The simple act of choosing love will cause things to change!

Agape love is our greatest need. What is it? Agape love, in the Bible, is love that comes from
God. God's love isn't sentimental; it's part of His character. God loves from an outpouring of who
He is. As 1 John 4:8 states, “God is love [agapos],” meaning He is the source of agape love.

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born
of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.

For, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Not because. There was no
because! He didn’t love us because. There was nothing there to love. There was no reason.
We were not able to give God a reason to love us! He couldn’t help it! He still can’t help loving
us because He is love! It does not mean that He approves of our sins or whatever we do with
our life, it just means that He loves us because He is love! Saint or sinner, God loves us because
He is love! When we repent of our sins and truly receive Him, we receive His love and are
impacted and changed by His love. If we do not repent of our sins and receive Him, we are not
impacted and changed by His love! But He still love us! His love transforms us to who we
should be!

God is not changed by our behavior. God is not changed by our hatred, bitterness, or crimes.
God does not change, He can’t change, He is God and He is always the same! God loved us
unconditionally. It is the will of God that we love each other with His kind of love!

Mark 10:17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and
asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that
is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not
steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ 20 And
he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth. 21 Then
Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell
whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take
up the cross, and follow Me. 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he
had great possessions.

This story is about money and prestige, but it is also about the love of Jesus Christ! The fellow
wanted eternal life, but he wanted it his way. He loved his money more than he loved Christ.
That will never work with God. We don’t love money; we steward money that has been
entrusted to us. Jesus knew that his heart was not right, but He still loved him. Christ is Love!
Jesus loved him, but He let him go his way. Jesus let the man do his own thing. Jesus lets us
do our own thing. When we do as we desire, we do it without His favor on that particular thing.
Jesus never changed anything. Jesus didn’t change and His requirements didn’t change! GOD
IS LOVE!

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of
these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 does not mean that faith and hope is less important, it means that faith
and hope are not effective without love. Jesus is our blessed hope, and we also live by His faith,
but if you take away love, we have removed the Divine virtue, spirit and passion of faith and
hope.

It is the will of God that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that we can be trust with Kingdom responsibilities and kingdom resources. Many people want kingdom resources but not kingdom responsibilities.  Sometimes we seek after the things instead of the kingdom.  We are told to seek the kingdom and these other things will be added to us. Kingdom responsibilities is empowerment to impact lives with God’s word and power!  Many people are not kingdom empowered because they are handicapped by self-imposed immaturity.  Self-imposed immaturity is a lack of discipline to apply the word of God to our lives.

I want to share a principle and a promise with you that should change your life and existence.  It will take the wisdom of God to receive this and to understand this.  Your human mind does not have the ability to comprehend patience having it’s perfect work.  This is not meant to offend anyone, but if our human mind had the ability to comprehend it, all of us would have done so and moved on to perfect, complete and lacking nothing!  It will take God’s wisdom!

Patience: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Forbearance, tolerance, restraint, self-restraint
Wisdom having it’s perfect work in us is like a violinist or a guitarist fine tuning their instrument to perfection for ultimate performance.  Tighter, tighter, to the left, to the right, this string, next string!  Patience fine tunes us to perfection and gives us the ability to wait on God and not be manipulated by our emotions or by circumstances.  Our waiting on God should be filled with joy and anticipation!

Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become [a]sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Patience having its perfect work is the principle. Perfect (mature) complete, lacking nothing is the promise.  The principle must be obeyed before the promise can be fulfilled!  Don’t get discouraged because God gives us leaders who are examples of faith and patience.  You had better be sure you are following the right leader!  Your leaders should be kind, loving, patient, faith filled and walking out the promises of God!

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Patience keeps us calm & settled to wait for faith to operate and manifest its provisions! While waiting we believe with our heart and confess with our mouth God’s promises!

True faith is not just believing for the answer, true faith becomes the answer!  Faith is my healing!  Faith is my victory!  Faith is my provisions!  Faith is my substance and evidence!  I always confess what my faith has become!  Your confession will become your possession!  Hold fast to your confession!  Never change your confession!  Don’t doubt!  Doubt is double mindedness. Hold fast and confess what your faith has become! Be patient until manifestation occurs!  

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
 
DEFINITION OF A DOUBLE MINDED
Double mindedness means to exist with divided loyalties and allegiances.  It is one mind, one soul swayed by doubt or uncertainty. One moment you believe God and the next moment you don’t, today you want to be married and the next day you don’t.  Today you want to be a part of your local church and tomorrow you don’t because you were swayed by someone.  That is inconsistency and instability.  You accomplish nothing that way!    

A person’s mental state of being can determine their success or their failure.  A double mind is a detriment to our marriage, family, business, success, healing or deliverance.

Single mindedness is a made-up mind that has been renewed by the word and Spirit of God. Singleness of mind is one that has been delivered from vain imaginations.  

It takes the word and wisdom of God to establish a single mind. The wisdom of God reveals to us why it is important to count it all joy when we fall into various trials.  We need His wisdom! Ask for His wisdom in faith without doubting or wavering and it shall be given to you! When rejoicing, patience, wisdom and faith has been established in us, that trial will cease!  You have passed the test!  

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;
8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
 
Verse 2. Joy in trials is contrary to our human nature but counting it all joy during trials is God’s will for all His children.  Our human nature naturally wants to get upset or angry and complain when trials come.  As I said, that is the human side of us.  We cannot afford to forget that there is Divine, born again, supernatural nature in us also.  A soft “yes Lord” when things are not going well releases the grace of God.  Joy in trials is a sign of trust in God and I really believe He waits for us to respond in joy so that He may infuse us with His grace to overcome whatever it may be.  I did not say it would be easy, I said it is the will of God to respond biblically to obtain your desired results.  Complaining in trials is a sign of self-sufficiency and prolongs the trial.
 
Verse 3. Every believer is or should be a child of faith.  We are the just, therefore we live by faith.  Trials come to test our faith, not just our emotions.  As we pass the faith test, patience is produced in us.  Question is, are we in faith?  That question must be answered by each of us individually.  Each of us know if we are standing in faith.  We know by the contents of our heart and the confession of our mouth.  The faith of God does not stumble or faint during trials, faith stands!  The ones who stand in faith during trials will consistently confess the word of God.  When we stand firm in faith during trials, it produces patience.  Developing patience in our heart is a must for every believer.  The gateway to patience is through trials and tribulations. Don’t waste your trials!  Don’t be afraid of trials, just stay in faith and in confession of the word of God.  The process of developing patience is as old as God is and is tried and true. He brings us through.  Patience having its perfect work in us produces maturity! Every child of God must understand the importance of developing patience.  Patience is a fruit of the Spirit and without it we are lacking.  Let’s be clear about this, a lack of patience has caused many people to quit or remain immature!  Please remember, faith and patience are inseparable companions!  Stand in faith and let patience have its perfect work that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing!
 
Verse 4. Let patience work perfectly in you (be quiet-control your tongue - be still- listen-control your emotions and thoughts).  Patience fine tunes us for the Lord’s use.  While being patient, faith becomes the substance and the evidence of our needs.  Faith does not need impatience to hinder its process of believing and confessing the promises!  In other words, faith and patience working together, matures us in Christ, completes us in Christ and by the two working together every need is met, and we lack nothing!  Through faith and patience, we inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12).  A lack of patience has disrupted many peoples faith and left them in lack of health, peace, joy, anointing and provisions!
 
Verse 5. No-one needs to lack wisdom.  Wisdom is a gift from God for the asking.  Just ask for it and believe.  God’s wisdom gives us the ability to understand how important it is to operate in faith and patience!  Don’t make it rocket science! It is simple!  Ask Holy Spirit for His wisdom and believe He has given it to you!  Wisdom, faith, and patience provides consistency and stability! We are talking about supernatural wisdom from Jehovah Lord God Almighty! Man’s natural wisdom does not make the connection between faith and patience. God’s wisdom opens the eyes of our understanding that we may perceive His will for us!
 
Verse 6. Ask in faith!  Believe that He heard and answered you!  No doubting!  No doubting!  No doubting!  Ask God for His wisdom.  By faith receive it!  Believe it!  Confess with your mouth that you received His wisdom.  It is important to receive it, believe it and confess it!  Doubting that we have received of God what we have asked for is double mindedness and reveals inconsistency and instability. Doubt is double mindedness and is compared to the waves in the sea, driven and tossed by the winds.  Think about that! He who doubts is like a wave in the sea! Did you ever see a wave in the sea?  He who doubts is driven and tossed by the winds of circumstances, the prince of the power of the air and by vain imaginations.  That is why we need the wisdom of God.  God’s wisdom gives us understanding, settles us down and give us stability and consistency.
 
Verse 7. Let not that man suppose: (assume or expect). That is huge!  No child of God can afford to live in doubt and unbelief!  Doubt derails expectancy. Asking for God’s wisdom and then doubting God has given us His wisdom is a serious matter!  This kind of behavior reveals double mindedness, inconsistency, and instability!  Doubting God’s ability is an insult to His integrity and righteousness.  It is better not to ask than to ask and doubt that He will perform what He has spoken. God does not reward double mindedness, He rewards faith, consistency, and stability!  I believe that these set of scriptures have revealed why so many of our prayers are not answered.
 
Verse 8. A double minded person is unstable, inconsistent, lacks faith, lacks patience and is consistently in a crisis.  Double mindedness is one mind changing constantly depending on circumstances.  A double mind is driven and tossed by winds of adversity, indifferences, the prince of the power of the air and by vain imaginations.  That person is unstable in all their ways.  I have seen this kind of behavior influence and control entire families.  We can change our mental state of being as we cast down vain imaginations and every opposition to the will of God!  

Doubts, vain thoughts, and imaginations must be dealt with in authority, in prayer.  Our prayers must be direct and intentional.  We must cast down all opposition to the known will of God that seeks to control our minds.  After casting down all opposition we must renew our minds by meditating and studying the word of God.  God’s word will establish the mind of Christ in us.
 
Please study the scriptures below.
 
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
 
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

The Lord has given us His immutable word to meditate on for mind renewal and heart transformation.  It takes obedience and discipline to apply the word of God to our lives. Hearing the word only is not sufficient. This word must get in our heart and produce faith.  Once faith has come, we will confession what faith has become in us. As we confess what faith has become in us, we will witness great manifestations. The manifestation we are seeking here is a sound mind.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Satan came to Jesus with a flood of temptations.  But Jesus answered each temptation!  It is important to answer all opposition, depression, sickness, and disease, any lack or want.  It is important to answer loneliness, sadness, or loss.  Just as Jesus did, we must answer in authority with the word of God!  God’s word is powerful!

When the tempter comes with a flood to overwhelm us, we must respond with the word of God immediately!  Give no room to the devil!

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

God’s living word is the standard to defeat the enemy. When the flood comes, immediately speak the word!  There is a big fuss about where the comma should be, but it doesn’t matter where the comma is located! God’s rhema word is greater than satan’s flood of lies, deceptions and manipulations!   Speak the WORD!

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

God’s word is life, and it is powerful! We must get it off the pages of the Bible, into our hearts and out of our mouth!  With the heart we believe, with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (deliverance or redemption – Romans 10:10).

God’s word is greater than the flood of trials, sickness, opposition, poverty, lack, depression, or loneliness!  God’s word is the sword of the Spirit!  Speak it! Continue to speak the word of God until change or deliverance manifest!

God’s powerful, living word is His standard in us!  When we speak God’s word, the floods of oppositions must crumble!

I dreamed about this last night (9-3-21).  I woke up this morning and it was still with me.  I got up and spent time in the word and prayer and it still stayed with me.  
 
I decided to share it. Sorry it is a little long.
 
Church splits don't just happen, they are planned. There is always someone leading the split. The person leading the split knows better than to call it a split. It has to have a nicer spin to it than that. Most people who become a part of a church split don't realize the damage they have done until it has happened. 
 
I have witnessed many church splits through the years. 
 
I have seen many people lose their way because of following someone who has manipulated them into leaving the place where Holy Spirit has planted them. Of course, there are those who survive and stick with the splitter through years of ups and downs. 
 
Church splits don't work! Many will flourish for a season, but when the excitement and the dust settle and the reality of a new church responsibilities set in, it's an altogether different story. 
 
The one leading the split is usually a fast talker, is an eloquent speaker, is subtly arrogance, is subtly prideful, is opinionated about most things, always has another plan, has an answer for everything, attracts people to themselves, must be the center of attraction and always has a way of networking outside of the local assembly. 
 
The splitter has specific people they prey upon the immature, the needy, those who have personal, family, or financial issues.  They also test the waters of praise and worship leaders, musicians, the gullible and those who may be disgruntled at leadership for non-issue reasons.  These splitters are easy to spot. They gather the same people at church around them every week. 
 
If a person is called to start a local church, pray it out first. Go after the sinner! Go to the streets, the clubs, the bars! 
 
Holy Spirit would never lead someone to cause confusion and division at one local assembly to establish another local assembly. 
 
Church splitters are very cunning, crafty people! Be led by Holy Spirit and not the divisive, cunning, and crafty words of a self-promoting individual! 
 
There are always consequences to splitting a local church. 
 
PEACE! 
 
Ephesians 4:14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Keys symbolize power and authority.

Keys forbid & Keys permit.   Keys lock & Keys unlock.

Did you ever lose your keys?  If so, you couldn't get into your house, your car, your office, your safe or other places.  Lost keys leaves us in a state of helplessness.  Lost keys places us at the mercy of circumstances, situations or other people.  After we have misplaced or lost our keys, suddenly we realize how important they were.

Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

As a born again believer in Jesus Christ, have you lost, misplaced or overlooked your keys to the Kingdom of God?  Are you even aware that kingdom keys are available to you?  Does it seem as though you are locked out of realms that should be open to you?

As a citizen of the kingdom of God, know that with God all things are possible!  As you spend time with the Lord, He will reveal to you and impart to you kingdom keys.  As you use them these kingdom keys will forbid/bind different circumstances of opposition against you.  

These kingdom keys will unlock/open to you realms of Holy Spirit anointing, power, deliverance, peace, joy, wisdom, wealth, freedom, guidance, miracles and healing, blessings, prosperity, ministry opportunities and much more!  

Faithfulness and consistency in serving and seeking the Lord is important to kingdom keys being revealed in your spirit.  

Kingdom keys are authoritative, powerful and available to you!

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Let's take a look at these verses of scripture.

Verse 13: Jesus questioned His disciples, who do people say that I am?   Jesus knew what people were saying, but He wanted His disciples to understand how and who was influencing them.  We cannot allow just anyone to speak into our lives and influence us.  We must be His disciples and influenced by those He has place over us in the Lord.  We must submit ourselves and be taught by mature, seasoned leaders.  Just being saved is not enough.  After being saved, we must surrender and submit ourselves to be taught and made disciples.  There are not many true disciples of Christ around these days!  Very few people are willing to be submitted to leadership and made a disciple.  

To a large extent there are a lot of prideful, arrogant young believers who have heard a couple teachings on television and think they know everything.  Many of these young believers spend time with everyone except Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit!  How sad, flesh and blood has become more important than spending time with God!  That my friend is a modern day tragedy!  What are humans really saying about Jesus?
 
Verse 14: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the other prophets.  All of their human comparisons were wrong and far from the truth!  Many people know too much about non-essentials and things too little about essential thing!  They knew stuff about the prophets and preachers, but very little about Jesus Christ!  Many of us know the facts about a human, but very little about Jesus! Jesus Christ must once and for all be our focus!  Study Jesus!
 
Verse 15: They were disciples of Jesus Christ.  He was teaching and training them.  Were they focused?  Were they listening?  Were they learning? Were they applying His words to their lives?  So He asked them a question.  Who do you say I am?  What do you know about Me?  What is your assessment of Me?  I can almost hear the silence of those who compared Him to mere flesh and blood!
 
Verse 16: One man spoke up! Peter! you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God! Peter did not see Him only as the son of man, he saw Him as Messiah, Savior, the anointed one, Son of God!  Only one man (Peter) knew Him!  That is why the enemy desired to sift Peter as wheat.  Peter knew Him as Jesus Christ and the devil did not want Peter to reveal Jesus Christ to others!
 
Verse 17: Jesus called Peter blessed! Why?  Because he knew Jesus Christ the Messiah, the Son of God!  Peter did not depend on human flesh only, He looked beyond humanity, the natural and into the supernatural!  Seek father and He will reveal His Son Jesus Christ!  Know Jesus! Peter’s revelation came from the throne room of heaven.  Peter was focused, listening, learning and applying!  Peter set his affection on things above and walked right into the presence of Father God! Father God revealed Jesus Christ to Peter!  

When Jesus Christ asked, who do you say that I the son of man am, immediately Peter knew! Peter referred to Him as Father God had revealed Him!  Peter saw Him as more than son of man.  Peter saw Him as the Messiah, the son of God!  Get this: Peter knew Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Son of God before Pentecost, before Holy Spirit came to earth on that glorious day! That’s powerful! Time spent in the presence of God is not wasted!  
 
Verse 18: You are Peter!  Jesus revealed to Peter the nature of his name. Peter means rock.  On the foundation of that revelation (revelation of Christ) the church is built.  The church is not built on Peter!  The church is built on Christ the solid Rock!  We grow as get the revelation of Jesus Christ!  We are the church of Jesus Christ!  Our lives are hidden with Christ in God!  When we really KNOW JESUS CHRIST, we may get shaken and the powers of hell may come against us as God’s people but God’s church will never be conquered!  Know Father, Know Jesus Know Holy Spirit!  Worship Jesus! Live in Jesus!  Be strong in His might!
 
Verse 19: Knowing Jesus Christ is essential!  When we know Him and is known of Him, we are positioned to be trusted by Him!  He gives us keys (access) to His Kingdom!  We don’t just give the keys of your house to everyone!  We entrust our keys to those we know and trust!  The keys of the Kingdom are available to those who have pressed in and have a relationship with Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit!
 
Binding and loosening must be done by the believer here on the earth.  Binding and loosing are keys.  These keys place us in positions of authority.  We use these keys to permit or to forbid!  We use these keys to lock and to open!  Keys unlock doors of opportunity for us, but they also lock doors against whatever opposes us!  Many things have been permitted that should have been forbidden!   Heaven is waiting on us to make our move!  Binding and loosing are the keys that are made available to us as citizens of the kingdom. There are keys healing, peace, joy, prosperity, a fresh anointing, ministry opportunity. Get heaven’s keys!  

Amos 6:1
Woe to those who are at ease in Zion and to those on the mountain of Samaria who are careless and feel secure, the notable men of the chief [because chosen by God] of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!

We have finally approached the time in history that the church of the Living Christ must wake up and understand that our at ease, casual, luke-warm, lifeless walk with the Lord is no longer working, not winning crucial battles and is therefore no longer relevant or acceptable.  
The entire earth has been shaken and Zion (“God’s utopia" or "holy place in the earth) is still asleep!  This scripture is relevant for the days we live in:

Ephesians 5:14
Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give you light.
 
Isaiah 66:8 (KJV) Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

Isaiah 66:8 (NKJV) Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
 
Isaiah 66:8 (NIV) Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.

TRAVAIL:
In Hebrew: Work: especially of a painful or laborious nature: toil: a physical or mental exertion or piece of work: task, effort: agony.

If we are honest about it, we would admit that we have lost many battles that we should have won.  We have cast aside a great privilege that requires obedience, discipline and sacrifice.  That great privilege was given to us by Christ and if exercised, we would walk in amazing victories! That privilege is prayer, intercession and travail in the throne room and courts of the Almighty! Where there is prayer, there is access to God’s power!    

The believer must do battle in the spirit, in passionate prayer using the word of God as the sword of the spirit. From the heart and with authority, we must speak the word of God, sing the word of God, decree the word of God and remind the Lord that He promised to perform His word!  We have been given the privilege of praying and finding the Lord in the Spirit.  Yes, it is a seeking in prayer, travailing, finding God and a birthing experience!    
 
Travail takes us into the heart of Father God where we get lost (or found) in His presence and impregnated with His life, His faith, His health, His wisdom, His peace, His joy, and every one of His provision imaginationable!  Set aside three hours and wade into His presence expecting His mighty Spirit to birth Himself in you as never before.  It will be different but it will be God and your life and existence will never be the same!

Often, we must travail before we can prevail.

Psalm 5:2
Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray.

David is saying, “my God, do something!”

As in pregnancy, there is travail before the blessing. The same holds true in prayer: We must persevere, as some strongholds and many blessings are only wrought through gut-wrenching prayer. I believe that travailing prayer is more effective than a lifeless prayer.  It is when the whole heart is gripped with the passion of prayer that the life-giving fire descends and heaven acts on our behalf. When travailing prayer becomes our priority, our whole life is energized.  Again, you may have to travail before you prevail.

2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
 
Some of the greatest problems in the church community right now is hurt and offenses.  He hurt me, she hurt me, they hurt me, the church hurt me.  It is almost as though we are glorifying our hurt!   All of us have been hurt at some point in life! This is not a perfect world with all perfect people in it, therefore people will say and do hurtful things sometimes. Much of it is unintentional. 
 
We cannot allow ourselves to be led by our hurt!  Many people are making decisions based on hurt!  That is a huge mistake!  You will make the wrong decision if you are doing so based on hurt.  Hurt is very real but can be manipulating, deceptive emotions.  If you get hurt, you should not make any swift decisions.  If you do, more than likely they will be wrong decisions.  God will not be glorified by us making decisions that are not spirit led. 
Church splits, family splits, marriage splits, friendship splits! All because someone is hurt. Is the hurt real? Yes, it's real.
 
Hurt is an acknowledgement in our minds, emotions and flesh that something is going on contrary to our liking.  Whomever is causing the hurt may be doing so intentionally or unintentionally.  One thing is for sure, we don’t like it!  At that point we have a decision to make.  We can regard/know them according to the flesh or according to the spirit.  If we regard them only according to the flesh there will be a negative response.  If we regard/know them according to the spirit our actions will be different.  The person may still be wrong, but our response to their wrong will be positive. 
 
Just because we respond in a positive manner it does not mean that the person is right, it just means that we have handled our mind, emotions and flesh in the proper manner!  And, from now on we refuse to be lured into a fleshy state of mind. 
 
Know people after the spirit that is within you and not after the flesh they are operating out of!  When we respond to people after the spirit, grace is imparted to overcome the hurt.  When we respond after the flesh, things get messy between all parties involved.      
 
We must forgive and pray for those who hurt us. We must walk in the Spirit and spend time in the word of God!  Also, (this is very important) choose your company wisely! 
 
CONSIDER JESUS!  Jesus was crucified!
Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

Luke 2:49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”

Ephesians 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

1 Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Jesus understood His kingdom responsibilities.  He had to be about His Father’s kingdom business.  Marriage is a business.  Marriage is kingdom business.  It is business because it represents the relationship between Christ and His church.

If I believed that people understood love and the fact that love is respect and responsibility, I could embrace the “love conquers all” theme in marriage.  After having surveyed the landscape of hundreds of marriages, I have concluded that few people, even in Christianity understand true love. What many people are calling love is nothing more than physical attraction. To a large extent true love has been lost in marriages.

Physical attraction is great, but it won't pay the rent!

Please don't tell your spouse how much you love them, yet you won't work. Don't talk about how much you love someone while they are sitting in the dark, with no heat, no food, house is filthy, dishes are stacked up and you have to hide the car from the bank every night.

Please don't complement someone else's spouse about how good they look and then criticize your own spouse about their looks. Many marriages have split as a result of the aforementioned.

Therefore, I have momentarily put aside the romantic notion that “so called” love conquers all in many marriage.

I have come to conclude that love (respect and responsibility) is the foundation of marriage, but I have also concluded that marriage is a business.  It is the Lord’s business!  Marriage was and is God’s idea!

The husband and wife are partners in the business of marriage.

Therefore, I have some suggestions before you stand at the altar and say “I DO.“

If you are a Christian, find out if the person is truly a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.  Carrying a bible, showing up at a Church service, and speaking in tongues does not constitute being a Christian. Christians are people with Godly character and Christ like integrity.  Much of what we label Christianity today is not in the bible.

Research the person's family history to know how the individual has been influenced.  Is there a family history of alcohol, drugs abuse or violence? Do they have an education?  Their level of education will determine their place of employment and their salary scale.  Have they been consistently employed?  Anyone who marries a person who won't work is asking for a life filled with anger, bitterness, stress, frustration and lack.

I have heard people say, we will cross that bridge when we get to it!  Listen to me carefully, if you are in a relationship with someone who is unemployed and refuses to work, dump them!  Don't cross the marriage bridge with them. Get out of the relationship.  Burned that bridge!  Never be tempted to cross it!    

Ask lots of questions!

Look at their GPS or road map to see what stops have been made along the way. Have they been married before? If so, how many times and what happened?  I have known of many but I know of one professing believer who has been married three times and is on the verge of another divorce.

According to him, everything was his wife fault!

Find out how many children they have and by how many different partners. You will have to deal with each child, each previous partner, their attitude and possible child support.

Did they ever own a home? Did they ever own a business? Did it fail? Why did it fail? Do they have a driver license or own a car? Find out if they have a bank account. Do they have a checking or a saving account?  Do they know how to balance a check book?

Do they have bills and how many? What is on their credit report?

Find out the person successes and failures. Know what you are getting into. You may not want to get into marriage after finding out what you will have to overcome for the relationship to last. God has never brought two people together for them to struggle and fight all of their married lives.

Husbands & wives are heirs of life together and are partners in the business of marriage, so be sure you marry someone who is intelligent, flexible and business like. Never take an interest in anyone who is content to just keep circling the same mountain. Successful partnerships require a plan and regular progress reports. The reason many marriages fail or struggle for years is because of poor planning or no planning. There must be regularly scheduled progress reports. Those progress reports should include income and expenses.

Those progress reports should also include checking and saving accounts and their balances. Be sure to have your calculator on hand and demand the balances to be correct. Yes, demand! Why work for waste!

Even in Christianity, a new breed of individuals today are interested in   someone who is attractive, but educated, intelligent, and success minded.

This new breed now asking if you have a degree and what your goals are in life. This new breed demands the good life.  They have found out that it is fashionable to have a nice home with a two car garage.  

They want a family car and a 4x4 SUV. They are looking for someone who share the same values.  Today's new breed is demanding integrity, intelligence, a resume and a credit report.  Many look for a degree and has a calculator in hand before relationship or marriage.  

They want something that will last!  Treat marriage like it is a business!

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

According to one account, there are 3573 promises in the Bible. The word promise itself occurs over 50 times in the King James Version of the Bible. The Bible is full of God's promises to help us in every time of need.

There is more to it than just reading the promises then hoping that something happens. The promises of God are not automatically fulfilled just because we read about them in the Bible.  God has made us promises, but there are also principles to be obeyed before the promises are fulfilled.

So, it works like this: you have a need in your life, go to the word of God and find a promise that fit your situation.  Most likely there is a condition to be met.  Sometimes I call the condition a principle.  Everyone wants the promise to be fulfilled, but please remember, you must obey the principle before the promise can be fulfilled.

PROMISE CONCERNING THE PROMISES!

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

 Once you have obeyed the principle or met the conditions, you must then begin to confess the promise.  When you confess the promise, you are saying what God has said.  You are praying the word of God!  You must confess God's word out of your mouth for it to go forth and accomplish what it has said!  As you confess the word of God you will get what the word has promised.  There is power and life in God's word!

BELIEVING AND CONFESSING THE WORD

Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 Everything we receive from the Lord requires faith.  After you have met the condition, the promise will ignite faith in your heart and that faith will cause your mouth to begin confessing what has been promised.  It is important to obey the principles and then confess the promises.  The principles and conditions usually require sacrifice.

The fulfillment of the promise is always greater than the sacrifice!  Just remember, God cannot take back what He has promised.  Also, after you have met the condition you must confess the promise and be sure to remind the Lord of what He has promised.  If the promise does not manifest right away, don't get discouraged, become more aggressive with your confession!  It must come to past!  Keep on confessing and reminding God of His promises!   It must come to past!  Here are some principles and promises.  It is God's word to us!

PEACE 
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

GUIDANCE
Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

STRENGTH
Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

DELIVERANCE FROM AFFLICTIONS
Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

INCREASE
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your possessions ,And with the firstfruits of all your increase;10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

DELIVERED IN TIME OF TROUBLE-PRESERVED - KEPT ALIVE - BLESSED - HEALED!
Psalm 41:141 Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.3 The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.

BLESSINGS TO PARENTS AND CHILDREN
Psalm 115:13 He will bless those who fear the Lord, Both small and great.
14 May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children.

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

QUIVER: a case for carrying/holding arrows, arrows in a quiver

The Bible compares children to arrows in an archer's quiver.  A quiver is the bag that carries the arrows on the archer's back.  At the right time and season the archer reaches into his quiver, pulls out an arrow, puts the arrow in his bow and aim the arrow in a specific direction.  With the arrow in the bow, the archer releases the arrow with precision.  The archer has a specific target he is aiming at.  The archer does not just waste his arrows.  He only pulls out an arrow when its specific time is at hand.  An archer is trained marksman.  He knows which arrow to use at a given time. He is trained in his craft.

God compares and has allowed parents to be archers with quivers who birth and care for our children.  Parents carry their children on their back or side until the appointed time to release them into the world to fulfill their purpose.  Our children are compared to the arrows carried in the quiver on the archer's back or side until the appointed time to be released.  

We parents are labeled WARRIORS!  We must fight for the soul and salvation of our children!  It is a duty and a privilege to be an example, to raise up our children with good character, good morals and examples of integrity.  We have the ability and privilege to direct and thrust our children into greatness in this life!  Parents should be the greatest influence in the life of their children.

I have seen too many of our children's lives wasted on the streets by a police bullet, drugs, gangs, alcohol and street life.  

Parents, rise up, take up your responsibility/privilege and raise up your child to be a world changers!

 Our children should be closely connected to us to learn from us.  At a young age they should be in the quiver (closely connected to us).  We parents must be as the trained archer who refuse to waste his arrows.

 Question, are we trained as parents?  Do we know what it means to be a responsible parent?  Are we taking our parental roles serious?  Are we the greatest influence in our young children lives?  As parents, do we conduct our lives in a responsible meaningful manner?  As parents, have we prepared our homes with a learning environment for our children?  Are our children growing up in an atmosphere that provides intelligence, maturity, spiritual growth and development?  

 Children are learning from their parents. Do you want your children to be just like you?

 Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

 Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

 Please don't allow your child to just grow up and become a product of the alcohol, drug, gang, street culture.  

 They are in your quiver/care/life/responsibility.  Parents are with the child most of the time and should be the greatest influence in their children lives.  The drug dealer, gang member or even a friend from school or on the street should not be the greatest influence in your child’s life!  They are the arrows in your quiver and you have the privilege of pointing them in a specific direction. It is our responsibility to be sure they reach their target/goal in life, be a force and impact their world in a positive way.  

We parents should exploit their strengths, teach them to do good, compliment them when they are doing something right, train them in the way they should go.  A child has never done life before and may be prone to follow the wrong crowd or head in the wrong direction. We parents are the archers and they are the arrow in our quiver. We are privileged to influence and target their future!

 Demand that they finish high school and get a degree so that can get a better job and live the good life.  Lovingly demand that they keep good company.  Establish some house rules and chores so that they don't grow up lazy.  Lovingly but firmly demand that they respect authority so that they don't have a lawless nature.  A lawless nature leads to a shorter life.  

 Consistently keep them in church services and in an environment where they can develop godly character and integrity and have the blessing and favor of God on their lives. These characteristics don't just automatically happen, they must be planned.  

 Prayed for your children, be their friend and counselor. Spend time with your children doing things that are wholesome and fun.  Be a fun parent, be present in their lives.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.

How many of you want something different, something more, something bigger, something better?  How many of you are not satisfied with your present situation?  How many of you want to move forward, spiritually, relationally, materially, financially?  You want change?  YOU must make it happen!

Dissatisfaction alone does not produce change.  Real change demands that people become determined, that they become visionaries and dreamers of change.  Real change comes when we write our vision are willing to walk out that vision!  If we haven’t written our vision, chances are we don’t have one.  People without vision risk Pershing in their own pity!

Vision: Something you see written on the canvass of your imagination: a supernatural appearance that conveys a revelation; a thought, concept, an object formed by the imagination: mode of seeing or conceiving: unusual discernment or foresight: the act or power of seeing: Something seen.

Vision is the ability to see beyond where you are presently.
Vision is foresight with insight based on hindsight.
Vision is seeing the invisible and making it visible.
Vision is having an informed imagination.
Vision is an imaginary bridge from the present to a better future.
Vision is a picture held in your mind’s eye of the way things could, should and will be in the days ahead.
Vision is a visual reality, a portrait of a preferred future.
Vision is spiritual and mental seeing.
Vision causes those with no money to envision having a huge bank account.
Vision causes the sick to see themselves healed.
Vision causes those with a bad marriage to envision having a great loving, relationship.
Vision causes the jobless to see and seize the job!
Youth with vision will see themselves finishing college with a degree that will help them to live a good life!  You must visualize it, be committed to it.  
Vision fruition takes faith, discipline, determination and work!  You cannot allow your mind or your emotions to control you.  You must consistently guard your emotions and your thoughts and remain focused on your goal.

Visionaries are fun people, but they don't waste time being involved in unfruitful contentions.  Their desire to reach their destiny is greater than fruitless conversations and fruitless relationships.  True visionaries surround themselves with people who are shakers and movers and are determined to accomplish their goals!  
 
Disney world, Disney Land, Disney movies were created by a man with a vision.  Walt Disney tried to join the army but couldn’t because he was too young, so he joined the Red Cross.  He moved to California, started a business with his brother in a garage.  He started drawing cartoon figures such as ducks and eventually he drew a figure of a mouse.  He stayed with his dream of movies and cartoons.  From that point on he stayed true to his goal and the rest is history.  He later penned these words:

Today, the Disney Corporation is worth about 33 billion dollars.  It started with a mouse!

"I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing- that it was all started by a mouse."  - Walt Disney.    

Disney has a Park in California and Florida.

Walt Disney said: "I first saw the site for Disneyland back in 1953, in those days it was all flat land - no rivers, no mountains, no castles or rocket ships - just orange groves, and a few acres of walnut trees."

"Disneyland will never be completed.  It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."

Walt died before the park in Florida was built.  Someone said; too bad he isn’t alive to see it.  Directly after those words were spoken someone said; he did see it!  He wrote it down!

The devil does everything he can to trouble our minds, cloud our minds with distractions, contentions, arguments, alcohol, drugs, worry, depression, anger and such, so he can rob us of our creativity and destiny.

Many people never get any place in life because they never take time off from negative routines, negative people, negative surroundings.  Many people never think outside their small box.  I study successful people!

 You must dream and visualize something bigger, something better, something beyond your lack, your pain and small surroundings.  I am talking about visualizing something that has worth!

Vision accomplishment is costly and time consuming.  We accomplish nothing by sitting on the couch and complaining about the way things are. Those who fulfill their dreams and visions are willing to work smart and do what slackers are not willing to do.  True visionaries see it!

Matthew 16:13 (NLT) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?  14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
 
Let's look a little closer at the principle of binding and loosing from an additional scripture.  This kind of praying is based upon our relationship with Christ and understanding the authority that has been given to us by Him.  Authority is not taken, it is given.  God gave it to us.  Binding and loosing is to be done to establish righteousness.  It should never be done for selfish reasons.
 
Binding and loosing is also based upon the revelation of who Jesus is and His rights to give us kingdom keys.  Peter got the revelation of Jesus Christ and the keys to the Kingdom came with the revelation of Jesus Christ!  Keys represent access!
 
Binding and loosing are major keys that determines the outcome of many matters in our lives and existence.  Keys locks and unlocks, binds and frees.  Keys are objects of authority.  They say, yes, come in or no, you can't come in!
 
Keys lock our doors at night to protect us from predators and also save predators from breaking into our homes and getting shot!  using the right keys at the right time solves problems and saves time!  Keys are (authority) given to every believer.  We must study and understand our God given authority because it will make the difference in our approach to matters in this life. The believer has the ability to cause things to happen and the ability to forbid issues from happening! These prayer keys are effective only if we exercise them.
 
Joshua  stops the sun and the moon.
Joshua 10:12 (NLT) On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said,
“Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.”
13 So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar?  The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.  14 There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!
 
Elijah's prayers!
James 5:17 (NLT) Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
 
Elijah shut up heaven for no rain!
1 Kings 17:1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!  2 Then the Lord said to Elijah, 3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. 4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food. 5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.
 
Elijah open the heaven for rain!
1 Kings 18:41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming! 42 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.  43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea. The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything. Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. 44 Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea. Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’ 45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. 46 Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
 
We have Kingdom Keys also, but we must use them!

Be strong/tighten up those muscles, get rid of the flab!    

#1. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Why be strong?  There is a devil out there ready to kill, steal, and destroy!  He's bullying you!  What you gonna do?

#2. 1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers[a] all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Know what’s yours!  Hold on to what you got!

#3. 1 Corinthians 2:9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

I've got faith fight in me!  Do you have faith fight in you?

#4. 2 Samuel 23:11 Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, 12 but Shammah[a] held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

I want to talk to you about a man who became a warrior by hanging out with a man who was a warrior!  The man's name was Shammah.  He had been trained by David.  David was a warrior!  Shammah was trained to be a fearless warrior.  He knew he was empowered by the Spirit of God to put His power on display!

There was a plot of land with lentil on it that belonged to Israel.  Lentil is like small peas.  Lentil was food for the people of Israel.   The field was ripe for harvest. Problem was, the enemy wanted it!

The philistines gathered a troop and decided to take the land and the food that was on it.  The enemies seem to always want what’s ours.

All of the people ran from the enemy.  An entire army ran, except 1 man!   Sometimes you may have to stand alone!  Stand!

Shammah couldn't run!!  He stood and fought! He was not giving up his stuff!
Shammah took on up to 150 men!

Get off of that couch, get off of that bed, stop complaining and FIGHT BACK!  Take the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and quench every fiery dart of that wicked one! The word is your weapon!

He had his mind made up that he wanted to keep what was his!  The enemy positioned themselves for a battle, but Shammah positioned himself for a slaughter!  He stood right in the center of that pea patch and defended what was his!.  Everything that is mine I want!  The word of God lets me know what’s mine and I am willing to fight for it!    

He knew what had been freely given to them of God.  The scripture says: and the Lord wrought a great victory.  You've got power!
 
Quit just watching the battle! Fight!  If you fight, you will win! The prayer of faith, Your confession & intercession is your victory!  Fight!
 
When trouble comes, FIGHT the good fight of faith for your family, your marriage, your children, your health, your money, your business, your ministry, that house, that car, your jobs, and all that is yours!

It's time to fight back!  Pull out your sword and fight!

Fight for the anointing that's on your life.  It is the anointing that destroys the yoke.  Don't waste time on negative people!

Don't allow the devil to rob you of what is yours through Jesus Christ!  Stand your ground!  confess that word!

Deuteronomy 8:18  ,  Proverbs 3:9-10  ,  Psalms 66:10-12. ,  Luke 6:38-3  ,   John 3:2

I believe that a time of great financial blessing is on the way to the Lord’s people!

It's ok if you talk about salvation: soul winning and the second coming of Christ. But the moment you open your mouth and mention money, you are almost immediately labeled a false prophet. There are groups around operating under the guise of Christianity who believe their ministry is to watch and expose ministries who raise large amounts of money (they especially watch and expose Pentecostals and Charismatics). These groups who are watching, are themselves sending out letters and making appeals for financial support. My question is; who is watching those who say, they are watchers? I have come to conclude that they are doing more harm than they are good. The enemies of the cross love these groups because they are hindering and casting doubt on those who are advancing the Kingdom Christ!

The Old and New Testament are filled with scriptures revealing that it is God’s will for His people to not only be saved from sin, but; be blessed financially. He has said that; He gives us power to get wealth and then He named the kind of wealth He is referring to (Deuteronomy 8:1-20, especially verse 18). It was not just spiritual wealth; it was financial and material wealth. There are many other scriptures throughout the Bible that reveals God’s will to bless us financially. The fact that there are those who have abused financial prosperity does not negate the truth of God’s will to bless His people financially. Instead of sending money all over the country to everyone who makes an appeal for money, every believer need to think first and give in a responsible manner.

The enemies and opposers of Christ and His kingdom would love to stop the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. Christ and His kingdom is the most feared Kingdom on the face of the earth! Why? Because it strikes a blow against the wickedness that’s in our heart and demand that we walk in Christ love! If the enemies of Christ can stop the cash flow from getting to those who preach the Kingdom of God: they have succeeded. God’s Kingdom of authority and love must be propagated and it is our responsibility to finance it. Therefore, the Lord has no problem with His people having plenty of money so that they are able to finance His cause.

It has been asked millions of times; why do people get so offended when a minister, or anyone talks about financial prosperity? Because, these mockers and attackers have serious issues of the heart. Through the years, I have observed that for the most part; the ones who launch these attacks are the one who are doing nothing, have nothing, give nothing and are jealous of those who are otherwise! Many of these people have had serious mental and emotion problems. They would never admit to it, but they have never been delivered from past anger, bitterness, resentment, abuse, rejection, hatred and much more.

These “watch groups” have become very slick in their money raising efforts; they have found a way to capitalize financially by supposedly exposing those who are raising large sums of money, but at the same time, they are raising money. It does not bother me that the “watch groups” are raising money for a cause. What’s troubling is: instead of preaching Christ and establishing the Kingdom of God, their cause is to oppose the one who are advancing the Kingdom of Christ.

What should the believer do when faced with situations like this? Study the scriptures and know the will of God for yourself. Don’t just take my word or anyone else’s, word, know the word and will of God for yourself! Regardless of what you are currently experiencing, is it God’s will for you to be poor, not be able to pay your bills, can’t buy clothes for your children and can’t support His Kingdom; or is it His will for you to be wealthy so that you may support the Kingdom of God, feed your family, drive a nice car and pay your mortgage? Don’t be influenced by criticism; be influenced by the word of God.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
 
Putting God first is a principle that will usher us into the greater things of God.  Unfortunately many people will struggle for many years because they refuse to acknowledge God and put Him first with the tithe.  It takes obedience and discipline to accomplish this.  We must put God first in everything including money.  If we fail in the money department, all else will fail also. It is not just money, it is our seed to be sown!
 
Proverbs 3: 9  Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of
all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
 
Receiving the first fruits (tithe) of your increase is important to God, it is His and it is holy.  Therefore, the first fruit (tithe) of your increase is an act of worship, an act of honor, an act of trust and an act of love for the Lord.  God blesses the first fruit of our increase and cause our barn to be filled!  Giving the Lord your first fruit (tithe) also proves that you worship Him and not your money.  
 
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
 
Abraham gave a tenth of all he had!  Abraham trusted God with a tenth of all he possessed.  He became the father of faith and his linage raised up a nation!
 
Leviticus 27:30  And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord
 
The tithe is holy!  It belongs to God!  As we give it to Him, He multiplies it on our behalf!
For anyone to keep what belong to the Lord becomes a curse to the one who keeps it.  Giving tithe opens the windows of heaven and activates the blessings of God!  GIVE!
 
Malachi 3:8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

Giving produces abundant harvest/receiving!

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
 
God takes pleasure in our giving!

2 Corinthians 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
A farmer understands that his most important resource is his seed.   A farmer can have one thousand acres of land, but if he does not sow seed his land will be barren. The farmer understands the principle of sowing and reaping!  Don’t keep your seed, sow it!
Genesis 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

The very heart of being a Christian is to know Jesus Christ!  Knowing the Lord Jesus is to know love, peace, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness courage, boldness and so on.  This doesn’t happen overnight.  It takes time, lots of time to really know the Lord Jesus.  When I speak of knowing Christ, I am not speaking of an organization, denomination or church membership.  I am speaking of knowing the living God.  I am speaking of knowing Deity, Emanuel; God with us.  Getting to know Christ is not like running a 100-yard dash, where in a matter of minutes you’ve run the race and it’s over.  It’s more like you are running in a marathon; it’s a long haul!  It will take endurance and patience to stay in the race, knowing there is a prize to be won. You must know that Christ is the prize, Hebrews 12:1,2 - Philippians 3:14.  Getting to know Jesus is not a one-night (service) stand.  Getting to know Jesus is an eternal commitment!
 
Every serious student of Christ will need a good bible, a good bible dictionary, a good bible concordance, a good manners and customs of the bible and a good bible handbook.  It will cost you something to get to know Christ.  Our greatest cost is time!  Time spent with Him!  So, don’t be discouraged at the cost of time!
 
Let’s look at what the Word “know” really means.  Know: to apprehend; to have a clear perception or understanding of; to be sure of; have perceived or learned; to be acquainted with.  I believe that each one of the above definitions gives a clear picture of what it means to know Christ.
 
As we study God’s word, we study Christ.  We observe Him.  Our purpose for being is to know Him and make Him known, 2 Corinthians 5:17,18.
 
We must spend time with Him to be sure of Him.  We must spend time with Him to learn Him and get a clear perception and understanding of Him.  We must get acquainted with Him to apprehend Him.  We must spend time with Him to get to know Him.  To know Him is to love Him, and serve Him, and worship Him.  You become like whom you spend time with.
 
As you can see, it’s not about position, titles or reputation.  It’s all about Him, The Lord Jesus Christ!   To know Him as we should, we must establish an intimate relationship with Him.   As I read the word of God, I see His ways and I see His acts.  He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel (Psalms103:7).  He wants us to know His ways.  His ways are about who He is.  His acts are about what He can do.  We should know what He can do.  With God, all things are possible!  We should observe Him and desire to do what pleases Him.
 
Paul, the Apostle had walked with the Lord for many years.  He had been used mightily of God to preach the gospel and to perform many miracles. He had established many churches, but the deepest cry of his heart was, to know Christ the more, Phil. 3:10.  In Philippians 3:7-9, Paul said he counted all of his former gain “only rubbish”, compared to the priceless privilege, and supreme advantage of knowing Christ.
 
Our perception and understanding of Him must be so clear that we are fully persuaded and we are willing to follow Him all the way, 2 Timothy 1:12.  
Knowing Him is to accept the truth of His ways, for His ways are right, and just, Psalms 119:30.  In John 10:14, Jesus said, I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  We are to know Christ, the Good Shepherd, in such a way that we are willing to trust Him as He leads us through the valley of the shadow of death, Psalms 23:4.
 
Jesus said, He is known of His sheep and they are to trust His leadership, knowing His care for them.  We are not to fear the harmless shadows about us, but cling to the loving shepherd, whom we know, who is leading us in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.  To know Him is to trust Him.  This kind of trust is birthed out of an intimate relationship with Him.
 
As you spend time studying Christ in the scriptures, His word will develop faith and confidence in your heart that will dispel all doubt, fear, and intimidation, for greater is He (Christ) who is in you than he who is in the world, 1 John 4:4.
 
When you truly know Christ and His love for you, it is easier to make it through the hard times.   As a believer you will be tested, go through trials and suffer persecution.  These times of trouble should only cause you to get closer to God and know Him more intimately.
 
In Psalms 61:2, David said; when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  Jesus is the Rock of our salvation!  In our time of testing, we are to run to Him. He is greater than any problem we will ever face.
 
During your times of trials and testing you are being made, molded and changed into the image of Christ.  So, by God’s grace, just yield to the potter’s caring hand.  He is teaching us to look to Him instead of trusting in our own abilities (which will fail us), and to know Him and that He is with us all the way, Hebrews 13:5.

To be set apart from sin and unto Christ!
 
Leviticus 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. 8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you.
 
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
 
Let’s talk about a subject that is not talked about very much anymore.  Let’s talk about sanctification. It is not just an old Testament requirement and a new Testament requirement.  It is a God requirement!  God has not changed!
 
Definition of Sanctify: sanctified; sanctifying : to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : to consecrate : to free from sin :to purify :holiness
 
Sanctification is one of those requirements that goes against the grain of our fleshy, selfish demands.  The very word sanctification makes many people uncomfortable.  Unfortunately, many people have never heard of it and don't understand it's meaning or requirements.   Sanctification is not legalism.
 
Sanctification is a lifestyle ordained and required by the Lord.  Grace is given to everyone to live a sanctified life!  A person trying to walk with God and not being sanctified is like trying to swim without being in the water!  You are going through the motions, but you are not enjoying the flow!
 
Sanctification/holiness is required and pleases God!  It sets us apart from sin.
 
When you get sanctified, you will quit cussing, you will quit lying, you will quit lusting, you will stay out of bed with those you are not married to.  When a man gets sanctified he will treat his wife and children right, a woman will respect her husband and treat him right.
 
Sanctification will stop backbiting, gossiping and tale-bearing.  It can save your walk with God.  It will save your marriage.  It will restore relationships.  It restores peace between you, the Lord, and others.  Without sanctification, there will be no joy, no peace, no protection.
 
Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for
tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
 
Joshua 3:5 Then Joshua told the people, "Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you.
 
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
 
Sanctify yourself through the word of God!

During a conversation with a man one day, he said to me; Pastor, I want you to point out the areas of my life that are out of order so I can work on them.  He said; I won’t grow in God if there are things in me that don’t belong in me.  He continued, if I don’t know what’s there, how will I know what to work on?  So, “whatever you see that I need to work on, point it out to me.” With all of the stuff that I knew was in him, I could have written a book and handed it to him.
 
One on one, I never said a word to him, I knew better.  He was a confrontational type of person who thrived on controversy of any type.  He loved to argue and could find fault in just about everything.  I had verbally tangled with him before and I was not about to be drawn into another one of those traps again.  I hate arguing.
 
Constantly engaging in heated verbal battles will rob you of your spirituality.  They are draining.  When you walk away from a controversial conversation, you feel as though something has been withdrawn from you.  You feel like you are missing something.  You are missing something, the peace of God.
 
This man was a member of the church where I was Pastor.  I knew him personally and I knew he was not a humble man.  I knew that he did not receive correction very well.  He had sat under the strong preaching of the Word of God, but there was very little change in his life.
 
The Holy Spirit would convict him, but he would just get uptight about it.  This man’s offer to have me point out his faults was not derived from a pure heart.  It was a cover up for rejecting God’s Word and an opportunity to engage in a verbal battle with me to try and justify himself.  I didn’t see anything in him that resembled humility, so I wasn’t about to tangle with him again.
 
The Holy Spirit has revealed to me why this man and hundreds of thousands of others just like him in the church cannot receive correction.
 
Before I give you the reasons, I want to give some scriptures to prove that it is valid to correct those that are out of order.  I understand very well that the idea of correcting someone is not popular.  Nonetheless, it is scriptural and must be done at the proper time.  Let’s consider these verses.
 
II Timothy 3:16,17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
 
Proverbs 3:12 For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
 
These scriptures and many others let us know that there are times that people must be corrected.  Now I will give scriptures to validate the purpose of correction and reproof.
 
I Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
 
Titus 1:13 Rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith.
 
The purpose of correction and reproof is to bring about change for the good of the individual and for the good of the church.  When sin is allowed to run rampant in a local church, the spiritual health of that church will deteriorate, the anointing will leave and it will be reduced to little more than an entertainment center!  The church must be more concerned about spiritual maturity than a swelling membership and bragging rights to being the fastest growing church in the area.  Moving people from rebellious illegitimacy to a son ship relationship with the Father is God’s way (Hebrews 12:8).
 
Why is it that many won’t receive correction and reproof?  Let me start by asking a few questions.
 
Do you always have to be right?  Must you always have it your way?  Do you find fault with everyone except yourself?  Are you overly defensive and get offended easily?  Do you get angry when a fault is pointed out?  Do you hold grudges?  Are you unforgiving?  What are the honest answers to these questions?
 
If your answer is yes to these questions, we have identified a problem.  You don’t like to be corrected and won’t receive correction very well.  The reason you won’t receive correction very well is because you are lacking in the humility department.
 
If you are lacking in humility, you are overweight in pride.  Pride is the exact opposite of humility.  If your answer is yes to the above questions, you are definitely operating in pride.
 
Proverbs 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife.
 
James 4:6: God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
 
If you are not humble, God will not extend grace to you.  If grace is not imparted to you, you cannot receive correction.  Grace is God’s strength, ability, favor and divine influence.  Grace is supernatural influence in you giving you authority over the power of a rebelling soul.
 
When you humble yourself before God and the people in the local assembly, you are positioned for divine favor and influence.  Through humility, God gives you grace to say yes to His will for your life even when you are corrected, and it hurts.
 
On the other hand, pride will cause you to get angry, lash out, and resist authority and correction.  Pride will say, tell others in the church about the situation and ask their opinion.  Pride will say, get even, find out something about the one in authority who is doing the correcting and spread it over to everyone.  Pride will say, leave the Church because those people don’t love you anyway.
 
We need to be reminded that this is what humility and grace will say: I am wrong and i blew it.  In humility you will pray, Lord help me to receive correction from those who are in authority.  You have placed leaders in my life for my good because they watch for my soul.  My leaders desire to see me grow and mature in Jesus Christ.  The correction is private.  I will not talk about it throughout the church and the community.  I will keep it private.  I will not seek revenge.
 
Lord I humble myself to obtain your grace to receive biblical correction.
 
By your grace I overcome and move forward in Jesus name, amen.

Mark 3:13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.

A disciple: a learner, a pupil, a follower, one who takes in, one who comprehends, an adherent.

Walking down an aisle, saying a sinner’s prayer, shaking a preacher’s hand and joining a church is a good place to start, but there is more to walking with God than that.  That is not the end— that is only the beginning.  Once you confess Christ as your Savior, your life has just come under new management.  You no longer run the show.  You are a child of God and He has a new script written for your life.  Walking down that aisle and saying the sinner’s prayer has qualified you for discipleship.

He calls us up to Himself!  The process of discipleship will be in session.  Will we follow or will we fold?

The first paragraph of this chapter lets you know to a large extent what discipleship is about.  As you read this post, a decision will be made.  You will submit and become a student of Christ, or you will cast this blog aside and have none of this discipleship business.  If you demand, God will let you have your way.  The Lord will not compete with your way and your will.  Your way will lead to spiritual death (Proverbs 14:12).  Many have come to this realization at great expense.

I choose to agree with Simon Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).  I trust that you too will choose to be His disciple.

Christ calls us to Himself; to His lordship (Mark 3:13).  Until we are ready to forsake all other influences for Him, we are not ready to be His disciple (Luke 14:26).   Disciples follow Him and to submit to His Word.  Submitting to His Word validates our claim to discipleship (John 8:31).

 His Word will require something of you.  Peter and Andrew left their nets to follow Him (Matthew 4:19,20).  Levi left the tax office to follow Him (Luke 5:27, 28).  Discipleship carries a price tag — it will cost you everything (Luke 14:33).  Discipleship is about discipline and change.

 Jesus’ disciples had some rough edges, but they were not a bunch of untrained, undisciplined cronies who were out to do their own thing.  They were instructed in the way, the truth and the life.  Christ was being formed in them (Galatians 4:19).  Christ was being revealed in them (Galatians 1:16).  They were to become as He was (I John 4:17).  They were to love what He loved and hate what He hated.

 They were trained for 3 1/2 years.  That discipleship training process developed them that they could be entrusted with His purpose and His vision.  They were to see what He saw, think as He thought, say what He said and do what He did (Matthew 9:36-38, Matthew 10:5-8, John 14:12).  Those disciples were close followers of Jesus.  They were willing to pay the price of following Him.  They were loved, corrected, rebuked, trained and shown the way.  Eventually they declared His generation and out of weakness they were made strong (II Corinthians 12:10).

 The pattern is the same for those who will be His disciples today.  There is a cause and a vision, and we must live it out.  To live and walk out His cause, His vision, and His life requires that we be emptied — that we decrease, that He may increase (John 3:30).  That, my friend, is a costly process.  But if you are willing, He is able.

 In II Samuel 24, the story leads up to King David going up to the threshing floor of Araunah to offer sacrifice to the Lord.  As Araunah saw the king approaching he went out to meet him.  Araunah bowed himself before the King on his face on the ground and asked the king why he was visiting.  King David let him know he had come to buy his threshing floor that he could build an altar and offer burnt offerings unto the Lord.

 Because David was king, Araunah wanted to give the king all that was needed for Him to offer up burnt offering unto the Lord.  Araunah was very convincing, but not enough.  The king kindly refused the offer and demanded a price be paid for all that was needed and proceeded to say, “...neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (II Samuel 24:24).  We must learn this lesson.

May we never attempt to offer to God that which has not cost us anything.  To be made a disciple is a costly process.  Never allow anyone to convince you differently.  The price you pay for discipleship will develop maturity, reverence and a passion for Christ.  Passion is like fire.  It consumes and it purifies.  Our lives are to be consumed with a passion for Christ and His will for our lives.  Purification delivers us from offering strange fires (unaccepted praise, worship, and service) unto the Lord.  Strange fires bring death — spiritual death, because God separates Himself from such (Numbers 26:61).  Beware: God will not place you with leaders who make you comfortable, He will place you with leaders who will tell you such truth that it stretches you to the core!  The cost of producing passion is self-denial — the putting aside of our will that His will may be done.

 Jesus declared in John 6:38, “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.”  That is true discipleship — forsaking any will that you may have, that you may please Him who has discipled, disciplined and sent you.

 This walk is not about you — it’s about Jesus Christ who is our life.  We must be rooted and built up in Him (Colossians 2:6,7).  When we are looked upon by others, they must know that we have been with Him (Acts 4:13).

 A disciple is a learner, a pupil, a follower, one who takes in, one who comprehends, an adherent.  
I now ask you the question that was asked in John 9:27, “Will you also be His disciple?”

Since we are commanded to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, I believe we need to study the scriptures concerning these two areas that we may understand and apply ourselves to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.  The grace of God and the knowledge of Jesus Christ are two foundation stones that need to be firmly established in our life and walk with God.   So let’s spend the necessary time studying in each of these areas that we may lay a firm foundation.  I believe we should begin with grace, God’s grace.   Let’s look at what grace really is and how it applies to our lives.
 
The meaning of grace: The unmerited love and favor of God toward man; divine, supernatural influence acting in man to make him pure and morally strong.
 
So, grace is the presence of God’s favor extended to us because of His love for us.  This presence is divine, supernatural and unearned; it is Holy Spirit influence acting in us and ordering our lives to make us pure and morally strong.  Grace makes us Christ-like.
 
That is grace. It isn’t weak or cheap.  Grace isn’t a license to sin; it delivers us from sin.  The question is asked in Romans 6:1, Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?   That question was asked in Paul’s day and it needs to be asked in our day by every professing Christian.  The resounding answer to this question comes to us in Verse 2; God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer in it?
 
Some years ago, I heard a fellow say, I guess I’ve been wallowing in the grace of God, but I now realize I need to clean up my life and get right with God!   Maybe he didn’t know it, but he wasn’t “wallowing” in God’s grace, he was living in sin!   He was trying to use God’s grace as an excuse, a covering and a license to sin.
 
Born again believers don’t practice sin.  Sinners practice sin!   The Divine influence of God’s grace delivers us from sin and makes us pure.   Born again believers practice the righteousness of God.   Grace can’t be used to manipulate God, it is an attribute of God, and it’s path leads to life and absolute victory.  Grace is God’s strength in you, His all sufficiency in you, His ability in you.  It isn’t something you can work up.  Grace is imparted to you as you walk humbly and in obedience to His Word and His Holy Spirit.
 
Now, let’s study some other scriptures to get a better understanding of the various aspects of God’s divine, supernatural grace.
 
Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, John 1:17.
We are saved by grace, Ephesians 2:5
We are justified by grace, Romans 3:24
We stand by grace, Romans 5:2
We are kept by grace, 2 Corinthians 12:9
We are to continue in grace, Acts 13:43
We are to be strong in grace, 2 Timothy 2:1,
2 Corinthians 12:9
We must continually approach the throne for grace, Hebrews 4:16
God is rich in grace, Ephesians 1:7
God gives grace to the humble, James 4:6
God’s grace builds us up, Acts 20:32
God’s grace keeps us from sin, Romans 6:1,2
Great grace is given to do great things for the Kingdom of God, Acts 4:33
We are to grow in His grace, 2 Peter 3:18
 
Volumes could be written about the grace of God, but I believe enough scriptures have been given that you can get a clear understanding of this great attribute of God.  Whether you are going through a time of testing and change, or desire to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God, His grace is sufficient for you.  From the moment you are saved until the day God calls you home, the all sufficiency, favor, ability and strength of God will always be available to you.
 
In 2 Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verse 23 through Verse 33, Paul tells about some of the great sufferings he had to endure for the sake of the gospel, and they were many!   In Chapter 12, Verse 7, he identifies the source of some of his troubles; a messenger of satan was sent to buffet him.  In Verse 8, Paul says, for this thing I sought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me.   Paul wanted relief from this onslaught of the devil against him, but because of the message of Christ and the abundance of revelations he received from God, this messenger was necessary.
 
God’s response to Paul was, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness, Verse 9.
 
The Lord understood Paul’s troubles and was concerned for his welfare, but there was more at stake than Paul’s troubles.   Sometimes we believers only see “our will and our desires” and fail to see God’s plan.  The Lord had heard Paul’s prayer, but God’s answer was not what Paul asked for but it was what he needed!   “My grace is sufficient:” He was saying my ability, all sufficiency, favor and strength is made perfect in your weakness.  God knew what His divine influence would do in Paul in his time of weakness.   So, instead of changing the circumstance, God changed Paul!   Paul grew in grace.
 
Evidently, grace was imparted and seized!    Look at Verse 10.  Paul said, Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong.  Notice the difference this greater measure of grace made in Paul’s life, because now, instead of continually pleading with the Lord to take away the problem, he glories in it!
 
In his time of distress, instead of giving up, Paul approached the throne and obtained mercy and found grace to help in time of need, Hebrews 4:16.  This is the grace of God that we are to grow in, but we must approach the throne of God to obtain it.  When God calls a person to accomplish a particular task for His kingdom, He always gives them the ability to complete it.   He gives them His grace!   As we stay humble before Him and continually seek Him, greater grace will be given that we can accomplish even greater things for the Kingdom of God.  
 
There is no shortage in God, for He is rich in grace, Ephesians 1:7.
 

Isaiah 6: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
 
The above scriptures may seem outdated as far as you are concerned, but the truth and principle is as relevant as today's worship service.  The story is about a prophet, a King and the Lord. I want us to focus on the truth and principle of these scriptures.  There is a truth in this incident for each of us.
 
Isaiah, the prophet had spent so much time with King Uzziah that he lost focus of God and His purpose for his life.  Eventually, the King died.  Immediately after the King and the I, I, I, I, died, Isaiah had an encounter with God!  Sometimes we allow people and stuff to divert our attention.
 
There must be a decrease of self before there is an increase of God!
 
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
 
Immediately after Isaiah's God experience, he had many heavenly visions;
 
He prophesied forth about the birth of Christ, before the birth of Christ (Isaiah 7:14)!
 
Isaiah became one of the most proficient writing prophets in the Bible.  His tenure spanned four Kings.  Isaiah prophesied back about creation (42:5) He prophesied forward about a new heaven (65:17).
He Prophesied about the death of Christ (53:10-12).
He prophesied about our healing (53:5).
Isaiah would have never become the great prophet he became, unless the king died and had he not experienced the presence of God the way he did.
 
The old was purged out and the new burst forth!  That is the way God works.  You never get the new until the old is purged!  
 
Mark 2:22 And no man puts new wine into old wineskins: else the new wine does burst the wineskins, and the wine is spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined: but new wine must be put into new wineskins.
 
I believe there are times that we misinterpret what our needs are.  Much of the time we think our need is something natural, when all along it is something spiritual.  What we need is an encounter with God!
 
We need to decrease so that He can increase!
 
All of us would like to have the life changing signs and wonders experiences, but how many of us are willing to purge out the old and make room for the new?  
 
It is quite amazing that Isaiah was able to glimpse heaven and all of its glorious activities once the King died.  
 
Are we missing anything?  What do we want out of life?  Have we settled for mediocrity or will we press forward, glimpse the glory and live an amazing lifestyle?
 
 Everyone of us need those defining moments in our lives when we experience the Lord for ourselves.  Not only are those experiences necessary, they are mandated.  Those experiences will usher us forward and onward in our relationship in God and into our destiny.
 
One of my greatest life changing experiences with God was early in my walk with the Lord back in 1977.  It was an experience I needed for the sake of settling any doubts, so the Lord chose this way of revealing Himself to me.  I had been on a 21 day fast and I was really hunger for God.  I sought the Lord because I wanted to know Him as never before, I wanted to win more souls to Christ and see more miracles manifested.
 
One night about 2 o’clock in the morning as I was sitting at my desk studying and praying, a spot of blood appeared on my calendar desk pad.  As it sat on my desk pad I thought my nose was bleeding, but it wasn’t.  I looked at my hands and arms to find where the blood came from, but there were no scratches.  As I was sitting at my desk, I was not swinging my arms or bumping anything.  Suddenly my heart started beating really fast and I could not figure out where the blood came from.  I finally looked up at the ceiling because I thought; maybe a bird died up there and his blood was dripping down.  I got really stupid with it.  There was no blood on the ceiling.  This all happened in about a minute or so.
 
During this time, that large drop of blood just sat there on my desk pad and did not soak into it.  My skin got tight and I felt overwhelmed.  I jumped up from my desk and ran downstairs to the bathroom to look at myself to see where that blood came from.  Nothing!  As I looked in that mirror the power of God came upon me.  My legs suddenly felt like strings of cooked spaghetti noodles and I fell to the floor.  When I fell to the floor, the audible voice of God spoke to me.  That voice shook my entire being as He said; why do you doubt me!  That was the first time I had heard the audible voice of God (it may have happened once since then).
 
As I was there on the floor in God presence, I wept and wept for what seemed about an hour.  (When you experience the presence of God, you lose track of time).  You really don’t care what time it is.
 
When I was able to do so, I got up and ran back upstairs.  That drop of blood was still sitting on my desk pad.  As I stood there looking at that blood, I worshipped, trembled and wept in the presence of the Lord.
 
I have never been the same since I experienced that sign and wonder from the presence of God (Acts 2:19).  My faith soared as never before, I won souls to Christ as never before and I saw more miracles, healing and deliverance than ever before.  I decreased, He increased.
 
I was a changed man!  That’s what the Lord was after, a new wineskin!
 
Acts 2:19 and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

Sin decreases our lives

Galatians 5:19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
 
Sin is a thief.  It robs us of our peace and joy. It destroys our character and integrity.  It destroys our marriages, families and relationships.  It destroys our walk with God. Sin takes us places we should not go, causes us to do things we should not do, causes us to say things we should not say.  Sin robs us of our favor with God.  Initially, sin makes you feel good, but afterward, it puts you on a guilt and depression trip.  Sin decreases our lives and relationships.
 
Righteousness and obedience increase our lives!
 
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
 
Romans 14:17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  
 
Psalm 115:14 The Lord shall increase you more and more, you and your children.  15 Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
 
Increase and abundance is the will of God for our lives.  He has more for us than we have ever envisioned or dreamed of.  What He has for us is revealed to us as we obey and walk in His Spirit.  As we obey Him, put Him first, seek His Kingdom and walk in the Spirit, He increases our lives!  Our blessings will overtake us!
 
Along with righteousness and obedience, we must make good decisions and good choices.  You get positive results when you make good decisions and good choices.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Forsake sin, obey God, live righteous and increase your life.  

Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Before we get baptized in water, we need to understand the meaning and process of it.  With all of your getting, get understanding.    
 
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
 
Peter preached a threefold message to the people.  Repentance, Confess Jesus as Savior and be baptized.  They did not just rush and baptize people, they preached repentance and got them saved first!  Many people are being baptized who have never met Jesus!  
 
Repentance:
First, we need to hear the word of truth.  The word of truth brings conviction that leads to repentance.  Repentance is essential to salvation.  After repentance, we must believe on and confess Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord!  Repentance is godly sorrow for sins against God.    
 
2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  
 
Repentance Definition:
Repentance means a sincere turning away, in both the mind and heart, from self to God, godly sorrow for sins committed, a change of heart, a change of direction, a change of lifestyle, a change of attitude.  
 
If a person gets baptize and has not repented, they just go down into the water a dry sinner and will come up a wet sinner!   That is not the proper biblical order of things.  
When we repent, it afflicts the old sinful man of his ungodly deeds.  When you get baptized, it drowns that old sinful man.  God wants to get your old sinful man down in that water and crucify/drown him.  You will meet the Holy Ghost in that water and He will cause you to rise up in new Christ life.  Study Psalm 51 to understand repentance.  
 
Psalm 51 1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.  6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.  7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  (That's repentance!)
 
Saved from sin:
Becoming a new creature in Jesus Christ means that you heard the word of God, you were convicted of your sins and you repented of your sins.  After you repented of your sins, God revealed Jesus Christ to you and you believed and confessed Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. You believe that you are saved from sin! You believe Jesus Christ is your Savior!  Everything in you want to walk with Jesus Christ!  Why do you want to walk with Jesus Christ?  Because you are a new creature in in Jesus Christ!  As a new creature in Jesus Christ, you do not have the desire to do the things you use to do. New creatures in Jesus Christ desire to walk with and please God.  Now you are ready to be baptized in water.
 
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
 
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
 
Water Baptism:
Baptism sets us apart from the world and indicates that we are in fellowship with Jesus Christ!
 
The act of baptism is a public indication to all present that there has been a thorough, radical change (Luke 3:3-16) in the condition of the spirit, soul and body as a result of repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10) believing on and confessing Christ as savor and Lord (Romans 10:8-10).  
 
Baptism is an act of identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an act of purification and washing away of the old life (Romans 6:1-11).  When Jesus Christ died and arose again from the dead, life in the flesh was over.  He walked in a new body, a Spiritual body.  Inside of the believer is a new man, Jesus Christ.  Galatians 2:20)!   We live in Jesus Christ!  
 
Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.