"That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving..." Psalm 26:7
Vol. 15, No. 1 January 2006
If there was ever a time when people need to keep pushing through it is now. The Lord is ready to answer persistent faith. He is still looking for those who will push, push, push and not allow distractions to stop them. I know I have said this many times. And I wonder how much more it has to be said. But God is the God of His Word and His Word says, "Be persistent" (Luke 11:8).
What does it mean to be persistent? Unrelenting, constant, determined, and even pushy. I think the Lord wants us to know just how much do we need what we ask for. If we truly need it, then we will be persistent until it manifests.
So many are giving up because they are tired of asking. How are we to say when enough is enough? We can't control God nor should we try. If we mean business then we will continue asking, seeking and knocking until the door opens. Then when it does open, no man will be able to close it because the Lord Himself opened it.
WOW! That determination takes some persistence. Remember, all that we do in the Kingdom of God is about faith. So that is the essence of our faith operating in the day we live. God is going to release your answer as soon as He knows you mean business.
In Christ
Pr. Steve
Steadfast Unto The End
Heb. 3:14 "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;"
There are too many contemporary teachings today that exclude the admonition that we must endure to the end, that we must continue to abide in Him, and that we must bear much fruit. Why? Because deception is a ruling force among church members!
Jesus addresses three questions in His dissertation found in Matthew 24:3:
When will these things be?
What will be the sign of your coming?
What will be the sign of the end of the age?
What was Jesus' immediate response? Verse 4 – Don't allow man to deceive you. Given the nature of deception, how are we to keep from being deceived? If we knew when we were deceived, we would not be deceived. So it does not matter how strong you are, anyone can be deceived.
Notice the Lord did not say be careful Satan does not deceive you, but that man does not deceive you. Yes, deception originates with Satan, but he doesn't have the power to deceive the elect of mankind. Only when we are in a position of a lie that we believe can the power of Satan enter. No one can keep self in the truth except Jesus Christ rules that life. (2 Thes. 2:9-11)
With unrighteousness comes deceit. We are living in a world that is under the power of Satan. Man has been placed under the power of Satan. God has sent Jesus Christ so that we can escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. God has commanded that we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, not striving for happiness, but righteousness.
If you are not seeking righteousness first, then the ability of unrighteousness is lurking at your doorstep. Happiness is an attempt to restore Paradise to the earth before the curse has been lifted. The pursuit of happiness comes when we place family, jobs, recreation, and desires before the things of that produce righteousness, thereby making us vulnerable to deception.
The Bible is clear about patience accompanied by a considerable amount of tribulation. But Satan uses people and opportunity to present us with desires that fill our minds to satisfy the cravings of the flesh. And he does it in a manner that makes it feel right.
There seems to be much "ministry" but the "testimony" of God, which is His Person, His way, His will, His kingdom, has been destroyed. The damage is done.
Everyone wants to be happy – that is natural. But God wants you to be righteous. And that righteousness is very costly. Peter tried to keep the Lord from going through suffering and displeasure, but Jesus rebuked him. The Lord resisted Satan's attack through Peter so He would not become deceived. This illustration shows us that the voice of Satan can come to us through the most earnest Christian. We must be cautious in listening to voices that appeal to our happiness. That is why it is so important to know His Voice and His Word. Teachings and voices that proceed from the Lord do not conflict with scriptures.
We will be judged based on what we listen to and adhere to. We won't be able to place the blame on others; the blame is ours when we are not diligent in making certain that we are not being deceived.
Matt. 24:6 "But the end is not yet." The existence of wars and rumors of wars shows us the end is not yet. The sign of the end will be worldwide peace brought about by the antichrist spirit. There will be a peace apart from God, a peace that comes by man's happiness. Are we not getting closer?
From verse 8 He tells us this sign, called the "beginning of birth pains," is significant. We have been told prophetically "we are in birth pains." This is the way we have been seeing the future – the increase in darkness heralds an end of good times and goodness in general. Isn't that what has been preached? No, the beginning of birth pains is the beginning of all that is good in God. The darkness is preparing us for the Day Star that is about to rise in our hearts and lives.
At the darkest hour of life, we can lift up our heads and know redemption--our release of glory--is at hand.
Jesus says in verse 9 that we will be hated. What I believe is now happening is a rise of democracy across the globe because it focuses on the rights of people and on human happiness. It encourages self-glorification while true Christianity calls for crucifixion of self-will and self-glorification. Democracy and the cross have become enemies that will finally result in hatred toward all true believers.
Don't let ministers of the Gospel tell you that you will be raptured away before these things take place. They are deceivers. It is your responsibility to see you are not deceived – that you are making godly decisions about your family and life. Does this exhortation from Jesus give you any indication that you won't be here when this happens? Think about it.
The enemy of the Christian is not tribulation. Tribulation is redemptive. Tribulation teaches us patience. Let me tell you a secret – the Lord says over and over and over again "patience." It is fruit of the Spirit and we must have it. There is not one single person I have yet met and spoken to about the end times that believes we will go through any tribulation. The love of many is cold and people don't even know it. Tribulation is not to be feared, it produces strong Saints. But deception must be feared because it will destroy many.
(2Th 2:3) "Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
The day of the Lord will not be fulfilled until there come "a falling away first." And it will happen because the love of many will grow cold. This coldness will result in mutiny against authority, known as "the mystery of iniquity" (vs.7). All sin and iniquity results from pride of self-exaltation.
Now look at this verse – Antichrist, who is "the abomination that produces desolation," is held in check today by the Spirit of God in true Christians. But the democracy that is coming forth today is a deception which will cause believers to grow cold in faith and in trusting Christ alone. And once the destruction of faith in the majority of believers has occurred, the power that is hindering the full revelation of Antichrist will take place resulting in great tribulation.
Matt. 24:13 tells us to endure to the end! We need a revolution in Christian thinking (a new mind set) about salvation:
Salvation takes place first when we place our faith in the Lord Jesus and are baptized in water.
Salvation takes place as we daily live, working out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Salvation comes in the future when the Lord appears with the saints and angels, if we endure to the end.
Heb 3:14 "For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." In other words, if we take what we received originally through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus and hold on to it without being shaken to the very end, we will be saved.
-Pr. Steve
. . . My calling as a pastor
Pastor's Journal 2005
Jan. 1: "This will be a year where I will give you what you seek after. There comes a time when as people grow that they will go after what they have wanted. It will reflect who they truly are and what they are truly about. If you are seeking the Kingdom of God that is what you will find, and if you are seeking the things of the world that is what you will find. This will be a year of fulfillment in many ways." Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxiety and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
Jan. 6: "I have brought you to this place, and before you lay the territory where the wild beasts roam. They will be all around you searching for their prey. You will not be touched by any. This test will reveal to you the armor and the weapons that I have given. It will reveal how fearless you have become. You will continue through and rise to new heights where nothing will harm you. You are going to see with your own eyes how much change has truly taken place. It will produce boldness of My Spirit so others will recognize what I have done is an eternal work that will last."
Jan. 7: On Assignment! Everything we do we find our fulfillment in Him. This is true devotion.
Jan. 8: "In righteousness you have been established."
Jan. 13: "Keep yourselves encouraged in the Lord at all cost. The darkness is greater and worry can overtake you quickly. The pressure will cause you to give up when you know you can make it. Keep yourselves in the Lord and rejoice."
Jan. 17: "You have been faithful and you remain faithful to the call. My blessing rests upon you and will continue. The abiding will not cease and My Word shall be fulfilled. Living Word shall be a place of refuge for the weary because My Spirit is there. I know the cry of your heart, the longing and desire that pours forth. You shall be watered again and grow into My Image with all the fullness of My Word leading and directing you. You shall not be put to shame for I am your husband and the reproach shall be lifted and everlasting joy shall be unto you."
Jan. 20: "Staying in the boat is fleshly and carnal. It is pampering yourself. Rise up in the Spirit and speak to the winds and the waves of adversity to depart and be at peace in your walk."
Jan. 28: I am beginning to understand why we were taught to take the authority over our cities. As the darkness becomes stronger, the people no longer pray which gives the enemy more power until a city becomes his. No more spiritual life will come forth. Little by little the cities are becoming strongholds of evil. But I will hold on, believing that the Glory of Christ will come to our community and the brightness of His coming will penetrate the darkness so people will be saved.
Jan. 29: The revelation that the church is waiting for is the image of Christ in us.
The Eye of a Needle - part 2 of 2
Jesus viewed money or wealth as a spiritual power Matt. 6:24 (KJV) "24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." He identified wealth as an object of worship, a rival to God. For this reason Jesus often asked people to turn away from it. Matt. 19:21 (KJV) "21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."
Zacchaeus offered to give half of his possessions to the poor and restore four times to anyone he had cheated (Luke 19:8). This restitution was a sign of his desire to follow Christ. The only way to defeat the power of mammon is to give it away. Acts 20:35c (KJV) "35It is more blessed to give than to receive."
We need checks and balances in our stewardship of money. The answer to the wrong use of money is to use it for kingdom purposes. Money can be used to enhance our relationship to God and bless others. Paul commended the liberal giving of the Macedonian Christians (2 Cor. 8:1-4; compare 2 Cor. 9:7).
We have a model for the responsibility that Christians have for one another. For a while members of the Jerusalem church pooled their resources for the common good (Acts 2:44-45). To provide for the needs of those in their midst, owners of land and property sold it and gave it to the apostles (Acts 4:34-35).
Paul likewise warned against the power of money. One of the qualifications of a church officer is to be free from the love of money (1 Tim. 3:3). Deacons likewise must not be "greedy for money" 1 Tim. 3:8 (NRSV). The strongest warning is found in 1 Timothy 6:10 (NRSV): "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith." Paul may be implying that people who love money will resort to all kinds of methods to get it. The desire for money has a way of enslaving the person seeking it.
Hebrews encourages us to "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have" Heb. 13:5 (NRSV). Jesus admonished us not to be anxious over material things, but to trust the Heavenly Father to care for our needs (Matt. 6:25-26). At all times we are to keep in mind that we will one day give account to God for the use of our wealth.
Materialism tempts Christians. America values life in terms of the accumulation and consumption of goods, measuring success or worth in terms of wealth or possessions. Materialism leads us to justify spending on ourselves all that our income will bear. Christians are to learn to possess money and not be possessed by it. Wealth is to be channeled into ministries that serve people and spread the gospel.
The Rest of God vs. Work of the Kingdom is found in Luke 12:22 through Luke 12:40 (KJV)
Are you having troubles in your life, your family, your job? Seek the Kingdom of God first!
-Pr. S. Chad Ross
Understanding Habits - part 1 of 2
Mankind falls into the category of those referred to as creatures of habit. Habits can be good or bad, but understanding them helps people to function in them appropriately. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a "habit" is described as a "constant, often unconscious inclination to perform an act, acquired through its frequent repetition. In addition a habit is also an established disposition of the mind or character." I probably don't have to mention the fact that a resistance to change that seems impenetrable can be revealed when we try to change our bad habits. Whether established by repetition, or faulty character and disposition, these seemingly impenetrable yet inordinate habitual and wrong actions must be dealt with.
We can try to deal with our habits by using our own strength, but the lasting results are only birthed by involving the Lord Jesus Christ and the written word of God. Though sometimes the Bible does not speak directly to the exact subject matter of particular habits, it always speaks of how the end results of bad habits can be avoided by dealing with them before it is too late. "A bad habit never disappears miraculously; it's an undo-it-yourself project." — Abigail Van Buren.
Better known as 'Dear Abby', the writer Abigail Van Buren, makes a good point to be applied by those who are calling upon the Lord for help. Though she does not imply the Lord's involvement, still we must understand that when teaming with the Lord, doing our part is crucial when dealing with habits. Doing our part in the undoing of a bad habit, as well as in the establishing of a good habit, requires our obedience to the direction the Lord gives us: Either by His Logos word, or His Rhema word.
Mat 16:19 (KJV) "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
We must understand that we have been given the power to make right choices. That is a truth that will make us free. And we must also understand that our fallen nature is still prone to initiate choices that involve immediate rewards to the flesh. That fallen way of thinking has been described as, "The Scarlett O'Hara mentality", and is personified when we refuse to perceive the consequences of our habitual behavior to be inevitable. We must not continue to live without a conscious awareness of the negative outcome that results from putting our energy into instant gratifications of the flesh!
Gal 6:7-9 (KJV) "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (8) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
-Kurt Thurston
God's Breath - part 1 of 3
(Amplified and KJV)
"The wind bloweth where it listeth" -John 3:8
* = reference numbers from Strong's Concordance
For several weeks these initial words from John 3:8 have echoed within my spirit: "The wind (4151)* bloweth (4154) where it listeth." I recalled in the original Greek the words "wind," "spirit" and "breath" are related and that when referring to the moving of the Holy Spirit, we often use the expression "The wind of the Spirit." Therefore, I broadly interpret the statement to mean that the Spirit of God moves according to the will of God, i.e. God will do what God wills to do.
Searching past the English translation of the Bible to the original meanings and implications of the original Hebrew and Greek words often reveals treasures which otherwise remain hidden. Such research is essential to understanding and appreciating the interrelatedness of seemingly diverse scriptures. Connecting reference numbers, as well as original renderings and meanings, repetition, and overlap of basic definitions from Strong's Concordance often brings clarity to what is being said. For example, the New Testament words "wind" and "Spirit," referring to the Spirit of God, are both from the same Greek word. In "The wind (4151) bloweth (4154) where it listeth" (2309) …," {John 3:8}, the word "wind"("pněuma") is from the Greek word for "bloweth" ("pněō"). While "wind" refers to "a current of air," "a breath," "blast" or "breeze," it may also indicate "the rational soul or disposition," "the vital spirit," as of God, Christ or the Holy Spirit. The word "bloweth" is "pneh," meaning "to breathe hard," i.e. "a breeze" or "to blow." "Listeth" means "to choose," "to determine," "to be inclined to (sometimes gladly)." The Hebrew equivalent implies "to delight in." It was this implication of pleasurable anticipation which enhanced my appreciation of the second verse of Genesis.
"In the beginning…the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." {Gen 1:1-2}. The word "Spirit" (7307)( rûwach) also carries with it the meaning of "breath," as in "puff," "wind," "angry or vital breath." While in a negative sense "Spirit" can mean "to blow away," or "to destroy," the positive connotation is one of "Divine inspiration" and "intellect." Even more significant is the meaning relating to perception ("to anticipate" or "to enjoy"). The Amplified Bible's states that "The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters" {Gen 1:2}. With what joyful anticipation God set about His work of breathing forth a creative word and of fashioning the creatures who were to inhabit His earth. With how much more expectancy does He continue to hover over those who have become partakers with Christ of His life-giving Spirit?
In recognizing God as the source of his life, Elihu uses both the word "Spirit" and "breath": "The Spirit (7307 rûwach-"wind," by resemblance "breath") of God hath made me, and the breath (5397- "a puff," "a wind," "a vital breath") of the Almighty hath given me life" {Job 33:4}. But he does not limit God's Spirit or breath to touching only the human realm. In fact, he attributes the cycles and vicissitudes of nature to the breath of God: "By the breath of God frost is given and the breadth of the waters is straitened" {Job 37:10}. Several winters ago when I was complaining and grumbling about the snow and ice, the Holy Spirit used this chapter of Job to convict me about my disregard for God's sovereignty and purposes: "For He says to the snow, Fall on the earth; likewise He speaks to the showers and to the downpour of His mighty rains. God seals up (stops, brings to a standstill by severe weather) the hand of every man [and now under His seal their hands are forced to inactivity], that all men whom He has made may know His doings (His sovereign power and their subjection to it)" {Job 37:6-7}. Verse 10 in the Amplified reads, "By the breath of God ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is frozen over." That God uses these elements for His purposes is clear: "Whether it be for correction or for His earth generally or for His mercy and loving-kindness, He causes it to come" {Job 37:13}.
The Psalmist encourages God's people to render Him praise for His magnificent acts with snow and ice: "Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For…He gives [to the earth] snow like [blanket of] wool; He scatters the hoarfrost like ashes, He casts forth His ice like crumbs; who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word, and melts [ice and snow]; He causes His winds to blow and the waters to flow" {Ps 147:12, 16-18}. Breathed out from Him Who is Spirit, God's Word carries with it with life-giving power. And just as His word melts the ice and snow, so His word melts the icy heart, giving a new heart in its place and so saturating the innermost regions of its possessor that "From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water" {John 7:38}.
May His breath so saturate our very being.
-Ruth French
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