Living Word Christian Fellowship
“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving...” Psalm 26:7
Vol. 16, No. 5 May 2007
I recently had a dream. In it I was at an old place in life. People were all around me and very fearful. I had to push my way through the crowd. I crossed a great intersection with much traffic and walked to a place where I had to go up some stairs. I noticed this place was different from before and I commented, “Why did they change this?” It was totally dark, but I kept going until I came to a lighted place where more people were. I knew I was on my way to a bank machine to withdraw some money. But I stopped at this last place and began to watch the scenery and the people. They were playing. One thing that was so unique throughout the dream was that through it all I was smiling from ear to ear. From the crowd there was fear all around, but I was smiling. When I went up the totally darkened stairs, there was a police officer in front of me and I had absolutely no fear, but I thought I should have had fear.
Interpretation: I believe we are at a new place where all the darkness is no longer going to affect us or bring fear. We can go back to places of the past and not be fearful. We can enjoy the goodness of the Lord and not fret about the what-ifs. This is all because of the “changes” that have taken place within us. The police officer I believe represents the Holy Spirit guiding us without fear. The bank machine (which I never got to) represents the provision of the Lord without fear. He will provide when it is necessary.
Yes, there are still many dark days ahead; but when you have come through change, you are able to endure just about anything. So rejoice - the Lord is still in control.
In Christ,
Pr. Steve
Press On With Obedient Faith
Phi 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
What does it mean to press toward the mark? Remember, Jesus said, He was coming for faithfulness. To press toward the mark is to keep faith operating no matter what circumstances smack you in the face.
Jesus says faith comes to each believer as a seed. What are you supposed to do with a seed? Mk. 4:26 says, “The Kingdom of God is like a man casting seed into the ground.” When we are saved, each of us is allotted a measure of faith (Rom.12:3). Only when we cast it forth and cultivate it, can it grow. How does it grow?
Luke 17:7-9 “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? (8) And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? (9) Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.”
This is not a formula to increase faith. This is a way of life called “obedience.” “things that were commanded.” (vrs.9) The Lord puts it back on us. The servant who is obedient to his master is likened to the man who is obedient to God. This comparison reveals a direct connection between faith and obedience. Faith will increase only when we do what we are commanded to do. And it takes a humble spirit in offenses and trespasses to get us through.
The greatest faith that Jesus encountered in His ministry was that of one who understood and walked in submission to authority (Mat. 8:5-10) In other words, the method to having great faith is directly proportional to our submission to authority. Now link this back to the Apostles who desired an increase in faith: “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this …tree, ‘Be pulled up and cast into the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Jesus said, “All you have to do is “Speak the word and the tree will obey you.” Whom does the tree obey? The one who does what is commanded him (vrs.9).
Faith and obedience are likened to the body and spirit of a man (Jms.2:17-26). One without the other is death. Once the body dies, the spirit goes; and if the spirit goes, the body dies. This is the same with faith and works – one without the other is dead. Faith without obedience is dead. Obedient faith produces life. Faith is not true faith apart from obedience. Scripture is clear, “by obedient actions is faith made perfect.”
The Apostles said, “Lord increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5) Even as lawlessness increases, we must be obedient. Faith comes by hearing, but obedience to what we hear is what brings forth the results.
Along with obedience we must bring forth humility. In Luke 17:10 Jesus says, “We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” This is an attitude that keeps us humble. For then the Master tells us “those who humble themselves will be exalted in due time” (Jms.4:10). We are not to pride ourselves in obedience, we are simply to obey. You see, the more you obey the more humble you will become. Humility produces kindness. Kindness is the spirit of Christ in all that is a part of our life. Pride says, “I can do what I want.” Humility says, “I will do what is required and I will do it in kindness.” This attitude releases the mercy of God for us to become less and less self-sufficient but more and more dependant on the Lord. Here it is: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the price of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” This is humility. I haven’t arrived, but what I have achieved I let go of because nothing compares to the knowing Christ. Remember, God reveals Himself to the humble. The greatest hindrance to “Pressing On” is pride! Pride seeks its own, but humility seeks the welfare of others. Pride despises obedience, but humility serves.
In this time of great turmoil we must have a servant’s heart. People need help – spiritual help. And we are the ones to provide it. The greatest service we can provide for others is prayer. Some of the kinds of prayer we are going to include:
PRAYERS:
Powerful prayers: prevenient, keep asking
Identifying prayers: finding where you fit in
Edifying prayers: Holy Spirit
Prayers of Fasting: to be changed
T.A.S.K. oriented prayers
The TASK oriented prayers are short and to the point. And you keep speaking them until something happens. Each time, something begins to happen in the spirit realm. You never know how long it is going to take But if you keep at it, it will eventually be fulfilled:
· Depression go in Jesus name
· Cancer go in Jesus name
· Hatred go in Jesus name
· Back-pain go in Jesus name
You can get as many people praying TASK oriented prayers as you need, and God will come through in His time and in His way.
T he
A lmighty
S hows
K indness
THAT IS WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO “PRESS ON” And many will be affected and delivered. “Lord increase our faith.”
-Pr. Steve
I am going to be sharing with you thoughts from my journal over the past few years. This is to show you how the Lord has brought about His Word in my life to minister to you and to show you how real this walk can be. Please read and understand by the Spirit about ...
. . . My calling as a pastor
Pastor’s Journal 2006
May 1: “Now the new thing will spring forth. It will be made manifest. This is your day of fulfillment. You will walk in newness of My life. You will understand My new ways. You have never been here before. Things will be changed before your very eyes. My protection is all around you, and you are made safe and secure as long as you stay where I place you and lead you. Rejoice for the steps of a righteous man are ordered of God. Life, light and truth shall guide you step by step.”
May 4: The battle rages, defeat after defeat with the government, but I will not give in to their demands. Even as you told Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “I am more than able to deliver you from the power of the King, but if not don’t compromise your worship.” Yet will I praise you, O God.
May 6: “Let the spirit man rule. Do not feed from the soul (mind, will, or emotion), feed off the body and blood of Christ.”
May 9: “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace. All that you have experienced is what the world has come to – confusion. They are without peace of mind and heart and soul, but in My church dwells peace and all good things to strive for. This is the testimony of My people.”
May 11: A distracted soldier is a dead soldier. There are so many distractions today. How do I blend the business side with the spiritual side of the church? I want Your will, Lord; may the anointing flow through both.
May 12: “He will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him because you trust in Him.” (Isa. 26:3)
May 16: “Nothing can stand against you to defeat you. I am standing in you.”
May 18: This is the day that the Lord has made. May God be glorified and may Jesus be exalted in the earth; for the Kingdom of God is at hand and righteousness, peace, and joy are in the Holy Ghost. The victory is in Christ alone. “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.”
May 19: All glory and honor and power belong to you O God. You spoke clearly, No variance-No parking and it came to pass. The building can go forth unhindered by the government. The battle was intense but it does not matter because You, O Lord, have prevailed.
May 23: “The order of the Royal Priesthood is to keep things holy and presentable to Me. This is the way you come near to Me when your life is holy and consecrated to Me. I will never turn you away as long as you are living by My Son’s blood as a holy vessel.”
May 24: The only thing I need for my life is Your voice to direct my steps. This, too, is a weapon against the enemy.
May 27: ‘There is no problem more important to Me than any other. Money, relationships or personal mind battles, all are equally important and get the same recognition at My throne, if they are brought to Me so I can decide and deal with them as My Father directs.”
Restoration part 1 of 2
Jesus drives money changers from the Temple.
John 2:13-22 (KJV) "And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, {14} And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: {15} And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; {16} And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. {17} And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. {18} Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? {19} Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. {20} Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? {21} But he spake of the temple of his body. {22} When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said."
Neh 1:3 (KJV) "And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire."
Hearing this, Nehemiah “...sat down and wept” (v. 4).
Few tragedies scar as does a raging fire. The devastation is complete. The desolation is mournful.
A fire has come against some. It is a holy fire.
Just because it has done much harm doesn’t mean it wasn’t God.
The disaster of the city of Jerusalem was when God judged His holy hill with the torch of Nebuchadnezzar
They cried: “Tear it down...tear it down to its foundations!” (Ps. 137:7).
1 Cor 3:15 “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
Jude 1:23 “save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”
Why do we think we are so holy that it wouldn’t happen to us?
Think about this:
Sometimes we are spiritually placed in prison as the Apostles were.
The holier we are, the more likely we will be put in a spiritual prison.
Phil 1:17 (NRSV) "the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment."
Those that preach out of selfishness take for granted the cross.
Gal 6:3 (KJV) "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
Selfishness, no integrity, no humility
-S. Chad Ross
Flesh or Spirit?
Rom 8:1-9 – (Mathew Henry) “Believers may be chastened of the Lord, but will not be condemned with the world. By their union with Christ through faith, they are thus secured. What is the principle of their walk; the flesh or the Spirit, the old or the new nature, corruption or grace? For which of these do we make provision, by which are we governed? The un-renewed will is unable to keep any commandment fully. And the law, besides outward duties, requires inward obedience. God showed abhorrence of sin by the sufferings of his Son in the flesh, that the believer's person might be pardoned and justified. Thus satisfaction was made to Divine justice, and the way of salvation opened for the sinner. By the Spirit the law of love is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, yet, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us; there is that in all true believers, which answers the intention of the law. The favour of God, the welfare of the soul, the concerns of eternity, are the things of the Spirit, which those that are after the Spirit do mind. Which way do our thoughts move with most pleasure? Which way go our plans and contrivances? Are we most wise for the world, or for our souls?”
We could all probably write our own views about how applying the scriptures to our lives has caused us to find them to be true, but have we yet gained a new will?”
Luke 22:40-42 (KJV) “And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. (41) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, (42) Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
This degree of surrender is not to be taken lightly. Just because we have surrendered to the Father’s will in a certain situation, that doesn’t mean we always will. It takes more than just making up our minds to reach this degree of surrender; otherwise, Jesus would not have told the disciples to pray that they would not enter into temptation.
Jam 1:12-15 (KJV) “Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: (14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Not only does surrender of our will require prayer, but it also demands a lifestyle of walking after the things of the Spirit while at the same time refusing the demands of the flesh. If there be any controversy or failure to distinguish between what is flesh or spirit, we will let the word of God be the judge.
Gal 5:16-25 (KJV) “[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. (18) But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
-Kurt Thurston
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