“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving...” Psalm 26:7
Vol. 14, No. 10 October 2005
Dear Family of God:
When I prepared the article for this month I did not at that time know the devastation that would take place. Since then, even more difficult experiences are occurring. We must get the knowledge of the Lord for this hour. God is fulfilling His Word to us in ways we have never discovered before. It is extremely important that we take the time to be quiet before the Lord during intense moments. No, we do not empty our minds and chant. We simply become quiet before the Lord so we may receive understanding for the moment. If God does not reveal anything then we walk with the assurance He is doing what He needs to do without our involvement. That is hard to swallow sometimes because we think we need to know everything that involves us. That is a mistake. How can He truly be God if we know all we want to know? Our ways have not been His ways, but in this new day they are fast becoming what He has always wanted. And that is complete trust and reliance on a God who never fails, neither does He let us down in times of devastation and despair.
God bless you in all you live through in becoming a pleasing vessel of honor for His Kingdom.
In Christ,
Pr. Steve
Sadness the Wane
Tears,
Many tears
Sadness the Wane
Grief, Long as eternity
Don’t know why they picked me
I never hurt them
I never knew they existed
Nights,
Long, Long Nights
Never a waking moment
Only when dawn comes is there any relief
Why?
Why did they pick me?
Hurting,
Hurting so deep it makes your skin crawl.
Why?
Why did they pick me?
What did I ever do to them?
These emotions of mine.
Sadness,
Sadness The Wane
-Henry Wright
Too Much To Survive
Mark 4:37 “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.”
How many of you are in tribulation or trials? How many of you are hearing the Word of God?
What does Matthew 13:21 say? “Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
Tribulation always is the result of hearing God’s Word! Is your boat full?
WHY? Because demonic forces are gathering and attacking us with great force, strong resistance and trouble, all intended to terminate our faith and fruitfulness in Christ. There is a feeling of oppression all around us.
Mark 4:33-35 “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear [it]. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.”
How much of God’s Word can you bear? The Word of God brings great peace. The Lord gives it so we will continue to go forth, “go to the other side,” but immediately a storm comes, producing great trouble until you are filled with turmoil and tossing on the waves of life. Eventually, the waters of the storm become too great to endure, especially IF YOU ARE ENDEAVORING TO REACH YOUR DESTINY!
And where was Jesus? Asleep. “I can’t hear you, Lord. What are you saying? I am drowning here, and you are asleep.”
Why does it have to come to this point? TO SEE IF YOUR FAITH WILL REMAIN SUSTAINED. Thank God He understands our weaknesses because in their weakness and fear and unbelief, the Lord delivered them. Mar 4:40 “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”
PANIC is why they failed the test. But panic just doesn’t happen. It is the result of previous responses. It is the result of living by the carnal thoughts instead of by spiritual perception. It is focusing on the “now,” instead of the spiritual truth of the Lordship of Christ Jesus. WHEN A BELIEVER is BEING TESTED, HE MUST KEEP THE FACTS OF FAITH FIRST AND FOREMOST, WHILE HE KEEPS THE CIRCUMSTANCES AT THE SIDE.
What are the facts of faith?
His presence: Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
2. His promise: Matthew 28:20 (KJV) “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the.”
3. His power: Matthew 17:20 (KJV) “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Mark 4:37 “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.”
What happens once trouble comes to capacity? (Jonah 2:3) “All thy waves passed over me.” It can’t get any worse, because it just goes over the top and flows out. Satan can’t hit you with any more because he has hit you with all there is. There is nothing left to dread. You become dead to everything. This is your miracle point. You are now ready for the blessing.
Once the boat filled with water, the only thing left was the release. James 5:8 says, “Be patient, when you are established, the coming of the Lord draws near.”
Mark 4:39 “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
A great calm – (mega-peace) Because they endured great turmoil, the Lord gave great peace. The stronger the storm, the deeper the peace of God will be when deliverance comes. The more severe your confusion and trauma, the clearer will the end be.
Anticipate your great calm and peace. It will give you a new fear of the Lord. It will increase your confidence in Him. A new revelation of the character of Jesus is coming to pass with much stronger faith.
Jesus is the presence in your life, your promise to come and the power to bring you through.
Keep hope alive; believe the end is in sight.
-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 2004
Oct. 1: “When you find your purpose for what you experience, you will be able to come to destiny.”
Oct 4: “It is time to come back into My rest. You have fought hard and long, now become refreshed. My peace and comfort and strength are a refuge for you in the battle. Come receive of Me for I will provide for you the blessing of life. In faithfulness there is reward and pleasures at the Father’s right hand.”
Oct. 5: “Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend (to take possession of) that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (Christ Jesus has taken possession of me.)” (Phil: 3:12)
Oct. 7: “You have been on the mountain of My holiness and transfiguration for a long time. There is about to be an erupting that will flow up and out. Many will see and become a part of My glory and splendor.”
Oct. 8: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Luke 21:19) Get a hold of!
Oct. 9: “A river of holy living fire” (Matt. 3:11) “In My holiness newness of life comes. There’s coming an eruption in the spirit realm – seek the Lord, seek the Lord, seek the Lord! This river of fire will bring forth the character of Christ in My people. They will stand in My strength alone.”
Oct. 11: “Rely on the Spirit of God to tell you what to say when you are dealing with other people about spiritual things. If you are not careful to heed the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, you will make deliberate blunders in your work for God. Beware of anyone who does not lead you to be reliant on the Holy Spirit.”
Oct. 14: “You are experiencing the battle that is raging all around. It is a battle for this country. You have been made sensitive to what is happening in the spirit realm because you must come to that stability where you are not moved when the battle rages uncontrollably. Live by My peace within your heart until you are absolutely confident nothing will harm you.”
Oct. 15: I feel visibly shaken from the inside out, from head to toe.
Oct. 17: “I am shaking the church from its foundation. I am coming in great power. Who will stand and see the salvation of your God.”
Oct. 22: “Add to your faith virtue (integrity), knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. When these are in you, you will not be barren but fruitful in God’s knowledge.”
No Strings Attached – part 1 of 2
Ex. 5:1 (KJV) “And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.”
This scripture tells us about strings that are attached to our lives. Pharaoh had strings attached to the Israelites. They were his puppets; they feared him
The Golden Rule (Tool)
Gal. 5:14 (KJV) “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
Men do to us what has been done to them. People do unto others only what they know to do or have received. The curse is broken when we do to others what God has done to us. Fear Him, not others.
God allowed Pharaoh’s heart to be hardened. This was the Law of sowing and reaping. Strings attached: Pharaoh said to worship here, then he said to go just a little ways and to return.
Pharaoh received back to himself, what he had done to the Israelites:
The ten plagues:
1. Water turned to blood — symbolizes the words that people say that cut/they bring an internal bleeding
2. Frogs sent — symbolizes the opening of the wound/the intrusiveness into other peoples lives
3. Dust turned to lice — symbolizes the irritations to the wound/the biting/ back-biting/gossip
4. Flies sent — symbolizes the reproduction of hurts/there’s more
5. Diseased beasts — symbolizes the death others bring to your life/body
6. Boils — symbolizes the pain that others bring you
7. Hail — symbolizes the death that others bring to your soul
8. Locusts — symbolizes the pain of your emotions eating away at you
9. Darkness — symbolizes the depression that comes to your life
10. Death of the firstborn — symbolizes the death to your very spirit and relationship to God
All of these things the Egyptians had done to the Israelites, and what they did was done back to them
Luke 6:38 (KJV) 38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Sowing and reaping is a spiritual law. If you don’t give, your won’t receive
Love thy neighbor as thyself. Do unto others as you would have them do to you.
-Pastor Chad
Partakers of God
Col 1:9-12 (KJV) “For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (10) That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (11) Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; (12) Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light…”
From the first days of the Church, those who would be followers of Christ were the ones that were referred to as Christians, and that is still true today. Today, just as in times past, Christians are known as those who have found, and have received, and who follow Christ. There are also those who refer to themselves as “Christians,” but bear no fruit of being followers of Christ. Some of those are imposters, while others are merely deceived and have not put on Christ along with the new life. All Christians must acquire divine power from the Lord. Men cannot please God by walking in their own power; therefore, we must all be partakers of God.
2Pe 1:3-4 (KJV) “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”
Through knowing God, and His word, we can receive divine power from on high. We must not receive only, but rather do what is expected with that power we have received. If we would have naturally had power over sin and its nature there would not have been a need for a Savior, but we don’t naturally have power over sin so we do need Jesus Christ and His saving words and power. And so, as those who will follow Christ we must not abandon the time spent with Him in: 1. Personal devotions of prayer and bible reading – study. 2. Time at church, with participation in worshiping, giving, receiving, and loving the body of Christ. 3. Time spent cooperating with and receiving all that Christ is doing in our lives.
Psa 40:2-3 (KJV) “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings. (3) And he hath put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God: many shall see [it], and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”
-Kurt Thurston
The Church as Spiritual Zion – part 1 of 3
(Amplified and KJV)
Bloodline determines those who constitute the human family: “… He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men…So that they should seek God…and find Him” {Acts 17:26-27}. In like manner, just as Creator God created mankind of the same human blood, so Christ Jesus our Redeemer made of one spiritual blood the sons and daughters of Zion.
Clearly, the King of Zion does not dwell in temples made by man, for Jesus said, “If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word—obey My teaching; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him” {John 14: 23}. While men continue to construct physical edifices where God might be found, the Father continues to seek yielded hearts where He can rest. Surrendered hearts become His dwelling place. “… God…being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines… {Acts 17:24}.
The thematic thread of Zion which runs throughout the Old Testament will ultimately be fulfilled physically and spiritually. Similarities between what is written of literal Zion and what is written of Christ’s Church are numerous and apparent. Here are but a few from the Psalms. David declares of God that “…His dwelling place is in Zion” {76:2} and pleads that God’s deliverance come forth out of Zion: “O that the salvation and deliverance of Israel were come out of Zion! {53:6}. As blessings come through the members of Christ’s Body, David’s prayer continues to be answered: The Lord “Send you help from the sanctuary, and support, refresh and strengthen you from Zion” {20:2}. Through the citizens of spiritual Zion, others are encouraged and strengthened. The corporate temple (spiritual Zion) continues to be built until at last it may be heralded: “When the Lord builds up Zion, He will appear in His glory” {102:16} and “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth” {50:2}.
In Psalm 87 we find several applications to spiritual Zion as seen in the following explanations. Members of Christ’s body who have yielded themselves individually to His purification and building stand authoritatively as “gates of Zion” through whom others, even those from “all nations,” are introduced into the Kingdom of God. These “gates” stand in contrast to “all the dwellings of Jacob,” those who call themselves by the name of the Lord but who have not suffered death to their carnal nature with all its fleshly cravings and have not been resurrected into newness of life, a transformation possible only through the indwelling Spirit of Christ Jesus {1-2}.
As the Church grows more and more into the image of her Lord, “glorious things” will indeed be spoken of her, for she will have both the humility and the power to obey whatsoever the Father says; and the world will be unable to deny God’s manifested presence working in, among and through His people {3}. Verses {4-6} consider the identification of a person according to his birthplace. Of those born in Zion (born again and faithful unto death), the promise is given: “The Most High Himself will establish her.” When He “registers the peoples…The Lord shall count… that this man was born there.” The Father knows those who are His and testifies of them {6}. They, too, testify of Him as they declare “All my springs—my sources of life and joy—are in you [city of our God]” {v 7}.
How vividly I recall the way my spirit soared when I first heard the following Scripture chorus (taken from Isaiah 51:11 and Psalm 132:13-16):
“Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return/ and come with singing unto Zion/ and everlasting joy shall be upon their head/ They shall obtain gladness and joy/ and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
For the Lord hath chosen Zion/ He hath desired it for his habitation/This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell/ for I have desired it/ I will abundantly bless her provision/ I will satisfy her poor with bread/ I will clothe her priests with salvation/ and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.”
At the time I had no understanding of spiritual Zion being chosen and desired as a dwelling (resting) place for the Almighty, no comprehension that I was a part of the temple being built by God Himself within that Zion, no idea that I was being prepared as a priest unto God, and no realization that even then I was beginning to be clothed with and by Christ Himself. But my spirit man knew and leaped for joy. And still my spirit soars at the name of Zion and of her King.
-Ruth French
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