Walk in Purity So That God Can Use You!

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising (Isaiah 60:1-3).

I just returned from a ministry trip to Prague, Czech Republic. Prague is a old city with beautiful old buildings and stately architecture. The scenery is incredible to view. It’s a picture perfect view of older Europe. But spiritually, there is great darkness. We held outdoor events providing music and personal ministry. People would walk by and sneer at us. Some would scowl and make loud, off color comments about religion and God as they walked by. It reminded me that we are living in dark days. The spirit of antiChrist is encroaching into every fiber of life worldwide. The do what you want, independent attitude that makes light of God’s Word, that makes light of morality, that promotes any lifestyle as pleasing to God, is being promoted with abandon in every nation and city on earth.

But, Jesus has given you and me as Christians the light of life. He has urged us with loving pleas to walk in the light so that the darkness would not overtake us. The world needs to see the light of the world shining from us.

Twenty five hundred years ago, the prophet Isaiah saw our day and encouraged those living in our time to arise and shine. In Jesus absence WE are the light of the world. We are to let our light so shine that people will SEE our good works and want to know the God that we love.

Today is the day to cleanse ourselves from the defilements of the flesh so the people in darkness can see our God. They can only see Him through the lense of OUR lives. Let’s repent now of walking in the flesh and of living a self-centered me pleasing lifestyle. Repent now if the immorality of the age has tainted your wardrobe, your mind, your fleshly habits, or your heart. Jesus wants purity in us so others can see Him.

As the darkness get darker, let’s move ourselves towards God with much time spent in prayer, in fasting, in meditation on the Word, and in looking for opportunities to minister life to those held in the clutches of darkness. Your single life of purity and consecration to God can make a huge difference in a world moving headlong into hell. Let’s make today count for Jesus.

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires (Romans 13:11-14 - NLT).

Allow The Rules Of The Kingdom Of God To Rule Your Life

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28).

 

In these days prior to the rapture of the church, the Father wants us to shine in the darkness that is engulfing this planet! We are not just natural people. We’re citizen of the Kingdom of God. We are ambassadors of heaven while living here! We’re a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a purchased people!

 

Ambassadors living in foreign nations have diplomatic immunity from many of the laws that govern the country they live in while operating as an ambassador.

 

Now it’s time for us as citizen of God’s kingdom to operate in Kingdom law so that God can show Himself strong in our world through us! To operate in Kingdom law, our minds must be renewed with the Word. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13). The Father’s challenge in this hour is for us to live in His highest and best by operating in His law, His kingdom rule!

 

To do so we must walk in faith and love. The kingdom of God operates on the principles of faith. Faith pleases God. He maintains a relationship of faith with us as He speaks and guides daily through the Word and by His Spirit. He doesn’t show us everything at once. He doesn’t give us the whole blueprint. He usually only shows us the next step, and expects us to respond in faith and believe we receive from Him at all times. That’s kingdom law.

  

He expects us to walk in love. God is love. Love is the atmosphere of the Kingdom. Love is the motivation for attitude, thought, motive, speech, and action in the Kingdom of God! Love brings the Almighty into our relationships and tags us as Kings kids!

 

In this Kingdom Law, as leaders we become servants; to truly live we must die to self-ambition and self-interests and live for our unseen commander; to receive we must give; to increase, we must decrease. As the armies of Israel, we must allow praise to fight our battles, and look to the unseen realm for victory in conquests. Fear must give way to absolute faith in the Word of God.

  

We must not be moved or shaken by what we see or feel, we must be motivated by faith in the Word of God at all times!

 

As we live in Kingdom law, we should expect the working of miracles to become prominent as the rapture of the church draws near. The Working of Miracles is part of the rule of the Kingdom of God. The spiritual gift Working of Miracles is where God literally sets aside the natural laws of physics, and invades our world with His supernatural power. Working of Miracles is where Kingdom law supersedes natural law, with no natural explanation that can be discovered by scientific examination.

  

Jesus fed thousands with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. Tax money was found in a fish’s mouth. The storm cease by a simple word of command. The dead were raised to life again. The deaf and blind began to hear and see. The crippled walked. The insane became clear minded. A widow was supplied with flour and oil that never ran out during a severe famine. Men endured flames without being burned, without even the smell of smoke on their clothing. Wild animals became tame, not harming their potential victims. At one point, the sun even stopped in the sky for 24 hours as Israel fought their enemy! These are examples of Kingdom Law, Kingdom rule.

 

Let’s expect God to meet us in awesome ways in the dark days ahead. It’s time for us to shine! Let’s walk in Kingdom principles. As we do, we will see the miraculous!

 

Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you Isaiah 60:1-2).

God Word Will Work Miracles In Your Life if You'll Allow It!

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:20).

Acting on the Word of God brings God into the details of your daily life. Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12- Amplified). Acting on the Word causes God to watch over your actions! He pays attentions and gets involved when you act like His Word is important to you! Impossible things become possible.

 

The Holy Spirit is attracted to the Word. He’s called the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17). When we show our love for Jesus by walking in obedience to the Word, the Holy Spirit is pleased!

The Holy Spirit takes the Word that we feed on in our personal times and reminds us of what we’ve heard. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you (John 14:26).

His major ambition is to help us act, think, respond, love, speak, and live like Jesus does. As He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). Be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1). That’s why it’s so important to adhere to the Word.

Where the Word is esteemed, the Holy Spirit manifests to bring it to pass. He sent His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions (Psalm 107:20). For healing to manifest, it’s important to say what God says and as much as possible, act like you’re healed by believing you receive. This brings the Holy Spirit into the situation with your body. He is the one who materializes the healing that Jesus purchased for us 2000 years ago. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11).

 

Acting on the Word brings you into realm of the limitless God who is able to do infinitely more than we can ask or think! I’ve been walking with Jesus now for almost 40 years, and I have all kinds of examples of things that should not work out suddenly working out! And it’s because in my weakness and hard place I chose to act on what God says. God’s word works!

 

Take time today to meditate on the Word. Speak the Word. Intertwine the Word into your work, your family, and your leisure. Become conscious of what the Word says about what you’re involved in today. If you do, and act and speak in line with the Word, then the Holy Spirit will aid you with His ability, and the Father will watch over you and do amazing things. Magnify the Word!

The Simple Way To Assure That You Are Never Deceived

In our postmodern culture, we have the same personal ideology as the culture in Israel during the time of the Judges. Every person did what was right in his own eyes.

 

As Christians, we’re admonished not to be of the world (Romans 12:2). That is, we’re not to be swayed by the attitudes and actions of unbelievers. And instead of doing what we feel like doing any given moment, we’re to obey the Word! Our blessing in God is in obedience! What some folk don’t realize is that if we refuse to obey the Word, we’re turning a deaf ear to the Spirit of God!

 

We’re entering into the time period just prior to the time of difficulty spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24, Luke 21, and found in Revelation 6-19. It’s a time of great challenge and change. To navigate successfully through this time, it’s important for us to be people of the Word!

 

Notice 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (Amplified): But the Holy Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized).    

 

Then also notice 2 Timothy 4: 3-4 (God’s Word translation):  A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths.

Demonic forces are working today to separate people from truth. They seek to twist truth to turn people from the path of right living. Here’s the way to stay with the Spirit of God, and to stay safely in the protection and care that the Father has for you during this time. It’s real simple! Obey the Word!

 

The verses above reveal that doctrines of demons will urge people to turn away from the faith, and only hear what pleases them. So, when I hear the truth of the Word, but the Word disagrees with what I feel like doing or want to do at the moment, and I ignore the Word and act on my feelings, I actually open myself up to demonic deception!

 

As a pastor, I’ve had the unfortunate experience of having people sit in front of me in my office and tell me that adultery for them is ok, that fornication, for them for the moment, is ok; that lying, in this situation and for the moment, is ok; and the list goes on and on!

 

Here’s the bottom line: Any believer that decides to ignore the Word and do what he or she knows is wrong, defies conscience and opens themselves up to demonic deception! Don’t do that!

If God says love your neighbor as yourself, then love your neighbor as yourself! If God says, be angry and do not sin, then be angry and do not sin. If God says, don’t gossip and say bad things about your fellow worker, then don’t gossip and say bad things about your fellow worker. If God says, don’t lust, then turn your eyes away!

 

The Father’s protection, favor, and care in this hour will be with those who choose to love Him by obeying His Word! Don’t compromise the Father’s care in this time with loose living; doing what is right in your own eyes. Defy your own thoughts and feelings and obey the Word! That’s where you will find the blessing, protection, and favor of the Father today!

The Lion, The Ox, The Man, And The Eagle

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1)

Matthew 1 begins with the genealogy of Jesus. The book of Matthew presents Jesus as the king of the Jews. It shows Him through this genealogy as the legal heir of the throne of David through Joseph.

 

All of the gospels depict Jesus differently. And here is the background. In the Old Testament tabernacle and temple stood the figure of the Cherubim. There were four faces on these Cherubim; the face of a lion; the face of an ox; the face of a man; and the face of an eagle. The early church fathers applied these four symbols to the four Gospels as they reveal different perspectives of Jesus’ life.

 

The Lion represents Jesus, the King of the Jews. The kingship of Jesus is the theme of the book of Matthew.

  

The ox represents Jesus as the suffering servant, and this is typified in the book of Mark. Mark represents Jesus as the worker, serving mankind by preaching, teaching, healing, and delivering people from satanic bondage.

  

The human face represents Jesus the son of man and He is typified in the book of Luke. In Luke we have a display of the humanity of Jesus and He is represented as the Son of man. Details of his birth are given in Luke, showing that He was both God and man. Mary clothed Jesus with a body of flesh so that He could identify with our weakness, show His strength, and set us free.

 

The face of the eagle on the cherubim represents Jesus’ Divinity. The gospel of John reveals Jesus as the Son of God. John looks at Jesus from the aspect of his Divine nature. In John we see Jesus as the Living Word, pre-existing the body that Mary gave Him. We see Him as the Son from eternity past who came to give us light and to set us free!

 

In the genealogy of Matthew 1, four women are mentioned that had nothing to do with God’s covenant with Abraham. Tamar and Rahab are mentioned and they were both prostitutes. Ruth is mentioned, and she is from the cursed race of the Moabites. Bathsheba is mentioned, and of course she is the woman who committed adultery with David.

 

Why did God add these women to the genealogy? I believe that He wanted us to know that we are accepted into the family of God regardless of our background. Jesus was a friend of sinners, and when He cleanses from sin, it is so thorough that He is glad to include us in His family tree!

  

Neither race, gender, social place, nor political persuasion can keep us from the love and forgiveness that Jesus offers if we will simply humble ourselves. He will be to us everything we need. The face of the lion, the ox, the man, and the eagle all represent the fact that Jesus came as the king; not too mighty or proud to work; willing to identify with our humanness; yet being Sovereign Deity who reigns over all.

 

As member of His body, let’s identify with Jesus and see every person through His eyes. Every person is precious to Him. He love and forgives if we simply yield and accept His freely given grace and mercy. Let’s look beyond the flesh when we see others, and place on them the value that God places on them. For God so loved the world!

Jesus Christ - The Center Of Everything

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:15-20).

 

Jesus Christ is the center of all that God has and is on earth and universe wide. He is before all things and in Him all things consist and are held together. History is really His Story!

 

Jesus looms larger than any problem you face today. In relationship with Him is the answer to every difficulty. He is to us the wisdom of God; He gives us the ability to stand before the Father boldly without sin; He removes bad habits from our souls and bodies by His Spirit through the Word; He has made provision for the healing of our bodies when we are physically attacked; He has completely bought us back from Satan’s legal dominion and has given us authority over Satan and his demons in The Name!

 

Begin and end your day with the Son of God. He is the Alpha and Omega. He will give you wisdom to face every obligation as a conqueror if you’ll submit moment by moment to His Lordship. Confess your failures if you sin today. His blood will cleanse you and bring back into sweet fellowship with the Father. Being separated from Him brings weakness. Walking with Him brings strength and vitality to spirit, soul, and body.

Remember that the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ) lives inside of you. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is Mine; this is why I said, The Spirit will tell you whatever He receives from Me ( John 16:13-15- NLT).

 

Let Jesus be the center of all that you think, say, and do today. In Him we live and move and have our being!

Now Is The Time To Stand Up As A Christian And Be Willing To Be Persecuted For What You Believe!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world (1 John 4:1-3).

  

The spirit of antiChrist is already busy on earth today. It manifests as a spirit of religious tolerance and religious inclusiveness. The idea is that all religions lead to the same God. It is rapidly gaining ground in the social and political discourse and ideology in our nation. It already dominates Europe. And the elites of our nation and the educational institutions are now under its’ diabolical control.

 

In the period to come, believers in Jesus will be more and more persecuted, labeled as extremists and castigated form the public social dialogue as harboring a belief that segregates, divides, and demeans. The idea is that all religions are good and that we must not speak against any of them, nor should we seek to proselytize anyone from another system of belief.  

  

The idea of tolerance and inclusiveness is now part of the workplace, and is the norm in public schools and in colleges and universities. It’s the reason for the push for Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. It’s the reason that a hundred years of traditional Christmas songs and displays are being sidelines when the public refuses to protest.

  

We’re entering a dark period culminating in a severe worldwide test from Almighty God called popularly called the tribulation. And it’s coming fast; perhaps faster than we think. The only restraining force holding back this antiChrist surge and keeping it in check is the church!    

Question - are you personally willing to be persecuted for what you believe. Or are you one of the people that will kowtow to the spirit of the age. Are you willing to be vilified, marginalized, and ridiculed for your faith? If we are not, then we may well be consumed by the spirit of the age, and lose our witness.

I want to give you the promises of God for the persecuted.  These promises will guide you in the days to come and will give you boldness and strength to stand undeterred in confrontation with this antiChrist spirit as it works through people and institutions.

 

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matt 5:11-12).

Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets (Luke 6:22-23).

If you are censured and suffer abuse because you bear the name of Christ, blessed are you — happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy, and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition, because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or any sort of criminal, or as a mischief-maker (a meddler) in the affairs of others [infringing on their rights]. But if one is ill-treated and suffers as a Christian which he is contemptuously called, let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is deemed worthy to suffer in this name (1 Peter 4:14-16 - Amplified).

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12).

Give Thanks!

Before an individual or a nation goes astray, they lose their thankful heart. Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened (Romans 1:21).

  

The early settlers here in America were thankful for the provision God had provided after their arrival and the harsh winter that ensued. They held a feast together and gave thanks for the blessings of God.

  

In 1789 George Washington proclaimed a day of thanks for God’s blessing and favor on our nation. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln also signed a Thanksgiving proclamation. Then in 1941 the US Congress passed a law declaring the fourth Thursday of November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

 

Let’s take some time today to give thanks to our Father for His provision of life and resources. It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves. Don’t take for granted the blessings of friends and family, of food and shelter, and of the freedom and liberty that you enjoy.

  

Remember today those who have had life changes; a divorce or a death in the family. Holidays bring stress to many. Ask the Father to help them and minister to them.

 I’ll leave you today with scripture concerning giving of thanks:

  

When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you (Deuteronomy 8:10). It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High (Psalm 92:1). Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:4). Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy (Psalm 107:1-2). Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:20).

  

Susan and I pray that the Father will continue to reveal Himself to you, and to provide for your every need. Happy Thanksgiving!

Having The Right Attitude In The Hard Place Makes All The Difference!

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (James 1:2).

If we have the right attitude, then every challenge and hardship that comes our way can be an opportunity to become a stronger believer. Satan often brings tests and challenges into our lives to defeat us. He has yet to learn that the very thing he uses to defeat us is the very thing that enables our spiritual muscles to become strong!

 

When we resist the pressure of difficult circumstance with the Word, we grow a bit spiritually. When we choose to keep our chin up when things “go south,” we’re choosing to allow our spirit to override our fleshly responses, and we’re gaining ground in the spirit.

 

If you’re going through a hard time and you feel stuck, as though there’s no way out, look up! Expect the Father to make a way for you! Instead of whining and complaining about how hard it is, look up to the Father and give thanks for His goodness and expect Him to deliver you.

Your attitude in a test shows where your focus is! Don’t look the things seen and felt, look at the Word and God’s promises to deliver and help! While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

He’s promised to never leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5); to be with us in trouble (Psalm 91:15); to be our very present help (Psalm 46:1); that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37); and to deliver us from difficulty (Psalm 37: 39-40).

While on top of a mountain in Ethiopia years ago, in the midst of pelting rain, slogging uphill in mud, I thought about the importance of my attitude. I could not change the circumstance I was in. I had to go through it. So I just determined to use the experience as a spiritual stepping stone, and began to praise God for His goodness in my life, and for helping me get through this. It made the two and a half mile trek through the mud, rain, and cold much shorter!

Whatever your rainstorm is today, expect God to intervene, and expect His resources to make the difference. He will never abandon you. You are sheltered by His love, His grace, His ability, His all-knowing, His peace, and by His wisdom. Expect God’s best today. regardless of the storm.

 

Make sure your attitude points you to the Father and His Word during the challenges of today! If you do, tonight you’ll be stronger!