church regularly?  It might be so but there is something special about meeting together as a body to worship our Lord.  It is there we learn to walk in the path of holiness. 

 

The Holy Spirit will show you things in your life you need to drop off.  I am not trying to pressure you to live a righteous life, that is the job of the Holy Spirit and you are responsible to listen to his gentle nudges.

Each person must be accountable for yourself. 

I was reminded of the story of Phillip in Acts 8. And the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.’

Phillip could have argued and said, “It doesn’t make sense. Why? There is nothing out there?” Phillip obeyed the angel; “And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship.

 

The man was reading Isaiah 53 from the Old Testament.  Phillip drew near and asked if he understood what he was reading.  The man replied.  “I need someone to explain it to me.”

Philip preached about Jesus and the man believed and requested to be baptized in water that was near by.  He returned to his country rejoicing and ready to share the Gospel with his nation.

Each of us must answer the question, “What will you do with Jesus?”  It is time to listen to the Holy Spirit and do what he is telling you. 

 

Take time each day to worship God, and your struggle will lessen.  It is important to have personal time with God to have a heart after God.  What you have heard on Sunday, dwell on it during the week.

The man was reading in the Old Testament and was confused.  He was serving God and was keeping the law.  A revelation was needed to change him, and the answer was Christ Jesus and all that He has done.

It is important to daily read your Bible and dig deeper, because there is more.  Ask to receive all that God has for you.  Some things people believe are things others have made up, such as rules and regulations. 

 

All you need to know is Jesus and His love for you.  He died in your place, was resurrected on the third day, and desires to live in you by His Holy Spirit.  That is the B A S I C S.  Then we need to go on from there.

Do not hesitate and delay, but make your decision to receive Jesus and to follow Him. 

Be desperate for more of Jesus and all that He has for you.  Today, acknowledge your need of a savior and then open your heart and receive Jesus in his fullness.

 

 

Give us This Day our Daily Bread

 

Taking notes on the Sunday Bible Study at Open Door Church, I present an edited lesson here.  Linda was teaching. 

The Holy Spirit yearns to bring personal revival and refreshing to the Body of Christ.  Revival starts here - - with you and with me.  A close relationship takes time.  We need to set aside time to get away, and become disciplined to pray.

The Holy Spirit says, “Come away with me.”  Find your quiet place, and meet with Jesus there.  The Bible calls it your closet, but it might be a comfortable chair, your car, or a quiet place in your home.  Jesus gave us Matthew 6:6 (the Lords Prayer) a sample for us to pattern after.

Don’t worry and fret, because God has promised to take care of you.  Matt 6:25 tells us to “Take no thought about food and clothing,” - - because God knows our basic needs and He will provide.

Jesus said to “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.”

The Holy Spirit teaches us how to live clean lives.  God clothes us with the Righteousness of Christ Jesus.  The Holy Spirit prompts us to watch our words and thoughts. 

Luke 11:9-13 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.  Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?  Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Jesus is urging us to ASK for the Holy Spirit.  The Father desires to give you good gifts.

We are focusing on our Daily Bread.  Jesus referred to bread as our sustenance.  Jesus is the Bread of Life, our spiritual bread.  The Holy Spirit is our breath of life. There is a longing coming from the Father to feed us in Spirit and satisfy our longing.  By repetition God the Father is first.  Man cannot live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Establish a relationship with the giver of Life, our God. 

The Good Samaritan bound up a certain man’s wounds and poured in oil and wine.  Oil and wine are a symbol of the Holy Spirit as he soothes our emotional pain.

Wine also is a picture of the blood of Jesus that was shed for us.  “Is not this the cup of Jesus’ suffering?

Our teacher brought a loaf of bread and small cups of grape juice to remind us of all Jesus had done for us.  She broke off chunks of bread and asked that we consume the bread and “wine” (grape juice) and allow it to assimilate into our body our soul and spirit.

Begin somewhere, the first thing in the morning; taking time to invite the Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to meet with you.  Invite them to accompany you as you start your duties of the day.

Day by day your fellowship will deepen.  There is sweet communion as you meet with God.

When anger comes like a flood; stop and consider what is happening here?  Understand there is always two different opinions, and be quick to yield to a spirit of forgiveness. 

 

Let it go,  Say – “It is gone!”  Use words to reinforce your decisions.  Ask for divine love where there is none, for He will provide you with His love.

 

 

How Much Should We Pray?

Prayer Works !!

 

As we meet each week to pray over our city, Pastor Allan has asked me to give a short focus on prayer.  I had been thinking about Jesus and that his life was a life of communication with His Father.

Jesus often prayed in a lonely place by himself.  

Mark 1:35  Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Matthew 14:23  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone and spent the night praying to God.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told his disciples to stay here and pray, while - - Luke 22:41-44  He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

Prior to beginning his ministry, Jesus went into a desert place and spent 40 days praying and fasting.  When He was at his weakest in body, the devil came to tempt Him, suggesting that he create food from rocks, do something dangerous and not be hurt, and promised him kingdoms with power and might - - IF - - Jesus would worship Satan.   

Satan often comes to us in our times of weakness, when we are vulnerable and suggests appealing propositions.

We are praying for our families, our neighborhood, our city and our nation.  Those we pray for are being offered exciting and desirable enticements to satisfy their flesh.  

Through Television, movies and the internet, the minds of the people are being bombarded to partake of unrighteousness living. 

Thoughts of evil and wickedness are slyly being planted in minds to take root and produce confusion and devastation. 

This is why it is important for us to guard our own minds and hearts and to pull down negative thinking.

2 Corinthians 3-5  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

How can we capture these thoughts in ourselves and in others?  What weapon did Jesus use ?? 

The weapon Jesus used was the Word of God.  He knew the scriptures, because he had read them over and over many times.   

Don’t think that just because you have read your Bible through once, that you are done.   

For others, we must use prayer by taking authority over those things that tempt them.  The devil desires to bind and destroy our citizens. 

As Christians, we have the authorization from Jesus to command and decree that Satan release his dominion over our city, family and nation.  We have been given the ‘right’ to prophesy that chains are to be broken, addictions destroyed and the appetite and thirst for sin, be removed. 

There are times it is good for us to pray alone, and other times for certain situations it is best to meet as we are doing today to pray as a group over our city, our families, and our Nation. 

Sample prayer - -

Father we thank You that it is by Your Spirit that the strongholds of the enemy are in retreat and we pray that You would use our prayers and decrees to further Your will, so that the stranglehold of the enemy in the lives of so many are weakened and torn down – for there are many that are under enemy control by his cruel tactics, and we ask that by Your Holy Spirit they may be set free of the vice-like grip of sin that ensnares and imprisons their very lives.

 

An Excellent Spirit

Daniel Prayed Every Day

Pastor Rodney brought the message for today and my notes are digested here for you.

Daniel Chapter 6 tells of King Darius setting 120 Princes to rule in his kingdom.  Over these were three Presidents of whom Daniel was first.

There is something about a person when their “light” is shining that causes them to be noticed.  An excellent spirit was found in Daniel, and the King recognized there was something different about him.  Daniel served the True God and faithfully prayed and worshiped God every day. 

God gave him wisdom and favor with the king which caused jealousy in the hearts of the 120 Princes.  They searched to discover fault with Daniel but the only thing they could find was to touch his religion. He was faithful to his God and to the king and all he did was blessed.  The Princes had a plan to trick the King.  They suggested that the King make a decree that no one be allowed to ask of anyone else except of the King for 30 days.  The penalty for failing this decree was to be cast into the lions den.

Daniel was not rebellious, but he was faithful to his God.  The Princes found Daniel praying as he always did and told the King.  The King realized he had been deceived and tried to find a way out, but there was none. The men reminded the King that his decree could not be reversed. 

 

 

The King finally summoned Daniel and told him, “I believe your God is able to save you, and I hate to do this, but I must cast you into the lions den.

All night the King fasted and prayed until morning.  With a lamenting voice he called out, "Daniel, was your God whom you serve, able to deliver you?"

From the pit, Daniel replied, “Oh King, my God sent an angel to shut the lions mouth and I am safe."  The King was both happy and angry.  He was glad Daniel was alive but angry at the Princes.  He ordered them and their wives to be cast into the lions den, and their bodies did not make it to the bottom of the pit before they were devoured by the lions.

Today, do you understand that Satan has made decrees over many of you and told you that you must continue your bondage and that you will never be free?  I am here to tell you that Jesus has reversed the “Curse,” and he will rescue you out of the lion’s den.

 

You may have people you thought were your friends, and they have planned evil against you, perhaps they snared you into the pit, but God’s plan is to bring you new life in Jesus.

Another story in Daniel chapter 3 tells of King Nebuchadnezzar who made an image of gold to be worshipped, or failure to do so - - was to be cast into the fiery furnace. 

 

Certain Chaldeans found fault with the Jewish leaders, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to bow down to the idol.  The King was angry and gave them a second chance to worship the image.

The three men declared, “Be it know to you oh King, our God is able to deliver us, but if NOT, we will not serve your gods.  The King was furious and commanded them to be bound and cast into the burning furnace, but as the people watched, they could see the three men and a fourth person walking around in the fire. 

 

The king was afraid, and called them to come out, realizing that God had sent an angel to protect and deliver them.  The three men were not harmed, and not a hair was singed, nor did they smell of smoke.  The King promoted them with honor and made a new decree not to speak against the True God - - or else.

God has a good plan for you and will bless those who are faithful to serve Him.  He charges His angels to protect and watch over you.

Keep your relationship with God up to date and be like Daniel, who was faithful to pray and worship God every day.

Be faithful and know that the choices you make to serve God do matter.  Keep the faith.

No one of us are perfect, only God is perfect, but He is continually working on us to become perfection in His eyes. 

 

Understand that Jesus is coming soon for those who have received him into their life. 

Remember the verse in Luke 11:9  Ask, Seek, Knock and the door of salvation shall be opened unto you. 

 

The Lamb of God

The Lamb of God

Our Bible Study taught by Linda, has been centered around the types and shadows in the Old Testament and the celebrations of Pass Over and feasts of harvest.  The illustrations we view there will bring us to understand Christ and His sufferings, death and triumphant victory over death.  I took notes and present a digested message.

The Children of Israel were commanded to keep these feasts and each year to celebrate how God delivered them from Egypt and brought them to the “Promised Land.” 

God promised to send His Angel to fight the enemy that was in possession of the Land.  Exodus 23:23 For My angel will go before you and bring you in to the land of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will completely destroy them.

The Israelites were under the Old Covenant (Law), and we are under the New Covenant.

Under the old Covenant, they celebrated the First fruits of the harvest, by crushing the wheat.  This crushing represented obedience.  Oil was poured on the crushed grain symbolizing the Holy Spirit.  In Unity they waved the sheaves of grain showing praise and thankfulness.  Finally they sacrificed an innocent pure lamb, roasting it until it was well done, and eating it during the feast.

Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God meant for The New Covenant.  He was crushed during the time of His crucifixion.  His blood was shed for our sins and his death put an end to the old covenant, bringing in the New Reign of our King and the order of the Holy Spirit. John 1:29  The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him and said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

John 1:33:  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, On whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.

Matt 27:26  The authorities whipped Jesus unmercifully, shoved a crown of thorns on his head, made fun of him, mocking him and nailing him to a cross.

(The grinding of the wheat is a picture of Jesus who was crushed for our sins.)

Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Him up on the third day. 

Ephesians 1:19-22 - - and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

The time difference in the Old Testament was the ceremony to wave the sheaf, sacrificed the meat offering, unleavened bread, the corn and counting of the days.

This was the expediential revelation of the future Lamb of God who volunteered to die in order to save us from our sins. and offer us eternal life.

Our teacher had prepared for each of us as students, a sheave of wheat for us to wave, a cup of grape juice, a slice of wheat bread, and small bits of roasted lamb on skewers for us to sample as we thought on the symbolic picture of Jesus the Lamb of God.

The leaven is an example of sin, and the unleavened bread illustrated Jesus as innocent and without sin.  The grape juice demonstrates the blood of Jesus shed for us.

We as Christians celebrate the Lords supper, or communion in remembrance of Jesus’ torn body, and his shed blood for our salvation.

When Jesus appeared to Mary she reached out to touch him, but He said, “Touch me not, because I must first ascend to my Father.  Jesus needed to present his blood to His Father and place it upon the Mercy Seat in Heaven to complete His resurrection.

The door of salvation was opened when the stone was rolled away; and the fullness of time has come bringing Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. 

 

God Desires to Answer the Prayers of the Saints

Each Wednesday at 9:00 am prayer meeting, Pastor Allan has asked me to give a short teaching.  I noted that at times our faith fails and God answers prayer even when we do not believe !!!

Peter had been cast into prison by the authorities, because he refused to stop preaching about Jesus. 

The church prayed long into the night that God would release Peter from jail. 

Peter was not worried, because he was fast asleep - - when all of a sudden, an angel of “Deliverance,” woke him up, touched his chains that fell to the ground, and said, “Let’s get out of here.”  Peter thought he was dreaming, but it sounded good to him, so he gathered his coat and walked out of the unlocked prison gate with the angel. 

Know that your prayers and positive declarations over your city, your family and Nation are powerful to unlock prison gates, and to cause the chains that hold people in bondage, to drop to the ground. 

The angel of “Deliverance,” led Peter to the main street and disappeared.  Peter then knew this was real. 

Our prayers are powerful and will work real Spiritual manifestations as we believe.  We will see mountains of evil removed, bondage broken and deliverance to flow.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God."

Although the Bible only mentions the names of 3 angels, there are angels sent to fight and work with us and often they are an angel of deliverance, an angel of protection, a messenger angel, an angel of encouragement, and even an angel of healing.  (Remember the angel that stirred the pool of Bethesda, so people could be healed.) 

God send an angel to shut the lion’s mouths and Daniel was not harmed in the lion pit. 

Paul was encouraged by an angel and said in Acts 27:23 - - I know this because an angel from the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood by me last night. 

Peter realized he was free, so he decided to go where his friends were praying.  He knocked on the door.  Rhoda came to the door and peered out but did not open the door.  Instead she ran into the prayer room and declared, “It is Peter at the door.”  The believers or should I say unbelievers hushed her up and said, this cannot be so.  She urged them to come and see.  Yes, it was Peter indeed and he told the amazing story of the angel of Deliverance setting him free. 

We do NOT pray to angels, but God does send angels to answer our prayers.  In this case God heard the people pray – He sent an angel to deliver Peter and answer their prayers.  

There is a heavenly host working with us as we pray earnestly that our city, our family and our Nation be set free from evil spirits and administrations of Satan. 

 

We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities in high places.

 

Continue to make your positive Declarations and Prophesies over your city, your family and our Nation.  

 

Do not fear – and be quick to believe that your prayers matter. 

God is listening and He is working in the heavens to accomplish the answer to your prayers.

Pentecost has Come !

 

Pastor Allan was ministering on this the Sunday of Pentecost and from my notes I present his digested sermon.

This is the day of revival.  Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost was fully come - -”

Understand it was because of Christ the Holy Spirit came.  “They were all in one place and in one accord.”

Notice they were in unity and a corporate meeting was necessary.  It is important that we are all on the same page, and that we congregate to worship in a central location.

 

There is power in agreement, and Jesus said, where 2 or 3 are gathered together, there am I in their midst.

The Holy Spirit showed up and showed off as the fire fell in the form of tongues and the 120 began to speak in other languages that were unknown to them.

Some wondered how this could be, and others mocked and made fun.

Don’t worry who is watching you and if others make fun of you.  Just be full of the Holy Ghost.  Be immersed in the Spirit of God.

The “world” does not understand the workings of the Holy Spirit; healings, miracles and signs and wonders.  It is foolishness to them.  “The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men.”

In the service there was a disturbance as some very young children became loose from their parents and ran to the front.  Sincere believers in the congregation took their eyes off Pastor Allan and looked to see what was happening.

This is what happens in life when we take our eyes off Jesus and look instead at our circumstances.  There are distractions that cause us to not pay attention and we loose our focus for a moment.

Perhaps we all need a “New Pentecostal experience.”  Be faithful to the Word and listen when the minister is preaching.

Acts 2: 40  Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"

We must be brave enough to stand up for righteousness and inform our schools and leaders what we believe, approve and what we object to.  We can make a difference as we rise up against evil and refuse to flow with the noisy crowd.  Remember it was the shouting riotous crowd that crucified Jesus.

Acts 2:43 “A sense of fear came over everyone, and many signs and wonders were being done by the apostles.”

God is amazing.  Just when we think we have it all figured out, God moves in a different and unexpected way.  Trust the Lord and not your own judgment.

We have been praying that the Holy Spirit will move outside our church out there in our neighborhoods.  It is important that we see answers to our prayers.  We need to see healings, because it is an inspiration and encouragement to others.  God is alive and not dead. 

It is essential to pray in the Spirit using our pray language; for this opens heaven to pour out healing, deliverance and salvation.  We must allow the Holy Spirit freedom to move as He wills.

You are here today right where you need to be in order to meet God.

What happened in the upper room is for us today.  The promise is to you and to your children as prophesied in Joel 2:28-29  “It will come to pass after this, that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions.”

We are witnesses today for we have also experienced this outpouring and anointing to go forth and be witnesses for Christ, doing the works that Jesus instructed us to do.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit and keep being filled. 

 

 

Bread of Life

Jesus is the Bread of Life

 

As our Bible Study Teacher taught the class, I took notes and present an edited lesson here.

Exodus chapter 16 tells how God gave the Children of Israel bread from heaven each morning, with instructions.  They called it Manna.

They were told to gather enough Manna for 5 days.  On the 6^th day they were to gather twice as much because on the 7^th day, there would not be any.

Some were bad listeners and refused to follow the instructions.  Those who gathered too much and saved it for later, discovered it turned to worms.  Others failed to take double on day 6 and did without on day 7.

Let us not judge them too harshly, because at times we too are not so good at listening.

May we be quick to obey lest we also end up with spoiled bread; or none at all.

The people were rebellious and hard headed and hard hearted. The Lord said, “How long do you refuse to listen and keep my commandments?”

Deuteronomy 8:1-3 All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply. You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness.  He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.

God wanted them to remember all that He had done for them during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.  He did not want them to be boastful thinking they had completed all this by themselves failing to give God the praise He deserved.

They were a stiff necked people and easily forgot the goodness of God.  That is why God wanted them to have certain feasts to remember especially the pass over.

There are areas in our lives when God points out a need for change.  Have we realized God is at work protecting us, providing and caring for us and we fail to give Him praise and have a grateful heart.

Jesus said, “Some seek me not for the miracles, but because of the loaves and fishes that filled their stomach.

John 6:26  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.

Jesus said, Moses gave you not the bread from heaven, because I am the bread of Life that comes down from heaven.  Who ever believes on me shall have everlasting life.

John 6:52  I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh."

Jesus was referring to communion, but many did not understand this saying and left.

Jesus asked his disciples, “will you go also?”  They answered, “To whom shall we go, for you have the words of life?”

Our teacher had prepared communion for us as a group with small cups of grape juice and large hunks of bread.

As we partook together, I remembered the words “Eat ye all of it.”  The chunk of bread seemed large to me, but I found it necessary to eat all of it.

Often as we remember the Lords broken body, and His shed blood by taking of the communion, we receive a washing away of sins and unhealthy attitudes, and a healing of body and soul.

 

Healing Comes in Unexpected Ways



Agreeing in Prayer

On Wednesdays we meet at our church to pray over our city and over the recent written prayer requests.  Pastor Allan has asked me to present a short focus and lead the meeting.

I do a print out each week and present it here, with added comments that were made.

We often have it all figured out how God will save or heal those in need.  However God doesn’t always save or heal the way we first thought He would.

Jesus told some of his disciples “Follow Me,” and they said “Okay, and followed.”

The conversion of Saul was dramatic, for he was struck as by lightening and fell to the ground, and heard a voice instructing him. 

Some are saved, but they struggle with habits and addictions, and it takes time and prayer to reach a point of complete deliverance.  Others are delivered on the spot – we wonder why, but we can not put God in a box and ask him to do his work all the same way.

The human will has a lot to do with maturity taking its time, because full surrender is not so easy for some with hard heads.

We question when we know of men and women of God we respect and recognize they are anointed, but they make a mistake.  I am not talking about sin but they make calls for God that he had nothing to do with.

We see that in 2 Kings Chapter 4, the story of Elisha and the woman’s sick son.

The woman traveled to find Elisha to pray over her son.  Elisha sent his servant and told him to go and lay his staff over the boy.  When they arrived at the woman’s home, the staff on the boy had not worked and the child was dead.  Elisha presumed he always spoke for God, but this time he did not.

Elisha sent everyone out of the room, and he prayed.  God showed him to lie across the boy and breathe in his mouth.  (This was not CPR) because the child had been dead for several hours.  Elisha did not give up and it took 7 tries before the child sneezed and woke up alive.

 

I am reminded of the Prophet Isaiah’s story found in

2 Kings 20   In those days King Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover."

The King begged God for more time to live and God heard his prayer and answered.  God told the prophet to take some figs and make a poultice and have the king’s servants put it on the ugly boil, and God would give the King 15 more years to live.

The Prophet did not apply the salve, but had the servants do the work.   

Often it is not the Pastor, or the teacher, or the leader who will be the one to do the “work,” but we must be willing to become the servant and be obedient to follow the instructions given to us by the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus often healed by speaking a word, “be healed,” or “go and wash,” or “rise up and walk.”  Other times he touched and reached out as He healed and delivered. 

 

One occasion Jesus put mud on the eyes of a blind man.  Many believe he created a new eye ball from the mud; similar to creating Adam from mud in the garden.   I believe that is what happened. 

This past week we laid hands and prayed for Louise to be healed as she went for a biopsy of a lump on her thyroid.  The doctor was amazed because there was nothing there to test. The lump was gone! 

So what can we learn from todays lesson? 

1. As we pray over our dead city, our sick loved ones; do not become discouraged but continue in prayer that God will bring life and healing.  We may need to pray seven times, but do not give up. 

2. Believe and expect God to hear and answer our prayers. 

3. Know that God will use you to speak a word, to reach out and touch someone in need. 

4. As we bring our requests unto God.  Know that it is his WILL to save, to heal and to restore.

 

A Mother’s Godly Influence

 

"Would you like me to find you a nurse for this baby?"

As Pastor Allan began his Sunday Morning sermon, I took notes and present a digested message here.

Pastor reminded us that we live in a lawless land, because the Government is making everything that was once sin, to become legal. 

 

We as Christians must speak up for what is right in our community.  The Holy Spirit is waiting for us to take a stand.

The three Hebrew children refused to bow down to the king's false god, and were thrown into the burning furnace, but God delivered them and they left the furnace not even smelling of smoke.

Don’t find yourself leaning and following the crowd.  Evil is evil and laws cannot make it right.

You may come under fire when you disagree with the current flow, but be willing to push against the tide and stand firm.

Today was Mother’s day and Pastor gave me permission to read my poem about Mothers.  Click HERE to read it.

Pastor began his sermon about two godly mothers’ and their sons. 

In Egypt the Israelites were slaves, but they were multiplying so fast, Pharaoh was alarmed.  He gave this order to all his people: "Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live."

Now a certain man of the house of Levi took a wife a daughter of Levi, and she conceived, and bare a son.  Exodus 2:2  She saw that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

Before there was a king, God was sovereign over the people.  He set prophets and judges to assist the people, and He chose Moses to bring deliverance. 

 

God uses people to be role models.  It is our responsibility to be examples because our children are watching.  Do you attend church regularly?  Do you pray and read your Bible in front of your children?  Are you living a godly life in the home?

The baby Moses cried and made too much noise and his mother knew something had to be done.  She waterproofed a small basket, placing him inside and hid it in the bulrushes.  You may remember that Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby and raised him as her son.

Another woman named Hannah had no children for she was barren.  She prayed and wept asking God for a son.  1 Samuel 1:11  She made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life. 

God answered her prayer and Samuel was born.  When the child was old enough, she took him to the temple and presented him to Eli the priest. 

 

1 Samuel 1:27-28 For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. “So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD.” And Eli worshiped the LORD there.

At first, Samuel was a helper in the temple, but the spirit of the Lord was upon him, and Eli and others realized God was with him. 

Paul entreated his young surrogate son, Timothy to excel and be godly as were his mother Eunice, and grandmother Lois.

God desires for no wasted lives.  Children need to be brought up to serve God before they make wrong decisions.

In this world’s system there is danger ahead.  We must prepare our children to avoid and side step evil; We can and should teach our children to make wise choices early in life.

Let us guide our youth, and be the Godly example they will desire to follow.

 

Mothers Were Created by God 2016

 

 

Soon I will be sending a wee one to another world,

Who will watch over and care for this tiny life?

Who will teach this one to learn and to love?

To instruct in kindness, not in hate and strife!

 

Who will feed and clothe this child?

Who will kiss away the tears when they fall?

Where will I find such a one, a paradigm?

Who will be there when they weep and call?

 

Looking high and low, no one could be found,

Where is one I can trust? – is there no other?

The answer is simple and plain to see,

I will give this child a loving mother!

 

Then there are other lives, so tiny and some not,

I will search until a home I find - - -

Where shall I place these forgotten babes?

There must be a mother’s heart longing to be kind!

 

I sought and found some who were barren,

Yet they desired a child to love and hold,

Yes, I will consign this adopted one

Into the safe arms of this “mother” to enfold!

 

Where else may I place a child who needs an abode?

Not all children born into families do fare,

Because of the many realities of life,

Existence is complicated and difficult to bear!

 

The saying “Life happens,” is true and often - -Reasons beyond belief send many to despair,

I have found an answer for this child,

In a “good” Foster Home, they will find solace there.

 

What I seek is a Mother’s heart,

For those who are not a mother in kind, can be,

For according to My word,

The need is great for “Mothers in Israel” you see!

 

Reach out and love a child with kindness and encouragement!

  

by Hazel Moon  05/08/2011

 

 

The Word Became Flesh

 

Our Bible Study lessons are following both Moses and the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  I took notes and present a digested message here.

You will remember that Moses was rescued as a baby by Pharaoh’s daughter and thus raised in the palace and given a proper education.  Because in anger he killed a man, he fled to the desert spending many years with nomads living there. 

 

While tending his flock, he noticed a burning bush.  As he went closer, a voice spoke telling him to remove his shoes for he was standing on Holy Ground.  It was the God of the Hebrews telling him to go back to Egypt and deliver the people.  Moses was frightened, but God said, “Do not be afraid, for I will go with you.”

God sent many plagues against Egypt, but Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, until the Death Angel took the first born of each Egyptian household.

Now the Children of Israel were safely across the Red Sea and camped at Mount Sinai, where smoke as a furnace poured forth from the mountain.  Thunder and lightening and God’s voice frightened the people.  They pled with Moses to speak to God for them as they were too afraid to hear him for themselves.

Aren’t you thankful that today, we can boldly enter the throne room and hold a conversation with our Holy God?  Jesus made that possible.

Moses was on the mountain for 40 days while God gave him the laws and commandments to teach the people how to live a life pleasing to God.  The people became restless and worried why Moses was gone so long. 

Worship was important to the people, but they wanted a god they could see; and they chose the wrong god.  So Aaron built them a golden calf like the Egyptian’s worshipped.

God was angry and told Moses to quickly go down from the mountain as the people were rebelling against Him.  Moses was also angry and threw down the commandments breaking them.  He then destroyed the image grinding it up and throwing it into the water forcing the people drink the water.

God is a jealous god, and he will not share the worship of other gods.  Although Moses was chosen to lead the people, he was only the helper, for God was in charge. 

We have ministers in the church, but we must understand they are human and subject to failure.  It is God’s church and not ours.  Let God be God and let us follow Him.

The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us filling the void in our lives.  God put the fire of the Holy Spirit in us. 

 

Moses had the words of God in stone for stony hearts.  Holy men of God have preserved God’s word for us giving us our Bible.  Much caution and diligence was put forth to bring us as near a perfect translation as possible.  Different versions help cast light and explain more fully the scriptures.

When Moses spent time with God, and returned to the people, his face shone requiring him to wear a veil.  As we spend time praying and studying our Bible, our face will reflect Jesus when our friends look on us.

Moses was to instruct the people that as they entered the Promised Land, there would be enemies living there, that God would destroy.

Often in us there are sins (enemies) that God is willing to destroy and help us to overcome.

God also told the people not to worship the gods of the enemies but to serve Him only.

In the upper room, the Holy Spirit fell on believers and they spoke in other tongues.  Peter preached to the onlookers, telling them to believe on Jesus and they would also receive this gift.  That day 3000 believers were added to the “church.”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13, 14 to desire spiritual gifts - - But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Jesus was the first fruit - - as he was the first to receive his resurrected body.  This began a new spiritual history and we are the harvest from Pentecost of old onto this day.  God gave the written Word  to the Jews to change the world; Jesus sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to again shift and change the world.  The process of change continues.  News of revival is sweeping our nation.

Jesus is Lord of the harvest and the field is white and ready.  God planned all this for our understanding, so that we would come to Him for Salvation.