“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving...” Psalm 26:7
Vol. 15, No. 5 May 2006
Don’t forget this: Everything that is happening for the called-out saint today has a purpose under heaven. It is for the glory of God. He has forewarned us before anything takes place. He has prepared us before we experience the now. But too often we ignore what He has spoken and warned us about, especially today. He has told us “WARFARE” is happening. You can’t ignore it. You can’t run from it. It is spiritual warfare. We must learn there is much more to this warfare than Ephesians 6. That is our protection in times of trouble. But it does not fully explain how we are to rise up and fight this fight of faith.
The Lord is revealing many weapons that can teach us how to be victorious in the fight. But it will take asking for help from the Helper.
As I have been learning this over the past nine months, I am amazed how smoothly many of the battles are won because I take up the appropriate weapon for that battle. During the night I was crying out to the Lord for help. He said, “Use the weapon of the ‘sword of the Spirit.’” Well, that one is too easy. I know that is part of my daily weapon store for everyday living. But then He said, “Use it to discern soul from spirit.” Oh! That meant I was being affected by believing something out of my soul instead of by the Spirit. I find that I often am affected when my flesh rules. It is usually because I have misunderstood something from My Lord or ignored Him totally.
What I had missed came from a time of doubting His instructions on a current project He has us undertaking. My soul was saying, “This isn’t possible, you have missed God.” That brought anxiety and frustration. But when I began to divide soul and spirit I could hear clearly His instructions for success.
He is so good to reward those who diligently seek Him. There is an arsenal of weapons available for the church today. All you have to do is ask and listen for which one to use. It truly is a blessing of victory.
In Christ,
Pr. Steve
Peace starts with a smile
Don’t put a question mark where God put a period.
God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
Agape Love
"Simon, son of the dove, do you have more compassion for me than the others?"* He said, "Yes [indeed,] my Lord, you know that I have [great] affection for you." Jesus said to him, "Shepherd my rams." 16[Jesus] said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of the Dove, do you have compassion for me?" He said, "Yes [indeed,] my Lord, you know that I have [great] affection for you." Jesus said to him, "Shepherd my sheep." 17 [Jesus] said again to him a third time, "Simon, son of the Dove, do you have compassion for me?" And it affected the Rock that he told him three times that, "Do you have compassion for me?" And he said to him, "My Lord, you command* everything, you know that I have great affection for you." Jesus told him, "Shepherd my ewes.” (John 21:15-17)
The difference between compassion and affection is the difference between agape love and phileo love.
Phileo love is affection = a bent of the mind (or) a leaning or inclination towards someone or something [a child has a bent towards piano playing or football] In other words he sets His mind toward this. You can say “I love football” or “I love that outfit you are wearing” or “I love you, man.” I am saying I have a fondness for you or that thing. Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” explains this. Colossians 3:2 says: “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Jesus wanted Peter to see affection was not enough. In fact, it can be harmful.
Romans explains what happens when our affections become perverted. We begin to desire and set our minds on evil intentions until we have convinced ourselves that it is normal. But God’s Word tells us to be carnally minded is death. To leave our affections without some guard will open us up to a reprobate mind according to Rom.1:29-30 – “...unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, debate, deceit, maligning, whisperer, backbiter, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boaster, inventor of evil things, disobedient., without understanding, covenant breaker, without natural affection, ruthless, merciless.”
All of this happens because of vain imaginations that are not dealt with and by not retaining the thought of God in their minds. [Affections instead of agape.]
I believe Peter knew exactly what Jesus was asking him. He wasn’t going to lie about it because Peter had great affection for the Lord. But there was a quality about Peter’s life that was missing – compassion. [This is where most people are today.]
Compassion, which is agape love, is much greater than affection. And I hope to show you where you stand today in the Agape love of God. Do you truly love the Lord God or do you simply have affection for Him?
Compassion = with passion. It has many variables, but first let us see what it isn’t. Without passion a person is lukewarm, expresses no passion, meaning there is neither excitement nor emotion – to be passive. To be without compassion moves people only by their outward circumstances – or that which is impressed upon their minds such as fear, happiness, grief, affection, or hate; but it never touches their heart.
A person with compassion is filled with emotions of zeal, and excitement, sorrow and anger. To be passionate is to be moved from the innermost being. Without passion a person just doesn’t care about what is happening any place except in his own life. Without passion a person is not obedient, submissive, prayerful, or unresisting.
Compassion includes mercy and pity. This is agape love: Mercy and Pity - This is the character of God. This is the character of a godly person.
Jud 1:22 “And of some have compassion, making a difference.” Make a difference in life; be merciful!
Mar 5:19 “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” What was the evidence that He had compassion? Because those under demonic influence were ministered to [vrs.15 – “in his right mind”]. When people are not in their right mind they need compassion. Our society is stressing this in every walk today – see a therapist. We need to be compassionate and reach out and give them the love of God – show them mercy. This is reiterated over and over again when Jesus prayed for those being tormented with disease and evil. Jesus was moved with compassion toward the leper who begged him for help. Mercy came from the innermost part of his being.
(to be continued)
-Pr. Steve
. . . My calling as a pastor
Pastor’s Journal 2005
May 1: “I brought you into the cave. I placed you in prison. Now I hold you in My hands.”
May 7: I am ruled by my disposition, not my personality. The disposition is my old nature, the body of original sin. Sin is not the essence of the mortal body; it is the disposition that must be cleansed through Jesus’ blood. Sins must be forgiven while sin must be dealt with and cleansed. Forgiveness is never used with “sin.” If we confess our sins, He will forgive us. But sin must be dealt with – the old nature that rules our human behavior. We are being changed into the disposition of Christ.
May 8: From now on come through Christ in everything. Emerge as one who has been transformed.
May 9: “Don’t look for the things that satisfy you. Look for the things that satisfy Me.”
May 12: “I promise you protection in time of trouble. Be confident, you will be hidden in the secret place because you have sought Me earnestly.” (Psm. 27)
May 17: “You are going to come into the power of My Spirit like never before.”
May 20: “I give you rest from all your enemies and blessings on every side.”
May 21: It’s the Father’s love that enables us to become Sons of God.
May 23: “I will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is stayed on Me and you trust Me.”
May 28: You must know the love of Christ beyond the natural if you are to be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:19)
May 31: “You shall not be ashamed because you wait for Me.”
Kingdom First - part 1 of 2
Eccl 3:1-17 (KJV) "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: {2} A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; {3} A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; {4} A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; {5} A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; {6} A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; {7} A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; {8} A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace…
…{16} And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. {17} I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work."
There is a time for judgment. Let us be judged now, for there is work to be done. If you have been offended, forgive. If you have sinned, repent. There isn’t a time for laziness. It’s time to work.
Mat 6:33 (KJV) "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
What is first in our life? Is the Kingdom first? This is more than church. What are we doing to be sure that the Kingdom is advancing? How are we dying? What have we given up? Do we serve ourselves, our jobs, our families? What is our idol?
Exo 34:14 (KJV) "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"
We find that God can be jealous, angry, hate and kill.
Exo 20:5 (KJV) "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"
If we have anything before God, He says that we hate Him in our hearts.
Eph 4:26 (KJV) "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" God’s anger is perfect.
Psa 139:20-22 (KJV) "For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. {21} Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? {22} I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies." God gave David a perfect hatred.
Psa 5:5 (KJV) "The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity." Proverbs 6 speaks of seven things the Lord hates.
Deu 6:15 (KJV) "(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth."
Lord, may we keep Thy Kingdom First in this day. Forgive us for our idolatry. May we be a living sacrifice only to you.
-Pr. S. Chad Ross
A Chosen People
Have you noticed an increase in the spiritual opposition to your Christian walk lately? Don’t think it strange. There is not a nation on this earth that treats God the way our nation treats Him that does not in turn experience constant spiritually-evil harassment. If you are living in the United States of America, you are living in the midst of a nation that is quickly turning away from its acknowledgment of the word of God, as well as its devotion and dedication to God Almighty Himself. This apostasy is opening the door for the enemies of God to harass and vex the nation as a whole.
Psa 33:11-12 (KJV) “{11} The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. {12} Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”
Our nation once took pride and joy in its adoration of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, but now every word that pertains to the recognition of the Godhead is slowly being removed from the public’s sight. Do you remember these words: “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all” Those words may soon be removed from our society just as many other references to God have been, but that is all because of the choices of this nation’s leaders. It is important to realize that it is a blessing to be chosen, but it is not enough; we must also choose whom we will serve. How do we know if we are allowing the deterioration of this nation to take its toll upon us individually? What is the sign of a people who are buckling under the pressure of their nation’s tolerance of evil? It is when we find ourselves increasingly weak and vacillating. It is also when we stop taking the Word of God seriously. God is always faithful to warn and longsuffering to wait, but there does come an end to both.
Isa 5:20-24 (KJV) “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (21) Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (22) Woe unto [them that are] mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: (23) Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! (24) Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
Destruction has always followed wherever the Word of God has been hidden or ignored, but it is clearly a result of the abandoned opportunities for salvation. If we can hear what His Spirit is saying to us today, let us not harden our hearts; but rather, let us choose to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord.
2Pe 3:9 (KJV) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
The Lord shall have a chosen people, a holy nation, that is called by His Name.
-Kurt Thurston
Exaltation – Whose? - part 2 of 3
(Amplified and KJV)
In David we find a godly king but an unsuccessful father. That David was ineffective in executing his role as a father is evident by his failure to discipline Amnon, Absolam, and Adonijah, three sons whose lives displayed unrestraint, noncompliance to authority, and self-exaltation. Of David’s exaltation from shepherd to king, the Lord said, “I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel” {I Chr 17:7}. Perhaps David was too preoccupied with the business of the kingdom to rule wisely his own household from which came the fruit of rape, murder and rebellion. More diligent to know the state of his flocks and looking well to his herds {Pro 27:23}, King David remained blind to and detached from those closest to home.
Upon receiving the news that Amnon had violated Tamar, his half-sister, King David reacted with anger but took no corrective action against his son. After two full years had passed with still no indication of parental discipline, Absalom, Tamar’s brother, sought his own revenge by commanding that Amnon be killed. Without too much calculation, Absalom doubtless realized that by avenging Tamar’s abuse through Amnon’s murder he would move one step closer to his father’s throne. Also aware that more time would be required for him to regain his father’s favor, Absalom then fled from King David’s presence and dwelt in Gesher for three years. Although the king’s heart yearned to see his son, when he finally allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem, he did so with the stipulation that Absalom be banished from his sight. When at last the two were reconciled, Absolam’s actions revealed his contemptuous and self-exalting heart: “And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him” {II Sam 15:1}.
At the city gate, Absalom stole the hearts of the people by intercepting those who had a controversy about any matter and were on their way to see the king that he might render judgment for them. There, Absalom bowed himself in veiled concern for their causes. “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, I would do him justice” {II Sam 15:4}. By undermining his father’s ability to rule justly, Absalom planted subtle seeds of distrust and discontent in those who would then find themselves his unwitting followers when he had his own kingship announced at Hebron. Using the ruse of making a religious sacrifice, he won for himself a following of “…200 men from Jerusalem, who were invited [as guests to his sacrificial feast]; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not a thing” {2 Sam 15:11}. During the ensuing battle between the armies of the father and son, Absolam’s massive amount of hair became caught in an oak tree from which he dangled until Joab, the captain of David’s army, killed him, an action contrary to the king’s command.
With Absolam’s death, King David’s oldest living son, Adonijah, also set his heart and actions upon attaining his father’s throne. “Then Adonijah…exalted himself, saying I [the eldest living son] will be king. And he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, with fifty men to run before him” {I Kin 1:5}. Immediately following this statement about Adonijah’s self-exaltation, we again find further evidence of King David’s failure as a father: “And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so?” {I Kin 1:6}. Personal pride and ambition combined with parental indulgence to produce sons who were incapable of ruling their own passions {Pro 16:32}.
Before the Lord exalts His own sons and daughters to their kingdom positions, He prepares them through training and discipline; and while “…no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful…afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it…” {Heb 12:11}. “My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord…For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves…if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons” {Heb 12:5-7}.
As child3ren of the Most High God, may we yield ourselves to the Father’s training and correction that we may be prepared to occupy our predestined positions of authority in the Kingdom of His Son.
-Ruth French
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