Unwrapping Christmasal

   Heb.10:19-20(Amp) says, "Therefore, Brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the Holy of Holies (by the power and virtue) in the Blood of Jesus. By this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies) that is, through His flesh."

  For centuries, we've brought out the Baby Jesus and put Him in the manger. We've put up all our holiday decorations with the lights and wrapped the presents. We've done all this, without truly unwrapping God's Gift of flesh, He sent to us. Inside His Gift of the Baby, was God Himself with all His Promises, for all His people.

  We praise God for this Precious Gift everyday, because His Gift is Eternal. Through this Precious Gift, we have access to the Very Presence of the Father Himself whenever we need it. We can  now "Come bodily to God's Throne of Grace," through the Door Christ Jesus Himself, according to Heb.4:13.  Jesus' Flesh, the Veil that once covered the Holy of Holies, was torn open on the day of His crucifixion, making and opening Jesus the Door to God.

  2Cor.1:20(Amp) says, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes (answer) in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him (in His Person and by His Agency) to the Glory of God." Every Promise God made to and for His children when He created them,ha have all found their Yes Answer. 

  We've had little understanding that Jesus Himself was all of these things to and for us. All of the healing, peace, redemption, Blessing, son-ship rights, place in the Kingdom, long life, joy and so much more, were all wrapped in the Flesh of this little Baby Boy, Jesus. We've admired the Gift, but we've never unwrapped it. Paul wrote to the Church in Gal.1:7(Amp) saying, "I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) (and that you are transferring your allegiance) to a different (even an opposition) gospel." Paul asked them, "What happened to you? You began in the Spirit, but now you want to be made perfect in the flesh?" Paul told them that they returned to the things of the Law and rituals like, "taste not, touch and eat not." He told them "Jesus set us free from all these things, but through your traditions, you've made God's Word of no avail."

  Yes, healing is still for today and for all who will believe. Yes, tongues are still for all today. Yes, all these Promises are "Yes and Amen," through Jesus Christ to the Glory of God the Father. These things didn't "pass away," like others tell us. All of these are still wrapped up in the Gift, given by God, the Gift of this Christ Child. He's not in the manger, but now sits on the Right Hand of the Father. We, the Church, are seated there together with Him. Eph.2:6(Amp) says that "We, the Church, are seated there together with Him. And He raised us up together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

  Even though these things are now ours, we will never know them unless we dare to unwrap the Awesome Gift of God, Who is the Baby Born to and for us. He is the Answer to all the Promises of God. We will have tribulation, so long as we're in this world, but be of good cheer, because Jesus in you has overcome all these things and He is the Answer to anything and everything satan and the world can throw at you. Let's take off the swaddling clothes, because He is now dressed in Glory and has given it to us. In John17:22(Amp) we find Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying, "I have given to them the Glory and Honor which You have given Me, that they may become one (even) as We are One."

  Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas this year!!! 

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #5

    Ps.107:2(Amp) says, "Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so whom He has Redeemed from the adversary." 

    Gal.3:13(Amp) says, "Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the Curse (doom) of the Law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us; for it is written (in the scriptures) cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)."

    When we "Say so," what do we say? Can we go to what is written in the Curse and stand against it, by saying what the word says? If a disease comes to you, then can you go to God's Word, find that disease, then say, "I am Redeemed from that," expecting to be delivered from that disease? When you were a sinner, you believed Rom.10:9(Amp) which says, "Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips and  in your heart your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the Truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" and you were saved. You received Jesus as your Lord and Savior and became a new creation in Christ. God's Word says, "Your sins and iniquities I will remember no more." Is that true? 1Cor.2:12 says, "You have now become a child of God and He has given you the Holy Spirit." Is that true?

    When God instructs us to "Say so whom the Lord has delivered from the hand of the adversary," then why wouldn't we believe and stand, repeat His Word and stand on His Word about our healing? Which part of God's Word is true and which is not true? It is all True! We haven't been taught all that the Redemption Jesus provided, so we never put our faith in this. Every believer must learn and practice saying what the Word says, so we won't believe when others say, "God doesn't do this for everyone" or "You never know what God will do." If we attended a school that never taught addition, does that take away the fact that addition works and that it works for everyone who will believe and use it?

    Paul told Timothy in 2Tim.2:15 to, "Study and show yourself approved." There were people all around who were still teaching The Law and traditions of The Law, to Christians. Timothy needed to distinguish between the Truth and the wrong things being taught. Paul wrote to the church in Gal.1:6(Amp), "I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the Grace (unmerited favor) of Christ (the Messiah) (and that you are transferring your allegiance) to a different (even an opposition) gospel."

  Just because we haven't been taught some of these Truths of God's Word, doesn't mean they're not for us today or that they've passed away. God's Word will never pass away according to Ps.119:89(Amp) which says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven (stands firm as the heavens)." 

   Have you noticed how in these Last Days, everything is constantly changing and what was once true, isn't true any longer? The little knowledge we gleaned will not sustain us in these times. We must study God's Word, in order to show ourselves approved before God. This doesn't mean that we're not saved or that our faith is void, but that we need to keep learning God's Word to keep us from certain things while we're still here.

    It's time we began to believe God for His Protection from things here on earth, as well receiving us into His House, when we leave here. We have work to do while we're still here on earth and need to learn to believe God will take care of us, while we work for the Kingdom. Read the scriptures quoted above and find out what we are to "Say So."

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #4

     Ps.107:2(Amp) says, "Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say so, Whom He has Redeemed from the adversary."

    The Lord was speaking to a nation and to the people of that nation in 2Chron.7:14(Amp), saying, "If My people who are called by My Name will turn from their ways and seek My Face and pray; I would hear their prayer and heal their Land."  I've never understood how we read God's Word, but don't seem to take it personally. We always assume it's "for someone else." God was personally inviting us and  not just others in this nation in 2Chron.7:14. Was Jesus speaking to His followers or speaking in general, when saying, "Now you go into all the earth and preach the Gospel to every creature" in Mark16:15,17? When Jesus said, "These signs will follow those who believe," was He speaking to you or someone else? Are you a believer?

    Can you stand on God's Word or is the Prayer of Salvation the only part of it, you take personally? The Church needs to enter into this battle for our national, for the world and for ourselves and for the Glory of God. This isn't left only for preachers and pastors, but for "all who believe." When was the last time we led someone to the Lord or spend time interceding for this nation to be "One nation under God" again? When was the last time we prayed and voted for Godly leaders in our nation? Do we care that some of our leaders don't know the Lord and we're suffering under the penalty of a declining national leadership?

    The Bible is a personal letter to you from your Heavenly Father. We must each do our part according to His Word. We can give money to send large ministries to go forth and that's good. But, they probably won't come and minister to those we work with or to our neighbors. This is a personal ministry for the entire Body of Christ to do, not just a few.

    I can stand behind a pulpit and minister God's Word to you, but there are people you know, live with or work with, that I don't know and see every day. It's your responsibility to minister to those around you. The job is too big for just a handful of people to do. Even Jesus  instructed others to go on His behalf into the world. You're certainly a part of the ministry, even if you're not part of the five-fold ministry. There is truly only One Ministry and that's the Ministry of the Lord Jesus, which we all have a part to take. We've taken our eyes of the prize and began looking at the Reward. The Reward comes at the end of the finish line and the Reward is the Prize in every life.

    The same Holy Spirit Who was in John, Peter, Paul and Jesus, is the Same Holy Spirit Who lives in each of us. The Same Holy Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead, now lives in you and still able to do what the Father sent Him to do. He only needs someone to believe that He can still do the same things He's always done and do it through you.

    The only thing we're required to do, is to believe. God didn't tell us to heal the sick, Jesus said that "These signs would follow those who believed; They would lay hands on the sick and they will recover," in Mark16:17. Do you have hands? Are you a believer? God will do the healing, when you believe, speak His Word and lay hands on the sick. We know that "God watches over His Word and is faithful to perform it." We just need to do our part. 

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #3

    Ps.107:2(Amp) tells us, "Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary." Many know this scripture, along with Gal.3:13 which tells us that we've been "Delivered from the Curse of the Law" and "The Blessing is now upon us through Jesus Christ." Do we know what is in this Curse, so`that we know what to stand against?

    Just because we've been redeemed, doesn't mean the adversary will not stop his attacks against us. This why we've been instructed by the Lord to "Say so."  Satan has no right to take our children into captivity, but we must take a stand on their behalf. We have the Power of the Redemptive Blood of Jesus and the Authority in His Name, in order to stand against the adversary.  

    We have a Just and Righteous Judge Who sits on the Throne and we have an Advocate or Righteous Lawyer (Jesus) Who will stand in our defense. He is the High Priest of our confession. Do you plead according to your new creation covenant, so that Jesus pleads before your Judge? Or do you plead guilty? The plea is up to us and I want Jesus to be my defense lawyer (or Advocate).

    No person in their right mind, would go to court without a defense lawyer who tell us what to plea and make our defense. Our Heavenly Father is the Righteous and Just Judge. He will judge us in the Righteousness of the court of Heaven, by His Own Word. How do you plead? Let us Say so, who have been delivered and found innocent by the Word and the Lamb of God, declaring to the adversary, "You have no right to bring this on us."

    Confession is a very important part of our relationship with the Father. The Lord didn't put these things in His Word in order to take up space and fill in chapters. He put them there for us to know and use in our own behalf. Jesus didn't defend Himself when He was taken to trial. If He had, then He would have so perfectly defended Himself, He would have been set free. He would have used God's Word on His behalf. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus delivered Himself to God's will. In the natural, Jesus knew what His fate was. Jesus could have been delivered because He was without sin or contempt of the Law. He remained silent for us.

    The adversary knows we've been delivered from his hand, but he wants to know if we know that. He'll use every tool in his toolbox, to try confusing and condemning God's Church, so we fall into his hands. 1Pet.5:8(Amp) says, "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for the enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring (in fierce hunger), seeking someone to seize upon and devour." 

   How can he devour those who will say God's Word concerning our Redemption? He has no legal ground to bring to pass anything in our lives that we don't relinquish to his hands? We must know our rights in God's Covenant and the Blood of our Sacrifice Lamb, Jesus. The adversary can't declare his own word on us, but must have us stand in agreement with his accusations in front of the Judge, Who is God. Do you stand on God's Word or do you agree with the adversary?

    If Jesus is my Redeemer, then I have every right to stand in the enemy's face and declare my Redemption. The Judge will always find me innocent in His Court in Heaven, by the Blood of Jesus in His Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. He is Righteous and through Jesus, we are found righteous and just by His Own Righteousness. How do you plead? Guilty or by the Blood? If you're redeemed, then when the adversary comes at you by something under the Curse, then you don't be afraid to say, "No, I'm Redeemed from that by the Blood of Jesus Christ my Savior." Say so.

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #2

     Gal.3:13(Amp) says, "Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the Curse (doom) of the Law (and its condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written (in the Scriptures), Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)." There are so many things that our Lord paid for when He was made a curse for us, that we don't take advantage, as the new creation Body of Christ. We read the scriptures, but don't "study to show ourselves approved," like Paul told Timothy in 2Tim.2:15(Amp) which says, "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing (rightly handling and skillfully teaching) the Word of Truth."

    One of the things we've been redeemed from that is dear to my heart (and your's too), is found in Deut.28:32(Amp) which says, "Your sons and daughters shall be given to another people and your eyes shall look and fail with longing for them all the day, and there shall be no power in your hands to prevent it." As a father, grandfather and great grandfather, one of the most fervent times I spend in prayer, is for my family. 

    The culture of our nation (and the world) has changed so much, and I never had to deal with the things our kids are facing. I see and hear so many pitfalls in front of my family, that are difficult to explain. My consolation comes from Jesus' Words in Luke10:2(Amp), where He says, "The harvest indeed is abundant (there is much ripe grain), but the farmhands are few. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to sent out laborers into His harvest." Even though my family doesn't always pay attention to what I say, I know that "God's Word is a Seed that will produce according to kind." The corn seed doesn't know how, but will grow up into the full corn in the ear. I put faith in God's Word and won't be swayed by things that my natural eyes see. I'm standing on God's Truth for all my family.

    There's a laborer out there and God know who it is. The laborer will water that seed into the harvest is complete. As the redeemed of the Lord, I will say, "My children and family will not go into captivity to another people" and "I stand on the fullness of my Redeeming Lamb of God and not in fear." I pray for a laborer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit to put the right laborer in their path. 

    There are so many voices in today's world that try pulling people away from God and the words we've told them throughout the years. We can trust that the things we told them about salvation and the Lord Jesus Christ will bring a harvest, because "God watches over His Word to perform it," according to Jer.1:12. God loves them even more than we do. We must stand against the lies of the enemy and as the redeemed of the Lord, we must say so. We must confess that, "My family will not go into captivity, because Jesus has redeemed me from that on the cross."

    We must use God's Word against sickness and disease that would come up on us through the Curse. I don't wait to get sick, before I say so about my redemption. God's Word says, the Lord has redeemed us from the hand of the adversary," according to Ps.107:2.  Why not stand on your healing while you're well, instead of waiting until the adversary makes you sick? We must stand on the Blessing and against the Curse, in our daily walk with the Lord.

    We must keep our eyes on Jesus and His Promises to us, instead of the things going around us. Most of our parents probably never thought we'd be saved, but they prayed and allowed God to perform His Perfect work. The Seed of of the Word was only a Seed, but took root and became a sprout. Then it became an ear and brought forth corn in that ear and the fullness of the seed became a harvest.

    Find out what we've been redeemed from in the Curse and then say so, like the Lord has instructed. Don't be fearful or dismayed and definitely stop saying, "It's not working." The Word of God always works. Look at the heavens, earth and the cosmos and see if they're doing anything other than what God told us to do. If we're going to say anything, then let's say it as the redeemed of the Lord, like God instructs us to do.

Let The Redeemed of the Lord Say So #1

    Ps.107:2(Amp) tells us, "Let the Redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary." 

    Many Christians don't seem to understand what the above scripture is saying to us. As the New Testament Church, we are the Redeemed of the Lord.  Gal.3:13(Amp) says, "Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the Curse (doom) of the Law (and it's condemnation) by (Himself) becoming a curse for us, For it is written (in the scriptures), Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)." Deut.21:14(Amp) says, "To the end that through (their receiving) Christ Jesus, the Blessing (promised) to Abraham might come up on the Gentiles; so that we through faith might all receive (the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit)."

    The Promise God made to Abraham and his Seed, was the Promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the Seed and this was the Promise that God made. It wasn't just receiving of the Holy Spirit on The Day of Pentecost the speaking in new tongues, like many believe. The Promise of the Holy Spirit is the "fullness" of Jesus Himself.  Gal.3:16-17(Amp) says, "Now the Promises (covenants,agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, his Heirs); He (God) does not say, And to his seeds (descendants,heirs) as if referring to many persons, but unto Your Seed (Your Descendant, Your Heir), obviously referring to One Individual (Who is none other) than Christ (the Messiah)."

    We're no longer under the Law, but under Grace. Jesus said in Matt.9:17-18(Amp), "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo, but to complete and fulfill them. For truly I tell you, Until the sky and earth pass away and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little book (identifying certain Hebrew letters) will pass from the Law until all things (it foreshadows) are completed."

    We're no longer under the Law, but under Grace. This doesn't mean that we can live any way we please, without consequences. We're under two Laws only, according to Matt.22:36-40(Amp) where Jesus' follower asks, "Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? Some commandments are light-which are heavy? And He (Jesus) replied unto him; You shall love the Lord they God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second one is like it; You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the prophets."

    We've been given a new Law, which is the Law of Love. It must be fulfilled by God's Grace and our love for Him, which has been shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit. Rom.5:5(Amp) tells us, "Therefor, we have been now Redeemed from the Law through His Redeeming power, and have come into a new covenant and a new being through Jesus." Jesus fulfilled the Law and if we're in Him, then we've perfectly fulfilled the Law in Him and are out from the Curse of the Law.

     We no longer make sacrifices of goats and bulls and we no longer live under condemnation, because in Jesus, we have fulfilled the Law in the eyes of God. We are Redeemed from the Curse of the Law. We should read about the Blessing in Deut.28:1-14 and then read further about the things we tolerated under the Curse. We should read further and begin quoting scriptures, saying, "I am Redeemed from the Curse of the Law. Hallelujah, Amen!"

One On One #34

     I'm writing this blog to thank the American people for their prayers, hope, faith and determination. Thank you for trusting the Lord on behalf of America. We stand one on One with the Father and one on one in unity for our country. I'm certain that there are many who are disappointed with the election results. I bet he Philistines were disappointed too, when David chased them home with the head of their champion. God has a way of "being God" when it comes to His Word and His covenant.

    This isn't the time to back up or back off in prayer and faith for President Elect Trump and our nation. Jesus told His followers to "occupy" until He returns. This term means to advance in the army. We are at war for the salvation and the hearts of millions of people, as well as the stability of our nation. God's Word never tells us to surrender to anyone or anything, other than Him. Letting the Lord fight the battle, doesn't mean we're to sit down and await the rapture. We're to stand fast on God's Word and He always wins. Rom.4:3(Amp) tells us that "Abraham hoped on in faith that God could and would perform that which He Promised."

    Before there was an America, our first and greatest American was a man of God. George Washington prayed and dedicated our nation to God, at his inaugural speech saying, "You will be our God and we will be Your people." That covenant still is in the heart of God. The enemy has tried to turn the hearts of people away from God, using all the things of the world. God's Word though, is "forever settled in Heaven" and His Kingdom rules over all, according to Ps.119:87.

    As we thank God for His intervention in the saving of America, remember the war isn't over but just renewed. We must pray for God to give wisdom to Donald Trump and to protect him and his family. After fasting in the wilderness for forty days in Luke4, satan tried to tempt Jesus offering all the kingdom of this world. Jesus is our Redemption and these things have already been delivered into God's children again. 

    Thank you for joining with the rest of God's children in one on One time with the Lord. God bless you.

One On One Lesson #33

    It doesn't matter what others think about Jesus and His Heart towards humanity. It only matters what you think and perceive about Him. We've recently reviewed the stories of "The lady with the issue of blood" and "Blind Bartimaeous" from Mark 5 and 10. Note though, that neither have an infirmity or are blind. No one else in these chapters received anything else from Jesus, even though Jesus came through their town and knew or thought they knew Who He was.

    Bartimaeous was blind and couldn't attend the meetings where Jesus spoke. He apparently had no one to help lead him to those meetings and they were quite a travel to get to. When he heard that Jesus was near, his HOPE was made full at that time. He HEARD and believed that Jesus was indeed a Miracle Worker and he put FAITH in what he'd heard. When he realized Jesus was in his presence, the hope that Bartimaeous had swelled up and he began crying out for Jesus. Mark10:49(Amp) tells us that, "Jesus stopped and said to call Bartimaeous."

    Was Bartimaeous the only one in the crowd who needed healing? We don't know, but Heb.11:1(Amp) tells us that, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we HOPE for; being the proof of things we do not see, and the conviction of their reality; faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses." The man had heard and hoped for his sight and upon realizing that his hope was right in front of him, he was not going to be denied. We don't read about any other person being healed in this passage.

    The same was true about the woman with the issue of blood. She was considered unclean in the eyes of the Mosaic Law, so she had no right to go hear Jesus preach. She still heard about Him and when He was almost within reach, she was not going to be denied. When she touched Jesus, Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched Me?" in Mark5:31(Amp). His disciples kept saying to Jesus, "You see the crowd pressing hard against you from all sides, and You ask, Who touched Me?"

   The only other account in this chapter,  was about Jairus, who was believing for his daughter's healing. Was Jesus' healing for every person there or was it for those who believed? Some might say, "God doesn't heal everyone." Healing was for those who by faith, had hope and Jesus was moved by their faith and hope. They received accordingly. We can't let hope pass us by, when we're in a position to have a miracle in our lives. Rom.4:21(Amp) tells us that, "Abraham hope against hope and was strong in faith and was fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised."

    When we hope against hope, it means that things in the natural seem hopeless. Abraham placed his hope in the Promise, until faith brought it to pass in his life. When the doctors tell you that it's hopeless, you still have hope in God's Word that His Promises, "By Jesus' stripes we are healed" and "All of God's Promises are Yes and Amen to the Glory of God." 2Cor.1:20(Amp) says, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes Answer in Him, Christ. For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it) to God through Him (in His Person and by His Agency) to the Glory of God."

One On One #ge

     We hear so many differing thoughts about what is true and what isn't true about God's Word. We don't come out and say, "I think God's Word isn't true," but we might think that. Anyone who calls themselves a Christian, would not say, "I think God is a liar" or "God's Word isn't true." We might though use more subtle words by saying, "That's passed away, that's only for certain people, that was only for the early Church and the apostles, you never know what God might do, or that might not be God's will."

    Ps.119:89(Amp) says, "Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven (stands firm as the heavens)." Jer.1:12(Amp) says, "Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My Word to perform it." Jesus tells us in Luke21;33(Amp), "The sky and the earth (the universe, the world) will pass away, but My Words will not pass away." These are only a few scriptures that show the faithfulness of God's Word and His Promises. Paul was questioned about the validity of God's Words in Rom.3:4(Amp), where he answered, "By no means! Let God be found true though every human being is false and a liar, as it is written, That you may be justified and shown to be upright in what you say, and prevail when you are judged by sinful men."

     Many struggle with Rom.3:10(Amp) which says, "None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one. No one understands (no one intelligently discerns or comprehends); no one seeks out God.We need to continue reading Verses22-24, which says, "Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance of Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and it is meant for all who believe for there is no difference [between Jew and Gentile] Since all have sinned and are fallen short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. All have been made justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His Free Grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the Redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus."

    We mostly misunderstand righteousness, because of our personal failures and shortcomings. We must keep our faith in Jesus, Who has no shortcomings and failures. I would much rather walk with God based on Jesus' success, instead of my own ability to be righteous. I don't need to get born-again every time I fall short in my walk with God. We can rely on God's Word to keep me and His mercy to keep me, through the Redemption in Jesus.

   We don't purposely set out to sin, but we're still learning and growing in God's knowledge and His Grace of Who He has called us to be. When we're born, both physically and spiritually, we don't walk in the knowledge of adulthood. We don't throw children away, because their diapers need changed or their bottle is empty, because we know they will learn. We know too that love and grace will bring them into maturity.

    Let's take God at His Word and stop trying to change His Word, in order to match our inefficiencies. When we see another believer fall sick, we can't disregard Is.53:5(Amp) which says, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement (needful to obtain) peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes (that wounded) Him we are healed and made whole." Even if we're currently sick, we must determine in our hearts what we will believe and stand on it.

    Don't fall under condemnation because you've missed it. Get back into God's Word, until it's more true than anything else. We, the Body of Christ, were never called to surrender to anything but Jesus. If we continue to fight, then we will win, because we're already over-comers in Him. Let's look unto the "Author and Finisher of our faith," because His faith is now our faith too. Find hope in God's Word until it pushes out hopelessness. Is it easy? Not always, but it worked when you called upon Him when you were dead in trespass and sin. Didn't it? God's Word tells us in Eph.2:6(Amp), "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

    God's Word will help us learn to function as citizens of Heaven and walk as His sons and daughters here on earth. We don't grow up instantly, but 2Cor.3:18(Amp) we "Go from glory to glory and from faith to faith." Don't get discouraged and become content where you are, because God has so much more for you to experience in Him, while we're on this earth. Paul encourages believers in Heb.12:1(Amp) to "Run the race, keep the faith and finish the course, endure until the end."

One On One #31

    1Cor.13:13(Amp) says, "And so faith, hope and love abide (faith-conviction and belief respecting man's relationship with God and Divine things; hope-joyful and confident expectation of Eternal salvation; love-true affection for God and man, growing out of God's Love for us and in us), these three, but the greatest of these is love." 

    Paul received the Revelation of Jesus as the Messiah and the Last Sacrifice directly from Jesus, so why does he only list these three things as "abiding?" Paul went on to say in Rom.10:17(Amp), "So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the Message that comes from the lips of Christ, the Messiah Himself."

    We've heard the Word of God preached, whether in church, the airwaves or from family members and when we heard it, faith came. The Word was sown in our from hearing, even if we did or didn't receive Jesus as our Lord. And, because God's Word is "incorruptible Seed," it remained in our hearts. Like the prodigal son, when we decided God's Word is true and wanted to be freed from our old lifestyle, HOPE CAME. When we received Jesus as our Lord, God's unconditional Love accepted us, without any reservation. James2:17(Amp) tells us, "So also faith; if it does not have works, deeds, and action of obedience to back it up, by itself is destitute of power, inoperative, dead."

    We read about the condition of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark5:25-34. She had this issue of blood for twelve years, even though she had seen many doctors and had spent all of her money. If I had been in her shoes, then I would have no hope. She though, heard Jesus' Message and that produced faith, which inspired hope. Heb.11:1(Amp) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hoped for; being the proof of things we do not see; and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)."

    We're instructed to put hope in God's Word, when we're confronted with situations in our lives. When we put hope in God's Word, then faith can bring it into being. James2:14(Amp) tells us that, "Faith without works is dead." The woman with the issue of blood, heard Jesus' Message, had hope and that hope produced faith that Jesus could heal her. She then, pulled herself up and pushed through the crowd surrounding Jesus and touched the hem of His garment. She heard His Words and that brought forth faith. Her faith then, brought to pass what hope had inspired.

    We've all probably heard lots of teaching and preaching about faith, but did you know that hope had to be a companion to your faith? Did you know that you need to see yourself coming out of that hopeless place and step into what faith promised? I heard the Word of salvation, but didn't become a doer of it all at once. Until my life was broken into pieces, hope in what I had heard about Jesus came alive in my heard. When in hope, I used faith that Jesus could and would change my life and I responded to that faith in hope that God is True to His Word. Then, that thing I hope for became the substance and reality, resulting in my life being gloriously saved. 

    I've found that when we read of hear God's Word, faith comes, but if we don't use hope as a blueprint for faith to work with, then it's still something dead and without hope bringing it to pass. God told Abraham in Rom.4:18-23 that "he would be the Father of a multitude," then faith came, even though hope in the natural realm was gone." Abraham was past the age of becoming a father and his wife was barren. Thus Verses 18 tells us, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations; as he had been promised, So numberless shall be your descendants." Verse21 says, "Fully satisfied and assured God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised."

    Abraham hoped against hope for twenty-five years, until the promised came and his son was born. We can't let the world's hopelessness to stop our hope in God's Word, because when we turn loose of hope, faith is "inoperative and dead and destitute of power," according to James2:17. 

    We're trusting that we'll go to be with the Lord when we die. We believe this by faith, but hope is what keeps this promise alive and operative in our lives. I haven't seen or been there, but hope in that promise keeps my faith alive and faith is the "title deed and substance of my hope," according to Heb.11:11. Whatever you're setting your faith on, allow hope to remain the blueprint for faith to build from and you'll receive it. Let's be like Abraham who believed that God was able and mighty to perform what He Promised.

    

    

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One On One #30

     Prov.18:14(Amp) says, "The strong Spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but  weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?"

    All of our strength comes through our spirit, if we're born-again. In John6:63(Amp) Jesus says, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatsoever (there is no profit in it); the Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life." We don't always take time reading God's Word and praying in the spirit, like we should.

    We don't do these things as religious exercises, but we do these things in order to feed Strength and Life  into our new Spirit. We're actually feeding on Life Itself. Sadly, many Christians believe that salvation is only about going to Heaven when we die. Other Christians have disregarded things like Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the speaking in other tongues, fasting and praying, saying that these things have "passed away."

   There has been such a change from what our Christian walk is from what our nation was founded upon. It looks we've even lost so much of what our great nation, that we might not be able to regain it. Too many things that God's Church was founded upon, have become obsolete in many churches. Many of us in the Body of Christ, have become complacent and comfortable with just going to Heaven when we die, instead of standing up for Righteousness. Jesus told His followers to "Occupy until I come." This is a military term, which means to "advance and hold." We're to raise up disciples who will take what is taught in God's world, into all the world.

    We need to accept all that the Holy Spirit is calling us to be. When the Holy Spirit teaches something that our denominational teachers haven't taught, then we must pray and go before the Lord, so He can confirm that teaching. We can't simply receive everything that is taught, but we must go to the Word and to the Lord for the answers. Too many times we rely on the Sunday service to feed us, instead of feeding on God's Word for ourselves. When I got saved in the Jesus Revolution in the 1970'2, I learned from Charles Capps about the words we speak. I learned about deliverance from Lester Sumrall. Many of my drinking buddies and family members (outside of my nuclear family) scoffed at this. 

    I didn't know anything about God, but the Lord called me to go into nursing homes and pray for the elderly there. I laid hands on a lady whose hands were tightly closed into a fist, but nothing happened. I asked the Lord, "You said I could lay hands on the sick, if I believed and they would recover, so why didn't she recover?" God told me there's a difference between healing and losing. Then He took me to Luke13:10-13(Amp) which says, "Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had an illness caused by a spirit (demon). She was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called over to her and said to her, Woman, you are released from your illness. Then He laid His hands on her; and immediately she stood erect again and she began glorifying and praising God."

    The woman I laid hands on had a infirmity that was brought on because of her decades long intense unforgiveness she held against her neighbor. You might ask,"What's the difference?" Jesus taught us in Matt.6:33(Amp), "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His Kingdom and His Righteousness  (His way of doing and being right-the attitude and character of God), and all these things will be given to you also." I returned to that nursing home the very next day and loosed that woman from her infirmity. Her hands were immediately open and she was well.

   In Is.55:9(Amp) God says, "My ways are higher than your ways And My higher than your thoughts." We must learn to do things God's way, just like Jesus did.

    

One On One #29

    We've been learning why spending private, one on One, time in fellowship with the Lord is so important. 1Cor.14:2(Amp) says, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongues speaks not to men but to God; For no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding." Jude1:20(Amp) says, "But you beloved, build yourselves up founded on your most holy faith, make progress rise like an edifice higher and higher praying in the Holy Spirit."

    The secret truths and hidden things aren't obvious to the understanding, but are Revelation knowledge that our minds haven't yet conceived. The Holy Spirit has been sent to us, in order to reveal the things of the Father, that only He knows. The Holy Spirit has all the answers for things that seem to have no answer. The Holy Spirit has every answer that pertains to life and Godliness. Although we're saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, there are so many things that we don't understand on our own.

    It's great that we attend church services or have fellowship with our pastor, but the pastor doesn't know all the plans God has for every individual. It takes spending one on One time with the Holy Spirit to receive God's directions. When the Lord called me into the ministry, I was the only one who heard Him. I spoke with my wife, she prayed and the Lord confirmed it to her from His Word saying, "The two become one flesh," from Gen.2:24. When the word was confirmed by her, we could strike out on that word without conflict in our relationship.

    God could have used a prophet to give me His direction, but it was so much greater when He spoke to me one on One. I've known many people who stepped out after someone told them, "This is from God, He wants you to..." and they ended up in a real mess. The Father plans for all His children to follow His ways of doing and being right, so we can be a light and witness for Him. God also has specifics for all of us, that pertain to our individual walk with Him. We're not all called to the five-fold ministry. Some are called to build businesses or work in an outreach ministry across the globe. Whatever we're called to do in our personal walk with God, we must hear that call from the Holy Spirit.

    Sometimes, even after being born-again, we think there's more for us and seek God's assurance, but that assurance never comes. When the Holy Spirit speaks this secret truth into your heart, it's the only assurance you'll need, in order to step out into His leading. Even after hearing, you'll need to have continued guidance from the Lord. One can't just decide "this is okay" or "I've got this," because it might just mess up the entire process. All these things are spiritual, but might reach into the natural, lost world, because these are those God has called us to reach.

    God's Anointing will supply all that is needed for us to walk upright before the world, without seeming haughty, offensive or superior. We can be in a place of no compromises while reaching people, without coming down to the world's level. We don't need to tell everyone that they're sinners and stuff that down their throats. All we need to do is be a light that never goes out and be a stability for them while the Holy Spirit deals with them.

    If we remain in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, then He will lead us into all the Truth and reveal the Words of the Father to us. Jesus tells us in John16:7(Amp), "However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I Go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you (in close fellowship with you); but if I go away, I will send Him to you (to be in close fellowship with you)."

    The secret truths aren't hidden from us, but FOR US. The things God has for you are hidden in the Holy Spirit for you. If we had the answers for every situation or person in our lives, then we wouldn't need the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, we sometimes have that attitude and never ask the Holy Spirit's guidance. We need to return to praying and spending one on One time with the Holy Spirit.

One On One #28

     When sharing God's Word with a congregation, we're not just talking to a group of people, but to every individual. Every person has different needs, with only the same Source for an answer. God's Word can and will answer every need, if we will only go to Him one on One, for that answer. God doesn't give the pastor an individual answer for every person there, but He will give the answer in His Word for every person.

    We live in a world where there seems to be no hope. The real hope can only come from God's Word. Jesus spoke about the woman who suffered twelve years with an issue of blood, in Mark5:25-34(Amp). She had a flow of blood for all those years and the doctors couldn't cure it and instead she was getting worse. She had heard "good reports" about Jesus and after touching His garment, she was made whole.

    She wouldn't have been allowed to be near other people, according to the Law. She was probably very tired after losing blood for so long. I would have felt hopeless, alone and exhausted. Heb.11:1(Amp) tells us that, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The woman had no hope, until she heard about the healings Jesus had done. When she heard that maybe Jesus would and could heal her, hope rose up in her. After twelve years of despair and hopelessness, faith began to grow because she had hope. When faith came, she moved on that faith towards Jesus with the confidence that the hope God inspired in her and she was healed.

    God's Word is always there to inspire us to hope against hope, like it did in Abraham's life. When there was no hope in the natural, Abraham held out hope that God's Word and His Promise would come to pass. Faith rose up in him and God's Promise came forth in Abraham's life. You might find yourself in the place like the woman of blood or Abraham, and believe there's no hope for you but. God's Word though, is full of multitudes of Promises that can inspire hope, even when the world cannot do so. Jer.12:1(Amp) tells us that, "God watches over His Word to perform it." When the world has no hope, then we must go to God's Word and find hope, so that faith has something to perform and bring substance in our lives. 

    God has made Promises concerning our healing, health, our family including our children and even our great great grandchildren. 2Cor.1:20(Amp) tells us, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes (answer) in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him (in His Person and by His Agency) to the glory of God." People aren't trying to be mean when they tell us "There's no hope." They just don't see the way out. Our help doesn't come from this world, but from God Himself.

    Your life and your future doesn't depend on what others say about, but what our Heavenly Father says about you. If you're like the woman with the issue of blood and everyone has given up hope, then you must put hope in Jesus and His Word, like she did. You must let hope bring forth faith to put substance to and let God's Word work for you. The alternative is to stop hoping and trusting and quit. If I'm to lose anything, I will at least be fighting and not quitting. Paul writes to Timothy in 1Tim.6:12(Amp) saying, "I have fought a good fight, I have run a good race and I have kept the faith." Don't quit and wait for the rapture, but let's fight the good fight of faith, like Paul did.

    

One On One #un

     Hope is an almost forgotten factor in our walk with the Lord these days. The hope of The Bible isn't the same listless despair way of thinking found in the world. 1Cor.13:13(Amp) tells us, "So then, faith, hope and love abide, Faith-conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and Divine things. Hope-joyful and confident expectation of Eternal salvation; Love-true affection for God and man, grows out of God's Love found in us, these three, but the greatest of these is LOVE."

    So, according to God's Word, "hope" is a "joyful and confident expectation of Eternal salvation." Do you know that Eternal salvation is abiding within you right now? Why would it be something we can't have in our lives while here on earth? Heaven is part of our Eternal salvation and we can have joyful and confident expectation in it while we're here on earth. 

    In Heb.11:1(Amp) Paul writes about hope like this, saying, "Now faith is the assurance, the confirmation, the title deed of the things we HOPE for; being the proof of things we do not see, and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses)." Faith is the assurance of what we hope for. When hope is gone, faith has no substance on which to build. If the doctor tells you that "it's hopeless," then you must have hope like the Word says and that gives faith in God's report, over the hope doctor's. Without hope, faith is left without a purpose in our walk with God. Rom.4:18-20,21-22(Amp) tells us about Abraham and his faith, saying, "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the Father of many nations, as he had been promised, so numberless shall your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered the utter impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of Sara's womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver, doubtingly question concerning the Promise of God; but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God."

    Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Abraham kept his joyful and confident expectation, until faith brought forth the substance of the Promise. We sometimes lose hope by the words, circumstances or reports about our bodies, children or marriages, until faith has nothing to work with. One might ask, "What if I hold out faith for my healing, even when the doctor said it's hopeless and my healing doesn't come?" The Promise of our Eternal salvation is still there and we'll got home to be with the Lord, if we don't get our healing. So, what do we have to lose if the doctor said it's hopeless? We can sit down and accept it or we can stand on God's Word and hope against hope, just like Abraham did.

    Everything was against Abraham in the natural and his condition was hopeless, but he still hoped against hope. Paul continues saying in Verses21-22 saying, "Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised. That is why [Abraham's] faith was credited to him as righteousness, right standing with God."

    I'm not saying that the doctor was wrong when he said things are hopeless, I'm just reminding you that God says He will and is able to and mighty to do what He Promised. Joel Osteen's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer and sent home to die in 1981. She hoped against hope and put faith behind that hope until God raised her up. That was over twenty years and she's still glorifying God for her healing. She laid in her blood soaked bed and in pain for a long time, but she wouldn't turn loose of God's Promises. She still witnesses about God's mighty work in her life.

   Don't give up hope, because it gives the vision of your faith, until it becomes what we see in this realm.

One On One #26

    The Holy Spirit leads Paul to write about the believer's covenant with the Holy Spirit, through Jesus in Heb.2:1(Amp), saying, "Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past them and slip away." 

    We previously discussed the use of our spiritual languages, speaking in unknown tongues. Sometimes, the things we've learned and received from the Lord, "slip from us and drift past us" in our daily walk with Him. Paul writes in 1Cor.14:18(Amp), "I thank God that I speak in strange tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together." 

    Paul was actually taken into the Third Heaven, into the Presence of God Himself, where He was given this Revelation that we call The New Testament. If Paul needed the Awesome Gift of God, then how much more do we this Gift, in order to understand and receive the Revelation for ourselves? In 1Cor14:2(Amp) Paul writes, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding."

    These aren't secret truths or hidden things to God, but to our natural minds. These are hidden things that our spirit is seeking direction for our lives. When we pray in the Spirit, we're speaking one on One with God Himself and He is revealing all these hidden secrets to us, to help us understand them even in this natural realm. Jesus said in John6:63(Amp), "The Words I speak to you are Spirit and they are Life." Paul wrote a lot about renewing our minds and about not being carnally minded.

    He writes in Rom.8:12-14(Amp), "To be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace, while being carnally minded is death." Even though we're truly born-again and have been made one with Christ Jesus, we still think like we did and need to renew our minds. We were educated by the world and thought like the world, good and bad alike. Of course we needed to learn how to count, read and deal in this natural world, but these things had no Spiritual Revelation in them. 

    Paul never told us to forget how to read, write or think. Paul did instruct us to allow God's Word to direct our thinking about Spiritual things and to receive direction from the Father. Jesus told His disciples in John15:3(Amp), "You are cleansed and pruned already because of the Word which I have given you, the teachings I have discussed with." These teachings are the hidden things our spirits are seeking direction for. They are not hidden from us, but hidden for us to understand. Jude1:20(Amp) says, "But you beloved, build yourselves up, founded on your most holy faith, make progress rise like an edifice higher and higher, praying in the Holy Spirit."

   We can read God's Word and have enough education to comprehend the words, but still not have Revelation as to what they mean for us in this natural realm. This is what helps us to renew our minds. As the Holy Spirit reveals these things into our spirits, they become not only information but Revelation. The Promise of the Holy Spirit is one of the greatest things we have received from our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus told His followers in John16:13-15(Amp), "But when He (the Spirit of Truth, the Truth Giving Spirit comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth); For He will not speak His Own Message, on His Own Authority, but He will tell whatever He hears of the Father, and He will give the Message that has been given to Him, and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come, that will happen in the future. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine, and will reveal, declare, disclose and transmit unto you. Everything the Father has is Mine, that is what I meant when I said that He (the Spirit) will take the things that are Mine and will reveal, declare, disclose, transmit them to you." 

    These are the mysteries and hidden things Paul wrote about in 1Cor.14:2. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is almost a forgotten gift in the lives of too many believers. We've allowed the Gift of the Holy Spirit to slip passed us in certain times. The Holy Spirit is an open doorway into the very Heart of God for us to enter and receive guidance around the enemy's traps. The Holy Spirit gives us a path in which God's Word has planned out for our walk with Him.

One On One #25

    Do you still pray like you did when you received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and your new language of the Spirit? We prayed without ceasing (nearly) after that, but now we hardly use this precious gift. There are many things we don't know how to pray about, but we can pray about them in the Spirit. 

    Rom.8:26-27(Amp) says, "So to, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; For we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Holy Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings to deep for utterance And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit, what His intent is, because the Spirit intercedes and pleads before God in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will."

    The enemy has fought against believers knowing about and using the Gift of the Spirit, because it's man's entry into the Wisdom and will of God for our lives. 1Cor.14:2(Amp) says, "For one who speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men to but God; for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things not obvious to the understanding." The Holy Spirit gives insight to things we need, but don't know how to pray about. When we pray in the Spirit, God gives us knowledge of what we need to do into our spirits.

    So many times in this natural realm, we don't know how to pray or even what to do, but the Holy Spirit can and will give us wisdom when we pray in the Spirit. He will provide guidance and wisdom in out time of need and uncertainty. Even when we feel weak in our faith walk and feel like we're falling short of what we're called to do, the Holy Spirit is always there to build us up. 1Cor.14:4(Amp) says, "He who speaks in a strange tongue edifies and improves Himself, but he who prophesies, interpreting the Divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration, edifies and improves the Church and promotes growth in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness and happiness."

    When we speak in an unknown tongue in the congregation, with an interpreter, we can reveal God's Wisdom to His Church. When we spend one on One time praying in the spirit, God builds us up and gives us direction for our lives. When preaching and teaching in church, I don't deliver my message in tongues, because without an interpreter, the congregation doesn't understand what I'm saying. So, I would rather say ten words that the congregation understands, rather than speak ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. This doesn't mean that speaking in tongues isn't important, but it's to be used properly.

    The Holy Spirit inspires Jude to write about dangerous times and how to rise above them in Jude1:20(Amp), saying, "But you, beloved, build yourselves up founded on your most holy faith, make progress rise like and edifice higher and higher, praying in the Holy Spirit." In troubled times, we make progress and rise like an edifice higher and higher, when we pray in the Holy Spirit.

    I don't know about you, but I see the troubling times around us today. I deal with them like God's Word instructs us, by praying in the Holy Spirit and seeking His direction, Revelation and His edification. Praying in the Holy Spirit isn't just for when we first received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but is to guide and direct us throughout our entire walk with the Lord.

   

    

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One On One #24

     I encourage every believer to have a one on One relationship with the Lord. Many don't even know that this is possible, because they've been taught that this sort of relationship is "only for the leaders or special persons in the Church."  What we've lost in our understanding about this, is that all these "supernatural things are for those who believe," according to Mark16:17-20.

    For centuries, the Church has been losing sight of the supernatural Church, becoming just "natural." We've been told that "these things have passed away, are not for us today, and you never know what God can do." The Supernatural is what makes the Church, the Church. When you remove the supernatural from the Church, we become just another religion. Like the scribes and Pharisees, we've "made the Word of God to no effect, because of our traditions." We've been simply going through the motions.

    The existence of the Church, depends wholly on the supernatural power of God and His Word. No one can cast out a devil, without the supernatural. The dead cannot be raised to life, without the supernatural. The sick can't be healed, if we don't depend on the supernatural power of God. Jesus said in Mark16:17(Amp), "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages." These are supernatural signs that accompany those who understand the authority in and of His Name, which is the supernatural power of God Himself.

    Notice that Jesus didn't say, "These signs will only accompany the five-fold ministry." He said that they would accompany those who believe. One can be part of the five-fold ministry, but never see these accompany his/her ministry, because they don't believe in them. Jesus spoke about those He sent out to preach the Kingdom. They had been casting out devils and healing the sick. These weren't His disciples, but those who believed.  Luke10:21(Amp) tells us, "In that same hour He rejoiced and gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have concealed these things relating to salvation from the wise and understanding and learned, and have revealed them to babes, the childish, unskilled and untaught. Yes Father, for such was You gracious will and choice and good pleasure."

    These people weren't the twelve disciples who spent so much time with Jesus, but they were people who heard Jesus speak and then believed what He said. Jesus sent out seventy others to go out ahead of His arrival, in order to prepare His way and prepare others with the news of His Kingdom. They displayed the Kingdom with supernatural signs that opened people's eyes. 

    Jesus said that, "These signs will follow those who believe." Do we still believe in these supernatural signs in the Church today? Or, have we become traditional like the scribes and Pharisees? Mark16:20(Amp) says, "And they went out and preached everywhere; while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it. Amen, So be it." They simply followed Jesus' teaching and the supernatural took place everywhere they preached it. Jesus confirmed His Word by the signs and miracles as they preached it. Do we still preach the supernatural part of God's Word, other than just the new birth? The new birth is supernatural and it opens the door to all the supernatural power of God to set captives free. You'll probably suffer persecution from many, even believers, for operating in the supernatural. So did Jesus and those who believed. Are we to please the Father or please mankind? Has God lost His ability to still do what He said or have we lost sight of His ability to act on His Word? We must spend time with the Lord in the Spirit and listen to His directions.

One On One #23

    Jesus said in Matt.6:21-23(Amp), "Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to eat? or What are we going to have to drink? or What are we going to wear? For the Gentiles (heathens) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these taken together will be given you besides."

    You might ask, "Well, what is God's way of doing and being right?" God's way is according to His Word and His covenant. His righteousness can only be found in Jesus Christ, Who has become our very righteousness, according to Rom.3:21-22(Amp) which says, "But now the Righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets. Namely, the Righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and it is meant for all who believe. For there is no distinction."

    This is God's way of being right or righteous. We've tried being righteous by our own works for many years, and like those in the old covenant, we're unable to keep all the Law by our own efforts. Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write in Rom.3:10(Amp), saying, "As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no not one." Only Jesus could fulfill the Law.

    Jesus said in Matt.5:12,17(Amp), "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them." Until Jesus came as our Sacrifice, none could ever complete or fulfill the Law, because their entire spiritual nature was born of the seed of Adam. Rom.5:12(Amp) says, "Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, no one being able to stop it or escape its power, because all men sinned." Paul continues in Verse 17, saying, "For if because of one man's trespass, lapse, offence, death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor) and the free Gift of Righteousness, putting them into right standing with Himself to reign as kings in life, through the One Man, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

     God has made us sons and daughters of His family. Like He provided for Adam and Eve before the fall, Jesus restored us back to the Father in perfect righteousness and under His provision again. We have covenant with God through the Blood covenant of Jesus, the Blessing of Abraham has come on us now. Gal.3:14(Amp) says, "To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."

    Read what the Holy Spirit promised to Abraham. God provided for Abraham throughout his life and beyond, until Jesus and now to us by faith in the Promise. "God watches over His Word to perform it," according to Jer.1:12(Amp). This includes your healing, care, entrance into His Presence, and the wholeness of His Blessing for whatever you put your hand too to prosper.  

One On One #22

     Ps.32:8(Amp) says, "I, the Lord, will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will  counsel you with My eye upon you."

    I'm not looking for general relationship with God. I'm seeking a personal relationship and one on One time with Him. It's one thing to know the general Word of God for His people, but it's wholly different having a personal relationship with Him and know His Word for you. Many believers have never come to know the Voice of the Lord for their own lives. Jesus said, "My sheep know My Voice," in John10:47.

    There are stories all over the air waves about the two hurricanes that hit the south. People were asked, "How did you survive?" Their testimony was, "I heard God's Voice and He told me what to do." Many testimonies from 911 say, "I heard God's Voice telling me not to go to work that morning." Other survivors say, "God gave me directions on how to get out of the building." No doubt, some Christians sadly perished that day and didn't know God's Voice for themselves.

     Did God favor one over another? No. He no doubt, He spoke to all, but some didn't hear His Voice or recognize it. Jesus said about some, "Having ears they don't hear, and having eyes they don't see." They all had eyes and ears, but they weren't in tune with Him. Many don't go beyond being saved and living right, because that's all they've known. This is right and good in God's sight, but He wants to have a personal relationship with His children. Paul tells us in Rom.12:2(Amp), "Be transformed by the renewal of your minds, that you may know what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God for our lives." God has a plan for every child in His family and for our lives. It falls on us to seek and listen to His Voice at all times, so we can all walk in the paths that He prepared for us.

     We're not called to the five-fold ministry, but that doesn't mean we haven't been called to specific things. Listening to God's Voice as He speaks to us in our daily lives, can make the difference between life and death. Many Floridians are deciding whether they will stay or evacuate, in the midst of Hurricane Milton. Hearing from Him could determine whether they stay or go. They must know confidently whose voice they're listening too.

    Even as a Christian, you may certainly to on to be with the Lord in Heaven, but is that what He planned for you? Don't just walk with Him in a general form of religion, but seek to walk with Him as your own Father. Jesus said in, John5:30(Amp), "I only do what I hear My Father say, and I only do what I see My Father do." This is a One on One walk with God and what He desires for us. This relationship is what Jesus came to bring not only to us, but to our Father. This was always the desire of God's Heart. When we ignore the open door into His Presence, grieves His Heart, because He loves us so much. The joy of being Father is lost to Him, when we don't spend time in fellowship with Him and seeking His plan for us.

    In 1John1:3-7(Amp), John writes, "What we have seen, and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And this fellowship that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christians is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).  And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you included may be full and your joy may be complete. And this is the Message of Promise which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you; God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all, no, not in any way. So if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him. When we live and move in darkness, we are both speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth, which the Gospel presents. But if we really are living and walking in the Light, as He Himself is in the Light, we have true, unbroken fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses and removes us from all sin and guilt (keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations)."

    Notice, the above scripture doesn't say that they have darkness in them, but "they are in darkness." Many have been taught dark things about God and how He deals with His children. When you walk in the darkness of those things, it's hard to have unbroken fellowship with the Lord, because you don't really know Him. Even while living in exile, John maintained a relationship with God. Remember that John is called, "the disciple Jesus loved." The Light John walked in, is the same Light he writes about, that we might have a distinguishing mark as Christians. This comes by spending time with Him in one on One fellowship.

One On One #21

    Many Christians still don't know what God's will is for their lives. They believe that God will put sickness and disease on them, in order to teach them something or to discipline them. Gal.3:13-14(Amp) tells us, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse (doom) of the Law, and its condemnation, by Himself becoming a curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)." Deut.21:14(Amp) says, "To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles, so we all through faith might all receive the Promise of the Holy Spirit."

    2Cor.1:20(Amp) tells us, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes answer in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him (in His Person and by His Agency) to the glory of God." Do we know what God's Promises are? Do we understand the Blessing of Abraham that has come upon us? Do we truly understand what being redeemed from the Curse of the Law means? These are Promises God has made and all His Promises are "Yes and Amen to His praise and glory."

    We can read about God's Promises made through the old covenant and Israel,and now to us through Jesus in the Old Testament. Gal. 3:16-18(Amp) tells us that the Blessing came before the Law. This Promise was actually made to Jesus and Abraham by faith, could walk in it until Jesus (to Whom the Promises was made) came. Now through faith in Jesus, these Promises and Blessings are ours in Him.

    Many read the about the old covenant without understanding that those people were still under the Law and not under the Sacrifice Lamb of God, Who perfectly fulfilled the Law and the Prophets. Jesus said in Matt.5:27-28(Amp), "I come not to do away with the Law, but to fulfill all of the Law and the Prophets." We must go before the Lord one on One, seeking His Truth, instead of what others say. Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees that they had made God's Word of no affect, because of their traditions. They were following tradition with no understanding or Truth in what they were doing.

    We sometimes get in a rut in our Christian life and do the same things over and over again, without faith in what we're doing. That doesn't mean we're not doing what The Bible says, but we're not believing or expecting it to work. It's just tradition. We've all heard about the Blood of Jesus, the Cross and the Resurrection, but we've lost the Truth of it's Power for believers today.

    These things are all part of the Promise and they're all still "Yes and Amen," in Christ Jesus. When we come before the Father in search of Truth, we need to seek out His Blessing and Promises that are ours today in Jesus. Our walk with the Father would be so much greater and we'll grow closer to Him, when we take time to seek Him. This is already our for while we're still here on earth, not for Heaven. This is where the Curse is, not in Heaven. This is where we need to know that Jesus fulfilled the Law for us and the Blessing is ours through Him. We need to know that Jesus purchased all for us on Calvary's cross. It was important enough for Jesus to die for if and it should be important enough for us to find out and accept what Christ did for us.

One On One #20

    When the ts Me hears prayer, He hears not only from a nation or people, but He hears our personal prayers. You're probably not praying for things in your own life, that aren't the same as I'm praying for. We need to hear from God, one on One, on a personal level. I might be praying for directions on what God  wants me to do for Him, while you're praying for someone to help with answers for our family. It's of upmost importance that we each hear from God about our specific need.

    Jesus says in John14:26(Amp), "But the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand by, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My Place, to represent Me and act on My behalf. He will teach you all things, and He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." This isn't just for those who were with Jesus at that time, but is for all of us who have believed on Him from that time until now.

    One thing the Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance is found in John10:14(Amp) where Jesus says, "I Am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own recognize Me." This is more than our just being saved. This is our coming to know Him in intimate fellowship and to know His heart and Word. We read from John17:3(Amp) what Jesus says about Eternal Life. Thus He said, "And this Eternal life, (it means) TO KNOW (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and understand) You, the Only True and Real God, and (likewise) to know Him, Jesus (as the) Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah) Whom You have sent." 

    John writes about hearing from God through the Word and the Holy Spirit in 1John2:2B  saying, "But you have been anointed by (you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from the Holy One, and you all know the Truth, or you know all things." Verse 27 says, "But as for you, the anointing, the sacred appointment, the unction which you received from Him, abides permanently in you; so then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His Anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in, live in, never depart from Him, knit to Him, just as His Anointing has taught you to do."

    Jesus made the way for us to not only be born-again, but to be able to pray to the Father and be heard by Him. Jesus made the way for us to know the Father, like Jesus knows Him. Jesus made the way for us to able to pray and be heard by the Father. Jesus made the way for us to be heard by the Father and through the Holy Spirit, to hear from the Father in everything.

    We need to make time to tune out the noise around and takes over our minds and attention, so we can learn to hear and recognize His Voice and instructions. Is.30:19-21(Amp) says, "All people who dwell in Zion at Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your Teacher will not hide Himself anymore, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher. And your ears will hear a Voice behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left."

    The Prophet Isaiah is speaking by the Spirit in the time of our new covenant with the Jews and to all of nations. Jesus paid the price for all of us, and sent the Holy Spirit to all of us. Our Teacher will not hide Himself and our eyes will constantly behold Him and He will hear us. We will hear Him telling us which way to turn or what to do in our time of need.

     I call it "God's G.P.S." He has programmed out spirit by His Spirit and when we get off course, He will say, "Make a left turn and make the right turn to get back on course." If we programmed the G.P.S. in our car and pull into a gas station for fuel, then it will tell us we're off course and show us how to get back on course. The G.P.S . is very adamant and will not quit until we obey, even if we must make a legal U turn.

One On One #19

     James4:8(Amp) says, "Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh to you." Drawing near to God is what one on One is all about. Many today have trouble knowing God's will for our lives. Much of this is a result of our hearing differing teachings and ministries. It's great to have our teachers and preachers in the Body of Christ, but it can't replace hearing directly from our Lord.

     Not all teachers and preachers agree on the things they preach. This doesn't mean they're not men/women of God and aren't saved, but it does mean that they're not all in one accord. Both can't be right, even though they might think they are. I don't believe that any man or woman of God would deliberately teach error to the church, but like all of us, they are still learning.

    When we hear something and aren't sure exactly what that means, then you must get before God and seek Him for ourselves. I've heard differing teachings, but I couldn't move on them until I got before God. Some know about God, while some "know God" and that's a big difference. Jesus said in John17:3(Amp), "And this Eternal Life; (it means) to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the Only True and Real God, and (likewise) to know Him, Jesus (as the) Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah) Whom You have sent." He taught His disciples in John15:26(Amp) saying, "But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Stand by) comes; Whom I will sent to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He Himself will testify regarding Me." The Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost. He testifies of Jesus and reveals Him to us. He is the Spirit of Truth.

    In John6:28-29(Amp), Jesus' follower asked Him, "What are we to do that we may (habitually) be working the works of God? (what are we to do to carry out what God requires?) Jesus replies, This is the work (service) that God asks of you; that you believe in the One Whom He has sent (that you cleave to, trust, rely on, have faith in His Messenger)." John8:19(Amp) says, "Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me, if you knew Me you would know My Father also."

    Many believers have difficulty separating the God of the old covenant and the Father and Jesus of the new covenant. They are the same God, but the covenants are different. In the old covenant, people offered blood sacrifices of animals. Jesus' Blood Sacrifice changed the entire relationship and fellowship mankind has with the Father. "All things have passed away, behold, all things are made new." 

    Many believe that God is strict and puts sickness of His children, in order to teach or correct us. They read Heb:12:6-8(Amp) which says, "For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves; and punishes and even scourges everyone whom He accepts and welcomes to His Heart. You must submit to and endure correction for discipline, God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom the Father does not thus train and correct and discipline? Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all of God's children share, then you illegitimate offspring and not true sons at all."  

   They need to keep reading in 2Tim.3:16(Amp) which says, "Every scripture is God Breathed (given by His Inspiration) and is profitable for instruction; for reproof and correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action."  When God disciplines His children today, He does so by His Word and His Spirit and not by calamity, sickness, or disease. This is why it's imperative that we come to know Him one to One. Then we can hear His Voice, walk in His Word, and avoid the pitfalls of the world and the enemy.

     Even though we are redeemed from the Curse of the Law, the Curse is still out there. When we are obedient to His Word, we can receive correction and discipline ourselves by hearing Him. Then we can walk in thought, purpose and action in God's will, at all times. This comes from spending one on One time with our Heavenly Spirit.

One On One #18

    Too many believers are trying to live by the Law and not by grace. Jesus taught His followers in Matt.5:17(Amp) saying, "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law of the prophets. I have come not to do away with or undo it but to complete and fulfill them." If you are in Christ Jesus, then in Him you have already fulfilled and completed the Law and the prophets. We are accounted as having done nothing against the Commandments of God, by Grace. Through Jesus, we're accounted as sinless and worthy of the entire Blessing of Abraham.

    Under the new covenant, we are the Blessed of the Lord by Christ Jesus. When we partake the Bread at the communion table, we now see that Jesus' body was broken and by it we are made whole. When we see the cup of the covenant, we're to see His Blood poured out for our healing and our wholeness as one body, the Body of Christ. Is.53 tells us how "Jesus bore all of our pain, punishment, chastisement, and the Curse on the cross." In Is.54 we see where God has said that Jesus' Sacrifice on the cross would remove all of God's wrath and rebuke from us forever. God said that this would be like "the waters of Noah," and He will never again do these things to us. Adam's transgression in the Garden brought spiritual separation from God. Jesus' Spiritual separation and His death on the cross and Resurrection made us new and born again from death. Now we have new Life with Jesus and the Father, as His Own family again.

    We now live our lives before God as if sin never has been. We remember the Blood that gives Life and healing to our natural bodies, until we receive our new body at the Resurrection. Gen.6:3(Amp) says, "Then the Lord said, My Spirit will not forever dwell and strive with man, for he also is flesh, but his days shall yet be 120 years."

    Under our new covenant, we have the Life of God living in our spirit and we have the Blood o Jesus to give Life to our flesh. This Promise is to all who will accept it and live by God's Word of Love. His Grace is more than enough and His Life within us by Jesus' Blood is more than enough. Lev.17:11-14(Amp) says, "The life of all flesh is in the blood." We now have the Blood of Jesus on the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. It speaks on our behalf with health, healing and life for our natural bodies.

    Do Christians still get sick and even die, like non-Christians do? Yes, but it's mostly because we don't know or understand what the communion table is about. Paul wrote in 1Cor.11:30(Amp) "This is why some are sick, some are weak, and many have fallen asleep in death, because we didn't understand and judge by the cross our deliverance." 

    God made the way for us to live free and He doesn't get angry and punish us even when we miss it. His Grace and Mercy will always be available and ready every time we "come boldly to the Throne o Grace to receive Grace and Mercy in our time of need." We're like children who are still learning and growing in His Grace. We still make mistakes that only the Cross could remove. God's Grace is always there to help, according to 1John1:7(Amp) which says, "But if we are really living and walking in the Light, as He Himself is in the Light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleansed us from sin in all its forms and understandings."

     "Walking in the Light as He is the Light, means we're learning and doing as God's Word of Light and the Love commandment instructs. We're to learn how to walk out God's Love walk, which is the Light as He is in the Light. Jesus' Blood will keep us out of and from everything else that the Light hasn't yet revealed to us. Ps.119:130(Amp) says, "The entrance and unfolding of Your Word gives Light, their unfolding gives understanding, and comprehension to the simple." We're children of God through Jesus and our new birth. We have only two commandments to follow. We're to love the Lord our God and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Jesus said that everything else hinges on these two commandments. 1John1:7(Amp) tells us that even when we sin, "Confession and changing will restore fellowship with one another, and the Blood will still keep us and set us free."

    We're to practice the Love walk and everything else, from the Blessing and healing, will work in that Light. It will even prolong our days on this earth, if we want to live 120 years. I believe Jesus will be back way before that, but if not, we still have work to do down here.

One On One #17I

    Healing , the Blood and the Curse of the Law. How are these things tied together in our new covenant? We've heard about the Blood of Jesus and we've heard about our redemption, but what does this all mean to me in my personal walk with the Lord? 

    Lev.17:14(Amp) tells us, "As for the life of all flesh, the blood of it represents the life of it." The life of a lamb and the blood of it, could be received for the life of a man and cover him from death or the Curse of the Law, under the old covenant.  In the new covenant, Jesus' Blood and Sacrifice is received by the Father and not only covers but eradicates the Curse and its many applications on our behalf.

    The Spirit and its separation from the Father at Calvary, gave us Eternal Life and a new birth from death unto Life in Jesus. Our mortal bodies are still left vulnerable to the effects of the Curse. In Deut.28:15(Amp) God tells those in the old covenant, "Bu t if you will not obey the Voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments and statutes which I command you this day, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you." The rest of the chapter, is about how God will curse them. If the people violated God Laws, then the penalties would bring separation from the Blessing.

    Jesus said in Matt.5:16-17(Amp), "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law of the prophets; I have not come to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until the sky and the earth pass away and and perish, not one smallest letter nor one little hook (identifying certain Hebrew letters) will pass from the Law until all things it foreshadowed are accomplished."

    Gal.3:13(Amp) tells us, "Christ purchased our freedom (redeeming us) from the Curse (doom) of the Law, (and its condemnation) (by Himself) becoming a curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (crucified). To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles so that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."

    Yes, but what about the Law? In Matt.22:36-40(Amp) Jesus speaks about the Law, saying that we are to "Love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbors as ourselves. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets." Jesus fulfilled the Law and by faith in what He did, we only have these two laws to walk in now. The Blood and Sacrifice have born the Curse and sickness, the Spirit gave us our new creation Life and restored us back to God. We're clean and pure in spirit, soul and body.

    We must believe what Jesus has done for us and live in and through Him in love. If we get our of love and sin, then we have the Ever Living Blood of our Sacrifice Lam, which continually gives us Life. Remember, "the life of all flesh is in the blood." We're still flesh and maintain life in the flesh, by the Life in Jesus' Blood. 1John1:7(Amp) says, "But if we really are living and walking in the Light, as He Himself is in the Light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His Son (cleanses and removes us from all sin and guilt, keeps us from sin in all its forms and manifestations."

    This is the healing and redemption from the Curse, given because Jesus became the Curse for us. He gave us His Blood to keep us clean and well. If we do sin, then His Blood and faith in it, will now cleanse us  If we confess our sin before Him, then His Blood will keep us clean and well, so we can walk and live in THE LIGHT (the Light of His Word and Love).

One On One #16

    Spending quiet time alone with the Lord, is one of the greatest times in the believer's life. It's not just reading and hearing the Word that builds up our faith and trust in Him, but it's fellowshipping and spending quiet time with Him. Jesus gave the "Parable of the Sower," in Mark 4:18-22(Amp) where He spoke about different soils (hearts). Verse 18 tells us that the seed is sown among the thorns that choke it out. Jesus never said that this didn't happen to believers. He said that the seed is being choked out by all the cares of the world. In the world we're living in today, there are so many things happening around us and in our daily lives, that we can't find time to think. This doesn't always mean that the cares are sinful. 

     The politics of America and all the things happening in our lives can cause more cares than we need. The price of food, gas, heat, rent, insurance and so many other things, are causing many to work two jobs. We're worn out by the time we get home, so we don't spend time with God. This isn't accidental, but is the enemy's plan. He doesn't want us to bear fruit. We might still be holding onto our salvation, but aren't bearing fruit in the lives of others. Jesus says in Verses19-22, "Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. And those sown on the good (well adapted) soil are the ones who hear the Word and receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit-some thirty times as much as was sown, some sixty times as much, and some (even) a hundred times as much. And He said to them, Is the lamp brought in to be put under a peck measure or under a bed, and not (to be put) on the lampstand? [Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.] For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything (temporarily) kept secret except in order that it may be made known."

    The things that seem to be hidden from us today, can and will be revealed to us in our quiet time of fellowship with the Lord. I truly recognize how difficult it is sometimes to find the time for fellowship with the Lord. We're saved and love the Lord, but it's still hard to find the time for one on One with Him. When we hear the Word about certain things, it might ring true, but before we can receive it into our hearts satan comes to steal it from us. The things around us steal the Word, before it can take root in our hearts.

    Meditating on God's Word is something that must be developed in us. It doesn't just happen, but must be learning and accepted on an individual level. Some seem to grasp it easier than others, but it's a discipline we must each develop. It's not just reading the Word, but it's spending time meditating on what we read and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal the hidden truths of the Word to us. Jesus continues in Mark 4:26-27(Amp) saying, "The Kingdom of God, is like a man who scatters seed upon the ground then continues sleeping and rising night and day while the seed sprouts and grows and increases, he knows not how."

    Most of us know that Jesus shed His Blood for us, but don't really know what that means. When we meditate on this Truth, even while we're working or driving or at home, and stay in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit, then He will reveal the Truth of Jesus' Blood to us. He will reveal what the effect Jesus' Blood means to our natural man/woman. This is one on One time where we will see the seed sprout and grow, but we "know not how." The seed knows how to grow, if it's in good soil. Meditating on the Word causes the soil (our hearts) to be fertile, so the seed can grow. 

    Every seed or Word of God is self-fulfilling in itself. God tells us in Is.54:11(Amp), "My Word will not return unto Me void, but will accomplish that which I have sent it to do."