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.