Thursday, September 2, 2010

It's Time to Pray!

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

Persistent prayer is a necessity of our day. With the world rapidly approaching the time we call the tribulation period, and with the souls of men at stake, we must take our prayer responsibility.

With sin, crime, and lawlessness abounding, it should drive us to our knees. Realize that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the forces of the enemy seeking to push back any advancement of the kingdom of God on earth!

Prayer in the form of intercession in other tongues is a powerful weapon in the hands of a believer. That’s the reason the enemy seeks to keep us busy; so we’ll think that we just don’t have time to pray. And if we push away the prayer burden, the enemy wins and he knows that. Begin now to see busyness that intrudes into your prayer time as the enemy seeking to get you to lay your weapons down!

We have been delivered from Satan’s authority, and have been given authority over him by the Lord Jesus. Begin today to take your authority and pray for our national leaders, from the president right on down to local government. Pray that godly men and women would fill these offices. Pray for corruption to be rooted out of government, and pray for the saints of God to have boldness to rise up and take a stand against lawlessness. Pray that conviction of sin would rise in the hearts of men and women, and that the ministry of reconciliation would come to the forefront in the body of Christ; each believer receiving boldness to share their faith in the Son of God with others.

This is an in your face day and we need to do some bold praying if we’re going to usher in the move of God that will bring change! Let’s pray and ask for a revival in our land. That means a rise of conviction and repentance; it means us laying down our wishes and plans for a higher purpose, the kingdom of God.

Make a dedication today to spend a minimum of an hour a day before the throne of God. Pray with your understanding. Pray with your spirit. Believe God to do the impossible. The kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent take it by force!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Healing Word

He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions (Psalm 107:20).

The will of God is healing and health. It’s important to take some time daily and feed on the word to build up your faith in the Father for healing. Faith comes by hearing the Word over and over again and then practicing it. I woke up last night and spent time meditating on the healing word. Read the following scriptures and then take some time to meditate them. Let them revolve slowly over and over in your mind. This is God’s medicine. Allow it to do its healing work in you!

And said, If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you (Exodus 15:26). So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you (Exodus 23:25). And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you (Deuteronomy 7:15). 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 your diseases (Psalm 103:1-3). He also brought them out with silver and gold, and there was none feeble among His tribes (Psalm 105:37). My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:20-22). He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:3-5). That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses (Matthew 8:17). Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness — by whose stripes you were healed (1 Peter 2:24). How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Gap Theory

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:1-2).

I was reminded of the gap theory while reading Genesis 1 this morning. If you have a Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible, you can read about it in his notes on Genesis. Kenneth Hagin mentions it a few times in his writings as well. When I heard this theory years ago, it made sense and answered many questions for me. To repeat, it’s a theory, not a doctrine. That means it could have been this way, but there’s not enough proof from scripture to call it a doctrine. So I submit these thoughts in a non-dogmatic way.

Here’s the theory. There’s a gap between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. Sometime in eternity past, God created the heavens and earth. But the earth became without form and void, and the light of the sun became hindered from giving light to the earth. Between the two verses something happened that created chaos on earth.

Here’s what many believe about the gap after examining the fall of Lucifer and other passages such as Ezekiel 28:11-19; Jeremiah 4: 23-24; Isaiah 14: 12-14; and 2 Peter 3: 5-7. God created the earth in eternity past. It could have been tens of thousands or millions of years ago. He also created a race of beings that inhabited the earth at that time. In this social order, the dinosaurs were on earth along with this man-like creature. Dake calls this race of beings pre-adamites, because they were created before Adam. How long they existed, no one knows.

When Lucifer was kicked out of heaven due to rebellion to God, he fell to the earth, and corrupted it. This race of beings was corrupted, and a flood destroyed the whole social order of the time, including the dinosaurs and other strange creature that existed of which we have fossil remains. After this the ice age emerged as well.

As the theory goes, God then recreated the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1:3 through the rest of the chapter. Satan’s rebellion caused chaos on the planet, and God took what was here, brought order, and then created mankind as a new race of beings.

To many, this may seem far fetched! But if you examine the Hebrew words carefully in the above mentioned passages, there is a bit of light here. Not enough to make a doctrine, but enough to say, it could have been that way.

For me, the theory explains the fossils we find that are so unlike our current social order of creation; it explains why the earth could be older than 6000 years. It explains demon spirits, which many believe are the spirits of this pre-adamite race that was destroyed when the earth became chaotic after God had to judge it and destroy it when Lucifer fell.

Another interesting book to read is Kenneth Hagin’s The Triumphant Church. He mentions the Gap Theory there with some detail. Another prolific author that explains this view is Gordon Lindsay, founder of Christ for the Nations Bible school in Texas.

There’s so much that we don’t know. But what we do know is that the Father loves us so much that He spent a lot of time creating this world to be a place where life can thrive. He’s coming back to lift the curse from it one day, and we’ll live with Him for eternity here in glorified bodies. That’s enough to make me shout!

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Book of Remembrance

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. They shall be Mine, says the LORD of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him (Malachi 3:16-17).

It’s a special thing to the Father for us to think about Him, to talk about Him, and for us to occupy our minds with thoughts of Him. He takes notice when we make Him the object of life’s pursuit. He has a book where He records the times we spend with our focus on Him!

In the New Testament we’re admonished to let the Word dwell in us richly. Jesus encouraged us to allow the Word to abide in us. The Greek word for abide is meno and it means to settle down in, to remain, or to make a home with. The idea is that the word finds a permanent home in us. The Word is our link with the Father as we walk through life.

Jesus told the disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit when He left the earth to go to heaven. He called the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth. You see, the Holy Spirit is attracted to the Word in us! Really, we are no more filled with the Spirit than we are filled with the Word! Taking time each day to absorb the Word is also taking time to allow the Holy Spirit full reign in us. When we choose to obey the Word, we’re choosing to yield to the Holy Spirit.

Never neglect the Word. The Word is precious to God. The Word is precious to the Holy Spirit. The Word is our connection with heaven. Occupy yourself with the things of the Word today. If you do, you’ll become a favorite with the Father. He longs for you to want Him!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

The High Praises of God

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD (Psalm 149:6-9).

In the verse above, notice that offered praise becomes a double edged sword in the realm of the spirit. The plans of those opposing the Word and the purposes of the kingdom of God are hindered. The binding of their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron refers to the demonic forces In the unseen realm. Praise stops them in their tracks!

God inhabits praise! There is a manifestation of His kingdom power where praise is offered. The principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, the wicked spirits in the heavenlies mentioned in Ephesians 6:12 are hindered in their exploits of stealing, killing and destroying when saints begin to praise!

The children of Israel noticed that when they put the tribe of Judah in the front lines of battle that the fight was easier and they won! Paul and Silas’ prison chains fell off during an episode of praise! Don’t take this lightly, it works!

Take up praise as a weapon of spiritual warfare today. When doubt, fear, discouragement, depression, sickness, or lack attacks your life, get out the weapon of praise!

Back in 1985, I was attacked with terrible flu symptoms. Everything hurt! I called my secretary and cancelled my appointments for the day. I was listening to scriptures on healing as I lay in bed, and the Lord spoke so clearly to me. If you believe you’re healed, get up and act like it! I knew He was right, and got up and began to walk around my bedroom with my hands lifted praising God for my healing. For about ten minutes I ached and hurt and praised! Then, just like a bird flying away, every flu symptom disappeared! I was totally healed.

Right in the middle of your life circumstances today begin to offer the sacrifice of praise. You’ll find God kingdom manifesting in your life and you’ll find that the enemy will back up! Praise is an awesome weapon!

Friday, August 27, 2010

The Soldier, the Athlete, and the Farmer

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things (2 Timothy 2:4-7).

The Apostle Paul uses analogies here from familiar endeavors to help us understand how we should live before God. We are admonished here to fight like a soldier, to prepare like an athlete, and to work like a farmer.

When a soldier signs up to serve in the armed forces, he makes a serious dedication of his life. Boot camp prepares him for the rigors of the battle field. Then he goes through extensive training so that he will be thoroughly prepared to win in battle. From the time the soldier gets up until he goes to bed, his life has been dedicated to prepare for battle. He must not be slack or else it may cost him his life in the day of battle. He must be diligent.

An athlete is a person of preparation. Constantly looking at the goal of winning the competition, he streamlines his life. He carefully watches what he eats so that his body receives maximum nourishment. He tones his muscles so that they work at maximum efficiency. He conditions himself with long hours of exertion to be able to endure the toughest competition. His focus is on being his best so that he can win the prize. His life is a life of discipline. One day of slackness could cost him the trophy.

A farmer is a man of diligence. He’s up before sunrise preparing for the day. His one goal is the harvest. Day after day, he plants the seed, removes the weeds that steal needed nourishment from the soil, and watches over his crops. The farmer must remain diligent with his fields. Laziness will diminish the return on his investment. He must work hard every day!

If the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer can give their best for a natural cause, how much more should we give our best for the kingdom of God. The rewards for their exertion are temporary. The rewards for diligence in spiritual things are eternal! In fact, what we do now determines our place and rewards in heaven. Let’s give the Father our best today. Let’s fight like a soldier, prepare like an athlete, and work like a farmer!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Give Your Best

It’s time for us in the body of Christ to fine tune ourselves and get ready to be the best we can be for God! The world situation is changing rapidly and all signs point towards the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ.

I believe that as calamity and disasters increase, many will turn to the Lord and be opened to receive ministry. Here are some things that we can do to be ready.

First, commit to an attitude of excellence in all that you do. Colossians 3: 23-24 reads, And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Give everything you do the best you have; on your job and also in your church life. If you volunteer in an area of ministry, give it your best. Be on time to events! Do what you do as if Jesus were your boss. Work as unto Him. Ephesians 6:6-8 reads, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

Second, think unity. There is strength when we unify with fellow believers. The power of the early church was in their being in one accord. How we treat fellow believers is how we treat Jesus Himself. An atmosphere of unity is a breeding ground for the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself. Be quick to forgive and quick to love. Believe the best of others.

Third, ask the Father to manifest spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 14:1(NIV) reads,
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. Ask the Father to use you in spiritual gifts. In church services, ask the Father for prophecy, diver kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues to manifest. Be open for Him to use you if He so chooses.

In your daily life, walk in love and ask the Father to make you a blessing to others. He may choose to manifest the Word of Knowledge or Gifts of Healings through you. Remain conscious throughout your day that He wants to use you.

When we gather in church meetings, we actually become collectively a temple of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we individually have Him living in us, but there is a special manifestation of the presence of God among us when we gather together. The depth of the manifestation is determined by our desire for Him. So be on time to your local church services. Show by your actions that you want the best He has and that you want others to receive. Arriving late to a church service on purpose is really showing disrespect to the Father and a lack of desire for Him to give His best. And being late signals others who may be visiting (and that need the Lord) that we really aren’t all that committed to what we believe!

These are important days for the kingdom of God. Jesus is coming soon. So many need ministry. Let’s go the extra mile in all we do. It’s time for the Father to show Himself strongly through us.