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This is Episode 309 of the My Morning Devotional PodcastFind us on Instagram:@mymorningdevo@alisonelizabethcoJoin our Facebook Community by clicking here!Join me, Alison Elizabeth as we read out of 1 John 2:16 which says "16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.""We all have our vices, some of them stronger than others. Sugar, sex, alcohol, drugs, shopping, dare I say social media. My prayer today is for those suffering with bondage. May their eyes open that the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and their pride is being fed not from the spirit, not from our father but from the world. I do believe if they still have breath in their lungs, then God is not done with them yet. So Lord, I give me father to you. Like I have done many times in the past, but I will continue to do so until he is healed, whether that be on this side of eternity or not. And father we give to you all those who suffer from addiction. May they find what they are so longing for in you. "

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there expecting thank you, because without you, we would not be here today. That's my dad joke. So now we have a complete Mother's Day. Thank you so much for entertaining that. Hey, happy Mother's Day to you online as well. Mom, if you're watching, I'm in a room full of awesome mothers and you're still the best. So happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you. Can't wait to see you soon. Hey, if you have your Bibles, open to Psalm 121. Psalm 121, we will be there for the majority of this morning and we'll be doing some flipping back and forth from passages. There's pens in front of you. We'll be doing a lot of scripture. So if you want to write down those references, because time may be a little short today, Psalm 121. Hey, I'm going to start out with a question. What did you guys do to pass the time like a long road trip? A lot of people today will turn on a podcast or sports radio or an audio book. My go to back in the day. I had mixed tapes. Yeah. You know, the time where you would listen to the radio and you got to push record as soon as that song came on. Otherwise you missed it. We would go on vacations and listen to these mix tape. And I of course, my parents control the radio. So it was late seventies and eighties and nineties music. I grew up listening to. I'm still very fond of all the memories we created on our road trips. Well, this song right here, Psalm 121. All these songs were sung to music and it's called the Song of ascents. From one twenty to one thirty four tradition holds that pilgrims traveling back to Jerusalem would sing these songs. And I remember Judah and Israel were taking over. They were captured and they were dispersed throughout all the land, the subjected people to their captives. And so they'd come back to Jerusalem three times a year for certain festivals. Every able-bodied male and his family, if they could make it, they'd come. And as they got closer to Jerusalem, they'd see more pilgrims. And sometimes they would take weeks, days, depending how far away they lived. Some would come from other countries. They weren't just locally as they got closer and they saw the the hills, the sounds, maybe the temple, they begin to sing these songs of ascent. And it's called songs of ascent. It's not the best you can see here. It's better because of where Jerusalem was situated. Jerusalem is situated twenty five hundred feet above sea level. Case in point here, Jericho down here. Jericho is actually below sea level. Seven hundred and twenty feet. And so you're hiking up this ascent, if you will, even if you came from far away countries from taller mountains when you landed near Jerusalem, there's valleys surrounding it. You could go down into the valley and then climb this ascent up to the mountain, up to Jerusalem. And so the songs of a sense is what they're called. Well, perhaps these were not originally composed for this purpose. These songs were later grouped together for use in traveling towards Jerusalem for their yearly Jewish festival. They became known as the Pilgrim Songs and really the songs for all believers. Are we all pilgrims traveling from this world to the next? This song was not only song for traveling mercies and protection. It was also a song of salvation as we'll read later on of our eternal destination as in verse eight, we just read talks about God being today and forever with us. It's a beautiful song of God's providential care and protection for his children. It's a reminder that God actively is involved your life, that he never, never sleeps nor slumbers always with a watchful caring eye on you. I call this message from the Vale or the Valley to the Summit, because we're all on this journey, this spiritual journey of life. And we know whenever we gather to worship like we are today, in essence, we are ascending to him because God is otherworldly. He's holy, which means he's set apart distinct, different above us, literally holy. Just, perfect. So different. And so like we are ascending to him on this journey as pilgrims from this world into the next. And so before we continue, I'm going to ask you guys to join me in prayer. Father, we we come to you today and and ask that you would open up our hearts and minds and give us understanding into your word. Father, I think of Moses when he ascended the Mount Sinai and you told him this was a holy place to take off his sandals. We're in your direct presence through the blood of Jesus Christ. That temple veil has been rent in half from top to bottom. And we stand before you. God we are in the presence of your spirit. We have access to you, our great keeper, provider, protector, shield, high tower. So Lord would you make my words Your words. May they be edifying, encouraging, uplifting. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. So these eight verses and Psalm 121, I'm going to tackle them two verses at a time. I think they go really well together. So let's go over the first two verses. I lift my eyes up to the hills from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. If I could summarize these two verses, it's that God saves us. Now, picture yourself in this journey that you're a pilgrim coming from, let's say, Jericho. Seven hundred and twenty feet below sea level and you're trekking up this terrain now. You would need supplies for the journey, water, food, protection. Most times the pilgrims are traveling with other people, friends and family, maybe other villagers. You're actually a target for robbers. In fact, the Good Samaritan was on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he found the man who was robbed and beaten and left for dead. Same journey, same trek that he's taken. So your a target kind of like a tourist who goes to a tourist town and that person sticks out. They got money. That's what the robber's looking for. In addition to that, you saw that trek, the thousands and thousands of feet of different elevation. You're going uphill. Not only that. It's hot, it's desert, sun stroke. Make sure you bring enough water and food for the little ones even. And at night, the desert can even have these wild range of temperatures and you can be cold if left unprepared. So you gotta carry maybe extra tunics or coats. The Psalmist understands the danger that lies before him and asked for help recognizing he needs it. This officer is not only referring to the physical dangers that I mentioned and the elements, but also the spiritual dangers as well. In Hebrew culture, the hills or the high places, maybe in your translation, were locations of worship. And unfortunately, there was places of idolatry even in Israel during that time. Jeremiah Chapter three, verse six says this During the reign of King Josiah, the Lord said to me, Have you seen what fickle Israel has done? Like a wife who commits adultery Israel worshipped other gods on every hill and under every green tree. The hills symbolize the treacherous journey both ahead of the physical dangers, but also the spiritual ones. The hills in this context and Psalm 121 are the source of the trouble and the reason for the question where does my help come from? And as pilgrims ourselves journeying from this world to the next, we can look around in the high places of our culture in broad daylight and seen people worship false gods. The pressure, the temptation to bow down to these idols even exists for us as believers, maybe you are here today asking the same question, where does my help come from? Life is tough already as it is with all the physical challenges, let alone the spiritual warfare behind the scenes. Like the Psalmist, we're asking, where does our help come from? Well, who made these hills? This Psalmist answers - the Lord who made heaven and earth. That's where our help comes from. If he has the power to create the earth, he has the power to defend his people as well. When you realize that the maker of heaven and earth, the hills that are situated on top of these places of idolatry, that he himself has sovereign and control and powerful and created that, these hills become a little less menacing. See, I think this song is much bigger in perspective and talking more than just a road trip to Jerusalem while were singing these songs. I think he's talking about the bigger all over picture, of the big overall picture of salvation in Jesus and salvation in God. Read Psalm 56:11 in God. I trust I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Again Psalm 27:1. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? At the end of a beautiful chapter Romans eight. This promise stands. If God is for us, who can be against us? And then Isaiah, fifty one. Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law, that's us, fear not the approach of man, nor be dismayed of his revilings for the moth will eat them up like a garment and the worm will eat them like wool. My righteousness will be forever and my salvation to all generations. What the Psalmist reminds us here is that even though there's earthly threats, opposition against us, maybe a physical and both spiritual, that these threats are temporal and short lived because God holds our salvation in his hands. So these first two verses speak of how God saves us physically and even more so spiritually from the dangers and toils that lie ahead of us. Verse three and four. He will not let your foot be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber and behold, he keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. If I can paraphrase this it would be that God studies us in our walk. He's vigilant. He's watchful. The dangerous road ahead. As the pilgrims get closer to Jerusalem, maybe they would get a little more crowded be excited to see the Pilgrims, maybe the songs to start earlier. But as they went up those steep ascents, the roads were like today. They weren't paved and were a little more narrow. And as traffic was coming down, there could be a caravan, an ox drawn cart. There had to be space. And with those sleepers, with those steep ascents, one false step, if your foot wasn't secure, you could fall not not suffering an injury, maybe even suffering death. So having your foot steady, so let's not move is important here. In fact, the phrasing foot be not moved or not slipping is a euphemism for judgment in scripture. Check it with me. Deuteronomy Chapter three to five. Vengeance is mine and recompense or repayment for the time when their foot shall slip for the day of their calamity is at hand and their doom comes swiftly. They're talking about judgment here, when the foot slips, the psalmists would be familiar with this kind of euphemism or language. And he's writing something greater than just road hazards on a pilgrim's journey to Jerusalem. This is God's eternal deliverance he's talking about. You see the Psalmist here is not saying that believers will not suffer physical injury. Maybe some of us here are suffering from physical ailments, even today. But what he's saying here that the believer will never suffer loss of his eternal foothold or footing in God because it's God who is our help and God who secures our salvation. Dear brothers and sisters, more important than our physical safety is our spiritual security. Let me give you an example juxtaposed against this. You remember the story of the paralytic. Jesus was in a town and he was healing people and there was droves upon droves of people coming to visit. And these four friends said, hey, we have this guy, he can't walk, he can't get there. So let's carry him. They get there. The doors are blocked, just jam packed. Let's go up on the roof and let's remove the tiles and we'll lower him down. What's Jesus's first words to this man who obviously can't stand, who obviously is wanting physical healing. He says the most unexpected thing, your sins are forgiven. It would be like someone coming all the way to Mayo Clinic because there's a new type of procedure that can heal this disease that's very rare and and has no cure. But getting to the physician and he's about to fire up the machine, he says, you know what, I know you made this long trek. Your sins are forgiven. What? How much do we value physical protection, our well-being and healing over that which is more, maybe more important? Let me let me personalize if I can give an example, John, you think that you need that broken limb fixed? You think that that disease or that ailment that you're carrying around, that's kind of a thorn in your flesh. You think that would bring you the relief and joy set you free? No, son, before I fix the brokenness outside, I need to fix the brokenness within. Jesus gives a better gift than healing the paralytic. He says your sins are forgiven. That's why Jesus is the great physician, because there is no other doctor, no other God, no other religion that can forgive your and my sins completely and then keep our foot from slipping. You guys get that. He should not let your foot slip. Check out these encouraging verses from Psalm 91:11-12, for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways on their hands. They will bear you up lest you strike your foot against a stone. And Daniel 2:9, he will guard the feet of his faithful ones. But the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall man prevail. And this is from Proverbs 3:21-26, which is on the screens, my son did not lose sight of these keep sound wisdom and discretion and there'll be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. Then when you walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble if you lie down, you will not be afraid. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked when it comes for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. What these verses here are saying in verse three and four is that God steadies us in a spiritual sense. Jude twenty four. Now to him, who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless, holy, forgiven, perfect before the presence of his glory and with great joy. If you don't have that underlined in your Bible memorized or highlighted, I would encourage you to do so. That is a great promise that any pilgrim would want to hold on to. He studies us, forgives us and keeps our foot from stumbling. Romans 14:4 says this who are you to pass on judgment on the servant of another. It is before his own master that he stands or falls and he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. How is God able to make us stand? It's because he never sleeps, he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel whill neither sleep nor slumber. The reason why God keeps us from falling is because God is never not awake. He's always vigilant, ever watchful, ever graciously looking upon providing for protecting and guiding his beloved. You may be saying to yourself, you know, sometimes it feels like God asleep on the job. There's occasions where it's silent. I don't hear him. There's an instance in Jesus ministry where he's after a long day of service, he is in a boat in the middle of the ocean and the waves and the winds are picking up and he's sleeping at the bottom of a boat on a cushion fast asleep. And I mean, the disciples think they're going to die. They wake them up. Don't you care that we're perishing? And the creator of heaven and earth stands rebukes the wind and he stills the waves. He does this because he transcends creation, because he is the creator, he's able to still and calm the waves and the wind in our life. This speaks of God's eminence. Definition for you guys: God's eminence holds that God is present in all of creation while remaining distinct from it. In other words, there's no place where God is not. His sovereign control extends everywhere simultaneously. So even though he's above and beyond us, he controls nature. He's outside time and space. He's also near. He's eminent. He's Emmanuel God. With us in the middle of the muck, in the middle of the storms, he's sovereignly in control, guiding and protecting us every step of the way. The slumbering Jesus, even in the bottom of the boat knew more about their situation than the alert disciples. One 17 speaks of this, and he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Speaking of God's eminence verses five and six of one twenty one psalms, The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. This is the key verse, that the Lord is our keeper. And the key part is to keep your eye on the keeper. Isaiah 26:4 says you will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you? That God is watchful. He's a steward. The same word here for keeper is used elsewhere in Scripture and speaks of shepherds and door keepers, prison keepers and vine dressers. All these occupations are employed as metaphors for our God. They are a picture of God closely tending his people, ministering to their needs and guiding them in their journey, protecting them along the way, caring for their afflictions and even atoning for their sins. God himself is our shelter and he says that he's at our right hand. Back in the day, the Roman soldiers predominantly would carry their shields on their left and their swords on their right. So their most exposed side was their flanks. And to increase the defensiveness, the soldiers said I got your right and God is on your right, protecting and boosting your defenses, watching you, caring for you. It was strategic. Psalm 109:31 says this: for he stands at the right hand of the needy one to save him from those who condemn his soul to death. The last two verses seven and eight, the last two verses psalm 121, the Lord will keep you from all evil. He will keep your life. The lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time and forever more. These last two can be summarized as God safeguards us, God safeguards us from evil and he preserves us. Here all these points that God saves us, God steadies us, God shelters us. are summarized in these last two verses, verse seven reiterates all we've been saying that God securely holds our salvation in his hands. In the last two verses are a beautiful promise or the last verse, excuse me. Now the Lord will keep you from going out and if your coming in from this time forth and forevermore, even the day to day details. He's invested. In my closing I want to share a personal story about how God has revealed this to my life personally. Years ago I used to work on straight commissions as a salesman, and I if I wasn't selling anything, I wasn't bringing home any money. I wasn't buying food and groceries, wasn't paying for bills. And so it was a pretty stressful job. I did it for a couple of years. High stress sales. There was a season where things weren't going so well. And the way it worked is I would get the commission of my sales half of it up front. And once the job was completed, which could range anywhere from a couple of weeks, even months, I would receive the later half. I remember vividly in my apartment with my two young children changing my daughter's diaper, going to my wife and saying hey. Can you throw another one so I can change real quick? And she looks at me really quietly and says, we don't have any more. I said, All right, I'll go get some. Like, No, you don't get it. We don't have anymore. And we're out of money. It's like the worst thing you can hear as a dad, I can't provide diapers for my child, I kind of got angry and discouraged and I said, fine, give me the laundry, I'll go do laundry. At least we have detergent and I'll go wash clean clothes. So in case an accident happens, my daughter can at least have clean clothes. I never checked the mail. I went downstairs, started the load of laundry. I was just beside myself. I think I even cried. I was like, what kind of dad am I can't provide for my kid? I walk up the stairs, back to our apartment. My wife is in tears. What's going on? She says, let me guess it. She said in the mailbox that day was a check for three thousand dollars from a job I did. I did six months ago, the biggest job I've ever did for that company. And it was there exactly when it needed it. When we talk about God is imminent or eminent, eminent in our lives and we think that he's silent or that he slumbers, it's not that he's silent or slumbering. No, our perspective is that we're in the vele, we're in the valley and we see the hills around us and we get overwhelmed by them. And we ask, where does our help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven, earth. From that day forward, I've never questioned God's Providence provision, protection and guidance. I've been up and down since then, but he's always come through. This beautiful song reminds us that we need not fear life or death today or tomorrow time or eternity for we are in the loving care of our heavenly Father. Let's pray. Lord as a song that we just sang, you are a good, good father. That's what you are Lord. Lord, we being evil give our kids when they ask for food, we give them bread. We don't give them a stone or serpent God, and you being even greater than us. How much more do you provide? And Lord sometimes you take us through the storms while you appear to slumber God. While you appear to not be involved, but it says here you're always awake and alert. I know Jesus was human and his humanity He was resting. But God it says now in Hebrews that he makes intercession for us. That never slumbers, that he lives to pray for us even today, even now. What a great promise. What a great reminder of who's for us. Your timing is perfect, and it teaches us, God to trust you and to be content. And God, that you won't cause our foot to stumble, to move, that our salvation is secured in the blood of the lamb. We thank you for that greater promise, Father, in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

PRAYER FOCUS: THIS IS A TIME TO REJOICE FOR WHAT HAS PROMISED WILL HAPPEN AS IT DID FOR ESTHER & HER PEOPLE! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We enter Your throne room with thanksgiving and praise for we have been washed clean by the Blood of Your Son, Jesus the Christ! You have not given us a spirit of fear but a spirit filled with power of love and a strong mind like unto that of Jesus the Christ! Father, this Your Army of Prayer Warriors ready to fight in the battle and are willingly follow Your Commands! Use us as You will as we will follow in the footsteps of Your Son, to lay down our lives for others, to sacrifice ourselves as living sacrifice on Your altar for we are of one renewed mind taking on the Mind of Christ so that we will prove what is good and pleasing and the perfect Will You have for us! Father, in this time that is called Purim we like Esther and Mordecai are seeking an answer to what has been done to America by the lying, cheating and stealing that has been done by those who seized our government. Lord, Your people have clearly shown by prayer and fasting and our overwhelming votes that we want Your anointed Donald J Trump to continue to lead and rule over us. So like in those words of the Scripture we want evil to be turned back and ultimately destroyed! May Your Holy Fire consume in this time all those who have betrayed and bore false witness against Your land of America. So Lord, we shout with the prophets: President Trump come back and take your rightful place. We are here to say yes that your are anointed of God to lead us in this time so we seek the righteous to stand firm with you. Father, during this time called Purim let Your Mighty Hand sweep across the land and remove all those who are unjust as judges in every court across America! Let the righteous fill the seat of the Judiciary! Men and women who refuse the bribe or stand firm against any threat of evil to themselves their families or witnesses or those who reveal the truth. Lord through our prayers raise up the shield of Faith to protect them from any of the fiery darts of the enemy. Now is the time that we give You the Glory for all that is take place in time. We celebrate that Your Promises are true and that You keep them as You have always kept them! Lord we stand firm against any of the naysayers or those who mock Your Prophets! Thank You for the gift of each of them and keep them close to Your Heart so that they may continue to reveal Your Will for us as it was in the past so it is now in our day! Father, let Your Holy Fire burn down all of the media stands against what You want for us. Stop the mouths of those who lie and deceive to hide the truth so that they want to stop the prophetic word being revealed and brought to pass! Lord, in this hour raise up the new thing You have planned that we will see the false news be destroyed and a new media will arise to reveal the truth and uplift us to see the history that is Yours in our day! Lord like Moredecai in Your Scriptures we have revealed the truth to protect your anointed and have even stood in sackcloth and ashes to bring about a change in all that has been stolen, so now we are here celebrating the Victory that is at hand! Lord we are here to blast the trumpets that bring victory and smash the walls of the enemy and bring confusion and defeat into their midst for we are victorious in Christ Jesus! Father we are ready and draw closer to Your Heart for we know we are Your children and we trust Your Plan for us and we will fulfill what You have destined us to see and do! Amen & Amen! Search Strike Force of Prayer Search for: Categories Action (7) Election (48) Elections (4) Event (2) How to Pray (14) links (15) Mark Taylor (71) National Alert (4) Opportunities with the Divine (5) Prayer Request (54) Prayers (398) Prophetic Alert (3)

PRAYER FOCUS: ARE YOU GLADLY BUILDING A SANCTUARY FOR GOD’S PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE AND THE LIFE OF YOUR NATION? Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, Protect and bless us as we draw close to Your Heart for we are here to worship and praise You. Knowing Your Heart is why we are here and why we are seeking Your Perfect Will in all we do and say this day and all the days ahead of us. We thank You for the Gift of Your Son who in loving us has really shown us Your Heart and so in this time we are together may we like Him worship You in spirit and truth! May we grow stronger in our Love for You and follow Your Command Your Son said to us love one another as I have loved you! Father it is Your Heart that love fill the whole earth and all of us as Your Family and to build You a Sanctuary among us so that You fill us with Your Presence and we will see Your Glory shine in us and in one another. Father, it is Your Call that our hearts be a Sanctuary for Your Presence and that all we do and say will be used to draw the lost, the abandoned, the sick and the lame and the widow and orphan into the Love found in Your Sanctuary among us. Lord, we know it is Your desire that none should perish so we intercede for them and that all of our actions draw men to see Your Presence in us and around us! We are here Father, to gladly and willingly be used to offer Sanctuary to all who seek to know You and to be saved by the Blood of Your Son, Jesus the Christ! Father, fulfilling Your Perfect Will is our desire and goal and You have spoken through Your Prophets that in our land we are to lead by the ones You have anointed to lead us. Father we have shown You we want what You want in re- electing President Trump. But the enemy has planted weeds among our crop. So Lord, we intercede that the harvest begin by separating the wheat from the chaff on the the threshing floor where we have built our altar to worship and praise You! Lord the enemy has stolen from us that which we have desired, so give us the Wisdom now to move and o what needs to be done to restore what the prophets have said is to be! Let Your Holy Fire burn up the chaff that is among us so that we will see Your Magnificent Glory change what man has done in shame and let us return to the Plan You have given us and fulfill it now here in America, Israel and across the earth! Father, one thing that You have made that is sacred and holy is the womb of woman for it is the privilege to bear and grow life in a child who is our future and a sign of Your Presence in our lives. Father, we have made a mockery of this sacredness by allowing it is a woman's body and she can do what she wants with it and allowing abortion to be in the land. Now is the time Lord for us to rise and give voice to change the laws and to stand firm that all life is Precious and it is our Gift to us! Lord, we seek the strength to stop the Hamans and jackals that have stolen the offices of authority to re-in-state this abomination in our land. Lord, we speak in the authority of Jesus this stops now and we will see the anointed return to lead us and stop this! Lord, let Your Mighty had of Justice strike the enemy now just as You did for the Hebrew children in their time of deliverance from Pharaoh and his army. By the Blood of Jesus wash away this iniquity from our land! Father, it our prayer that the covenant You made with us be completely restored and that the righteous will arise to return us to live by Justice as is in our Constitution. Father, You have been exposing the corruption in our land even in the highest court so now let the plan to overcome this and destroy the corruption be brought forth now in such a way that You get all the Glory and this nation will know it is You, who love us and have called us to be Light like Your Son Jesus in this day and in this hour! So shall it be Lord! What You Will is what we freely accept and use our will power to fulfill. Thank You,

PRAYER FOCUS: PROTECT OUR PROPHETS INSTEAD OF CRITICIZING! ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR DISCERNMENT! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We give thanks to You for Your Loving Kindness endures forever. And let America know and realize Your loving Kindness endures forever.  Yes Father even in times like these when we face turmoil and division.  It is You who have given us the Holy Spirit who reveals all truth to us and gives great understanding of what Your Son Yeshuah has said and done for us!  We know that in our distress or in moments of fear or challenge we can call out to You and You hear us and through Your loving Kindness give us all we need and  release Your Heavenly Host to protect us from all attacks of the enemy and bring forth Justice to rule in our land and bring to us those You have anointed to lead us in such a time as this! Father, in this hour we cry out to You to raise up those who are strong in their spirit and have the spine to turn away the jackals that have taken over the land.  As Your holy prophets have spoken this charade will soon come tumbling down especially in these days we are in.  Father we seek the Hammer of Justice to fall on all those who have betrayed, lied and cheated and stolen from We the People who have overwhelmingly shown our choosing Donald J Trump to be President for 4 more years. Lord, in this time the enemy censures us when even we pray to have Your Will fulfilled in our land as You have promised!  But Lord they will not stop us or defeat us for they are really the defeated ones. Now, is the time to bring to swift conclusion that all the corrupt as they are exposed  to fall in shame for the arrogance they have show in claiming they won when in reality they only hide the truth and run from those who are the real followers of You and what You have planned for us! As the Psalmist proclaims it is better to trust in You at all times even as the enemy surrounds us and shouts out their lies and rules to crush us and our American way that is founded on Your Word and expressed in our sacred documents of our covenant with You and with one another as expressed in our Constitution.  Lord our founding fathers and mothers were as loyal to You and Your Word and Your Savior Jesus the Christ as could be in their day.  So, Father we are proud of our heritage and proud to say that Jesus is Lord and King over us and our nation is a nation of Your Kingdom!  So Lord we can say You are our Portion and Inheritance and we have nothing to fear for the enemy cannot take away what the Spirit has revealed we are Yours and we are loyal to Your loving kindness in all we do and say! Father, we ask for more of the Discernment that the Holy Spirit can give us so that we follow those You have anointed for such a time as this. That we will know the true prophets from You and honor and protect them.  Let any who criticize and mock or ridicule Your prophets fall to the side and remain in the dust!  Father, we are so grateful for You have great plans for us and Your prophets point the way in which we should walk looking only at You and not be distracted to look to the left or the right.  Our focus is on You Father! For we know that the Promises You make You keep.  Father our enemies persecute us wrongly, but because of our faithfulness to Your Word we are made whole and they fall into the pit they have dug for us. Now Lord, bring the evil ones down from their towers and be ground into dust before Your Justice and Truth!  America is Yours, Father so here we are use us to keep Your Kingdom growing here and around the earth. We pray in the Mighty Name of Jesus the Christ! Amen! Search Strike Force of Prayer Search for: Categories Action (7) Election (48) Elections (4) Event (2) How to Pray (14) links (15) Mark Taylor (71) National Alert (4) Opportunities with the Divine (5)

PRAYER FOCUS: IT IS TIME TO BRING DOWN THE STRONG MAN AND TO SPREAD GOD’S HOLY FIRE ACROSS AMERICA! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We gives You thanks and praise for Your Loving Kindness endures forever and we knowYou give it to us because of what Yeshuah, Your Son has done for us! You have delivered our life from the wages of sin which is death! We are in the land of the living because of trust in You and our Faith in You pleases You! So Lord, we are confident that You hear us and that Your Plans for us will unfold in these days even though the enemy only taunts us with an evil report and continually speaks lies and causes those weak to falter, but Lord we know we can do all things in Christ Jesus for His is our strength and leads us against a defeated foe, for He has already broken the works of the devil and shows us the way to walk in these days of confusion and unrest. Lord we place our trust in You and know that the Promises You have made are the Promises You Keep! Lord, we hate what You hate and love what You love. We walk away from lying and cheating which the enemy has done to make themselves look as if they are still in control. Lord we are appalled by the mockery that is taking place in our government and all those who are in charge of this sham. We know this is not what You have appointed for this time and we Your People have shown You by all our prayers and even our votes that we want Your anointed to remain our President and that the goodness he has done to continue to rule over us as a nation under Your Kingdom now and into the future! Lord as Your prophetic voices have spoken we hold onto in Faith: there is a consequence for those who have proclaimed lies and who bear false witness. Lord, Your Mighty Hand is dealing with this mockery and we will see how You raise up the right man and woman who will challenge this travesty and will be Your instrument to stop it and bring it to a swift conclusion and put America back on the Plan You have for us. Raise up in us a Holy Fire of conviction that will be clearly spoken and acted upon in this day. We will not continue to be led by a lie no matter who has certified it and we will see all of this come to naught. Continue to expose even those who wolves in sheep clothing and those whom we call in name only but are really betrayers and deceivers against all that we have considered sacred and holy about America our freedom and our ability to worship You and boldly speak Your Name wherever we are and in whatever we do in our work, our play and our home lives! We know You will win and those who are in alignment direct opposition to You will face their consequences for they have violated the oaths of their offices and have been selfish over the good of America! Not only here Lord, but also for all those who are united with us around the world to make men free and acknowledge You as the true God and Your Son, Yeshuah as our Savior and Lord! Lord, as we start our prayer today and everyday we blow the trumpet to awaken those who are asleep or have been weakened that they have the spine to break off any witchcraft and intimidation that has compromised them. Lord raise up now those who are in offices ofleadership to be bold and courageous: let the weak say they are strong! Let the trumpet sound alert them to now is the time of deliverance by Your Mighty Hand! For Lord this a season of Kingdom demonstration and abundance as we march forward under our Command and guidance of Your Holy Spirit! Lord, we shall see as the prophet Joel has said; the mountains will drip with New Wine , the Hills shall flow with milk and a fountain shall flow from the House of the Lord! All of this will happen among us as You have covered us with Your Loving Kindness through Your Son, Yeshuah our Messiah and King now and forever! Amen! Search Strike Force of Prayer Search for: Categories

PRAYER FOCUS: IF YOU BELIEVE TRUMP HAS FOUR MORE YEARS THEN DROP THE HOW AND JUST BELIEVE FOR GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISE! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We proclaim our belief in what You have spoken through Your prophets in our day and that You always keep Your Promises! Father forgive us for being impatient and wanting to know how You will bring it to pas. We please You when our faith is pure that we have no agenda or way to control You, we just believe and place our trust totally in You. Even today Lord we hear all the news about the trial that will begin today of President Trump, we are made so aware of all those who are struggling for power and control of America and its people. There are those who would keep us a s slaves just like Your Hebrew people were slaves in Egypt and who reign over us with the arrogance of Pharaoh, but yet You use their evil ways to make way for Your miraculous protection and bring about Your Will for Your people. Today, Lord we proclaim again our Faith in Your Promises and that You Keep Your promise, no matter what anyone says or thinks that they know the outcome: no one knows unless You reveal it through the Holy Spirit to those who are close to Your Heart and are faithful to Your Commands! So Lord we rejoice in Your Promise and know it will come to pass before our eyes. Yes, Lord even when the Hebrew children had no way out blocked by the Red Sea and the Egyptian army in hot pursuit You used Your servant Moses to part the Red Sea and Your people escaped to freedom. Lord this is our hour so we await what You are to do through our leader President Trump and all those You have set in place to bring freedom to Your people in America, not only here Lord but across the nations of the world. O Lord we rejoice and give Your Thanks for You keep Your promise every time! Thank You, Father for showing us Your loving kindness and How much You value us through Your Son, Yeshuah! Glory! Glory! Father, in the authority of Jesus we bring to You all attachments and inclinations and temptations of false worship in the temples, at the altars and the idols of false god placed before us in this land by the spirit of Jezebel and her prophets and priest who worhip and have allegiance to Baal, and all other gods: we bring the Sword of Faith to smash them and bring them to utter destruction and consume them by Your Holy Fire! Lord, we are here under the Blood of Your Son to worship You in spirit and truth and proclaim You are the only God of this nation! It is because of You that we are here and blessed to be called a holy nation, a people set apart, a priesthood to worship You and bring to the world that Your Will be done here as it is in heaven. Father Your Kingdom is established on Justice and always follows Your Commands , so to here! You want us to live in Peace and Harmony with one another according to Your Holy Plan. That is exactly what we want and we show You by what we choose to do when what we do is before Your eyes! Even when we voted in this nation we showed You we want life and not death, we want integrity and not lying, cheating and stealing! Yes, Lord what has been done to us is our enemies doing and all those who have chosen the way of darkness. We know their kingdom will not last and Your Judgment has been set and those who are nothing more than jackals and wolves in sheep clothing are doomed to fall and be led off to their own destruction as Your Heavenly Host leads the righteous to fulfill Your Will and destroy the systems of corruption made by man and turn our land around to be what You have established it to be based on Your Holy Scriptures and Faith in Jesus our Savior and only true King to live and reign with us now and forever. Amen! Alleluia! Search Strike Force of Prayer Search for: Categories Action (7) Election (48) Elections (4) Event (2)

What can we learn about who God is from Moses' encounter with the great 'I AM' at a burning bush? How does Jesus deepen this understanding? Good morning. I am not one who normally uses props, but I didn't know what this was until somebody explained it to me. It looks like an instrument of torture. In some ways it is. It's actually something used in exercise. It's a kettle bell. It's a kind of weight. It was what was recommended to me this year as I was approaching a new year, approaching my 60s, wanting to be able to continue to live life on a somewhat normal basis, wanting to continue to hike like I enjoy. And the person who is advising me said, why don't you work out with kettle bells? Because kettle bells and the various exercises that you can do with them help strengthen your core. Strengthening your core - that was a bit of a new concept for me. And that may be something that you're already familiar with. But here's basically what your core is. According to the Mayo Clinic, your core, our cores are the the muscles that make up our our abdomen and our back and the muscles around our pelvis. And the reason that is significant is because if you have a strong core that enables you to continue to keep doing the normal activities of life. When somebody ages or becomes ill and they lose the ability to pick themselves up off the floor or sit up or some have just what we would consider you and I in normal activities, that that usually is a problem of a weak core. So a strong core enables you to to do all those activities of normal, everyday life, to keep doing things like I enjoy, like hiking a weak core not only works against that, but can bring on back pain. It can even make you susceptible to muscle issues. So why is that significant? Because again, physically, to keep functioning, to keep doing the things that I enjoy, I want to strengthen my physical core. But that makes me recall what Paul the Apostle says to young Timothy in First Timothy four. He reminds Timothy physical training is of some value. It's not something we should ignore. But he says, training yourself to be godly, in other words, strengthening your physical core or your spiritual core. Training yourself to be godly, strengthening your spiritual core, Paul says, is much better because it not only has benefits in this life, it has benefits in the life to come. So, that is really the theme of this series that we are into for the next couple months, strengthening your core. And by that we mean strengthening our spiritual core. Really, another term that we could use to describe what it means to strengthen our spiritual core is discipleship. And that's one of those churchy words that that maybe we do or don't have a handle on. But a disciple is very simply a learner, somebody who is a learner and a follower of Jesus; a disciple of Jesus is a learner and a follower of Jesus. And when we think about that idea of strengthening our spiritual core - discipleship, we're essentially asking the question: "What does a disciple of Jesus look like? What does he or she think? Does he or she think like Jesus? How is he developing or she developing and thinking like Jesus? Does he or she act like Jesus in the way that they are living? Is that person growing and more in their conduct in a way that mirrors Jesus? And is he or she becoming more like Jesus? Is the heart changing in such a way that it resembles more and more Jesus?" That's really the measurement of discipleship. That's really the measurement of strengthening our spiritual core. It is: Are we being transformed in our thinking? Are we being transformed in our actions? Are we being transformed in our being who we are in our heart? You can think of it in very easy terms of our head - what we're believing; our hearts - our virtues, in other words, what's happening internally in the control center of our lives; and our hands - what we're practicing, what we're actually doing. And so that's really what we have been focusing on, even as church leadership, what does it mean to be a disciple who's being transformed in head and heart and hands and belief in virtues and practices? And we're using something right now. We're looking at something right now called the Christian Life Profile. It's something that's been used in our leadership training for some time here at Calvary. And it identifies 30 characteristics, 10 characteristics of belief, 10 characteristics of virtues, 10 characteristics of practices that we see over and over again in the Bible. And we're looking at how do we incorporate that into our intentional efforts to help people strengthen their spiritual core, to grow as disciples. So over the next couple of months, we're going to look at some of these. We are going to start working our way through. And today and this month, we begin with the first core beliefs. So this is this is, again, of the head. Not that everything is about belief, but this is where we're beginning. And that first belief is very simply this. It is the belief in God: a disciple of Jesus believes in the God of the Bible. And by that we mean the one true God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Now, you may think this is academic, especially if you've been in church for a while, but let's talk about the very real relevance of this, why this is so critical. Just think about what happened in 2020. One of the realizations for me is 2020, and all the events that happened during 2020 brought to the surface. So it is undeniable what has been happening in our culture for some time. And that very simply is the world has been slowly and subtlely but undeniably changing right beneath us. And I don't mean necessarily the physical world. I mean what is happening in our culture. Most of us, if we're 40 or over, we were we were raised, we were steeped, in what's called modernism, which which depends on rational thought and the scientific method and reason. And yet what has been going on in the last number of years and really came to the surface in all of the events that I think we've seen in 2020 is rationalism has been eclipsed by postmodernism. And postmodernism rejects rationality; it rejects reason; it even to some degree rejects or wants to change the use of the scientific method. And why this is so crucial for us is, at its core, postmodernism - what what people who are now growing up in their elementary school age up into their 20s and 30s and 40s, and it's leaking even up above that. What is there is a rejection of this very idea that there is any absolute. Even if there's some acknowledgement of God, he is rejected as the one who is absolute reality, who establishes absolute truth, who establishes the standard that determines what is right or wrong, what is moral or immoral for all times and all places. In all cultures. Postmodernism rejects the idea that there is - what we are learning in our leadership class in here at Calvary - a metanarrative that there is a story that God is in control and working towards everything, towards his aims all throughout human history, that that he has a point and purpose for all of our lives. So into this postmodern culture, we step if we are followers of Jesus and we say: no, we believe in one true God, we believe in the God of the Bible, we believe in the God of the Bible who reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And we'll be looking at that the next couple of weeks, but today I want to come to what what I think for me is become a foundational text in all of this. And it's the one you heard read earlier. I'm not going to read the whole text, but it is the account of God appearing to Moses in Exodus, chapter three. And in verse one, we see the context. Moses is leading the flock, the flocks that belonged to his father in law, Jethro, and he's leading them into the far side of the wilderness. And he comes to Horeb, the mountain of God. Now, this location is unknown. We don't know where this is. All we know is it's way out in the middle of nowhere. He was probably wandering to find some fresh grazing for his sheep. He was probably going far beyond he'd ever gone before. Horeb - that word in Hebrew means wilderness. So it is out in the middle of nowhere. There's no hint that Moses was aware that there was a mountain out there identified as the mountain of God. What's the significance of that? When God reveals himself, as we're going to see, is probably one of the most significant revelations of himself in all of scripture. God does it in a non-traditional, non-religious setting. That's not the last time in scripture that we'll see a significant revelation of God, not in some kind of church or sanctuary, but in a non traditional, non religious setting. And what does he see? How does God begin this revelation? Moses isn't looking for this, but we read in verse two, the angel of the Lord appeared to him not in a burning bush, but literally the Hebrew here would be like this: In a flame of fire from the midst of a bush that was not consuming the bush. Now, that's significant, a flame of fire is an Old Testament symbol of what we call a theophany, when when God reveals himself in some visible way, you think of the pillar of fire. There is a theophany, that God appeared leading the Israelites in during the exodus. You think of God appearing to Moses at Mount Sinai to give him the law. He did it, Deuteronomy records, out of the midst of a fire. So this fire is God just giving a visual representation of himself. That's why the bush is not consumed. This is not somebody simply lighting a bush on fire. And even as we read Angel, Angel is probably better translated here as messenger. This this is God in some visual form appearing before man. And this is actually God speaking. This is not some angel of God speaking. We see instances of the Angel of the Lord throughout the Old Testament, meaning God is in some way visually showing up to speak. Jumping ahead a little bit in verse six, what is it that God says to Moses at its core?: I am the God of your father. Notice that singular, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Israel and the God of Jacob. That is singular because God is identifying himself with with Moses and Moses's family who are in slavery in Egypt. I don't have time to go through all the context of that. But if you read the first two chapters of Exodus, you see the setting, the situation that the Israelites are in. And he mentions Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the three great patriarchal fathers. So what is God doing here? God is identifying himself with the faith of Moses's people, the nation of Israel who are enslaved in Egypt. Now, I think there is a real challenge for Moses, first of all, to believe this, but but really, anyone who would have been there at that time. Yes, Moses can recall at least hearing about times where God showed up to appear to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and various places. But it's been a long time. It's been four hundred years that the Israelites have been in Egypt under slavery, crying out with no real evidence that God has shown up for them at all. Four hundred years. And not only has it been a long time, but this is a very new situation, the nation of Egypt. This is probably the first world's great power. The pharaoh had power over every aspect of the Egyptians lives and of course, the Israelites slaves. It had an international influence. It was the first probably great world power. And not only was there Pharaoh with all of his power, the power of the state, we might think of it, but there was a pantheon of gods. I've read of at least eight Egyptian deities. So as an Egyptian, you know, you had all you had these choices of all these deities. And if you somebody came along and told you about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, you're like, oh, that's that's just one other choice that I could possibly make. I guess he fits in somewhere, even if he's real. I guess he fits in somewhere with the other pantheon of gods. So Moses has some, probably some, at least tentativeness, if not doubt about this, leading him to ask the question in verse thirteen. If I go to the Israelites, notice the hesitation - if - if I go to the Israelites and say to them, the God of your fathers has sent me to you. And they ask me, what is his name? What should I tell them? You see the significance of that question, what is his name? What is your name? Moses is not asking about God's identity. He's not right at this point asking what you're like. Somebody meets me on the street. What is your what's your name? What's your first name? He is not asking that. It is a question of authority. Moses is essentially asking, if I go to them, how am I going to explain to them where you have been for the last four hundred years? If I go to them and I say this, how am I going to answer when they ask me and even my own question, can he really accomplish what he is promising? If I go to them, how am I going to explain to them that you are really present in their situation, that you really have the power over this culture, this dominant world power of Egypt? Again I think about the relevance of that today. If we are followers of Jesus, we know Jesus sends us out into the world, that is the great commission, Matthew twenty eight. And when we think about Jesus sending us out into our postmodern culture. We, or at least I'll speak honestly for me, we/I have the same struggles as Moses. You know, postmodernism has not totally wiped out the memory of the God of our fathers. I mean, most even probably people down into their 20s at least know the concept of God, but they don't know him as as God. So there is the memory of the God of our fathers. But even when they hear that, they ask with skepticism and often with scoffing. Well, what is his name? Again, not necessarily asking about identity, they're asking, is he real, is he really present? Does he really care? Can he really affect things? Does he really have power? And why does he seem so absent, why does he seem so distant? I wonder if you feel that struggle when you and I face a culture that is increasingly secular, that increasingly rejects any authority, that hangs on to personal autonomy. A culture that is becoming more and more tribal - we all have our little gods, small g gods. A culture that is becoming more and more polarized. A culture that increasingly rejects any moral absolutes, any ultimate voice, saying this is right and this is wrong, this is true and this is false. As we face that culture, what do you say? What do you say when they ask you what is his name, what should you tell them? You see how relevant this is to us. Well, God answers Moses, he answers, Moses's real question in verse 14. "I am who I am, this is what you are to say to the Israelites, I am has sent me to you". Now you probably picked it up there three times. He uses the same - It's actually one word in Hebrew - It's the verb to be I am in the first singular there. He repeats it twice, right together. I am who I am. And then there is the third time added on. The most common translations of this. Other than I am who I am. You might find this in various translations of the Bible. I am who I am. Other translations "I will cause to be what I cause to be." I've seen that one. "I will be who I am." "I am who I will be." The one thing that is for certain that is absolutely clear by the even the tense of and the form of these verbs "I am who I am" - is the past tense is not appropriate. It is not appropriate to speak of God as he was like so many in our postmodern situation would say today. Oh, yeah, God's dead. God was. God was you know, God is something from the past. God is is an archaic belief here. There's no sense of the past other than the eternal past that God always has been. There's no sense of the past tense in here. This is the present tense. It is God is representing himself as actively existing. He is saying, I am. I always have been. I always will be. I don't often quote commentators, but John Durham, a commentator, this just stuck out to me, he says, "This answer is not by any stretch of the imagination a name. It is an assertion of authority. It is a confession of reality." In essence, God is saying to them, and he's saying to us, by the way, as well, I am the God who is with and for my people at all times and all places, including in twenty, twenty one. He is saying, I will be God for you, I have always been this and I will be God for you right in the middle of your situation. This is God saying he is real, this is God saying he is present, this is God saying he is sovereign, this is God saying he is faithful, this is God saying he is at work even if you can't see it. So now that God has established who he is, I am who I am, and all of that means now he makes his proper name known, I am who I am is not his proper name. I am who I am, explains the name that he now gives in verse 15 Yahweh. This is my name forever, Yahweh is my name forever, Yahweh is how I am to be recognized in every generation. And that Hebrew word Yahweh, it comes from the same form of I am, the Hebrew word h-y-h so so God has built the foundation with the three items in verse 14, and now he gives the proper name that comes out of that Yahweh. God has been up to this point - to Moses and to you and me - revealing the meaning of his true name, his personal name, this is the name that appears over sixty eight hundred times in the Old Testament, but you don't see it. I'll explain why in a moment. It appears over and over in the Old Testament whenever you see Lord capitalized LORD, why is that? Why is not Yahweh in there? Because first of all, this is the most sacred name for God. And so the Jews honoring that sacredness, they would not pronounce it. And so instead, what they did, they did a little kind of a trick. I don't mean that in the negative sense. When they translated it, when they spoke it, they would substitute another name for God - Adonai, which means, my lord, that's why you see LORD that and as well as the Septuagint, which is just simply the the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, uses a similar translation, kyrios, which also means Lord. So every time you read your Old Testament and you see the capitalized word, all caps, LORD, what you're actually seeing there is the Hebrew word Yahweh. And I understand how that all came about. But it is a little confusing when you hear the real explanation of it. And again, I'm not on the level of any Bible translator, but I find it a little unsatisfactory because LORD is a title, but his name is Yahweh. So LORD really doesn't capture his name. Now, one more thing before I move on from his name - the Hebrew Old Testament is we have consonants, we don't have vowel markings. And so what we do know when we look at the Hebrew is the consonants which transliterated would be YHWH. So there's a lot of speculation when you add the vowels in, how do you actually say it? One very common practice was to take in the vowels from Adonai. I'm not really sure the reason and add them to YHWH and that produces Jehova. If you have the King James version of the Bible that you may see Jehovah referenced a number of times, that's where that comes from, adding the vowels from Adonai into the consonants of your way. There's no evidence that that's the right pronunciation of it. But we don't know. I think a very good translation is simply Yahweh adding in the the A and the E to say Yahweh. And that's one of the reasons I like the Holman Christian Standard Bible is occasionally they will use the word Yahweh. Now I don't mean to get academic here, because really the significance of this is that all of the verses leading up to verse 15, God has been providing an interpretation of his name. If we want to know who he is, if Moses wants to know who he is, God has been explaining that Yahweh is the great I am, Yahweh is, or as Francis Schaffer says, the God who is there. Yahweh is real whether people recognize him or not. He is eternal. He always is. He always has been. He always will be. And he is present. He is even when we can't see him. Even when we don't understand where he is. So for the Israelites and for us. Even in the midst of this postmodern culture that we now find ourselves in, God is the ultimate reality. God is the ultimate authority because he always has been and he always will be. This is going to be tested. It's going to be tested, we see in verse 15, when they go to Egypt, when Moses goes to Egypt and says, we want to worship, it's going to be tested, really his authority and whether they will follow him, it's going to be tested, verse 19, we see in the confrontation with Pharaoh, it's going to be tested, verse 20, through the series of plagues, the wonders that God will bring, but ultimately God will demonstrate to the Israelites, and to us: he is who he says he is. He is the ultimate authority. Let me close with this, how do we experience the great I am? How do we experience Yahweh where you heard it read earlier and in John eight Jesus inflames those listening to him, the Pharisees and Sadducees with that statement: "before Abraham even was born, I AM!." And their reaction to him shows that they got exactly where he was drawing that from. He's drawing that from God's revelation of himself here in Exodus three. But that's who Jesus is. He is the great I AM wrapped up in human nature. And that's why he makes himself known to us and those I am statements of the gospel of John, I am the bread of life. I am the light of the world. I am the good shepherd. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the true and living way. And my question for you as we close is, do you know this God, the one true God? Do you know the great I AM? We know him as we approach him through how he reveals himself most perfectly to us through the great I AM - Jesus the Christ. And as we come to him, recognizing his authority, recognizing him as savior, him as king, him as Lord, that is how we come and we embrace the great I AM. That is how we enter into a relationship where the great I AM, who is existed eternally, who is all powerful, who is all authority, knows and loves us and accepts us and forgives us and changes us. Do you know the great I AM through Jesus the Christ? Let's pray. Our God, there's no way I can fully do this justice of how you reveal who you truly are, but I pray, Lord Jesus, as your spirit works and our hearts, that this this would grow on us - the revelation of who you are and all of your reality, the revelation of your absolute authority, the revelation that you are here and you are present, and that determines how we go not just in our own lives, but out into the world. That rejects you. That does not believe in you. So, Lord Jesus, I pray that if there is anyone here who does not know the great I AM, that they would approach you as savior, as king, as LORD, as God incarnate, that they would come to know you as they bow before you, in repentance and faith as they embrace you, as savior, as LORD, as King. I pray this in your name. Amen.

PRAYER FOCUS: KEEP YOUR EYES ON GOD TO SEE WHAT HE IS DOING NOW! GOD WILL BRING JUDGMENT ON PHARAOH IN OUR DAY! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We come to You with confidence because we remember Your Ways in Your Word, our Scriptures. You have a way in our history that can never be forgotten nor can be denied. Your Words are true: the enemy is so small next to You, You laugh at Your enemies especially those who think they occupy their throne. These evil ones are ruled with pride and arrogance saying: No one can remove us, we are too powerful and it is all working out for us to rule and wipe out all that Your anointed has done. But You say, Lord Ha! We will see one throne after another will not just fall but be destroyed and turned into ash! These evil altars that are occupied by the Kingdom of Darkness will be destroyed and they will be rebuilt as altars of My Light to be occupied by those I choose to be Judges, Congressmen and women, governors, Mayors and anyone in leadership that is corrupt will be exposed one after the other will come to naught! Father our eyes and focus is on You we are not looking at what they say in the news or other sources of information. It is You and You alone we are here to worship and follow! You are the source of life and all blessings we receive even in times of sadness and sorrow. You are always faithful to those who love You and You put Your protective Arm over us as You are now, so we are confident that what we will see happen will be a washing away of those corrupt and who are foolish to believe that they are stronger than You and have full power in this hour. Give us Holy Laughter in this hour in the the face of our enemy. We know we can sing Your Praises now and blow the trumpet in Zion for our God is acting now in our behalf and Your plans for Your anointed will succeed and be the true history we see being fulfilled in this hour! Father, give us new pastors, new leaders in our assemblies and fellowships. Those who have turned against Your anointed and tell us to surrender to the tyranny of the enemy will themselves be fooled and lie in the dust as we march to Your New Wine being poured out in this hour! Those who have lied and deceived us will loose all they have and be left in shame and humiliation that will be a sign to them it is repent now before it is to late for we know Your Judgment is set! Alleluia! So Lord, we bring to Your altar this Prayer to Remove the Occult Shield of Protection that the enemy is using to feel strong and that they are winning! Lord God Almighty, You are the Lord of the Armies of Heaven, we thank You for the power of the Blood of Yeshuah/Jesus over all witchcraft and all vexes, hexes and other occult practices of the those who worship Satan. We come before You, Father covered by the blood of Jesus, Your Son and proclaim over the world wide systems of evil seeking to take control of America and other nations, especially Israel. That these evil systems be smashed and destroyed by Your Might and Power now and forever! Let the occult shields of protection be taken away from everyone involved in theft, fraud and corruption, especially all forms that have been used to steal the election from We the People of America! May their occult shields of protection no longer be able to hide them from being exposed by the Light or face the Hammer of Justice! Let witchcraft manipulation be brought to an end in and over Congress, the Senate, the White House, the Supreme Court, the FBI, the CIA, the Department of Justice and over any state executives, courts and legislatures and over election integrity. That from this day forward we are set free by the Blood of Yeshuah/Jesus and we are returned to the Covenant America has with with You, Lord! For whom the Son sets free is free indeed. The curse is off of us and remains in the enemy camp and Your anointed arises to continue to lead us according to Your Holy Pla...

The Faction Election War Won (11) (Audio) Our King Leads the Attack on Corrupt Church and State Eve Brast - 12/31/20   (David’s notes in red) I was meditating on a dream the Lord had given me back on 11-11-16 that David had re-shared on 1/30/20 broadcast of President elect David as a parallel of President elect Trump. In that dream President elect David, as a type of the Man-child Davids, appeared before the waiting news media when they were expecting Donald Trump to come and accept the presidency. (Meaning there is a parallel between the state and Church new leadership. This means the King anointing for the David Man-child body is very soon.)  David was pointing with his arm to each individual secret service ‘angel’ and commanding them to go throughout Washington D.C. and gather up all the wicked government leaders and send them packing. This is in parallel to what the Lord will be doing through President Trump in this second term. (It is said by people in the know that 80% of the government leadership is corrupt.  Epstein is alive and He knows a lot of them personally along with Hollywood elites and the financial and industry moguls.) I went to bed asking the Lord to show me more about this dream and what He was currently doing and He gave me this dream below.    Eve Brast - 12-31-20 I dreamed that it was dark and I was in the midst of a massive army of warriors. Suddenly, I was taken in the Spirit high up into the air over looking the whole battle scene. There was a very high stone wall of an old city to my right and over to my left, up on a hill, was a giant King being carried on a palanquin with a golden throne and a golden crown on his head. I knew this was our King and all his warriors were dressed in ancient leather battle gear. They all had spears or swords to fight with. The warriors were all large and muscular and very fierce. (King Jesus and His mighty warrior angels.) (This battle has a foregone conclusion already written in the Bible for God said history must repeat. Ecc 1:9-10  That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.  10  Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us.) As I looked over at the King he was driving the warriors forward with his arm and pointing towards the stone wall of the city. He was commanding them to ‘attack’ in a deep voice that seemed to reverberate throughout the battlefield. The scene changed and I found myself inside one of the structures inside the city. I was in a crowd at a party watching 2 homosexual men dancing together. (Representing the leadership of State and Church in spiritual fornication with each other as Rev 17 shows the harlot riding the beast.) One of the men was dressed like a woman with a blonde wig on his head. (As we have seen America is Sodom and Gomorrah.)  In the dream, I knew that these two men were going to die in the attack on the city by our King and his warrior forces. (As the Lord has shown He will orchestrate the whole battle.  He will use the Babylonish DS leftist communist anarchist forces to bring down the apostate leadership of the people of God just the way Babylon conquered Zedekiah and his cabinet and the leadership of spiritual apostate Jerusalem. As Babylon conquered them by Sword, Famine, Pestilence, and fire so modern Babylon is doing this today. Then God will use Cyrus Trump to conquer the Babylonish DS leftist communist anarchist forces and revival and restoration breaks out. Both factions of Church and state will be conquered by our King and His David Man-child. See Eze 34 and Joel 2... Then I woke up.  I asked Father for a word by faith at random for this dream and my finger was on Micah 3:7 (in context 5-12) Mic 3:5-12  Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that make my people to err (The MSM and Church); that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him: (The division between the competitive denominations who should be one according to Jesus' command. A sect division or strife is a work of the flesh as Paul said in Galatians.) 6  Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them.  7  And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.  8  But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.  9  (Notice) Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor justice, and pervert all equity.  (In these days the evil political leadership and the evil spiritual leadership were one and the same. If applied to today the evil political leadership over God’s people and the evil spiritual leadership will be conquered in this text.) 10  They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. (Zion/Jerusalem was the apostate leadership over the people of God Like Zedekiah whom the Babylonians took captive to Babylon which has happened today. The apostates dont even attempt to make the scriptures their rule.) 11  The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, (They are all on salaries contrary to Jesus command, “Freely you have received, freely give".). and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah in the midst of us? no evil shall come upon us.  12  Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.  Isa 40:10  Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. Isa 62:11  Behold, Jehovah hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. What is this recompense before Him?  It is the battle above and the "great shaking" that appears throughout scripture when the Lord comes in His Man-child Body and overthrows kingdoms. After David’s anointing to rule he conquered the Edomites, the faction against His people. Hag 2:20-23  And the word of Jehovah came the second time unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,  21  Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah (The Man-child body), saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;  (We are told by Paul in Hebrews 12:26-29  whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.  27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.  28  Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:  29  for our God is a consuming fire. And it is also stated in Haggai 2:6-7  For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;  7  and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. This will be by the Nemesis star system due after 3600 years to come through again.)  Back to our Hag 2 text - 22  and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots (like with Pharaoh), and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.  23  In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel (meaning born from Babylon. i.e, the first fruits leadership to come out of the Babylon harlot and lead the people to rebuild the Kingdom in the Promised Land), my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts.   Nemesis Star System Lakeisha Watson - 12/21/20 (David’s notes in red) I had a dream about a mini sun with what looked like 5 or six even smaller planets orbiting it. (One is planet X / Nibiru that passes closest to earth. Also called "the destroyer" the Egyptians saw overhead when the first born of Egypt died and Israel had passover and left through the Red Sea to the wilderness tribulation.)  It was passing the left side of the sun super fast (my right side).We saw it from earth and what felt like 30 mins passed by and it wreaked havoc on earth. I particularly remember massive cracks and ripping of the land. Houses were being completely uprooted. Some type of weird purple and black spherical objects were appearing then exploding like bombs. To me it looked like floating spheres of car oil but more purple. Isa 64:1-3  Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence,  2  as when fire kindleth the brushwood, and the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!  3  When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence. In end time scenarios the Beast conquers the factious and apostates but cannot touch the Bride, who was righteous Jerusalem, who are protected and blessed like in the Sennacherib scenario and the Joel 2 northern army scenario.  Also in the text we have mentioned the Lord comes to make war on the factions to save his Bride.  Isa 62:11-63:3  Behold, Jehovah hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.  12  And they shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Jehovah: and thou shalt be called Sought out, A city not forsaken.  63:1  Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? (The factions in state and church destroyed by the Lord as Eves Dream shows.) this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.  2  Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat?  3  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me (He alone will receive the credit): yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment.   Below Kent prophesies of the judgment of the wicked and glory and blessing of the Bride. We thought it looked much like Eve’s dream.   Pastor Kent Christmas | New Year's Eve Prophetic Release  12/31/20 from YouTube https://youtu.be/TsYRcA-SZBU Pastor Kent Christmas | New Year's Eve Prophetic Release / December 31, 2020 Pastor Kent Christmas | New Year's Eve Prophetic Release / December 31, 2020 www.kentchristmas.org www.regenerationnashville.org #KCMInternational #KentChris... youtu.be  (Transcribed by Terri Mcginley) … A few weeks ago, actually about three weeks ago, I had not heard from God and I assumed that I would just come and preach, and probably about a week ago, I began to feel God speak to me and I went to prayer and God began to download the Word of the Lord in me and the bulk of what I’m going to give you tonight, I received in about an hour and a half in my prayer time, walking around the park. And I began to write down what I heard God saying to us. I’m thankful that God is not silent. I pray tonight that the Spirit of the Lord would get inside of you and encourage you by the power of God. Thank You, Jesus, for Your Word tonight. Now, Lord, I stand before Thee as Thy servant. And God, I humbly, Lord, am honored to be able to release Your Word. Now, God, I see you in the heavens, stepping out of the throne room as a Lion, that God is beginning to pace through the earth. And tonight, Lord, I believe that You, as the Lion of Judah, will roar in the midst of Thy people. That God, even right now, in the atmosphere of the world that is partying, so, Lord, is there a celebration in heaven for that which is being released by the power of God. So Lord, let Your Word go forth as a Sword. Let it begin to sever the very intent of the enemy. And that, God, when we wake up in the morning, we will begin to know that Thy Word is being fulfilled in Jesus’ Name, amen. When I came to the church the first time, I washed my disciples’ feet to teach them humility and to release the heart of the servant among them. Now, in this hour, I’m raising up men and women who are willing to wash My feet, says the Lord. For, as you do so, the Lord will loose a cleansing in the earth. I allowed the church to be shut down for a season because I am retooling and I am now bringing forth a new thing. I am also, sayeth God, removing unto my church. For there have been Akins in my house who have stole My glory that belonged to Me and they buried it in their own flesh for their own profit and I am now removing that Akin spirit from the house of the Lord. I had gifts and anointings that I have held back that I am now going to release to men who have walked in humility and have possessed a heart of a servant. I am now going to remove darkness from the nations for a season. The Light that will remove the darkness of Satanic power is the glory of the Lord. To the men and women who were wise virgins that put value on My presence, I am now dispatching angels with fire in their hands to come to the earth and light the lamps of My remnant. This Light, which is My Glory, cannot be put out by a man but it will continue to get brighter until I call my Bride home, sayeth God. To those who did not give up on Me but have stood on My Word in this battle that has been fought in this nation, I am now going to take your seed of faith and I am going to breathe on it as I breathed on Adam, My son. As I begin to breathe on the seed of faith that is in you, it will very quickly become a great harvest, both in the natural and in the spirit realm, sayeth God. Know this, my faithful sons and daughters, I am now coming quickly and My reward is with Me.  For the next four years, what you’re going to see Me do will be so powerful and miraculous that you will forget the pain and the sorrow that you have gone through from the battles of the past. This last outpouring of My glory will be filled with the faith of Abraham, the praise of David, the purpose of Elijah, the favor of Job, the protection of Esther, the boldness of Peter and the Revelation given to John. This final outpouring of My glory in the earth will be indescribable and undefinable. Everything that I’m going to do, this generation has not seen up until this time. In the next four years, I’m going to touch every nation on the earth. And when My glory is released from My Father in heaven, it will not just start in one nation but it will be released, at the same time, all over the earth. Just when you believe that you understand this last great move of God, I will shift and I will change. I am now releasing the fullness of all that I have done in the earth at one time. To some, they will see Me as the Lion of Judah, to others, they will see a Lamb. One moment it will look like a revival, healing of sickness and disease, yet the next moment it will look like the outpouring on the day of Pentecost. This will not be controlled by man, and it will not be ended by man. I am now becoming all things to all men. To one I will be a blessing, but to the other, I will be a curse. No longer will the counterfeit church profit for Who I am. For I have stood in silence and watched My Name be profited for sin and for ungodliness but know this, sayeth the Lord, I will lift my hand off of every house that barred Me from their door, that would not let Me be moved in the midst of My people, but only used My Name for their own profit and their own moving forth in their own visions. But now, this last release of God’s glory is being initiated by the Almighty Father in heaven. For the Father is now preparing the Bride for His Son, Jesus Christ. This day, sayeth God, I release a dowry as the Father of Jesus unto His Bride. And that which has been precious to Me, I now release to you. For the Bride will not marry the Master without having possessions of her home.  Because the Bride will be without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, the men and women that God is going to use will not have sin in their lives. I will uncover those that have crouched their sin and have covered it and have moved in gifts. This move is not about the gifts in men’s lives but it is about the righteousness and the relationship of God Almighty. For demons are not moved by gifts but demons are moved by holiness, says the Lord. And this move is a move of holiness and not of gifts. These men will not seek their own glory and they will not fail. The great moves of God in past decades have declined and came to an end because many of the people that God used who started in the Spirit, ended in the flesh. For though they were humble in the beginning, they could not handle the glory and the honor that came with it. Not this time, says the Lord of hosts. The men and women that I am now raising up, I have invested years in preparing them for this time. Many of them have thought that I have forgotten them, sayeth the Lord. But I have not. I refuse to use old wineskins who are not able to flow in the Spirit. There are many ministries that though they have been profitable, I am moving away from them because they have become brittle and could not change.  To the men and women in whom I have put in the fire of testing and purifying for years, because you have remained faithful to Me, in the next four years you will accomplish more than you have accomplished in your lifetime. This nation has taken the old and the wise and the gray-headed and stuck them on a shelf and they have replaced them with young men who have not been through the fire. I make a covenant promise to you, sayeth the Lord, that I am reaching back into the House of God and I am touching the Joshuas and Calebs, the hoary-heads, sayeth God, who have been put on the sidelines. But I did not retire you, says the Lord. They retired you and you are not done until I say that you are done. I know, says the Lord, that you who are the remnant have suffered greatly over the years for Me and My vision to be fulfilled in the earth. I now make a covenant to you that the reward that I have for you in the world to come is so great that if I showed it to you right now you would not be able to comprehend what I have set aside for you. What mankind is now entering into I call harvest because that which every man has sown, he is now going to start reaping. For many, it will be devastating and grievous. They will lose all that they have. But for the faithful, it will be joy and laughter. The days of tears are over for the remnant and the days of sorrow have come to an end for the house of God. For I am getting ready to move in the house of the Lord. And there is no longer a sound of death, but there is a sound of victory. There is a shout, sayeth the Lord, that’s being released in the house of God.  Get ready, says God, for no longer will your harps hang on the willow trees. Get them off, says God, for there is a new song that is now being released in the Spirit realm. When this song is played, sayeth God, it will touch the unchurched and the unsaved. And they will say, “What is this that we hear?” And God will say, “It is the sound of David, for I am now raising up the Tabernacle of David,” sayeth the Lord, “and the Seed of David will be lifted up in the midst of praise.” For many, it will be a time of joy, but for others it will be a time of sorrow. It is now time, says the Lord, for all men to begin to reap what they have sown. Know this, that today, the court of heaven has set down to declare heaven’s final judgment on this dispensation called “grace”. The gavel has been raised, the will of man’s Creator, Who is God, shall now be accomplished in the earth as it is already in heaven. So now the next sovereign action of God is that I have ordered an angel, says the Lord, to the earth to begin removing the spirit of heaviness from the Bride of Jesus Christ and to give the garments of praise to the saints of the most high. There are walls, as there were in Jericho, that many have looked at and said, “They cannot be penetrated.” But I say to you that there are no walls that hell has raised up in this nation that I am not going to be able to tear down. There are no barriers that will be able to withstand My glory, My power, for My purpose is now going to come to pass in the earth. For the righteous that I am going to use in this last harvest, I am now binding the spirit of death, that it will not touch them, and the death rate among my people will decline. But among the wicked, the death rate will increase.  In 2020, you saw and watched and heard the wicked try to enforce their evil plans on this nation. They have set in the back rooms, hidden, while they have formulated the devastation and the end of what I have declared, but I say to thee, at the end, tonight, that it is over and that as 2021 is birthed in the spirit, now you will see the Almighty shut, quickly, the mouth of the Satans as the world has tried to shut the mouth of the church. I now shut the mouth of the wicked, sayeth the Lord. And truth will prevail. Just as I told Daniel, hallelujah, that after 21 days, thy prayer has been heard, sayeth the Lord, and the answer is on the way, so now I declare unto you that at the midnight hour when 2021 comes into being that I the Lord sayeth unto thee that the prayers that have come up out of this nation are now being received by the hand of the Almighty and I, thy God, sayeth to thee that this night, heaven is empty of angels, because I am loosing them to the earth. And the wicked who have thought that they were wiser than God, the agnostics and the atheists that said, “No, no,” I, in a moment, sayeth the Lord, will end your rule and end your reign. For I am not done, sayeth the Lord. I am not done, sayeth the Lord, but I am just getting warmed up, sayeth God. Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither has entered into the heart of man those things that I have prepared for the righteous. So shall, sayeth the Lord, I give you authority, sayeth God, over the diseases of this nation. For even as you begin to release the power of the Word of the Lord, so will I back thee up. No longer will your prayers be empty. No longer will there be a delay. But while you are speaking them, sayeth God, I will send the answer before it ever gets out of thy mouth. I, the Lord, sayeth God, have waited for such a time as this. I, the Lord, thy God, am still God. I rule the heavens and I rule the earth and I, sayeth the Lord, will triumph for thee in this hour, sayeth God. Hallelujah! Shout to the Lord! Shout to the Lord! Hallelujah!  The first becomes last, the last becomes first. Even now, sayeth the Lord, I am taking deeds and property and I am giving them unto the servants, for there will not be debt on this last move of God because I refuse, sayeth the Lord, to have banks finance what heaven births. But what I birth, sayeth God, I will also finance. Is this not an hour where the wealth of the wicked is being released unto the righteous? Debts are being canceled. I, also, sayeth the Lord, to you tithers that have given sacrificially (Editors note: Yes even those who have given sacrificially under the Law can have it returned by God’s grace. See note below), no longer am I just going to rebuke the devourer, but I am going to open the windows of heaven, sayeth God. I am going to cause men to give unto your bosom. I see, sayeth the Lord, homes being paid off for the righteous. I see, sayeth God, that you will take the wealth of the sinner, and it is being transferred into the Kingdom of the Lord. In this move, sayeth God, one of the very first things that I am going to do is that I’m going after your unsaved children, of the righteous. And the first wave of harvest, sayeth the Lord, that’s coming to the house of God is I’m going to get your children, I’m going to get your babies, I’m going to get your kids, I’m going to loose them from drugs, I’m going to loose them from perversion, I’m going to heal their spirits, and what professors and what teachers have taught them. I will cause them in a moment to say, “Lies, lies, lies!” And sayeth God, the Word of the Lord that was put in them as a child shall be released and they will come home because I am on your side, sayeth God. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Also, this is a year of increase, sayeth the Lord. No longer will righteous houses be empty. But God says, I’m going to fill up your churches and I’m going to fill up your buildings. Hallelujah. In this hour, sayeth the Lord, what the press will remember, what the world will remember, is not sports and not Hollywood. It does not matter, sayeth God, what they say they will do. I say, It’s over, and they will never recover, sayeth God. And I will fill their auditoriums and I will fill their arenas with my praise. Where they have praised men, now they’re going to praise Me. And what they built for men, they found out they built for me. And where I’ve had to let the world finance My Kingdom, now, sayeth God, I’m reversing it, and I’m going to let the world have to give unto the Kingdom of God, the wealth of the earth. For the glory of God shall be released, sayeth the Lord.  I want to encourage you that God does not lie. God does not lie. Boy, I feel the authority of the Holy Ghost. (Speaking in tongues). I speak to Washington D.C. in the Name of Jesus. Every wicked plan, every evil man, I bind you in the Name of the Lord. And I rip the cover off of you. God says, “I have holy men now.” There’s a spirit of boldness in the Holy Ghost! Don’t back down. Don’t apologize. No, don’t be ashamed for the shame will kill your power, but the Gospel will loose you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Now, Lord, I loose Your Word upon Your people, that it will not return unto You void, but it shall prosper and accomplish that which you have declared tonight, sayeth God.  Editors note: Permit me an important rabbit trail... This is not condemnation but we need to always remember what Paul warned us in 1Co 13:9-10  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. "Prophecy in part" is very simply part us and part God. Sometimes our doctrine gets into the prophecy. That is why tongues bypass the mind. When Jesus came He spoke perfect prophecy and now He is coming again in the Man-child body and then His people. Then our doctrine will line up with His and our prophecy will mature. Jesus rebuked the apostates that they had obeyed their Law of tithe but disobeyed more important parts of the Law. Mat 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. Jesus said here that tithing was of the Law. He spoke of the Law of tithe as past tense because He superseded that Law by making us all stewards of 100% saying in Luke 14:33  So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Those who put us under the Law are not obeying it to make themselves rich. Under the Law 11 tribes gave 10% to the Levites who gave 10% to the High Priesthood. This left the Levites or ministers with an average of what all the rest of the tribes lived on. So the Pastors who live under the Law should live on an average of what all those people who give to them live on. Not 1000’s of people tithing to one man!!  This is destructive of that man's life and the people.   Warning of Joe Biden Andrew Gelinas 1/2/21 (David’s notes in red) I saw Joe Biden in a large warehouse-like building, wearing a blue hard hat. (The blue hats represent the UN which is very much taken over by the DS and very well represents Biden.  A hard hat is a protection for the head from injury.) He was observing a number of large automated industrial machines at work. He'd linger over one for a little while, then walk over to another. After examining several of them, he climbed into a very small opening on one of the machines and laid down. I watched in astonishment as the fast moving robotic components continued their steady paced work without seizing up, despite Biden being crammed in like a sponge in a thimble. I watched hoping and expecting him to be destroyed, (politically) but he only took a little bump on his blue hard hat as one of the moving components flew passed his body. (A warning that unless we pray and do warfare he could come through this not getting what he and his elite boses so richly deserve. There is a rumor that Biden has stepped down due to all the revelations of his law breaking.  If so this dream could be showing a deal cut in which he gets off easy.  Time will tell.) I also dreamt earlier in the night that a small group of what seemed like Biden supporters were singing some sort of little jingle on tv. In it, I perceived the lyrics to be something like “Uh oh you're almost outta time!"  We still have a few days, so I am continuing with UBM to pray against Biden's fraudulent victory. (And We pray all speed to the Trump administration in making their case for fraud.)   Sting in a Huge Tree  Andrew Gelinas - December 2020 (David’s notes in red) At first, I thought this dream was probably just a bit of under-digested potato. But after hearing the word "sting" so frequently being used lately regarding President Trump and the stolen election, I thought it wouldn't hurt to send this one to you. (It is true that P. Trump did lure many leftists into sting operations in which they were caught with their hands in the cookie jar.) In this very short dream I am standing out on the limb of an extremely large and tall tree (This is the huge tree in Daniel representing Babylon our DS). The musician Sting is guiding me up higher. Looking down, it seemed to be at minimum, five hundred feet to the ground below. I moan to myself as the feeling of vertigo rushes over me for a few seconds. Sting points my attention to a small window on a mansion sized treehouse-like structure perched in the top center limbs just above us. (The sting needs to identify who is at the top of this criminal organization and it will.) Then we begin to ascend stealthily up toward the window and that's the last thing I remember. (LOL, we will see)   Timeline - Be Ready Matthew Stewart - 1/1/21 (David’s notes in red) While I was having the dream, it was like I knew I wasn't going to remember the dream when I woke up, because I haven't been remembering any of the dreams I have been getting recently; which I didn't until later that day when I remembered hearing the Lords voice. The dream started like this: we (all of local ubm) were in our usual meeting and everyone was sitting in their usual spot. David was giving a message about timing and how things might come to pass. (I don't remember what timing David was talking about, but I think the Lord did that on purpose ;)  I was feeling in the dream like, “Oh, well that won't come to pass" and “Another timing thing, it probably won't happen."  I felt that there were others out there that were thinking the same thing. After thinking that, there was nothing but white around me, everything else was gone, and I knew that the Lord was right next to me. Then He spoke to me and said, "IT WILL HAPPEN SOON". The feeling I got after He said this was that it will happen right after David's timing. Then He said "YOU BETTER BE READY!" ( spiritually ) then the dream ended. (I believe the Lord hides His timing as He says but we have seen His sequence of events very well. He will show the beginning and the end and it will be "soon".)     Select LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKinyarwandaKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)KyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianOdia (Oriya)PashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScots GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTatarTeluguThaiTurkishTurkmenUkrainianUrduUyghurUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu Powered by Translate Printer-friendly version

PRAYER FOCUS: LET US STAND TOGETHER IN THE FIRE OF GOD! TODAY LET THIS FIRE CONSUME OUR ENEMIES AND STIR UP IN US A LOVE FOR OUR GOD THAT NO ONE CAN STOP OR ALTER! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father The words of a song come to mind: we can only imagine what it will be like to stand in Your Presence and to be in Your Glory for how awesome You are that You have created us in Your Image and You have loving kindness towards us for we are here because o what Your Son, Yeshuah has done for us. Father in these moments let the Fire of Your Love burn within us to make us one with one another and be in harmony with Your Heart and be one to fulfill Your Holy Will for us in this day. Lord, on this day in history You gave one of our leaders Abraham Lincoln words brought us together then because of a civil war our nation was torn apart in. Brother fighting brother over a division that had cursed our nation: slavery. Now Lord we are in a spiritual struggle to set us free from the slavery that has cursed our nation again that of the pouring out of innocent blood of our children and a division caused because of the choice of death over life. Even now we are here Lord to intercede because of the deceit and the lies and treachery of those who have risen up against Your anointed for our nation. So Lord we call out that the Fire of Your Love consume us to be bold and courageous in this hour to bring about Justice and truth to make our nation one under You O Lord and that we are re-set to be a nation that is a nation that honors Your Son, Jesus the Christ and we are here to destroy the altars, the idols and temples of evil set upon us by the spirit of Jezebel and the following of the false god Baal. Lord let Your Fire consume our enemies and turn to ashes all that is not of You in this land! Father, let Your Holy Fire inspire all those who are here to bring Justice to our nation to be determine that nothing can stop them from revealing the truth about our vote and the lies and cheating that has taken place. That we will see a restoration of our voting system. That no liar or anyone who has in anyway promoted death especially to our children in the womb will have any office of leadership. Lord Your people have spoken very clearly so do not allow this sham to continue! Let Your Holy Fire consume our enemies and make a way for us when it looks as if the enemy is goi9ng to win. But in our hearts of Faith we know that this not to be. We have spoken clearly in our prayer and in our action to vote that we want a man You have chosen to lead us in this day! Lord that serpents who have done this will be crushed and we will see them be driven from the land! Just as You were with the children of Israel when they entered the Promised land to drive out the enemy and bring down the walls of Jericho let us see it now as we see good men and women like President Trump's legal team reveal the truth and expose the enemy. May the courts of our land decide in Justice and Truth that whom the people have over whelmingly selected to be their President be so! Lord God let Your Holy Fire burn in our midst that those who call themselves ministers of Your Word but are nothing more that wolves in sheep clothing be exposed and driven from our assemblies of worship. Lord let Your Holy Fire purify our worship, purify our lips to speak only what You have Commanded us to do in following Your Son, Yeshuah! Let Your Holy Fire purify us so that we will walk in harmony in our marriages, our families, our neighborhoods and in helping one another in any moment of need or understanding. Lord let the Fire of Your Love consume us now and make us one as You are one with Your Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever! Amen It is so! Search Strike Force of Prayer Search for: Categories Action (7)

0 (0s): Well, good morning, everyone. Welcome to Harvest. My name is Sherrilyn. If we haven't met yet, delighted to worship together with you all this morning, you may notice if you're in the house, we have an extra cameraman floating. We're just capturing some video. That can be part of a welcome video for folks to go to our website and are kind of looking for a picture of what it's like to worship here. So yeah, he'll be floating around, but do you just worship and you don't even have to mind him. We're just going to dive in this morning. Would you stand with me? And we'll pray. We'll dive in today. Solar. We're just so grateful just for the freedom. 0 (41s): We have to come into your house and worship. God, thank you so much for everyone who is here on campus and tuned in from home or wherever they're watching. We are one body we gathered together as sons and daughters to worship you this morning. As surely as the sun rises, God, you are faithful every morning. Great is your faithfulness towards us. So we worship you today. When we sit our hearts, our attention, our affection on Jesus this morning, we asked you to be in our midst that you would change us and she would make us more like you draws near to your heart today in Jesus name. 0 (1m 25s): Amen. 0 (1m 26s): we're not orphans anymore. 0 (12m 17s): Bod, with the prize rescue, you might know this old little chorus. Geez, geez. let's try that again. 0 (12m 59s): for your great lift for us. 0 (13m 45s): Amazing grace. 0 (13m 49s): missing that first together, still beautiful voice. 0 (17m 29s): Now we see clearly you see the receipt on Marcy's graceful. Give us the eyes to see what you're doing in and around us. I was to see what the father is doing and we can come alongside and joining you and bringing your kingdom on the earth. Just open our hearts to receive all that you have for us this morning. We welcome to your presence in Jesus name. 0 (18m 11s): Amen. It's good to see your faces. Why don't you say hello to someone around you and I'll have some announcements coming in just a few moments. 1 (18m 22s): Well, of course, those who are sitting here in the sanctuary and in the loft and behind the patio and those who tuned in online, it's amazing how, you know, we can reach out to the entire planet with live stream. And so, anyway, we want to welcome you. Hey, if it's your first time to Harvest Church or maybe you're new here, I would encourage you to go by the info center, which is just up the driveway right here and talk to the people there. They've got to give for you. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but it looks like a coffee cup, but she can put other things in it besides coffee that's up to you. Yeah. So go up to the info center. And while you're there, if you wouldn't mind filling out a communication card, we love to be able to communicate with everybody that that is, you know, Harvest is your Church home. 1 (19m 9s): And then if you, if you don't want to actually fill out a actual card, you can go online to our website. That is yeah. AIG Harvest app. And you can, you can fill it out that way as well. So the, the holidays are upon us. We've got Thanksgiving coming up real soon. We got Christmas right around the corner. So we are kind of in that, that zone of working to help out people in our community that are in need. So I've got a couple of opportunities for you. So the first one of course is Thanksgiving, which is coming up like a week and a half or something like that. So we've been putting the word out. I know many of you have contributed to our food pantry cause we're putting together a Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. 1 (19m 53s): If you remember to bring your stuff today, see today's the deadline. So if you're hearing this for the first time, you got to get up and get to the store and get back here quickly. If you forgot about it, or this is your first time hearing about it, you want to be a part of it. Go ahead and bring any items. If you, if you obviously can't get them here today, you can bring, bring them by the Church office tomorrow. And I will be there. Some of us others will be there and we can go ahead and, and have 'em collected that way. So if you want to come by the Church office, we're here between nine and four. That would be great as well. Okay. What else? Oh, back to that, if you did bring some items, drop them off at the info center, which is again, right up the driveway. 1 (20m 35s): So one of the other things we're participating in, in our community, it's called blessings to local foster adoptive families. And so we're partnering with other local churches to provide local foster and adoptive families with a meal and with gift cards for Thanksgiving. So you can check out our weekly email updates to get more information about how you can purchase a bait in that. But we love to be a blessing to foster adoptive families in our community. And then the last thing I want to make mention of, and this is sort of more looking towards Christmas is we are participating in operation Christmas child. It's a ministry under the umbrella of Samaritan's purse. Maybe you've heard about it. It's it's been going on for many years. 1 (21m 16s): So what they do is they put necessities and toys in a shoe box and then they're shipped all over the world. So with COVID the way they're doing it now is a little different than, than normal in the past. So what you would do is you would go to their website, operation Christmas child, and you can actually select the items on their website that you would like included in the box. And they've got a team of people in different places across the country. They put those boxes together on your behalf and ship them out to various people in need kids predominantly in need. And it's it's if you've ever seen the videos, in fact on their website, probably have some videos of these kids receiving these shoe boxes. You know, it's, it's, it's really stunning the impact we can have. 1 (21m 58s): And of course they include in those boxes, a presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So that's all I have for you today, Steve. Let's welcome. Steve, come on up here. 2 (22m 11s): Morning. Welcome. I'm approaching from a different side of the room today. Tricking you welcome where Colossians chapter four today, galoshes chapter four verses two through 18. How about a quick joke? I was ready for a quick joke. It's a good one. This time. Trust me. So this, these two lifelong friends, Archie and Jack, they had been arguing their whole life about the color of Jesus. Archie was convinced that Jesus is black and Jack is convinced that Jesus is white. So they're arguing about this their whole life. It just so happens. They die on the same day and they get up to the pearly Gates and they go on inside and they asked st. 2 (22m 55s): Peter, Peter, tell us, we've been arguing about this for our whole life. Is Jesus black or is Jesus white? And about that time, Jesus walked up and said, Buenos D'usse Jesus, isn't black or white he's act he's middle Eastern. He's a, he's like his swarthy dark skinned man. So if you look at Rolando Rojas, that's probably what Jesus looked like. There we go. Now it's going to be hard to Pray without thinking about Rolando. But anyway, we are talking about prayer today. It's going to be a good day. How to pray one Oh one we're in Colossians chapter four, verse two. 2 (23m 40s): How to Pray one Oh one. Let's go ahead and stand up and pray as we get ready to talk about praying and we'll have Church today. Lord, thank you for the opportunity to gather, to have church, to be in your presence. Lord God, we pray that you would speak to us God, that our hearts will be open and that we, we would be responsive and receptive and happy to receive your truth. The revelation that you reveal to us Lord. So thank you for the opportunity to gather. So Lord, on the patio, in the loft, in the sanctuary, on the worldwide web, we just pray God that your word would go out with power and with clarity. 2 (24m 20s): Thank you for this time, Lord in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Just as you get seated, we've got people in Greenland, our missionaries, Daniel, and Solvay, they're actually watching online in Greenland. So we just want to say hello to them. We've got a big audience in India as well, for some reason, big audience in India. And we've got literally thousands of people who tune in every week and watch what we're doing to participate from around the globe. And so it's kind of fun to it kind of makes the world a little bit smaller. Doesn't it? That we can have an impact all over the globe by just what we're doing here on the central coast of California. It's really, really good. 3 (24m 58s): How to pray one Oh one. 2 (24m 60s): The definition that the very definition of one Oh one means basic. It means introduction. It's kind of the beginner's guide. And so we're going to be talking about prayer today. Prayer is where you start, but also prayer is what get things gets, things done spiritually. So we never get to mature spiritually to S so we stopped praying. We pray when we get saved. When we come to faith in Christ, we pray before we know Christ that we'd come to know Christ. We, we pray all the days of our lives. If we want to continue to grow and mature in our faith. So don't ever get away from the basics. I was playing golf yesterday, actually played golf three times this week. 2 (25m 41s): I never play golf three times in the same week, but it just like everything happened. I kept getting invited to go play golf. So I was at home yesterday and I had nothing to do all day, which was a delightful problem to have. And my son called me up and said, Hey, I want to go play nine holes of black Lake. Do you want to go? And I'm like, sure, let's go play golf. So we played and we got on one particular hole. 3 (25m 59s): I am hacking it. I'm absolutely hacking it on the third hole. And 2 (26m 5s): I walked away. I started to get mad, but then I walked away and I said, you know why? I love this game. I told my son, you know why I love this game because you can't just get up there and fake it. You have to eat, you got to be present. You got to pay attention to the bank. You got to keep your head down. Like every time I bought your shot, what did I do? I lifted my head. Right, right. I'm trying to see where the ball went before. I actually had a chance to hit the ball. So I hit the ground and the ball goes two feet. And I'm hitting three before I even know. So there's something about the basics, keeping our 3 (26m 36s): Eye on the ball. That is it 2 (26m 38s): Never, ever changes. Like I could play golf for another 20 years. And what do still have to do? I still have to keep my head down. If I want to hit the ball. If I lift my head, I'm going to say, I'm going to chunk the ball all every time. Every single time, prayer is spiritually seeking. Speaking about the most important thing that we can do as followers of the Lord. Jesus Christ. Prayer is the most basic thing, but it's also the most important thing. It is super, super important. Prayer keeps our eyes on Jesus. Chapter four, verse two, Paul said devote yourselves to prayer. 2 (27m 19s): Colossians four, two devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind, and a thankful hearts to devote means to persist in like never give up, continue to pray, to pray, devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray one Oh one number one. Pray with an alert mind. When I think about that, I thought, what does it mean to pray with an alert mind? Well, in my coach training, when I was training to be a coach, a life coach, they would talk about being present with people as you coach them, duh, right? The most basic thing in the world. 2 (27m 59s): Like you have to listen, you have to be paying attention to what somebody is telling you in order to effectively coach them. Well, that's true in any relationship. And it's obvious when somebody is to begin to drift in the relationship or in the conversation, right? So we're having a staff meeting this earlier this week and, and we're all talking about details of ministry and that sort of thing. And one of the staff members piped up with the question and we all kind of looked at him like, have you not been a part of this conversation? And then you realized, Oh man, I've been, I've been. So I've been drifting in my thoughts. And I miss part of the conversation. And that's kind of what happens if we're not present in a conversation where we start thinking about other things and we miss the important things that are being communicated in a message. 2 (28m 42s): And everybody knows when, when you are in a conversation with someone you begin to drift, you begin to look around, you begin to your mind and, and things get lost in the conversation. The same can happen and does happen in our prayer time with the Lord. We begin to drift. And so what I do, cause I know that I'm prone to drifting. I, I can drift with the best of them. And so when I know that I've got to go on a walk, I've got, I got to do something that will keep my mind focused on the Lord. So I'll just go out into our neighborhood. Or if I'm at the office here, I'll just walk around the village and just pray. I'm saying, Lord, I need to focus. So I just, I don't know why walking helps me to focus. 2 (29m 23s): Maybe that would be distracting to you, but for me, it helps me to focus. So whatever you need to do to not drift, but to be present in this conversation that you're having with the Lord to stay alert, then doing the world and the flesh and the devil is doing everything they can to get us distracted, to interrupt our alert mind. So do what you need to do to stay alert. God has got great things to communicate to us. And when we're alert, we can pay attention to those things. We can pay attention to that. Still small voice. I think sometimes we're so distracted. We're not giving God. 2 (30m 3s): We're just kind of going through our shopping lists with the Lord, right? Laura, I need this and I need this. And Lord, would you do this? And would you do that? And those things are bad, but he also wants to talk, right? It's a two way street. It's a conversation where we're saying, Lord, I need this in my life. Or I want this for someone else or Lord, I'm praying for the health of another person. And maybe just maybe the Lord will in that still small voice, download 4 (30m 27s): Comfort to us. Truth to us, 2 (30m 30s): Answers to us. If we'll just stop long enough to give him an opportunity and just listen and be present with what the Lord is saying, maybe you're up against a very difficult situation. And you're just kind of rambling at the Lord. Lord, I am so tired of this. This has been so difficult. I just need to get through this and you don't give the Lord a chance to speak. And so he isn't have the opportunity to bring 4 (30m 54s): Comfort to your soul 2 (30m 57s): Because it doesn't matter if a storm is raging. If the Lord has given you comfort, 4 (31m 1s): The storm can rage. There's comfort. Sometimes God will stop the storm. 2 (31m 5s): Most of the time, he's just going to give you a comfort in the midst of the storm, he is going to reassure you. He is going to, I love the song. Jesus loves me. 4 (31m 14s): I, that 2 (31m 16s): Is the basics, 4 (31m 18s): Right? And yet when 2 (31m 20s): We sing it, it's like, it's like food to our soul, like water to our spirits. I mean, it just refreshing 4 (31m 28s): Cash is us in such a powerful way, right? 2 (31m 31s): This same opportunity is with us. When we pray, Lord, I'm really struggling here. Lord, 4 (31m 37s): Would you do something? And then just wait. Instead of 2 (31m 40s): You're going to the next item on the list, just wait and see what the Lord will do. And then maybe take it to the next level and just journal Lord. This is what I think. 4 (31m 50s): I feel like you're doing. This is what I feel like you're saying. This is the sense I get when I'm praying about this situation. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for clarity. 2 (32m 4s): And all of a sudden we're getting answers or we're at least getting comfort to we're at least getting peace in the midst of whatever it is that we're going through. As we Pray with an alert mine, 4 (32m 19s): It's, it's difficult to focus when we're praying. It really is. And we were praying to somebody who's invisible. 2 (32m 26s): He's not like, like I can have a conversation 4 (32m 29s): With a person and it's easier, but God is invisible to us. And so we have to count on our other senses and pay attention to what the Lord will say to us, speak to us. 2 (32m 40s): And we have to be disciplined to do that and intentional about doing that. 4 (32m 46s): Stay alert, stay alert to how you're feeling as you Pray. If you're, if you're, if you're 2 (32m 53s): Feeling anxious, asked the Lord about that, say, God is I pray about this every time I do. I'm anxious. Lord, am I, am I lacking faith? Or am I lacking confidence in you? If I am Lord, I don't want to, I didn't want to pray from a place of anxiety. I want to pray from a place of faith and then God will give you the grace to do that. All something will happen in your spirit. God will meet that need. And all of a sudden you'll have a different perspective and you'll be able to pray from a different place. And instead of being anxious 4 (33m 23s): Or fearful, man, 2 (33m 26s): All of a sudden Lord nothing's changed in the circumstance, but I just have a different person 4 (33m 30s): Perspective. I can pray with faith, 2 (33m 34s): Faith that God is at work. Even though I don't necessarily see what he's doing. Faith, believing that even if he's not doing anything that I can see or perceive, now there's something coming because God loves me. God's caring about, he cares about my needs, right? He's never left me nor forsake me. So I can believe that if I've got a need, he is going to take care of it. Sometimes we pray for the same thing. For years before we see an answer, we pray for a loved one for years before we see an answer, we pray for a friend or a neighbor for years before we see an answer, we pray for somebody who's sick for months before we see an answer, God is doing something. 2 (34m 18s): So pay attention to what the Lord is doing. As you pray, pay attention to how you're feeling and what's going on. And then to address those things, maybe you're angry in your prayer, just maybe you're angry at the Lord. And that's kind of surfacing just feeling some anger because maybe the Lord hasn't done what you thought he should do. And so maybe in that anger, you just address it. Cause God knows. And you say, Lord, I I'm feeling angry about this. Like I expected something 4 (34m 47s): Else. Like why didn't why Lord, 2 (34m 52s): Just to say, Lord, I'm angry, but I don't want to be angry. I'm I'm angry, but I didn't want to live my life like this. And so you can say, Lord, forgive my anger. I confess my anger. I'm deciding to not be angry. Right? There's got to be, you got to come full circle with it. You gotta, you gotta acknowledge it and then get out of it. Like you got to acknowledge what's going on. And then just by faith, say, I'm not going to be angry anymore, or I'm not going to be unforgiving anymore, or I'm not going to be faithless anymore. And you declare that over your prayer time, over your circumstance and situation Pray with an alert mind and just watch what God will do as he kind of unpacks things and peels back layers of emotions and, and just all kinds of stuff in your life. 2 (35m 40s): Number one, Pray with an alert mind and then number two, pray with a thankful heart, all of this from birth to, 5 (35m 49s): I think it's important that, that I say to that because we're looking at 2 (35m 54s): One verse so far and God's already given us so much to consider and to ponder some, so many things, devote yourselves to prayer with an alert, mind, a thankful heart, just simple little verse B. There's so much richness there. It's true. When we pray as well in our simple 5 (36m 10s): Little quiet 2 (36m 13s): Prayer time with the Lord, there's just so much richness, so much for us to gather and to, to benefit from. And it's true with the word too. Sometimes we're just rushing through the scripture and it's better some days just to focus in on one verse 5 (36m 30s): And ask the Lord, God, what are you speaking to me 2 (36m 33s): In this one verse? I'll be honest. When I read through this text, I thought, man, I'm going to have a hard time writing a sermon out of this text because I was just kind of quickly going through it. I'm looking for something high points. And, and, and then I started talking with Jolene about the texts and she's like, man, I'm really excited about Colossians chapter four this week. I'm like, you are why. 5 (36m 53s): And so we just began to talk about it. And then 2 (36m 56s): I came back to it with a fresh perspective. I'm Molly, I'm a she's right. There's so much here. And so she wrote my sermon this week. Isn't that great. She's never written my sermons ever. So thanks. I know they, some weeks they come out so good. You think who somebody else must have wrote? It must be Jolene writing his sermon. 5 (37m 15s): We knew it all along 2 (37m 19s): First, Thessalonians five 16 in the ESV says region 5 (37m 23s): Joyce always rejoice. Always 2 (37m 30s): First Thessalonians five 17 in the ESV says Pray without 5 (37m 34s): Ceasing . 2 (37m 37s): These are easy verses to memorize by the way, five 16, rejoice always. That's the verse. Rejoice always verse 17, pray without ceasing first Thessalonians five 18. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you pray with a thankful heart. This is actually the will of God for you. You ever wonder what the will of God for you is this is part of the will of God for you give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus 5 (38m 10s): For you. If 2 (38m 12s): You're having our time with gratitude reasons to be thankful while you pray, 5 (38m 17s): Make a list. 2 (38m 19s): I met in met with an older couple this week. Haven't seen him for a few months. They used to come to the church, but they'd been home, home bound and sick in bed for well, the, the, the, the woman has, and the husband's declining as well with, with issues of his own. And so I sat with them and just in, in the bedroom there, we sat on the bed and just chatted. And I just asked how they were doing. And instead of complaining that they're stuck in bed, stuck at home, can't drive, can't get out like they used to. They said, and this is what they said. We're just thankful that we're alive. 2 (39m 1s): We're thankful that God has given us breath, right? Listen, no matter what you're going through in life, I would encourage you to make a list of all of the things that you're thankful for. I think we tend to lean toward the negative and think about all the things that we wish were different in our lives. 5 (39m 21s): If you're having a hard time, start with that. If you're having a hard time 2 (39m 27s): Being thankful, start with being thankful for your breath. I 5 (39m 31s): God, I thank you that I have breath. 2 (39m 35s): Thank you Lord that I have family. If you've got family thankful Lord for family, thank you for the roof over my head. If you've got a roof over your head, say thank you, Lord, thank you for that. Yeah. Thank you for my health. Even if you're sick, you can still thankful Lord for the health that you do have for employment. I talked with a guy on the golf course. This must have been a Friday cause I play three times this week. So, 5 (40m 4s): Okay. 2 (40m 5s): I had a great time this week playing golf. I didn't even play very well, but I had so much fun. 5 (40m 10s): Anyway, this guy had been, he's been lately 2 (40m 13s): Since about March and he's. So he's been unemployed since March and he's been struggling to try to find a job. So be thankful for your employment. If you've got a job and pray for others who don't have jobs To be thankful for your mind, if you can think and process. And remember just did a Memorial service for my friend, Dave Fletcher, who he just at the end of his life for the last four years, he just, he wasn't able with through dementia, just wasn't able to remember things. Wasn't able to remember people or recall events. He just, his mind just began to go over the last four years of his life. 2 (40m 53s): So if you, if your mind is sharp or even if it's not as sharp as it used to be, it's you still got to be thankful for that. Say thank you, Lord. If you have the ability to walk thankful, Lord, if you have the ability to see, thank the Lord, talked to the guy last week, he's here. And he's like I said, are you completely blind? And he said, well, there's this one spot in my eye. 5 (41m 18s): So if I look this way, I can see you. He's thankful for that. 2 (41m 24s): He's mostly blind, but he can see just a little bit. We can, we can find all kinds of things to be thankful for. 5 (41m 35s): So if you can tell, 2 (41m 36s): Talk, and play and work and eat and travel and smile. Yeah, 5 (41m 39s): They'll be thankful. Be thankful. 2 (41m 43s): The Psalmist wrote in Psalm one 11, verse one, praise the Lord. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. This almost understood. And this is not someone who never experienced trouble in his life, but at someone, someone who decided with my whole heart, I'm going to be thankful. I'm going to give thanks to the Lord. Psalm one 11 two in the ESB says great, are the works of the Lord. This is why he was thankful because great are the works of the Lord. I encourage you to go back and read Psalm all of one Psalm one 11 after Church street, all of Psalm one 11, especially if you're having a hard time with gratitude, you'll be filled with gratitude. After that, be thankful for God, for his faithful newness, for your salvation, for God's love, 5 (42m 32s): Thankful that you don't 2 (42m 33s): Get what you deserve. Jolene and I were talking about this, the mercy of God, 5 (42m 38s): Thankful that 2 (42m 38s): We don't get what we deserve thankful for his mercy and for his grace don't ever get away from the basics. Pray with an alert, mind, pray with a thankful heart. 5 (42m 49s): Why are, why are we to pray? God, God tells us to. 2 (42m 59s): It's a really good plan. It really it's a really, really good plan as how many times I, I just, I realize I I'm dry spiritually. If I just go Pray, there's the refreshing that comes. If I'm nervous about something and I pray about it, the nerves lift, Whatever the case may be. If I just go pray about it, all of a sudden I've got clarity. Maybe I don't have all the answers that I need, but I, I have clarity and usually confidence. It's budget time for the church. And so we're, CA hashing over numbers every year we get to budget time and I'm always nervous about budget time. 2 (43m 41s): But I told Julie, I said, no matter what the Lord has always been faithful. We've been here for going on 18 years. This is like our 18th budget, I guess. And every year we've watched the Lord be faithful in the budgeting process and in the provision that is needed for our budget. It's just been, it's profound and supernatural. And so when we're nervous about the budget, we just pray. When we're nervous about anything in life, we just pray. And then we watched the Lord just bring confidence or clarity or a change. He might say, well, do this or do that. And redirects, redirects our path. 5 (44m 20s): Okay. 2 (44m 21s): One person said prayer is as essential to our spiritual health as breathing is to our physical body. 5 (44m 29s): So if we stop breathing, we dying 2 (44m 32s): Physically, right? If we stop praying, we start dying spiritually. There's a direct correlation, a direct correlation. Pray prayer. Prayer is not optional. 5 (44m 51s): Okay? 2 (44m 51s): Prayer is essential to spiritual health and growth. Back to first Thessalonians five 17 in the new living translation. It says never stop praying, never stop praying. Another easy verse to memorize, never stop praying don't ever get away from the basics. Pray with an alert mind, pray with a thankful heart and number three, pray for other people. Pray for other people. Colossians four, three, Paul writes pray for us to, I love Paul's humility. And the fact that he recognized a couple of things, he recognized the power of prayer. 2 (45m 34s): Remember he's in chains, he's imprisoned right now, maybe going through some hard stuff in his life. So he says, pray, pray 5 (45m 46s): For us. Pray 2 (45m 48s): For us to that. God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning 5 (45m 52s): Christ he's 2 (45m 54s): In chains. And he wants more opportunity to speak about this mysterious plan. Mysterious plan about Christ is that he's the God of the Jews and the Gentiles. He's the guy, 5 (46m 3s): The whole wide world. And Paul's looking for 2 (46m 9s): Opportunity to Pray for opportunity while we're here. Pray for opportunity that we'll have the ability to speak the truth to preach the gospel. That's why I'm here in chains. He said, pray that I will proclaim the message. Verse four, as clearly as I should. 5 (46m 30s): Okay. 2 (46m 30s): Pray that I will proclaim the message as clearly as I should 5 (46m 35s): Pray for others. Pray for others, 2 (46m 40s): Especially in these toxic times that we're in Pray for those you disagree with and pray for those who disagree with you, man, it will soften your hearts. It will tend to raise you a little bit. It's hard to be mad at somebody that you're praying for. When I say Pray, I mean, pray for not Pray against brave for Pray for pray, for 5 (47m 5s): Pray for 2 (47m 7s): Especially those, with whom you disagree. And it's hard to be mad or at odds with people when we're praying for them, we just find a tenderness. 5 (47m 16s): Yes. And to love 2 (47m 19s): And the supernatural it's something that God does. I ran into a guy this week, who I used to have to be at odds with. And 5 (47m 30s): I was 2 (47m 30s): So grateful that the Lord had done a work in our relationship that both of us just, we saw each other and we, we hugged and we laughed and we talked like nothing ever happened. It was like the supernatural moment. I, I I'm I'm there. It was surreal in the moment. Cause I'm like, you know, not too long ago, we were kind of at odds with each other. We didn't really care for each other, but God did something. He did something in him and he did something in me. He did something in the relationship and we were able to hug on each other and talk like nothing had ever happened. Why? Because love keeps no record of wrong. I think I've read that somewhere. Love keeps no record of wrongs. 2 (48m 14s): So there was this, this refreshing move of God. As we talked, I walked away. I was like, Holy cow, that was a wonderful conversation. That's what heaven's going to be like. That's what heaven's going to be like. Just grace covered grace filled wonderful relationship and connection Beyond prayer. Paul gives instruction for daily living in verse five and following he said, this live wisely among those who are not believers and make the most of every opportunity live wisely. 2 (48m 54s): Make the most of every opportunity. 5 (48m 56s): Pray pray for pray for those in your life who are not yet believers. Pray for them. 2 (49m 8s): You might pray for them for a decade or two or five, but pray for them and watch what the Lord will do. And then love on them. Love on them. Be gracious to them. Live wisely among those who are not believers and make the most of every opportunity. Verse six, let your conversations be gracious and attractive. That that verse means seasoned with salt. 5 (49m 34s): Well, that's your 2 (49m 36s): Appreciation be gracious and attractive seasoned with salt so that you will have the right response for everyone seasoned with salt. We had some stew last night and we're eating the stew and it's it's okay. Julian says this needs some salt, man. Yeah. That's okay. We keep beating this dude. Like yeah, you're right. I need some salt. So he puts some salt on there, like, Oh, all of a sudden, this is pretty good stew. Right? Just need a little salt, little salt goes a long way. 5 (50m 7s): Okay. 2 (50m 7s): Your conversations to be seasoned with salt. I often pray. Lord, let my words be seasoned with salt lit, especially when going into a difficult conversation, because I can say the wrong thing, like stepping off this curb. I mean, it just doesn't take any effort at all. I can say the wrong thing. And so, but I pray and I make it my attention to speak words that are seasoned with salt, something, God just does something there. And when maybe when I want to react, I don't react. Or when I want to overreact, I don't. And then sometimes my words just plainly are not seasoned with salt. And God's grace is sufficient, but make it your intention. 2 (50m 49s): If we make it our intention, that our words, our conversation to seasoned with salt so that we have the right response for everyone. Lord, what is, how do I respond in this situation? We live in a toxic environment. How do we respond in these situations that are so difficult when people maybe disagree with us about, well, you name it, religious perspectives, beliefs, political perspectives. There's, there's a lot to disagree about. Or what is my response with this person right now? Maybe you have a healthy conversation about religion or politics. 2 (51m 31s): Maybe you don't, you just love the person. Maybe they are on a completely different track than you are, but you just love them. 5 (51m 40s): Because 2 (51m 41s): Cause being right is not the biggest deal. It's not, I mean, that's not the goal. I like to be bright. I don't have to be right when I have conversations. I, the most important thing that God has called us to do is to love people. So why don't we, why don't we have to fight? Why don't we just love on each other and let God worry about 5 (52m 4s): Our society is polarized. 2 (52m 8s): God has an assignment for us and I'll get specific. God has an assignment for you in this polarized society that we live a live wisely, live wisely among those who are not believers. That's your assignment as believers. This is your assignment to live wisely. It's going to be different for every scenario and every situation that you're in. But if it's your, if it's your heart and mind to live wisely, you just say, Lord, I, I don't know how, what would you show me a be make the most of every opportunity. 2 (52m 54s): God is going to bring people to your path. Lord make what's the best way to make the most out of this opportunity. I don't know what to do. Lord, if you ever been, I don't know what to say. I don't know how to have a connection, a conversation with this person, make those be prayerful. This is why prayer is so crucial to who we are as followers of the Lord, Jesus Christ. You can be having a conversation to be praying at the same time. I'm often up here praying as I'm preaching because I'm in desperate need of the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ to do what I do. So I'm praying. 5 (53m 28s): And then I'm preaching talking. And then 2 (53m 32s): I'm praying. I asking the Lord for his help to, to get this word clearly out, making the most of every opportunity. See, let your conversations be gracious and attractive against seasoned with salt so that you will have the right response for everyone. A, B and C a B, and C. All of these seemingly impossible things are possible. When our lives are filled with prayer and love, 5 (54m 2s): The more we Pray 2 (54m 3s): For people, the more we'll have the capacity to love them. Last week, we looked at 14 ways. Husbands can love their wives. That's a great list. 14 ways how'd you guys do this week. 5 (54m 22s): We'll talk later. 2 (54m 25s): This list is actually a great list to keep an eye on. When loving people in general, Prayer makes this 14, this list of 14 things doable, possible. 5 (54m 45s): How can 2 (54m 45s): And we live wisely making the most of every opportunity and have the right response for everyone. W we have to remember to pray for people and love people. Love is patient. We were running late this morning and I was in the car waiting. And Jolene was just running late and get in the car and later to go, I'm like you ready to go? She's like, Oh, I need to get something. I said, well, we're in no hurry just to get what you need. She said, thanks for being patient with me. And I said, well, love is patient, 5 (55m 17s): Right? 2 (55m 17s): Some days I really nail it. Other days I totally missed the Mark. I, my arrow goes Well. That was basically, but I knew I was going to be talking about it today. So I knew that I had to be on my best 5 (55m 33s): Love is patient love is kind. 2 (55m 38s): Love is not jealous. It's not boastful. 5 (55m 45s): Love is not proud, is not rude. 2 (55m 51s): Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable. Love keeps no record of being wronged does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices. When the truth, when the truth wins out, love never gives up. Love, never loses. Faith. Love is always hopeful. Love endures through every tall order, impossible in the natural impossible. Just if we're relying on our own natural strength, our own sinful man, but very possible. 2 (56m 35s): All of these things are very possible when we're prayerful and filled with the love of God, then we can love people. The way that God's asked us to love people, Because it's not boastful or proud or rude, it's just tender. And it can be direct at times, but it's not boastful or proud or rude keeps no record of being wronged. All of those things are key to healthy relationships between friends and neighbors, coworkers, spouses, siblings, you name it. 2 (57m 21s): So we wrap up here, let's look at Paul's final instruction and greetings verse seven, Paul mentions 10 people by name 10 people by name who were with him. People partnering with him, people who prayed for him and those Paul prayed for and people that he did life with. Paul did life with people. As far as we know, he's a single man during his ministry, but he was surrounded by people tickets for seven, writing to the church. , we'll give you a full report about how I'm getting along. He's a beloved brother and faithful helper who serves with me in the Lord's work. 2 (58m 5s): I have sent him to you for this purpose to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you. Paul's Paul's in chains and he's writing a letter to encourage the church. It's because it's all about life is all about perspective. It can be in chains and be thrashed, or we can be in chains and be filled with the Holy 5 (58m 25s): Spirit and not thrashed at all. 2 (58m 27s): Just so thankful. Got my breast still. I can still write letters. I can still pray. I can still do all of these things. That was Paul's perspective. It must have been there. Otherwise he wouldn't have the capacity to want to encourage others, but he did. He didn't care about the chains. He was there because he was preaching. The gospel counted worthy to suffer for the, for the King. 5 (58m 53s): It was wonderful. 2 (58m 57s): It's balls and change is he and he's encouraging them. And again, I believe this response is a result of purpleness and great love. Paul prayed for the church. He prayed for the church. He loved the church. He loved the people. Verse nine. I am sending also, I'm also sending a, Onesimus a faithful and beloved brother, one of your own people. He and will tell you everything that's happening here. So he's, he just wanted to do, to give a report. This is what's going on during the week, this last week, Daniel, and Solvay a video chatted in and got a chance. They got a chance to talk with their, their board Daniel. And Solvay kinda, they minister in Greenland. They're living in Greenland, taking the gospel to the top of the world. 2 (59m 40s): And they're yet connected to us. And they're watching on Sunday morning, the, the preaching and the service, and then they're encouraging people in their village to do the same thing. So we've got people on this Greenlandic village who are watching what we're doing here on Sunday morning. So we, we love you guys. We bless you. We love Daniel. And Solvay they called in to just give an update on what's going on. The people that they're praying for and their people that they're ministering to and the people that they're serving in their community. Why? Because we're called to do life in community. Even if we're in a Greenlandic village on the top of the world, there's connection there there's prayer exchanged. I'll often get messages from Daniel and Salva. 2 (1h 0m 21s): Hey, we're praying for you and I'll respond. I'm praying for you. God's doing good stuff all over the world. Aaron Stark is firsthand who was in prison with me. So Paul is not alone. Send you his greetings. And so does Mark Barnabas cousin, as you were instructed before, make Mark welcome. If he comes your way to Mark surface, March, the guy that Paul and Barnabas were traveling with on their missions acts chapter 13, John Mark, he went home, he went back to Jerusalem. He's like, I'm not going to continue on in the mission. And Paul was pretty tweaked by that. He's like Mark, can't travel with us any longer. And that's when Paul and Barnabas split up and went their separate way. 2 (1h 1m 5s): Something happened. Maybe like my friendship with a guy that I ran into there, there was a healing there. Why? Because, because of prayerfulness and love being extended and exchanged, remember the story. I mean, there was a, it's a big deal. It's often cited in acts. I think it's chapter 15 where they say, Hey, we're done. We're not traveling together. We're not ministering together. But here in this scenario, 4 (1h 1m 38s): Paul saying, Hey, take, take care of my brother, Mark. 2 (1h 1m 42s): We endure hardship better when we are in it with others. So we don't have time for petty disagreements. 4 (1h 1m 49s): We are brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are 2 (1h 1m 53s): Connected. We are friends. We need each other. And when we extend grace and love to one another, when we pray for one, another, man, things can happen and we can go sideways. But man, God God's, grace is sufficient. We can come back together. 4 (1h 2m 10s): We endure 2 (1h 2m 10s): Hardship better when we are in it with others. Let's talk about friendship for a minute. If you need a friend to do do these four things. If you need a friend, some of us are just lacking friendship where like, I don't have any friends in my life. Do you do four things? I started out with two. I added two more. So we have four forgive people. If you need a friend, just start forgiving, be friendly. Number two, number three, love people. Number four, pray for a friend. Paul had many friends as is evidence in this final instruction. Verse 11, Jesus. The one they call justice also sends his greetings. 2 (1h 2m 52s): These are the only Jewish believers among my coworkers. They are working with me here for the kingdom of God and what a comfort they have been. a member of your own fellowship, probably the guy who planted this church in Colossae and in Colossi at the first a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ. Jesus send you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you. I love it. When people tell me that, Hey, I'm praying for your church. I'm praying earnestly for your church, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the will of God. God responds to prayer. Prayer will make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are doing the will of God. 2 (1h 3m 33s): The word perfect means to complete and mature. This is God's desire that we'd be complete and mature, confident that we're doing the will of God, that we know the will of God. As we pray for people are we're making them strong. As we pray for people, we're making them strong in Jesus name, perfect, fully confident that they are doing the will of God. Verse 13. I can assure you that he prays hard for you and also for the believers in Laodicea and higher opera. Hieropolis Luke, the beloved doctor sends his greetings. And so does Demas. Please give my greetings to our brothers and sisters at Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. 2 (1h 4m 17s): After you've read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them. That's why we teach through these letters because they're meant to be read and understood and say to R-CHOP is to be sure to carry out the ministry. The Lord gave you a little bit of challenge there. Say to R-CHOP is to be sure to carry out the ministry of the Lord gave you. As I read that, I thought that's for somebody here 4 (1h 4m 39s): Today, 2 (1h 4m 42s): Maybe the Lord's given you a ministry to carry out. Okay? 4 (1h 4m 45s): And you've been unresponsive, unwilling, maybe even disobedient. I'll just say this. 2 (1h 4m 59s): Be sure to carry out the ministry. 4 (1h 5m 2s): The Lord gave you. 2 (1h 5m 6s): Here's my greeting in my own handwriting. Paul, remember my chains. May God's grace 4 (1h 5m 11s): Be with you 2 (1h 5m 14s): Don't ever get away from the basics. Pray with an alert mind with a thankful heart and pray for other people. And remember your assignments live wisely among those who are not believers, make the most of every opportunity and let your conversations be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone with that. Let's go ahead and Pray let's invite the worship team forward and we're going to continue with Church Lord. Thank you for Church. Thank you for the opportunity to gather, to sing, to pray, to hear a message, to open our hearts and to avail ourselves to you. Lord, we just need you to continue to speak to us as we worship, God, help us to worship in spirit, being present with you. 2 (1h 5m 58s): And in truth, being honest with you, with you and honest with you, help us to be with you and honest with you, Lord, thank you Jesus. For that. God, we love you. And we, we know that you're going to continue to minister. As we open up our hearts and saying, and give ourselves as we make an offer a sacrificial offering of our singing to you, or thank you. Thank you for taking care of Harvest Church we love you Lord in Jesus name. Amen. Let's sing 0 (1h 6m 33s): To, to do it. here is where I lay it down is where lay it down. 0 (1h 7m 28s): Every burden, every crown. This is my silver and this is my . This is my servant. I'll make room. 0 (1h 7m 50s): crown. 0 (1h 8m 30s): This is my son. This is my son. He is where every lie and every doubt, this is my son. 0 (1h 8m 50s): I'm going to say shake up to the ground of our tradition. 0 (1h 9m 44s): Break down the laws of our religion. Here we go. 0 (1h 9m 46s): you want your will to be done in our lives. 0 (1h 11m 20s): Would you lead us? Would you guide us? 0 (1h 11m 47s): you are close. 0 (1h 13m 2s): I've known you as a all my life who have been, who have been. 0 (1h 15m 2s): So would you stir our hearts? 0 (1h 16m 12s): Help us to hear you speak as we need to guide us. Pray pray for others. Speak with hearts seasoned with salt. Thank you for being in our midst here today. We love you and we look forward to worshiping, speak to you in there again next week in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Thank you so much for being with us both online and here on campus. We can't wait to see you next Sunday. Have a wonderful day. If anyone would like prayer, feel free to come forward. We would love to pray with you. There'll be some staff or others available to meet with you. Thanks so much.

0 (0s): Good morning. Welcome everybody. Let's all stand together, Lord. We thank you for this morning. We thank you for providing us reign. We pray that you'd be here with us, that our worship would be pleasing to you. 1 (31s): for all that you've done. 1 (3m 15s): gray. 1 (4m 5s): for all that you done for me? Jesus. 1 (4m 46s): For all that, you've done. Fool. Oh, razor razor, razor. 1 (5m 31s): me. humble ourselves worthy of 0 (14m 52s): Praise and honor, we worship you this morning. Pray in Jesus name. Amen. So like for the past eight weeks Charlene's been here and she's really polished at getting you guys to talk to one another, but I'm back. And so it's okay to be awkward. You just got to turn around and make friends, you know, it's a time to fellowship. Amen. 0 (15m 32s): Amen. All right. Good morning. Harvest Church good morning. It's a rowdy bunch this morning. 2 (15m 44s): It has it's. It's nice. It's a little chilly outside, but nice and warm in here. Hey, just want to say welcome. Glad you're here each and every one of you. Thanks for joining us online as well. Hey, if it's your first time joining us, I just wanted to let you know that we have a gift for you. If you go over to the info center right here in the breezeway between the lofts and sanctuary, we have a gift for you. We would love for you to fill out info cards. Find out more about you, just ways to plug in and just got a couple announcements. First one is the Thanksgiving baskets. Food baskets are being collected by next Sunday. Next Sunday is your last day to turn those in. So there's a list where we're just trying to love on the community of the families in our community that, you know, need a little extra help this Thanksgiving. 2 (16m 30s): So if, if, if, if you've got, if you're willing, there's a, there's a list of different food items that we're trying to collect, and that will be due by next Sunday, November 20, November 15th, next announcement. And we have this sisterhood night of worship, and that will be just Friday, November 13th at six 30 here in the sanctuary. And that is for women of all ages all the way from they said grade school to grandma's are invited to come for that. It's going to be worship sharing a fellowship and fun details can be found at AGU harvest.org/sisterhood. And it's, it's gonna be a great night. I'm excited for you. Gals. 2 (17m 11s): Next is just a few opportunities to plug in and we have some, we have a welcome team, cleaning team, kids, ministry, team safety team, and then, and then a group host or facilitator. There's all different ways to plug into Harvest Church and to get connected, you can, you can find out how to connect by going to our app or a website and plug it in that way. Dave gave me this little sheet. There is a volunteer for holiday wind ensemble as well. Dave has all the details on that. I just have a simple slip of paper. So talk to Dave, if you're interested or do you have the skills to play in the wind ensemble? I do not. So I should not talk to Dave about that. And then lastly, we Wednesday is the veteran's day. 2 (17m 53s): So we want to honor those who have served in our country. And so if you have served, we actually asked you at this time to stand up both in the loft and here in the sanctuary, just come on, keep standing up, standing, remain, standing, remain standing. We want to just take this time. We want to take this time to honor you and thank you for your service. And let's, let's just say a moment of prayer, all right, for them, Lord, we thank you for those who have served, who have put their lives at risk to protect the freedoms of those. They, they, they haven't even known Lord. 2 (18m 33s): We thank you for all those in, in this room, at home, in a line and, and throughout this country, Lord, and what do we do? We lift up this country to you at this time, Lord, with all the craziness in our, in our nation. Lord, we just ask for wisdom and direction. Lord God, thank you for those who have served in jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Thanks. You all. That's all. That's all I got. Thank you, brother. Appreciate it. 3 (19m 2s): There are flannels all over the building today, all over the campus. It's a flannel Sunday. Isn't it? It's it's been kind of cold. Hey, you notice we got some of our plumbing back in place, so that's good, right? It's good to good to have plumbing in a developed nation. It's good to have money. So we have one of the think Mike Apadaca for coming in and making sure that the black top was all fixed for us so we could drive in and out and here. So thanks to Mike and thanks to rich Brown and his crew for getting the plumbing done. They're still working on it, but we have plumbing in this building and in the loft and in the U building, we do not have plumbing yet in the parsonage, but we're getting there. So be patient with us. We we're, we're just, it's just a slow process, but the water main is fixed and the sewage line is fixed. 3 (19m 48s): And so things are getting better. We'll get rid of the port-a-potties this week. So that'll be good. Porta-potties are great if you're at a fair, but they're not growing or a carnival or something. Hey, since we've had such a wonderful time with our plumbers recently, I've got a plumbers joke. You guys ready for a plumber's joke. So this guy hires a plumber. He's got a leak under a Sikh under his sink and the guy the plumber shows up and he's underneath the sink and comes out after about an hour. And he hands the guy that hired him, a bill for $400. And the guy said, man, I'm an attorney. And I don't make that kind of money. You've been here for less than an hour. The plumber said, yeah, when I was an attorney, I didn't make that kind of money either. 3 (20m 33s): Do you guys get that? It's it's bad. Right? Okay. Good. Somebody gave that to me. I did not pay them for that joke though. So that was, that was good. We had the title of the message today as we get into Colossians, chapter three is how do we 4 (20m 48s): Follow God's word? How do we, how do we follow God's word? That's the, that's the, the million dollar question as we open up, God's word, how do we follow it? How do we do that? So let's go ahead and stand up. But we're going to pray and ask the Lord for gifts to give us wisdom as we open up the scripture. And so Laura, we want to know, we want to know how do we follow your Word as we open it up on a regular basis and try to find instruction, therefore, our lives. So often, it's just hard to walk it out. Lord, easy to read about things, hard to live it out Lord. And so I know it's my desire, and I know that it's our desire as a church to want to be able to live it out. We want to know what it means to follow and how to do that. 4 (21m 30s): So Lord, I pray that there would be really practical tools given to us today, practical and helpful tools that will give us the ability that capacity, the understanding how to, how to actually follow your Word. So God as we open our hearts and minds to that, I pray that there would just be a download from heaven God that whatever blinders we have on would be, would be would, they would just fall off Lord like cataracts. They would just fall off our eyes, Lord, whatever hardness we have in our heart around the word. And just maybe our lack of understanding about how to walk it out or our frustration with it. Lord, I pray that that would just go away as well. 4 (22m 10s): That would just melt away in jesus' name. And our hearts will be tender and ready in our minds to be excited. And we'd be hungry Lord for the things for the word of God, for the things of God. And so help us, Lord, we pray. Thank you for your presence here today. God we've already felt it in worship, Holly. That was just so powerful and so good. And, and I am praying that the balance of the service has we open up your word would be, would be the same, would just be powerful and good. And then as we wrap up with more song God that it would just, it would just put a big old exclamation Mark on this day and give us the grace to follow you and to trust you wholeheartedly. So bless us. We pray, help us. We ask Lord in Jesus name, amen. 4 (22m 51s): You can be seated and you can be, 3 (22m 53s): How do we follow God's word, number one, we're going to get right to the first point. We have to understand what the word says. When I say the word it's capital w God's word. We have to understand what the Bible says. That's, that's kind of where we, we have to start. We have to understand what it says. We're going to get into some pretty tough texts today. If you've read ahead, you, you know that it's, it's difficult stuff that we're going to be talking about today, but it's not impossible stuff. It just requires that we understand what the word says so that we can do what the word says. So we're going to do our best to explain what the Bible says about these areas of submission 4 (23m 34s): And that this text is talking about today. Nobody likes submission really. I mean, it's difficult. I kind of grates against our flesh. When we have to submit to one another, whether it be to a boss or to an 3 (23m 46s): Elder or to a spouse, we don't really run toward the idea of submission, but it is God's 4 (23m 55s): Best plan for us. 3 (23m 57s): It is absolutely God's best plan for us when we understand what God means when he tells us to do certain things. So out of the gate, I'm just going to jump into Colossians chapter three, verse 18. We're going to take a few minutes to talk about 18 and then 19, and just, and just unpack the whole chapter all the way to chapter four, verse one. That's what we're going to end up today. It says this 4 (24m 21s): Wives, you know where I'm going, right? 3 (24m 25s): Submit to your 4 (24m 27s): Husbands. 3 (24m 31s): So no tomatoes. That was wonderful. Thank you for not throwing tomatoes at me. Cause I didn't write this. I'm just happened to be preaching it today. Wives submit to your husbands as is fitting for those who belong to 4 (24m 45s): The Lord. 3 (24m 47s): I'm just going to say, and I wrote out some things because I wanted to make sure that I say that I say them properly. This is the proper order. Two things. When it comes to husbands and wives, we can't apologize for that. And we don't actually have to apologize for it. When we do, when we do what God asks us to do the right way, he's actually got a plan. He didn't just throw this out there, spitballing some, some random idea about marriage relationship. He actually has a plan that he wants us to understand for our marriage relationships. So this is the proper order to things. When it comes to husbands and wives, we can't apologize for that because when done right, there is nothing to apologize for. 3 (25m 33s): So wives submits, she submits not as one who is inferior to him. So we're not talking about superiority versus inferiority. We're not taking, talking about position. We're just talking about order of things, the order of things. So she submits not as one who is inferior. So I want us to understand that that women are not inferior to men. 4 (25m 56s): And anyway, do you hear me? 3 (25m 59s): Women are not inferior to men in any way 4 (26m 3s): Way. 3 (26m 6s): So she submits that as one who is inferior to him, nor in violation of a Christian ethics, but honoring her husband's responsibility and authority as head of the household. So God has actually placed men in charge of the household. And so that's the order of things. And we're going to understand more about what that looks like as we unpack this text, the amplified Bible says, wives, be subject to your husbands out of respect for their position as protector and their accountability to God. So men are actually what will be held accountable for our relationship with our spouse in way that we lead our wives. So wives be subject to your husbands out of respect for their position as protector and their accountability, accountability to God as is proper and fitting in the Lord. 3 (26m 57s): So God has made the man head of his wife. We don't have a slide for this next verse, but it says this first Corinthians 11 three says, but I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ. So men have a head who is Christ. The head of why of a wife is her husband. And the head of Christ is God, is there is there is God superior to the son. No they're equal. They're equal in God, they're equal in the Godhead, but yet there's an order of things. There's a submission there where Christ is submitted to the father. And we see that throughout his whole earthly life in ministry, we see him constantly submitted. 3 (27m 40s): He said, I only do what the father tells me to do. I only say what the father tells me to say. He is completely submitted, even though there's total equality at the Godhead totally equality between the father, son and the Holy spirit. How do we follow God's word? We have to understand what the word says. This is the order of things so that there can be peace and leadership, proper leadership in the home. If there's no clear leadership, strife and unrest is the result. I've seen this over and over again where there's a weather where there's a lack of leadership. There is always strife in the home. There's strife and unrest in the home when there's a lack of proper leadership, but where there is godly, loving, humble leadership, there is peace. 3 (28m 30s): So when I think of healthy male leadership and marriage, I think of pastor Ron D I do. You guys have been married for 40 years. He's got a great marriage after 40 years of being married. And if you look at Ron's life, so I've been working with Ron for about 12 or 14 years, pretty full time here at the church. And so I have a, I've had a chance to watch his life for more than a decade. And I've been so impressed with his leadership. So while Ron is the head of his household, he is so incredibly gentle. He's gentle and strong at the same time, his gentleness and his strength makes it easy for his wife DJ to submit to him most of the time. 3 (29m 14s): I'm sure even DJ has a hard time submitting at times, but because Ron is gentle and strong at the same time, it makes it easier for his wife to submit to him. Ron is also gracious. He is humble, he's loving and he's fun. And Ron is the same person in the office that he isn't at his home. He's, he's just, he's just faithful through and through. He's a godly man full of grace. That means he extends grace. And so because all of these things are true, it makes it easier for his wife to submit to him. I would say that Ron is a great model for us as men, as husbands, man, we will do well to model our leadership after pastor Ron. 3 (30m 2s): I think it's just helpful to have a real life person that we can look to and model our leadership after our role, as leader of the home. 4 (30m 12s): All right. What does submission look like? 3 (30m 16s): And what does submission look like? Wives are to submit to their husbands as long as submission, as long as submission doesn't cause disobedience or compromise to God and his word. So women have a responsibility to submit to their husbands. As long as that submission doesn't violate their submission, their ultimate submission, 4 (30m 34s): Two God 3 (30m 38s): Wives are to submit to their husbands voluntarily. It should be done as, as an active obedience to the word of God, to the person of God. And I also want to say that even as wives submit volunteer voluntarily to their husbands, they're not to submit to men in general that that's not what the Bible says. It doesn't say that women are to submit to men in general. Now, if there's a leadership thing that requires a woman to submit to a man, that's fine. But there's also times when there's there's men who need to submit to the leadership of a woman. What the scripture is talking about here in Colassians. It's not saying, Hey, women are submitted to, or to be submitted to all men. 3 (31m 21s): It says that women are to be submitted to their husbands. That's what the scripture says. So the wife is to submit volunteer voluntarily to her husband, not to men in general. This is kind of what submission looks like. Submission is not to be abandoned when the husband makes a mistake. In other words, per perfection is not the make or break factor. When deciding to submit, sometimes women will submit as long as their husband is doing well or making wise choices, your husband is not going to be perfect. I'm a husband for the last 30 years. I can, I can tell you that we're not going to be perfect across the board, but even when in our imperfection, it's important that wives submit to their husbands, trusting that the Lord is leading the man. 3 (32m 3s): Even if he's making mistakes, there's ultimately God's plan we'll we'll we'll come to fruition or we can trust that God will will help. Even when our husbands are making mistakes, even when men are making misses. 4 (32m 16s): I hope I said that correctly. All right, husbands, you're next? You thought you were getting off the hook today, right? You were so on the hook today. So 3 (32m 28s): Even as I talked about the role of a godly husband and, and, and pointing to Ron, as an example, husbands verse 19 says you're to love your wives and never them harshly. What if you love your wife as Christ loved the church and never treat her harshly, she won't have much problem submitting 4 (32m 48s): To you. She just won't. 3 (32m 51s): She is won't most, most women want to submit to a godly man who loves them and treats them well. The amplified Bible says this in Colossians three 19, husbands love your wives with an affectionate sympathetic, selfless love. That always seeks the best for them, Then that good man, we have this huge responsibility as leaders of our home to make sure that we're leading the way that God would have us to leave and do not be in a lead in the way that God would have us to lead and do not be in bittered. The amplified continues do not be in bittered or resentful toward them towards your wife. 3 (33m 34s): Because of the responsibility 4 (33m 35s): Marriage, we have a huge responsibility is as husband. 3 (33m 42s): How do we follow God's word? We have to understand what the word says. Number one, number two, we have to approach the word with humility and teachability. As we rely on the power of the Holy spirit to give us the grace to follow. This is part of the deal. We will never effectively follow God's word. If we don't approach the word of God with humility, with teachability, relying on the power of the Holy spirit to give us the grace 4 (34m 8s): To follow. So husbands, if you're having a hard time, loving your wife, pray, pray, and then obey. 3 (34m 19s): I'm going to give you a 14 different ways that you can love your wife. 14 tangible ways that you can love your wife. So get out your pen. 4 (34m 29s): So I write this down and I, 3 (34m 35s): We should've put your name in the, in the place of love. So I put love is love is love is 14 times. And so I'm going to say for me, I'm going to put the, my name in there. So where it says love is patient. 4 (34m 49s): I'm going to say Steve is patient. Alright. Mike is patient. Rod is patient. Larry is patient. Love is patient. Love is patient love is patience. It requires a great deal of patience to express the kind of love that God would have us love our wives with we, we have to be patient. Yeah. 3 (35m 17s): With our spouses. They're different people than we are. They think differently. Not worse, not better, just different 4 (35m 24s): Love is patient. So put your name in there. I will be patient love is kind. Steve is kind, that's my, that's my directive, the Lord that I will be patient. And I will be kind. When you figure out how to be kind to your wife, the sky's the limit, your, your marriage will be amazing. Some men are just jerks to their wives. We don't treat our wives the way that they deserve to be treated. We must be kind to them. 4 (36m 6s): We must absolutely be kind to our wives. So Steve is kind, love is not jealous. Love is not boastful. Love is not proud. Love is not rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable as guys, sometimes we give ourselves permission to do all of these things. We've had a rough day, so I'm irritable. 4 (36m 47s): You don't have permission to be irritable. So when you're irritable, acknowledge the fact that you're irritable and get over yourself because God is bigger than your irritability. I'm telling you from experience. I used to be more irritable than I am now. I'm not perfect, but I'm not quietly. Quite as irritable as I used to be right, is I recognize that I can't be irritable to my wife and expect her to lovingly submit to me. And I can't be irritable to my wife and expect to have a good marriage. She's not, it's just may have an okay marriage. We may get by and not go through a divorce. 4 (37m 29s): But as that though, the high water Mark that we want is that we, we just want to not divorce. Holy cow, their marriage is meant to be delightful and wonderful and life giving your spouse is actually meant to be your very best friend, the person that you want to be with more than any other person. 0 (37m 57s): Yeah. 4 (37m 57s): And yet we're irritable and rude and proud at times. If you catch yourself in that place, catch yourself and don't give yourself permission to be in that place any longer. Maybe you need to take a longer path home, but drive home so that you can kind of get all of the junk from the Workday out of your system. Pray through, say, Lord, I'm going to, I'm getting ready to go home. And I don't want to be irritable. When I get home, I've had a terrible day. I don't want to carry this into my, my home life. So you pray on your way home, turn off the radio. When you pray or turn on Christian worship music and you worship, but out of your system, but you can't go home irritable 0 (38m 39s): Or rude and expect your marriage to be good. You want your, 4 (38m 44s): We should be good. Do you want your sex life to be good? Fix 0 (38m 46s): All that stuff. I'm telling you, 4 (38m 49s): Everything gets fixed. When you go home with the right attitude, 0 (38m 56s): It's not irritable. 4 (38m 57s): It keeps no record of being wronged. Keeping a ledger, mentally, emotionally in your hearts, 0 (39m 7s): Keeping 4 (39m 7s): A ledger of all the time did you've been wrong? Burned that thing. It is. It is like a cancer in your relationship. Love keeps no record of being wrong. Love does not rejoice about injustice, but rejoices when the truth wins out. So love does not say I told you 0 (39m 28s): So 4 (39m 31s): There's no room for that kind of garbage in our relationship. That kind of ah, love rejoices. When the truth wins out, we're not trying to catch each other misstepping or making a mistake. We're not trying to catch each other, doing the wrong thing. We're trying to catch each other, doing the right thing and celebrate that leverage choices when the truth wins out. So when you see your spouse doing something, that's great. Thank them. And praise them for that. 0 (39m 59s): Spouse makes you breakfast. Say thank you, 4 (40m 6s): Your spouse, presses your underwear. Say thank you. Say thank you. Just be grateful, 0 (40m 19s): Right? Have 4 (40m 19s): An attitude of gratitude with everything in your relationship. Just say, just say, thank you. Thank you. Goes a long way. Hey, thanks babe. For making me a lunch. 0 (40m 29s): Right? Thanks 4 (40m 31s): For irony. My shirt. Thanks for keeping the house clean. I noticed you. You cleaned the house today. Thank you. Hey, thanks for taking such good care of our kids by really appreciate how you love our grandkids, 0 (40m 47s): How you invest 4 (40m 48s): In them. That just means so much to me. 0 (40m 49s): Thank you for that. Acknowledge out loud, 4 (40m 54s): The wonderful parts of your partner acknowledge out loud to them and let them know how much you value them and care for them. Love never gives up. You say I've tried all of this stuff and it just keeps backfiring. Keep going, keep going. Pray for a tender heart for your spouse and women wives. When you, when you begin to see your husband change and begin to adopt some of this truth, this revelation from the, from God's word, man, run to it. The ways that I'm asking men to love their wives, wives, I'm asking you to love your husbands the same way. So while I'm putting them in on the hook here, I'm also putting you on the hook. 4 (41m 37s): Your marriage will be amazing. It will be better than it's ever been. 0 (41m 44s): 4 (41m 50s): 30 years of marriage. I tell you, our marriage is better than it's ever been. 30 years. Sometimes we think it just kind of winds down till we die. Just kind of like, Hey, it started out good. It's this kind of white, white wine itself down. No, man, it can be ramping up. Never gives up. Never loses. Faith is always hopeful. Love endures through every circumstance. I wish I could say I made all these up, but they're right in first Corinthians 13, first Corinthians 13 helps us to understand what it means to love one another. 4 (42m 31s): This is the way that God loves us. And he said, I love you this way. Go and love others this way. How do we follow God's word? We have to understand what the word says. It means we have to crack it open. We have to get that Bible opened up every day and understand what it says. And even if you're only reading a little bit, get it in your heart, get it in your mind. We have to approach it. We have to open up God's word. We have to get into it with humility and teachability, not checking a box saying, Hey, I read my proverb of the day or my Psalm of the day. I check the box. What did it say? And what did it speak to your soul? 4 (43m 12s): What does it speak to your spirit? Approach it with humility and teachability is we rely on the power of the Holy spirit to give us the grace to follow. I say this all the time. Everything that God asks us to do in his word requires the supernatural power of the Holy spirit at work in us to get it done. I can't love my wife this way, this way, unless God's loving through me. And last I'm also experiencing the love of God this way and acknowledging and recognizing it that his, he is so patient with me. God, God has never been rude or irritable with me. 4 (43m 53s): He just isn't. He's just not that way. He challenges me through the Word and through the spirit, he'll convict my, my, my life of sin of bad judgment. He'll he'll challenge me, but I never feel beat up by the process. I'm always like Lord. Yes. Thank you. Right? That's that's we don't have to roll over with our spouses, but man, when we, when there's time to bring correction or challenge or a hard conversation, but it needs to be done with love. Don't be irritable. Won't serve your purposes. It won't won't help your marriage. Next first we're done with husbands and wives. 4 (44m 37s): Can we all breathe? There's enough there to last us for the rest for the next 30 years. Amen. Children obey your parents for this pleases, the Lord children obey, always obey your parents for this pleases, the Lord. And then the kids are like, God got it. I thought I was going to get out of this and not have to be held, held accountable here. What does obedience look like? As far as it pleases the Lord children always obey your parents as far as long as it pleases the Lord. If a parent is asking a child to do something immoral, illegal, the child has absolutely has absolutely has the responsibility to disobey, to not do what their parents are asking him to do to do this is God's design. 4 (45m 26s): This is what I think God's design is. God's design is that godly parents would lead well. Their children with integrity, humility, kindness, and good boundaries. And by the way, those 14 things, you can love your kids the same way you love your kids the same way. Let me read that again. God's design is that godly parents would lead well, their children with integrity, humility, kindness, and good boundaries so that children will grow up understanding godliness and the biblical difference between right and wrong parents. You want to lead in such a way that you parents, you want to lead in such a way that you would want your kids to grow up and treat and raise your grandchildren the same way. 4 (46m 12s): I've got five grandkids. And I want my kids to raise my grandkids really well. And they're doing a great job by the way. 0 (46m 20s): 4 (46m 27s): Parents in such a way that your kids though, they may disagree or not understand. Now we'll be able to one day see that you were right. So right now they don't have the capacity to, to see the reasons for the decisions that are made. They just don't. They don't, they don't see any more than, than we understand all of God's ways for, for the way that he parents us. We just don't understand. We don't have the capacity. So don't parent haphazardly. Don't love conditionally don't have favorites or show favoritism, be consistent, be humble, be loving, be gracious. 4 (47m 9s): Verse 21 says, fathers do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. It's tough to parent. It's tough to figure out how to parent kids who are going through adolescents and going through hard stuff. It's tough to parent, little toddlers who were getting into everything. It's tough to parents, kids through all of their stages of life, but God's grace will give us the ability to do it in such a way that they won't be discouraged. They can get corrected, but not be discouraged. They can, they can have boundaries, but not be discouraged. They can understand, even as a, as a young child, they can understand. 4 (47m 53s): And through adolescents that they're being disciplined because they are loved. They're being raised in a, in a loving atmosphere, Ephesians six, four in the amplified, it says fathers do not provoke your children to anger. Do not exasperate them to the point of resentment with demands that are trivial or unreasonable or humiliating or abusive, nor by showing favoritism or indifference to any of them in difference, but bring them up tenderly with loving kindness in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 0 (48m 28s): Okay, 4 (48m 28s): This is heavy stuff. Isn't it? It's like really strong directives for us in our relationships. It's not easy stuff, but it's what the Bible says. And if we give it an opportunity, we'll have great families. And maybe you're here today. And you say, man, I've already blown it. It's too late. Start doing all of this stuff now with your adult kids, with your, with your grown kids. And if it's too late and they just don't want to have anything to do, we do with you just let the grace of God wash over you. Just repent of it. We've all sinned and fall short of God's glorious standard. So just say, Lord, I, man, I wish I would have, I I've. I limit some of the things that I did as a young parent Lord. I wish I would have raised my kids differently. 4 (49m 8s): In some areas I do God's grace was sufficient and they turned out really well, but I'm wishing, I wish I would've done some things differently, but God's grace is sufficient and I've had to go back and apologize to my kids. For some things. My daughter brought it up recently a few years ago, we, we all sat our kids, my wife and I, we sat our kids down. I forgot we had done this, but she brought it up to me and we sat and they were all adults at that point. And we just apologize for any pressure that we, we might've put them put on them as, as pastors, kids, kids have enough pressures without having pressure from because of what their parents do. Holy cow. 4 (49m 49s): And so we, we weren't sure if we had put any undue pressure on them, but we want to make sure that we apologize in case we had. So we said, well, we don't, we don't know if we did a great job with you guys. Well, I'm sure we made some mistakes. And so we just want, we just want to say, sorry, will you forgive us? And, and there was grace extended there and, and health restored, maybe in areas where health needed to be restored. So maybe you've made mistakes. You have, if you're human, you made mistakes. You do, you have a pulse. Yeah, you do. You've made a mistake. So, so just be humble and apologize for that and watch what the Lord will do to restore relationships. 4 (50m 32s): Maybe you've got a broken relationship with adult kids that have been going on for, for decades. I grew up with an absentee father, absentee father, and he was just, he was gone my whole life, some, a couple of times growing up and, and he's, he's kind of in his own way. Apologize. It has been helpful. It's kind of acknowledged, you know, and he made some knucklehead moves along the way and, and in his own way, he's kind of apologized and that has to be good enough. Right. And he's listening in dads. So that's, Hey dad, that's good enough. He always listens to my sermons, talk about him. 4 (51m 16s): And he's like, Hey, you probably didn't want me listening in today. Did you? I said, no, I want you to listening in dad. So in his own ways, he apologized for his own past mistakes. And that's good enough. We need to extend grace because even some of the policy, some even sometimes we don't even know how to apologize. Well, but if we can just get to the heart of what's being tried, we have, what is being said is just extended grace, your relationships with your parents and your grandparents and your kids and your grandkids will just be better. Children will have a much easier time obeying if they're obeying good and godly parents, not perfect parents, but good and godly parents. And they'll know the difference. They may not understand it now, but as they get older, they will understand the difference. 4 (52m 1s): Children. Even if your parents aren't good and godly, you still need to obey them. 0 (52m 7s): I do 4 (52m 10s): Obey them with humility, with humility and trust as you obey God's direction for your life. No perfect parents. So trust the Lord as you do his will. All right, let's get off the family a little bit and talk about slaves. 0 (52m 29s): How much time we have, we got time. 4 (52m 32s): 22 Colossians three says slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything that you do, try to please them all the time. Not just when they are watching you serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. So slavery in our culture is not really a thing. Although in the, in the world, it's a thing. It's a, it's a very real thing. One commentator wrote while slavery is certainly undesirable. And I would S I would add slavery is not just undesirable. Slavery is it's it's deplorable. No person should own another person. The commentator wrote while slavery is certainly undesirable undesirable. 4 (53m 14s): Paul goes, Paul's goals did not include restructuring social institutions. So we often wonder why didn't Paul directly attack the institution of slavery. Well, God had other goals for him. This is what I wrote. 3 (53m 30s): God's goal. Isn't always to restructure social institutions. His goal is to make disciples who will through their godliness point, people to a better way of living. And in that call some to the work of restructuring social institutions. 4 (53m 44s): Well, my thoughts go to William Wilberforce, 3 (53m 49s): William Wilberforce, as a British politician, philanthropists, and leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade and native of York Shire. He began his political career in 1780, eventually becoming an independent member of parliaments in 1785. He became an evangelical Christian, 4 (54m 9s): Which 3 (54m 9s): Resulted in major changes to his lifestyle and a lifelong concern 4 (54m 13s): For reform. Yes, 3 (54m 17s): God is first and foremost concerned for the reform of individually 4 (54m 23s): God 3 (54m 24s): God is concerned for the reform of individuals. And he knows that the reform of culture can follow. As individuals are reformed. Paul's major concern was not restructuring social institutions. His major concern was the discipleship of 4 (54m 38s): Men and women. And 3 (54m 40s): Out of that, out of that, God would call people to reform social 4 (54m 45s): S social issues. And so 3 (54m 51s): Some of you are called to reform social injustices, and some are called to other things. And I would just ask you to figure out what you're called to Paul understood what he was called to. And he kept that in his sights, 4 (55m 6s): Listen to what he wrote 3 (55m 7s): In first Corinthians seven, seven through 24, 4 (55m 11s): He said, 3 (55m 12s): Verse 17, excuse me. He said, each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all of them 4 (55m 24s): Churches, for instance, a man who was circumcised 3 (55m 27s): Before he became a believer, should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised 4 (55m 35s): Now 3 (55m 37s): For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is that he keeps God's commandments. Yes. Each of you should remain as you were, when God called you, 4 (55m 47s): Are you a slave? Don't let that worry you. But if you get a chance to be free, take it. 3 (55m 55s): And remember, if you were a slave, when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you are free, when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a high price for, you said, don't be enslaved by the world. Each of you, dear brothers and sisters should remain. As you were when God has called, when God first called, 4 (56m 14s): How do we follow God's word? We have 3 (56m 16s): To understand what the word says. We have to invest our heart and mind in the word, and we have to do it. We have to approach that Word word of God with humility and teachability is we rely on the power of the Holy spirit to give us the grace to follow it. Number three, we have to believe the Word that we have a master in heaven. Often. We don't believe that this is true. We're going to see this in the text. We have a master in heaven, and we have a Lord in heaven. We come to faith in Jesus. If we confess that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart, that God has raised him from the dead. We shall be saved. If we confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ, that's the first step of being saved. Confessing the Lordship of Jesus Christ. We have a master in heaven. Who's, who's telling us how to live our lives, and it's not negotiable. 3 (57m 2s): It's not a pick and choose scenario. We read the Bible, we understand it. We do what it tells us to do. That's just the way God designed the scripture for us sees everything. And he knows everything. And he's just in fare. And he's given us things to do hard things to do. These are, these are not these. This has not been an easy text to preach through. These are hard things that God asks us to do, and they require real heart change, real transformational change so that we can align our lives with his word back to Colossians. Paul wrote work willingly at whatever you do as though you were working for the Lord, rather than for people. 3 (57m 48s): And so we're not in a slavery economy of slavery situation in our culture, but we all have employers. Most of us are working and we have people that we work for. So we can overlay this verse in our risk, in our responsibility to our employers, work willingly at whatever you do as though you were working for the Lord often, we're like, I'm not, I'm not doing a good job because I don't like my boss as a Christian. That's not, that's not even an option as a Christian. That is not even an option. You have to work as though you're working for the Lord. Christians should be the best possible employees in a, in a workplace often. 3 (58m 33s): It's not the case though. Christians aren't having good erect. We don't have a good reputation in the workplace because sometimes we can be lazy or we, we excuse our behavior because we don't like our boss or the circumstances. Listen, we need to work as though we're working for the Lord, rather than for people remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the master you are serving as Christ. So it's not just a Sunday morning. I submit to God scenario. It's a 24 seven. I submit to God scenario. It's 24 seven. Like I always submit to God, that's the goal like the Lord I'm going to submit to you no matter what. So whoever I'm working for, I'm going to submit to that person and work for them as though I'm working for you, Lord, because you're my, you're 0 (59m 22s): My master. First one, 4 (59m 25s): If I, but if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you've done for God has no favorites. And then our last verse, Colossians four, one masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a master in heaven. So there's two sides to every coin wives. You gotta submit to your husbands husbands. You have to love your wives. Following those 14 things that I talked about in first Corinthians from first Corinthians 13, 0 (1h 0m 3s): 4 (1h 0m 7s): We have this powerful responsibility and powerful opportunity to align our relationships in such a way that God has honored in such a way that divorce isn't an option divorce isn't even on the table because we're so in love with each other, that it's not even something that we would consider. It's not always easy to follow God's word, 0 (1h 0m 33s): But 4 (1h 0m 33s): If you will try to understand it and approach it with humility and teachability, while relying on the power of the Holy spirit, to give you the grace to follow, we can trust that our master in heaven will take care of all of our needs. So some of us are married to hard people. 0 (1h 0m 55s): So this stuff isn't easy. 4 (1h 0m 58s): I don't pretend that it's easy. Everything that God asks us to do requires the power of the Holy spirit at work in our lives. It's doable when we've got the power of God at work in us and with us and through us, it's doable. It's doable. All of the impossible things or the seemingly impossible things that we read in scripture are doable. When the power of the Holy Spirit's at work in our lives, all of these things are possible. All of the things that God leads us to do in his word from Genesis to revelation are doable and possible. When we rely on the power of the Holy spirit, when we're approaching the word of God with humility and teachability filled with the Holy spirit. 4 (1h 1m 40s): So maybe you're here today and you just need a fresh infilling of the Holy spirit. I'm just going to pray that over us, that we'll be freshly filled Ephesians five talks about our need to be constantly filled with the Holy spirit. Somehow we leak, I guess we leak and we need to be refilled. So I'm going to pray that the Holy spirit will fill us to overflowing so that we can have the capacity to believe God for the things that he's instructed us in his word. Does that sound good? Go ahead and stand up. And if you're here and you need a new filling of the Holy spirit, just raise your hand. I'm not gonna make you come forward, but if you're here and you just say, Lord, I pray for those whose hands are up. God my hands are up. 4 (1h 2m 23s): God I, I feel like I need it like multiple times throughout the day. I just need to be refilled. Somebody cuts me off on the freeway and I'm angry and I need to be refilled. Lord, forgive me for that. Lord does have a bad thought, Lord, forgive me for that Lord. I'm up against a hard situation. I need to be refilled with the Holy spirit. God, do you know the scenario of everybody's life here? The relationships that they're in, the problems that they're face, the difficulties that they, that they're up against Lord. I just pray that each, each person would just feel in a real, tangible it, if possible, just physically and spiritually, that we would feel your presence. 4 (1h 3m 8s): Just filling us with grace and power to do what you've asked us to do. Lord and, and belief and confidence and faith Lord in the things that you've asked us to do, believing God that ultimately it will, it will, it will be good for us Lord. So God, each of us, we, we have our hands up and we just ask God that as we stand here, prayerful Lord, that you would fill us and that's, you would continue to fill us daily as often as we need it. Lord God for the task, for the responsibilities in front of us, God help us to be great husbands and great wives and great employees. 4 (1h 3m 53s): Great employers, Lord, help us to be just incredible Lord. And as we trust you with our lives, Lord God, as we worship, help us to worship Lord in spirit and in truth. And I there's just something powerful that happens when we worship, when there's just, there's just an anointing, a filling that happens, Lord, I just pray God that you would fill us and anoint us for your good works. The good works that you've called us to today. Pray that none of us would be overwhelmed, but we just have the strength to do it. We'd have the faith to do it. So help us, Lord. We pray. Thank you for this time. Lord in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Let's worship 1 (1h 4m 36s): was ballroom God has the with the melody, with deliverance from me. 1 (1h 11m 13s): I'm no, Lord. 1 (1h 15m 19s): It's only by some crazy miracle. It's hard for us. We receive Steve Bray. We asked for your power to walk in your ways to live. As you want us to live to love people. As you want us to look, we asked for your power this morning. We thank you. We praise you Jesus name. Amen. 1 (1h 16m 0s): Thank you guys for coming to church today for tuning in online, have a great week.

Philippians 4:1-9 (NIV) Read by: Clayton Cullaton The work of the LORD restoring us in his image looks like things being made right in our relationship with others, our relationship with the world, and our relationship with the LORD. Today's passage talks about peace, but Paul as a Jewish man had more in mind when he talked about peace than the tranquility or calmness that comes to our minds. There is a concept called shalom, which means peace, but it also means wholeness, it means things are as they should be, it includes justice, it includes holiness. Today's passage speaks of shalom in all three areas of life: relational life, vocational life (our life in the world), and our spiritual life. ----------REFLECT---------- 1. What portion of this passage was most comforting to you? 2. Paul pleaded that these two women would be of the same mind in the LORD, that they would reconcile their difference in Christ. Where in your relational life do you need to ask God for restoration? With a family member, a classmate, a colleague, or a friend? Ask the Lord for what you need to take a first step towards that restoration. 3. Paul encourages the Philippians to bring their anxieties to the LORD in prayer in every situation. This can be hard because there are so many situations these days. But what if we had a go-to one-line prayer? Maybe you could craft one now. It could be something like. LORD help me with _____________(Name the situation), we need your ________ (name a character trait of the LORD as an expression of faith). So Lord please help me make this decision, we need your wisdom. Amen. Try that now and see if you can't come up with a simple format that you can use consistently. ----------GO DEEPER---------- Bible Project Podcast: New Testament Letters >> Bible Project Video: New Testament Letters: Historical Context >> Bible Project Video: New Testament Letters: Literary Context >> Bible Project Video: Philippians >> ----------CONNECT---------- Find an InterVarsity Chapter >> Start an InterVarsity Chapter >> Learn More >> --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dailyread/message

PRAYER FOCUS: YESHUAH PROCLAIMS: I AM THE LIVING WATER AND I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! I AM THE MESSIAH! WE DO TOO! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, ​We trust You for everything You provide for us. We know that we are protected by You and without You we can do nothing. As Your Son has said for man it is impossible with God all things are possible. Lord, when we look at how things are going here in our nation it looks like we are overwhelmed by the enemy and so much of their plots and schemes seem to be fulfilled and yet by Faith we know as the Psalmist has said the plots of the enemy will not last and You will crush the evil plots by Your Fire just as You did with Sodom and Gomorah heaping fire and brimstone on them, Lord now is the time that the enemies here in our nation face the same response. For too long we have been held in captivity by those who have even cheated to remain in offices of power. But now Lord the change is in the wind and we are about to see Justice arise and crush the enemy at the gate. We are Your people and we trust in Your Word for we know Your Son said it clearly He is the Living Water and the Light of the World! He is the Messiah that takes away the sin of the world and washes us clean and pure by His Sacred Blood! So Lord, now in Faith we are more confident that what Your Prophets have spoken will come to pass in our day! Lord as Your Jewish people celebrate Your Feast of Tabernacles we stand with them that during these days they will become more aware and awaken to know Yeshuah as their Messiah that they hunger to know in their hearts. As Your prophet Kim Clement has said: ISRAEL IS FOREVER! We too know that is Israel is Your sacred land where Your Son walked, talked and healed all that came to Him in Faith! Lord, even now in our land we come to Him in Faith bringing to You all those who are in need of healing in body, mind and spirit. Touch those now who need Your Healing moment to restore them to fullness of life and that they may join Your Army to be witnesses to defend and spread Your Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Lord we bring to You all those who have sent us special requests for a Healing Touch. Lord it is time to release Your miracles among us for we have come in a spirit of repentance and turn around in our lives so that You are the only One we worship in spirit and truth! Lord by the authority given us by Your Son, we bind all the temples, altars and idols that have crept into our land . Let Your Holy Angles as they did with the walls of Jericho smash them to the ground that they are nothing more than dust and ashes! For we proclaim with our Israelite brothers and sisters: 'Listen! Obey O Israel! The Lord is our GOD! The Lord is One! We love You with all our heart, with all our very being and with all of might! Father we lift up to You all of the women who are part of this sacred force of prayer that they will be honored and respected as You have created them to be! That it is male and female You created us to be one to show Your presence to all the earth and that together whether in marriage or friendship or as brothers and sisters we are a sign to all that You are our God and we are the living Image of Your loving kindness to all of creation and together we bring life into the kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Father we bind all the nonesense that pervades our land with the perversion of homosexuality, transgenderism and other despicable acts even with our children. Lord by Your Blood wash us clean and pure to see one another as sacred vessels of love as You have created us to be and is Your Perfect Will for us! So Lord, with the Psalmist we sing Your praise during these sacred days of remembering Your Feast of Tabernacles! Praise You Lord! You raise up the poor out of the dust and lift up the needy and fill us with good things. Good things You have planned for us even now in our day!

If linking from the Twitter feed, click the little POD icon right below the date to listen Subscribe at iTunes, search Istrouma   Istrouma Baptist Church Sep 6, 2020 ========== September 6 (BR) Welcome Back! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.   We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Update Update: https://mailchi.mp/istrouma/istroumaupdate-577654?e=%5BUNIQID%5D Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo September 6, 2020  | Jeff Williams Ephesians 1:15-23 Ephesians 1:15-23 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Notes: Pastor Updates For all pastor updates and information go to: https://istrouma.org/pastor Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? Click here to add your name to our mailing list: https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org   Ephesians 1:15-23 Istrouma Baptist Church – Jeff Williams, Interim Pastor  10:45 AM Sermon September 6, 2020       Good morning. So glad that you're here and that you've chosen to worship with us. If you are new to us, we have just completed last week, a series where we walked through the book of Ezra had a great time just to really looking at just the way that God provides and the way that God moves. And then next Sunday. We will begin a series just walking through the book of first John, and really excited about that. And I won’t say anything else because I'll go ahead and start preaching that series. And I want you to come back next week. So we'll just leave that where it is, but to really looking forward. And I would encourage you that one of the greatest things that you can do when you're studying a book as a group of people, whether it's in your small group or in worship, is that if you will read along with that on your own, you will be amazed at just the multiplication of what God teaches you. Because oftentimes what we do is we think about the study of the word is something that happens in this room. In many times, we miss a huge part of what God wants to teach us individually because God's given us his word individually. He's given us the Holy Spirit, which resides inside of us. And so, we need to allow God to teach us throughout the week. And then as we gather together to study that together, God just illuminates that on just a whole other level. So, if you don't have a specific plan or even if you do maybe take first John chapter one, read it a few times this week and just, just allow God to use that, to prepare your hearts as we jump into that next week.   And so today we're going to do something a little bit different and I want us to, and some of y'all don't know me that well, but anytime that I ever pastored a church, whenever I said that it used to scare people to death because there was no telling what I might do. Don't worry. It's not going to be that outside of the box. But I do want us to practice something that we see in scripture that I think is very important. And as we think about the church, we are obviously in a time of transition. And as we think about all the transition that's happened over the course of this year, and as we move forward, there's something at the forefront that should be at the forefront of our minds as we are in the season that we're in, it's something that's important all the time. But I think that the level of intensity that we should have towards this subject is really important during this season. So, I want to make a statement on the front end, and then we'll jump into what that is and how we're going to be part of that this morning. I want to make a statement that for those of you that have been around the church more than about 30 minutes, you know, this is true. And that is, is that the church is not perfect. Is that a shock to anyone? Right? The church is not perfect in the reason the church is not perfect, just because of you. All right, let's just get that out there, right? It's not because of somebody else or that the church is not perfect because of you, I used to have a pastor that said, man, being a pastor would be easy if it wasn't for all the people, right. That would be, it'd be so easy, right? Because the reality is that all of us are flawed. We all have opinions. We all have issues. We all have stuff that is in us. And because of that, the church is not perfect. But what's amazing about that is that God has chosen to use this imperfect organism. It's not an organization but an organism because the church is us, right. Then God's chosen to use this as his vehicle to get the gospel to the world from the very beginning of the church in Acts Chapter Two, we see, I think God chose to form the church and that through that vehicle, through you and I, that the gospel was going to get to the entire world.   And so, it's interesting that God would take something that is not perfect is made up of you and I, but yet that's what he would choose to get the gospel everywhere. So that means that you are important. That means for you and me, and obviously you're thinking, well, Jeff, I know that I'm here, right? But you need to understand that this is not just a ritual that we go through every week so that you can feel better about yourself. This is what God has chosen. We are a part of something that God wants to use to shed the light of the gospel across the street and around the world.   And I would say that this is very cliche, but it's very true. And that there's never been a time in the world that the world needed the gospel more than it does today. So, it means that we're imperfect. We don't have all the answers and we don't always get it right. But yet this is what God has chosen to use. Which means that the church should be very, very important to us. So here's what happens. Here's how we get off track. Well, we get off track because we began to see the church as something that's more about us than we do about what God really wants it to be about.   We see in the gospels, the famous story about Jesus coming in and cleansing the temple. You've heard that story where Jesus is upset because there are people that they're basically selling animals for sacrifices, but up in the price really, really high. So they can make money off the well that are coming to offer sacrifices. And it makes Jesus angry. There's a righteous anger that comes over here and he comes in and he cleanses the temple. He just, he just turns the tables over. He just, he just basically just confuses everything that they have going on.   And he makes a statement at the end of those stories that we see in the gospel when he cleanses the temple. And he says, and he quotes from the Old Testament, but he says that my house shall be called a house of what?  Prayer. Now it's interesting because what we've done with that story is, I remember growing up, I grew up in church and I listen. Some of my greatest memories in life happened in the church. I love the church, some of the most, some of the best friends in the world that I have. I met in church and some of the greatest memories personally, there's some of the greatest memories and the milestones for me spiritually. They happen inside the walls of a church or a church event. And because of that, I believe that church is an absolutely amazing place, but there's some things that are funny about the, the way that we interpret scripture within the church.  And I can remember growing up in church that, that people interpreted this passage to mean, you were sinning if you did a raffle in the church, right? I mean, that was like the worst thing in all the world you can do. Don't do raffle in the church because that's why Jesus cleansed the temple. And listen, we can debate about whether you should do a raffle in the church or not, but that's not the point of that passage. The point of that passage is what upset Jesus is that he took something that was to be about him. And people begin to make it about their own interest. They begin to use the church as a way for them to gain something for themselves. It began to be about them and not about him. And that's the reason why he comes back to this issue of prayer, because there's something that happens when we pray. Now there's no question that we see all throughout scripture and all throughout church history that God responds when his people pray. There is a power in prayer that is absolutely unexplainable. But the other thing that happens when we pray as we get our focus, right? For instance, if you have someone that you struggle with relationally, you say, man, I hate that person. Or I'm struggling not to hate that person. You know, the greatest remedy for you to get over that bitterness and that anger in your life is just to begin to pray for them because the longer you pray for them, you begin to get God's perspective on that person.   Well, the same thing goes for every arena of our life is that one of the things that prayer does for us is it gives us God's perspective. And over time it gives us God's heart. The book of Psalms describes that we're to delight ourselves in the Lord and that he will give us the desires of our heart. We love the second part of that, right? That is that God give me the desires of my heart, but we missed the reality that what God is saying there is that when you delight yourself in me, when you spend time with me, when the emphasis of your life is prayer, that what begins to happen is God begins to change our heart, to match his heart. And so, all throughout scripture, we see different prayers. If you have your Bibles, I want you to look with me at Ephesians Chapter One for just a few moments today. And in Ephesians Chapter One, there is a prayer that Paul prays for the church. And what I would encourage you to do is you begin to develop your prayer life. As you begin to recognize that as you intercede for your, not only for your needs, but on behalf of other people in your life, that God responds to the prayers of his people. And there is absolute power in prayer. But then you're also saying that God, that as I prayed, that I, what I desire for you to do is to make my heart match your heart and think about the power of the church. When our heart matches God's heart. When we are aligned with him and the things that matter to him become the things that matter to us. And in the process of that, what God begins to do is something that is absolutely amazing in our hearts. And then it flows out from this building. It flows out from our services. It flows out from our lives to the community and ultimately the world around us. When we say, God, I want my heart to align with yours. So, as you begin to develop your prayer life, one of the things that you can do is look at scripture and find prayers that are there and begin to use those as your model for prayer. Jesus gives us the model, prayer in the Sermon on The Mount. And you can look through that and begin to structure your prayer life around that. You can go to John chapter 17, where Jesus prays for himself. He prays for his disciples. He prays for the world. It gives you the opportunity. Just something to look at, to begin to model your life. You can take a proverb every day. There's 31 chapters in Proverbs, take one that corresponds with the day of the month and just begin to read it and just begin to pray that you can pray the Psalms. I mean, there's so many different ways. One of the most, one of the things that I think that we miss a lot of times is just that the power that comes when we pray, what scripture teaches us to pray when we use that as the model for how we lift up our hearts to God.   So as we look at a Ephesians Chapter One, this is a prayer that Paul prays for the church. And so, I want us to look at this just for a few moments together, but we're going to stop along the way. And there's three different parts here that I think are things that are relevant for us today, where we are, that we ought to just stop and pray for. So we're going to read a little bit, I'm going to talk for a second and then we're going to pray. Now I know that's a, that's a crazy concept, right? In church, we're going to stop and actually pray, right? But we're going to do that today. And so, I want, once again, for those of you that might be new or your guests with us, don't worry. I'm not going to make you uncomfortable or do anything that you're not comfortable doing, but we're just going to stop along the way. And I'm not going to just pray for us. I'm going to ask you to stop and pray. And I'm going to ask you to really a look at these aspects and look at how God uses his word to model. Because Jesus said that my house shall be called a house of prayer. So we're going to spend a few moments doing that. So Ephesians Chapter One, and we're going to begin reading in verse 15. He says, for this reason, and this, the idea of these talking about the gospel, he's talking about the church, he's talking about the people that are in the church and the things that they are doing. And he says for this reason, because I have heard of your faith, Paul had not actually been there, but he knew of the things that God was doing through the church at Ephesus. He says, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord, Jesus, and your love toward all the saints. I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. So in this introduction he says, I want you to know, I give thanks to you that for you in the, I am remembering you in my prayers. And then what follows is the prayer that he prays for the church at Ephesus. Now he's praying this for them specifically, but I also think that there's application for us in terms of where we are today.   So the first thing he prays for, we see in verse 17, look at what it says there, that the God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory may give you look at this. Don't miss this, the spirit of wisdom and of revelation and the knowledge of him. He asked for wisdom. He asked for revelation in the knowledge of him. So in essence, what he says is, is that God, I pray that you will give this. When I pray for this church, what I'm praying for is that God, you would give them wisdom. The God, you would give them the ability to see your plan, to see your wheel and that God that you would give them the knowledge of what you desire from them. Now stop and think about that for just a minute. What a great prayer for us to pray, because we can get so caught up in the things that we know we can get. So caught up in the things that we do, we can get so caught up, even in the things that we've done in the past, that we are very familiar with and that we are very good at. And if we're not careful, we can miss the reality that what we need to see for today, what we need to see for the future is what God sees. God align my heart so that I can be filled with wisdom. God, I align our leadership in a way that they have wisdom to, to have Your will for our Church, revealed to them so that we can have the knowledge of what you desire from us. Is there anything greater that we can pray and say, God, help us to see what you want us to see. I see God help us to make decisions that honor you. God lead us to the path that the God that we desire for whatever you want. And then think about this. If we pray that with a pure heart, and we really say, God, I want to be aligned with what you want. God, I want you to give us wisdom to make the right decision. If we pray that with a pure heart, do you realize that we can't lose? Because if we're praying that with a pure heart and we're praying to that to a God who is in complete control, and if we're submitting ourselves to his will and to his wisdom, then God's, this is not a game, right? It's not a game of hide and seek, and God's not attempting to hide His will from us. He's just attempting to get us to a place where we surrender to Him and then whatever He desires, God just will do that. So it's a releasing prayer, but it's a prayer that I believe is very, very important. Now I just, once again, I'm up here. So we're going to do this the way that the God is leading me. And I'll just tell you the first thing that came to my mind when I read that is really for our Pastor Search Committee, because you've heard for the last several weeks as we've just stopped and we've seen videos and we've, we've talked just about the need to pray for that group. And I want you to hear this from my heart. That there's nothing that I believe for this church. That is the more important for us to be praying for than for that team right now, thinking about the wisdom that they need and think about when you pray for them, that you're not praying for them to find the kind of person that you want, right? You're praying for them to find the person that God desires. You're praying for God to reveal his desire to them so that they can make a wise decision. Because when they make this decision in terms of, on behalf of the church and they bring this person before us as a body of believers, what we need to understand is that this is a very, very big deal for the future of our church. And we need to ask God to give them wisdom, the, the weight that's on them. And I can tell you from my own experience, the weight that’s on the person that they will eventually talk to. It is a weight that on both sides of that, we need wisdom. We need God as a body of believers to, for us to be passionate about praying for them. Because what we desire is the same way for the last hundred years that we've celebrated that God has used this church to make a powerful impact in this community and around the world, we want the next hundred years to be even greater. And the only way that happens is by God revealing to us, us having his wisdom and his, and making the decisions he desires for us today. So can we just stop for a minute and just pray? Let's just pray for that team. In fact, not to embarrass you and then we'll call you out and ask you to anything else. But if you're a part of that team, just because I know everybody doesn't know all the people that are on there, if you're a part of our pastor search team, would you stand for just a second so that people can just lay eyes on you? I know there's Adam's here. Is there anybody else that's you're in? I mean, nobody else cares about Jesus, but you've had none kidding. All right. But thank you, Adam. Here's what I'm going to ask you to do. I've just bow your heads and close your eyes. Thank you. And I want to ask you to pray. If you know anyone on the search team, would you pray for them by name? Just take a moment just in the quietness of where we are. Just pray for them by name and your prayer for them is God, would you give them wisdom? God, would you reveal your will to them? If you don't know anybody that's on that team, maybe you can just pray for Adam today. Maybe for others of you. What do you want to pray for is the person that God's going to lead us to. You don't even know who they are, but just pray for them that God would give them wisdom. On the other side. Let's just pause.   Let's pray specifically for this team for wisdom, for the revealing of his will and for the knowledge of what God decided, you take a moment and just pray that. Can we pause today and just say that we need you. God, we're not a perfect people. We're not a perfect church, But God, I thank you for this church. I thank you for leading me and my family to come and be a part of this church. God, I thank you for what it means to us and God. I thank you for the way that you've used it. Just such as a powerful testimony and instrument in this community and to serve not just the folks around this, but around the world. We don't know all of the answers for what the future holds and God, it's just such an odd time. And we've got at the same time, Lord, it's a great time because we don't have the answers. And so, it gives us the opportunity just to submit and surrender to you. So God is we surrender to you. God, I pray specifically for every member of our pastor search team. God, I pray that you will remove any fear. God, I pray that you will remove any agenda. God, I pray that you will remove any pressure. God, I pray that you will remove any sin from their lives so that they can clearly hear God, you have the power. God, you have the answers. So Lord, we placed them into your hands right now. You got to be thanked you for what you're going to do, because we know that when we surrender to you from a pure heart, that we can't lose. And so, God, we thank you in advance for how you're going to use this team to move us forward for the future of our ministry. God, we love you. And we thank you for hearing our prayers. It's in Jesus name. I pray, Amen.   Now look at verse 18, The next thing he calls them as he's praying for them. He says, having the eyes of your heart in the light, look at this, that you may know, what is the hope to which he has called you? What are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the Saint? So it's an interesting verse because in essence, I mean, it's a, it's a very, you know, it's worded very well, right? But in the middle of that, he says the hope of the calling that you were called to in essence, what he says is that you would understand the power, that you would understand the riches, that you would understand the mission of what God has called you to do. And I think that's both collectively and individually that he's praying for them that first of all, that God would reveal to them the direction and what needs to happen, that there would be wisdom in the decisions they may, but as they are making decisions as a body of believers, that God would constantly remind him of in essence. What I would say is their mission. Then he would constantly remind him of who they are and what it is that they are to be about, you know, any organization over time, any established organization. And this is the, the case. And no matter what realm of business or what realm of spirituality or that, anything that is established over time has the tendency to turn inward and what used to be about the mission becomes about themselves. I was sharing with Micah, just looking at where we're going in terms of after the first John series about looking at several different churches in the new Testament, in terms of them staying focused on their mission. And one of the things we see in the church at Jerusalem, which is where the church started, that over time, they begin to struggle because as they began to be established, they stopped looking outward to what God had called them to do, and they just simply began to turn inward. And so one of the things that we have to constantly battle against as a great established church in this community is that for us to never get to a point where it becomes all about what we do in here, but we're constantly pushing ourselves outward to the mission that God has given us. And so once again, as I was reading this this week, and just thinking about the things for us, specifically as a church to pray for, I thought about where we are in terms of the emphasis of our outward focus ministry right now, in terms of what we're doing relationship to Hurricane Laura, that we have teams I've loved watching on social media this week about the number of teams even this week that have gone and taken time off of work and taking time out of their schedule to take a day or a couple of days, and just to go over and we've taken tons of supplies. I can't believe the number of things y'all brought last weekend to the campus that were sent out last Sunday and all throughout the week that have been teams of people that have been going. And I know that everybody can't do that, but that needs to be the heart of every one of us, whether we have the opportunity and the ability to go, it needs to matter to us. And all those, some people may say, well, that doesn't seem like a very spiritual thing to, you know, to take a chainsaw and cut down the tree and to clean up a yard or clean up a home or to take supplies. But the reality is, is what greater message that the church had to send then in a time of crisis, that we are there for them, not because we're such great people, but because the mission of God compels us to go. And what Paul says to the Church at Ephesus where is that I pray that you will constantly be reminded the hope that you have the joy that you have because of the, what you've been called to do. And so, what I want us to do is take just a couple of moments. Then I want us just to stop and pray that God would keep us focused on the mission. The mission is not to be the biggest church in town. The mission is not to have the nicest buildings in town. The mission is not to do the most things for ourselves, but the mission is to be, as the book of Matthew describes is that we are a city that is set on a Hill. We are the light of the world, and that we cannot be hidden, that we want our mission to be so bright that if tomorrow, if this church was taken out of this community, there would be a hole in this community because of all the things that we do to serve them and to love them and to point them towards Jesus. So we need to pray that God would use this body of believers, that we would stay focused on the hope of what we've been called to do. So let's take just a moment and I'm going to ask you to bow your heads with me again. And would you ask God for yourself? First of all, personally, that God would keep you focused on your part of the mission that he's called you to do, but that he would keep us as a body of believers focused, that we would fight the tendency to turn inward and that we would do everything we can to focus our heart and attention on the world. Around us. You take just a moment just with your heads, bowed and eyes closed. Pray that for yourself, pray that for the church, ask God to do that in our lives.   Let's pray together. Lord, we're grateful for our church. God, we pray that we would be a church of people as individuals, Lord, who put others first or that as we live our own lives, God, that we wouldn't be looking just to our own interests Lord, but we'll be looking to the interest of others. God, that we would be humbled. People, people who imitate the likeness of Jesus, that we would put other people ahead of ourselves Lord. And as we do that individually Lord, we pray that that's what our church would be. That we would be a church that seeks the welfare of our city that seeks the good of people in our community. Thank God that our church would be a place that makes a massive impact for those around us. Lord, God help us to be a community of believers that don't just look out for each other and look out for this place, Lord, but that we were driven to help others. God, like we've seen so many going out and serving with the hurricane aftermath. Lord, help that to not just be something we do in disasters, Lord, but that we do every day that we see needs. And we meet them Lord, because we have a desire to help them because we know that we have the message of the gospel Lord and that as we go that your honor, that your name is lifted high. God let us be that type of people or help us to be that way. Keep our eyes focused on you and not just focused on ourselves. And we love you. We thank you for Istrouma. We thank you for moments like this.   Amen.   We've been reading the book of Ezra about God establishing the people of Israel as his chosen people. And he did that because he wanted people to see him, right? He didn't do that because they were any more special than the rest of the world. He didn't do that because there was anything that was different about the way that they were created. He did that to show people how great he was. And when I want you to see at the end of this passage, the end of this prayer in the last five verses to me is a very powerful, powerful prayer. But I believe it's a prayer that we need to pray for us, for us. As we walk out these doors for us, as we encounter a world that may not agree with us, for us as we encounter a world that may have different views or may not even believe in God, but there's something that they see in us. But what they see in us is not about us, but it's about the God that we serve. There's a confidence in the end of this passage, there's a power that's in the end of this past, but there's also authenticity that shows people what we really want them to see, because what the world needs to see from the church is not just all the things that we don't do or that we are against, but what they need to see is not only what we are for, but who we are for. And they need to see the power of God that resides inside of us. And so, I want us to read this passage together, but then I want us to pray this for ourselves. And I want you to, as you read this with me, I want you to get the vision of exactly what it is that God wants us to see what God wants us to be a part of, of what he wants the world to see in us and through us. So here's what I want to ask you to do. I'm going to ask you if you would just to stand right where you are. I am not sure we can read this part sitting down and look, I know some time to time, Pastor Jeff, again, watches the services. He doesn't think that we should sit for any of it. So I apologize if you're watching Pastor Jeff, but we are going to stand for this part. All right. I want you to think about the power that is in these verses, starting in verse 19. I want us to read this together and then I want us to pray together. And I want us to ask God for the world. When they see us, this is what they see. Let's start in verse 19. I want you to read it out loud with me. All right. It says, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly paces. Don't miss this right, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name, that His name, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the Church. Let's read verse 22. Again, that's great, right? And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all, you know, let's pray. Some of you just with your heads bowed and your eyes closed. You needed that phrase in verse 22. Today, all things are under his feet. All things, anything that you're facing today is not beyond his control or authority. All things are under his feet. Any challenges that we face as a church are not beyond his ability or not beyond his authority, because all things are under his feet. There ought to be a peace and a calm that floods our heart and mind. When we recognize the fact that we serve a God who is in complete control, All Things are under his feet.   God, I pray that That image in verses 19 through 23 can be what the world sees in us. Not a people of arrogance, not people that think they are superior in any way or that we're more Holy or that there's something that, that is different about who we are as individuals, but they will see people that are totally dependent upon you that are willing to remove all the things that don't look like you so that the world can clearly see how great you are. God, thank you that you are our ruler. God, thank you that you are our authority. God, thank you that you have all power and all dominion over everything in our lives, over everything in our community, over everything in the world that is so difficult to see so much of the division and heartache and pain and strife that goes on God. We thank You that if we will rest in You, that God, that You will give us Your wisdom, that You will give us Your plan. God, that You will keep us focused on Your mission. And then we will recognize that if the world can see you that God, you're the one who makes the difference. So God allow us as a body of believers to rests in You today, allow us to trust you because you are a God who has all things under his feet and this in Jesus’ name that I pray and all God's people said, Amen.   Be seated for just a moment. One of the other things that we see come on Christian, that we see in the new Testament is that there were times that there were people that got it used a specific location, and he sent them out to other places to do other things. And so today Christian is going to lead us in a time as a Luke is in that situation where he's being called out. And so, he's going to share some things with us. Lucy will share a couple of things with us, and then we're going to close our service by praying for Luke. That's right? Some of the past three years, as we have worshiped together in this space, you have seen at Luke's face and his heart leading us in that regard for the past three years. And so today Luke's final day here with us at Istrouma, as he heads home, to Atlanta, the Atlanta area, where he is from to serve at a church there. And in his time here, he has led us well, he has fostered deep and meaningful relationships and, and discipled many of us, even in this room today. And we're thankful for the Lord giving us the chance to serve alongside of him. And we're excited about what he is doing and where he is going to continue to serve at a different sister church. And so, Luke, you had some words for us today. Yes. On my phone. It's where I read my Bible from which you can't really add to Ephesians one really. I mean, just the hope that is there and the prayer and that's all of our prayers that we would know and understand the love of God for us. And then go out to the world, just that repeated the measurable greatness of his power. Like 13 verses later in chapter two, he talks about the measurable grace of God, in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. And So this is Zachariah chapter nine. I've kind of been in this for the last few months, was in like the prophets and the minor prophets in the springtime. And so, I hit Zachariah about June and it's just like, it's exactly the same thing. Like our God is a God, who's a measurable and he's generous. And he graciously and freely gives us wisdom and revelation. So, this is Zachariah nine verse 16 says on that day, the Lord, their God will save them as the flock of his people for like the jewels of a crown. They shall shine on his land. Just makes me think of where the city on a Hill, like where these jewels in a crown that everyone can see for. How great is his goodness and how great his beauty grain shall make the young men flourish in new wine. The young women, God has God who makes things flourish to a lot of us. This may feel like a barren time. I got time in the desert, but our God is a fountain of water. Like he's living water. He is a God who things grow and barren places. So then verse one of chapter 10 says pray. So to the people of God, he says, ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring, rain from the Lord who makes the storm clouds is the God who makes the rain. So pray to him, ask him for rain. And he will give them showers of rain to everyone, the vegetation in the field. You can't really say more than that. Our God is a God who loves to pour himself out. And he asked us to come to them and to ask him for rain. And he will do it. Every word of the Lord proves true. So that's right. And we are excited that the Lord is going to use a Luke to bring his, the message of his immeasurable grace, to our sister church in there and in Atlanta. And so, Luke will be here as the service concludes. And normally we would invite everybody to come down and place their hand on Luke is we send him out. But today where you are, if you would, if you just would extend your handout where you are towards Luke and we'll pray and, and then we'll dismiss, all right, father, we thank you for the time that you have given us with our brother. We are excited that he is, has an opportunity to be able to, to share your truth in a new place. Lord. And we arrest a short knowing that we will be shoulder to shoulder singing for eternity, with saints that you have shown your grace to here in Baton Rouge and in Atlanta through your servant, Luke Lord, we're thankful that you've given him the gifts that you have and the opportunities to be able to make your name great and known Lord, we know that you are indeed that fountain in the midst of our barren and dry land and God, we look to you and you alone.   Lord, we know that you are great and powerful and good and kind, and that that message is one that we want to see the world come to know. We're thankful that you've placed it on Luke's heart to do that in a new area, Lord and we're we sent him out with love and gratitude and your precious and Holy Name. We pray. We love You. Amen.  

PRAYER FOCUS: WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD THERE IS ALL THE POWER WE NEED USE IT WITH MATURITY! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We come before You with humble contrite hearts.  We admit our weakness and our lack of courage to stand before our enemies, but we know that we can do all things in Christ Jesus!  That when we accept our weakness it is then that You make us strong.  As Paul has taught us it is not with eloquent speech but with a heart filled with love willing to die to oneself that we shine Your Light brighter! Lord when we see who we really are in You then we are made strong to defend the Kingdom and spread  the Good News!  So often Lord You have used our weakness and our foolishness to not only teach us a lesson but also show the world that all glory belongs to You.  When You use us we are just grateful for choosing us to be Your instruments of Love for all those You place in our care! So Lord here we are continue to use us to Your Will here on earth as it is in heaven! Father, we are here to intercede for our nation and its people.  We give You praise and honor for giving us a President who has open doors for real change in America.  In so many ways we have been set free to live as we are called to live a nation whose God is Your O Lord.  We pray for President Trump’s continued protection and an out pouring of the holy Spirit upon him and give him the discernment he need to defeat the enemy around him and weed out any who are close to him who would betray or endanger him.  Lord, we know he is your anointed one for this hour! Lord his character has proven time and again against huge odd of hatred and continual trying to drive him out of office.  Lord, release You Holy Angels to do even more of their assigned work to move him forward even as he  shows his love for Israel and really a sign of his love for You.  Lord forgive us of being to critical of his  flaws or weakness but realize he like us serves You and is a strong instrument for justice and to return to law and order here and around the world!  Thank You Father for President Trump and all that You are doing for our nation! Father in the authority that Your Son has bestowed on us we come against the enemy in this spiritual war that is raging.  In Jesus we bind all the evil spirits that have arisen in these days, especially the spirit of Jezebel that is flaunted before us in the political and cultural scenes around us. The spirit of lust that is used to entice men to look away from you and to focus on the fleshly side of our life.  Lord, we seek to be more in control of ourselves by fasting and prayer.  To stop the spirit of gluttony and fleshly desires instead of seeing our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit.  That in these temple we have is to be used as a place of worship.  Yes, even the food and nourishment we take in is to worship You to thank You for the miracle of our bodies and how they function according to Your Holy Plan.  Lord, that we become more aware of how we eat and drink to control our appetites.  When our health is right we will be able to do those things You have planned for us to bring about Your Kingdom, a Kingdom of harmony with You and with one another!  Lord we are so thankful for the gift of life! Father, here in our nation give more awareness to its people to see that the gift of America is a special blessing of Yours to fulfill the spreading of the Gospel of Your Son and His healing Love around the world in every nation, especially your land of Israel.  Lord, continue to give us wise leaders and workers to bring harmony among nations, but also in this hour Justice and the following of law and order.  We bind the spirits of witchcraft and rebellion that has been loosed especially here in our nation. We bind the spirits that rule over Black Lives Matter, Antifa, Planned Parenthood and those isms that re here to ruin and destroy America.

PRAYER FOCUS: DO WE LISTEN TO JESUS ANY BETTER THAN THE ISRAELITES DID TO MOSES? Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We open our hearts to You and seek forgiveness for all the times we have not listened to Your Commands. Without You we are lost and have no power over the enemy. We seek to draw closer to You for with You nothing is impossible and You love us with an everlasting love and You have promised to never leave us or forsake us.  Father, we are so dependent on You for all we have and all that You want us to do. Release You Heavenly Host to move against the enemy we face who is out to kill, steal and destroy our life here in America.  So Lord we repent of any sin we have committed or have been too weak to speak against from the taking of life from the womb to the abandonment of our elderly to those who are of darkness.  Lord, in this hour we say enough of death and destruction let Your Light and Life shine brightly now to uncover the darkness and awake more of the people of America to see the darkness and deceit of groups like black lives matter, Marxism, socialism communism and all of the isms of our day that are part of the evil plans to make us slaves to darkness.  Let Your Light shine bright now! Father continue to bless and protect President Trump and all those who stand in righteousness with him in this battle to remake and rebuild America as a nation that believes in You, God  and not the gods of this world.  Give President Trump a sacred moment in the days ahead to encounter Your Holy Spirit so he may see clearly why You have chosen him and to have a conviction to trust You completely in all he does for America.  Lord, he faces a host of enemies who are out to destroy him and drive him from office, but Lord as we pray we know that You have a plan that will not be stopped.  Lord give this army of Yours inspiration and valor to do all we can to make this time of elections honest and true.  That we will vote for righteous men and women who will represent us and rebuild our nation under You and with knowledge that You get all the glory and praise for all that we see is being done!  Thank You Father for putting us on this earth at this time to be a part of the Great Work You are doing now and into our future! Father, we intercede in this hour for our judicial system that we have allowed to run rampant and rough shod over our lives.  How the family has been broken up by judgments that are unfair and burdensome for those involved.  Lord, for too long the innocent have been treated as guilty instead of  innocent until proven guilty.  Too often we have had judges who have taken the bribe or ruled by favoritism and prejudice in cases they should have not ruled on.  Lord give wisdom to President Trump to appoint those who are truly worthy of the calling to decide by the truth of the facts before them. Lord as we vote during this time when there are those who are to be elected as judges that we will truly examine them and see they are fit for that position.  Lord, give us a nation true discernment so that we  take our responsibility to make our government of the people and  for the people!  Lord, just as You gave Wisdom to Moses in choosing judges for the people may we have that same Wisdom in our day! Lord, thank You for raising up righteous men and women to take on the responsibility to represent us to encourage us and lead us into the plans You have for us.  Lord, we want to listen to our hearts when You whisper the direction and the action You have for us to take and bring about.  Lord, thank You for the gift of America! Lord,we are in a time when the force of evil are raging but we know victory is ours!  The riots and rebellious action we see going on will fall and be brought to Justice.  For the righteous will rise up  and bring to a close this communist rebellion.  Lord, as more of Your people awaken to the truth of this war that is being waged around th...

PRAYER FOCUS: WE ARE SET ASIDE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS! Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We are here in trust!  We trust that You have us covered by Your Mighty Hand to shield us from any attack of the enemy whether in our mind or in our feelings of fear of what is around us.   We are here in trust because we know that it is true Your son has already defeated our foe.  We are here in trust that You have placed us in this time and in this space because You have great plans for us!  We are here in trust that all things will work out according to Your Perfect Will for us.  We know that even if we feel fear or are scared of the activities going on around us and some of what we see is dangerous, Your are sitting on Your Throne knowing the beginning from the end.  We maybe shaking or fearful on our knees before You, but You are God and nothing shakes You, nothing frightens You, nothing that man does surprises You!  So Lord give us confidence to trust You in these shakey times cause You are our God and trust is well founded.  We can walk in confident trust that You have everything in control and that You have set each of us aside for such a time as this! Our Hope is in You O Lord there is no one else! Trust is our battle cry!  Trust in You! Lord, we are so thankful that You have anointed President Trump to lead us during this time. We are thankful that You have given him confidence to use his authority as President to make decisions that cover America ad that he has a heart for our people.  We are confident that You O Lord place men and women of righteousness around him that the holy Spirit will use to give him the guidance he needs during this time and to even in plans for our future.  We trust You Lord that You will remove any of the betrayers or those who are plotting against this man.  That this is the time s the prophet Mark Taylor and others have spoken the corrupt will be removed.  That we will see president Trump even ap[point new Justices to the Supreme Court and decisions like Roe v. Wade will crash before Your Presence.  That America is slated to return to its roots, even though there is turmoil now it will not last forever because decisive action will be taken and those of us who are in the trenches of prayer will see that Your will for us will be done! No doubt just Trust! Father, it is in trust that we will see those who have been foolish in their liberal ways of trying to keep peace with evil will fall to the wayside and those who You raise up in righteousness will prevail.  The Holy Spirit is blowing the winds of change a cross America, even in the flames we see that are destructive we are awakening to a renewed  spirit of wanting law and order.  That Justice will prevail and those who have been partakers in this evil will be prosecuted and suffer the consequences of their choices.  Lord, Your people are tired of the lies and deceit of those who are wolves in sheep clothing even in our churches.  We have seen enough snakes and snake charmers leading us into falsehood of the Gospel. It is time during these days of turmoil to bring about a renewed spirit in us to say enough! Righteousness prevails and Justice reigns in our Land!  Just as it is in Your Kingdom in heaven it is now on the earth and we Your Warriors are here to proclaim ait and declare and so shall it be!  In the Authority of Jesus we bind all that is evil and all that is false worship of a devil who is no god to be crushed now!  That we as a nation return to our roots in Christ Jesus and that we actively will partake in the change that is laid out before us.  We are no longer here to hide and cower for the coming, but we are here to do our part for You see us worthy and valuable to fulfill Your Will on earth as it is in heaven! We trust that Your Holy Spirit will keep us calm and peaceful in times like this!  That You have heard our heartfelt cry to change America and that the ca...

Most of us have heard sermon after sermon, message after message telling us that we shouldn't sin. That instead we should repent and live a godly, holy life. That's great – but the real question is HOW?   STIFF-NECKED GENERATION I was never much of an accountant but I do remember learning about double-entry book keeping systems. They were really important back in manual accounting systems because they provided a double check to make sure that the accounts balanced. Basically, here's how it worked. Every financial transaction in the accounts had two entries – hence the name double entry. A credit entry and a debit entry. And the whole point of that was the double entry provided a double check. And it's not just in accounting that you find this approach. You find it in physics too. Newton's third law says that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. In other words – whenever a body exerts a force on a second body, that second body exerts an equal and opposite force on the first body. Maybe that's something we should have learned at school. And it's not just in accounting and physics that we see this two sided approach to life, we also find it in the spiritual dimension. Absolutely we do. Every spiritual transaction has two sides to it. Every spiritual action in one direction creates an equal and opposite action in the other direction. So what's the point? Well in this double-sided mystery lies our rubber-hits-the-road solution to overcoming stubborn sin – which is the thing that we're talking about in this series, “Eliminating Stubborn Sin Once and For All”. And it's a powerful solution indeed. Last week on the program we saw that each one of us finds ourselves with at least one stubborn sin in life that we can't seem to overcome. Now it's different for each one of us – anger, temper, sexuality, greed, self esteem, pride … the list goes on. And somehow that one particular sine comes back again and again to defeat us. But whilst sin is all too common, it's not normal – and God's intention is to set us free from that sin. Not only His intention – it's His plan, it's His will and it's something that He has the power, the divine power to do. Last week on the program we looked at this particular passage, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: For the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. Every proud obstacle in our hearts that sets itself up against the knowledge of God – and that's what the strongholds are that the Apostle Paul's talking about here – can be destroyed by the weapons of warfare which are not human, they're divine. God's divine power. And it's a power that God delights in exerting right in the moment our of our weakness – so that it's His power and not our strength that overcomes sin. Here's Paul again. We looked at this last week too, 2 Corinthians 12:7-9: To keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Don't you just love this. Instead of just taking the messenger of Satan that was tormenting Paul away – God instead gives Paul the opportunity to discover God's perfect power – the power of Jesus Himself – in His own experience in overcoming Satan. But it's one thing to know that whilst we all have a stubborn sin and even though it's God's plan to wield His divine power to overcome that sin in our lives – well, all that's one thing. But what you and I really need to know, beyond that wonderful liberating truth – is how! HOW to lay hold of God's power and how to overcome the stubborn sin that's been wracking our bodies for a lifetime. Well today, right now, I want to take you deep into God's Word and show you God's how. Not my how. Not the world's how. But God's HOW! Now I've heard this Scripture we're about to go to have a look at quoted often – but only half of it, only one side of the transaction, and not the other side. And a half truth is as good as an untruth because a half truth can easily be made into a lie. It's something the devil does all the time. The half truth – the part of this Scripture that's most often quoted – goes like this, James Chapter 4 verse 7: Resist the devil and he will flee from you. And so a whole bunch of people set about resisting the devil. Problem is that the old enemy's been around much longer than you and I have, and he's seen it all. He's wily, crafty and deceptive and he'll go to any length to catch us in his snare. He'll wait to till the most opportune moment, until we're tired or weak or distracted or frustrated or all of the above – and then he'll pounce. 1 Peter Chapter 5:8: Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Lions wait in the long grass until they see a weak animal or a young animal or a slow animal separated from the pack – and then they pounce on their prey. The devil's the exactly the same. And what we discover when we set about resisting the devil – is that working hard just doesn't work. We don't need human weapons in this spiritual battle, we need weapons full of divine power. And it turns out that the way to access and wield those weapons involves a double-sided transaction. The half truth from the Scriptures that I gave you before – let me give the whole thing to you now – and you'll see what I mean. James Chapter 4:7-8 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Do you see the two sides of the transaction involved in defeating the devil – in overcoming stubborn sin? The first is, submit yourself to God and then resist the devil – two sides – and the result of that is that he will flee from you. When we submit ourselves to God, we rebel against the devil. When we submit to the devil – we rebel against God. It's a double sided entry, it's a double sided transaction. But some people have a foot in both camps – they want to honour God but they want to go with the devil and they're the ones who are double-minded, the ones who have to cleanse their hands and purify their hearts. We're going to look at some intensely practical examples of this after the break – but just for now think back to Adam and Eve in the garden. When they were living that perfect life prior to the fall – they were submitting to God (and getting all the benefits) – but on the other side of the ledger, they were resisting the devil. The tree in the middle of the garden, the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, it was there all the time, they just didn't eat of it – and so they lived in the benefit of God's blessing. BUT – the moment they submitted to the devil – on the other side of the ledger, they were resisting God, they were rebelling against God – in that very first, terrible, double-sided act of rebellion. Submission to God = rejecting the devil. Submission to the devil = rejection God. And in this double-sided transaction lies the practical truth of overcoming stubborn sin. If we try to do it by resisting the devil, as we've already seen – that's a half truth and it doesn't work. The answer is first to submit to God, to draw near to Him, because in so doing, He will draw near to us. And since He's the one with the power – He's the one with the weapons of warfare that have the divine power, the first thing that we need to do, is to submit our selves to Him. Resisting the devil is what flows out of that.   RULES DON'T WORK Stubborn sin – that sin that we just can't shift, sin that keeps on keeping on long after we'd hoped that we would have defeated it – is a fact in many, many people's lives. And over the last couple of weeks on the program, we've seen that not only does God understand that, but He wants to give us His weapons full of His divine power, right in the middle of our weaknesses defeat the sin. Jesus died and rose again to give us victory, to give us a new life – and so whilst stubborn sin is commonplace, it's not normal and it's not what God means for our lives. In fact, this is something that God takes so seriously – that He sends not only His Son just to die to pay for all our sin on the cross, but to rise again to give us a new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17: that if anyone believes in this Jesus, then that person is a new creation – old things have passed away and look all things are new. So, whilst many a Christ-follower is convinced that their particular brand of stubborn sin is just a fact of life, just something that they have to live with for the rest of their lives here on Earth, that's a luxury that the Gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't afford us. Jesus came to set us free from every sin. And right now we're going to continue our look at this practical “how to” – how do we lay hold of God's divine power to allow ourselves to be set free, by God – of this sin and, and it's painful consequences. Now this is something that frankly puzzled me for a long time. First, I thought I had to do it all. And so I fought against the devil and I tried and I tried and I tried to resits him and overcome these temptations … but as strong willed an individual as I am, that just didn't work. I ended up lying bloodied and beaten and discouraged and dejected and defeated on the battlefield. OK ... OK ... OK that didn't work. So, what I'll do is I'll leave it all up to God. I'll sit back and let God do it all. But let me tell you – the old “spiritual couch potato” model didn't work either. And it wouldn't amaze me at all to know that you've been there too – right? So the question is, how do we make it work? What's God's part, what's our part? Come on – how do we break free from the power of stubborn sin?? Well, before the break we discovered that not only do accountants have double entry book keeping, not only did Isaac Newton discover that in physics and in nature, every action has an equal and opposite reaction – but when it comes to defeating sin, this spiritual transaction too is double-sided. And, it's in the double-sidedness of the transaction that we discover our role and God's role. If you were with us before the break you'll have heard this Scripture, James 4:7-8: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Do you see its double sidedness? This is really important – that's why we're covering this ground again briefly. It's not just about racing on and resisting the devil – that's something we can't win on our own. First, first submit yourselves to God – that's the God side of the ledger, and then, on the devil's side – resist him and he will flee. That's because when we submit to God, we lay hold of His power, and we have the power to resist the devil – and once he sees that power at work – he's on his bike and out of there because he and all his demons have to submit to the name that is above all names – the name of Jesus Christ. Now the danger is that we leave it there and we don't get down and practical enough to give us something to take away to implement. So I want to go deeper into the “how to” so that each one of us knows how to live out this submission to God AND resist the devil, so that the devil will flee from us. That's how you overcome stubborn sin. This first example is one that jumped out at me in a Bible study group. Have a careful listen, it's the Apostle Paul on death row, writing to his friends in Philippi – telling them how not to worry: now listen and see if you can pick up the double-sidedness of God's solution to worrying, Philippians chapter 4:6-7: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I remember sitting in this Bible study group and we talked about worry and people hedged around this and they were prepared to move on from it without taking God at His Word. Worry is a sin – people with their trust in God needn't worry. Worry falls a long way short of living the life of abundant peace that God purchased for us on that cross. What this passage says is – look, here's the solution to overcoming this sin of worry. Instead of worrying – instead of spending your time doing that, replace that with praying and giving thanks to God and telling Him your needs. First submit to God – see that's what's going on here. This is God's way of dealing with the problem, the sin of worry. First submit to Him, do it his way. Pray and give thanks. Let your needs be known to God. If we take the time that we would have spent worrying … and instead we used it to do it God's way – to pray. The devil loves throwing doubt in our minds. He loves it when we're discouraged. How to deal with him?? We submit to God, we do it God's way – and the promise is that when we do that, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. What's just happened here? God's weapons of divine power have been brought into play – we have a confidence that comes from God, because we did it His way in faith – and so the devil ceases to have any power over us to make us worry. Now, now stand in this newfound power from God … and watch the devil flee. The secret is in proactively replacing the bad with the Good, proactively stepping into this space and saying – No, no – no, no! This worry is from the devil. My only answer is to submit to God. Now I discover His divine power in my weakness. Now I can resist, now the devil must flee. Let's have another quick look at another practical example. It has to do with the things that we say that hurt other people. So many of us have a problem with that don't we – always grumbling, always pulling other people down. Have a listen again to the double-sided solution, Ephesians chapter 4:29: Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. How do I stop this addiction of evil talk coming out of my mouth. Do I just sit there and try to hold my tongue. No! – God's saying – instead of doing that, proactively replace it with my way – instead of speaking the things that are only going to hurt people, speak only what is useful for building other people up as there is need. Replace the bad with the Good. Deliberately step out with God and do it God's way and not our way. So when we feel like cursing people with our words instead we go “No! God's way is to bless them”. The devil's got nowhere to go. He's lost his power. Then, having submitted to God, then we simply stand and resist the devil in the power of God because we've done it God's way. And let me tell you – they way I've learned this is simple. I sat down and thought about my weaknesses. I identified them. And I had more than my fair share. And I looked through the Bible and found a simple verse to tell me - when I'm in a situation where I'm prone to live out this particular stubborn sin – what is it that I CAN DO, to submit to God in my actions and my thoughts and my words, right there and then how can I submit to God. And so when I found myself in that place, I knew God's word, I knew how to submit to God. And you know what happened, little by little – God changed me. And the devil, well, he had no choice. He just had to flee. And when you think about it – this isn't rocket science. This is something that we can apply to any sin in any situation. It'd be just like God to make it that simple, wouldn't it? In fact next week on the program, we're going to look at some more specific details – common stubborn sins that people have in their lives, – to help each one of us stop sin dead in its tracks.   THE POWER TO CHANGE Over the next couple of weeks on the program, we're going to be looking at some very common stubborn sins that people deal with – anger, sexual immorality, selfishness, low self esteem – and how to overcome each of those. But as we come towards the end of our time together, I want to share with you perhaps the most important thing that I know about overcoming stubborn sin in my life. In fact – there's no maybe about it. It is the most important thing that I know. And it's this – that prayer works. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says very simply that we should: Pray without ceasing. Can I tell you something – that verse has stuck with me over and over and over again as God's done His work in me to overcome the stubborn sin in my life – and let me tell you, I had more than my fair share – and this is what I've found. When I was in that time of overcoming anger or overcoming selfishness – God dealt with them one at a time in me – I discovered that on those days when I specifically and deliberately prayed about that sin in my life first up in the morning – and got focussed on those handful of scriptures that God gave me – perhaps only a five minute investment each day – but when I made that investment I didn't sin. But somehow when I didn't quite get around to it, didn't have time, you know what it's like– those sins just got the better of me – time and time and time again. And still today, if I don't spend that time with the Lord each morning in prayer and reading His Word and letting Him have sway in my heart – I tell you - those stubborn sins will find their way back into my life. To put it very succinctly – PRAYER IS THE ONLY THING THAT WORKS. I can't make it any simpler than that. And even through the day, when I was in a situation where that sin was prone to come out of me – just a quick prayer under my breath – LORD HELP ME – that's all It takes. Pray without ceasing – because prayer works. I'm always taken by the time that the disciples were trying to cast a demon out of a boy while Jesus was up on the mount of the transfiguration – they couldn't do it. And Jesus came down – cast the demon out no problem and later the disciples went to Him and said, “So Lord, how come you could do it but we couldn't?” And Jesus said the most surprising thing to them, Mark 9:29: He replied to them, This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting. Now just stop and think a minute – He's been up on the mountain, He's walked down into this farce where there's a crowd and the disciples are trying to cast out a demon and the demon's not going and instantly Jesus casts out the demon. Let me ask you – did Jesus have time for prayer and fasting right at that moment? Not at all – He was talking about his normal, every day prayer life, He was talking about the fasting He'd been doing before that. And when I scratch around looking at the original text of what Jesus said – recorded in Greek not English – the deep sense of what He's saying here is this – nothing but prayer and fasting has the power to cast out the stubborn demons such as these. – The stubborn demons. The sort that wont go – like our stubborn sins. The power is in the prayer – Jesus was incredulous when He saw what was going on – He said “How long must I bear with you, you faithless and perverse generation?” Pretty strong language. He was expressing His frustration - why is it that you people still don't get it? My friend if you would defeat the stubborn sin in your life – it will only happen by prayer. And the odd bit of fasting isn't going to hurt either I have to tell you. Pray without ceasing. Pray every day. And little by little that stubborn sin will be gone – so out there in the heat of the battle, with the crowds looking on – that hidden prayer life will bring its rewards. That hidden prayer life will bear the fruit that others see in your life. That hidden prayer life will bring the power of God to bear in overcoming the most stubborn sin in our lives that we could ever imagine.

Archives Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We come to You like Job of old we want to be so interwoven with You that the adversary cannot break us from You!  That we are truly protected from any of his accusations and that the adversary has no legal right to affect us for we have divorced ourselves from our past through all generations even up to Adam and Eve.  We are made clean by the cleansing Blood of Your Son, Yeshua/Jesus our Messiah and Lord! He is King of Kings and Lord of all through Him we have everything we need!  We are so grateful to be Your Family and all we do and are is to give You glory, honor and praise in  thanksgiving! When You created us You said it was Good, very Good, which means we were in harmony with You and that is our only purpose to be in Harmony with You to do Your Will here on earth as it is in heaven! Lord, we pray for the protection of Your prophets in our day, especially Mark Taylor, Tracy Cooke, Hank and Brenda Kunneman and all those You have anointed to lead us and as Amos the prophet told us: You do nothing without revealing Your Plans to Your servants, the prophets.  May each of those men and women You have anointed to speak prophetically in our day draw closer to Your heart and listen to Your voice and no other.  That they will not be trapped by the allurements of the world that they may focus on You and You alone.  What we pray for them we also pray for us that we will Hear Your Voice in the stillness of hearts and follow as You command and reveal to us what is written in our book to fulfill.  For it is all for Your Glory and all that we see unfolding in our day is according to Your Perfect Will for us. Thank You Lord! Father, we are grateful that You have given us President Donald Trump to lead us and bring us back to what America was founded for a center to spread the Good News here and around the world and to be united with Israel in the plan You have our future and theirs.  We are grateful that the prophetic word about Israel was fulfilled that it would be restored ad made a nation over night.  Thank You God that our President Trump has truly been a friend to Israel and is aware of how important it is to bless Israel.  Thank You, Lord that he truly had the boldness to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and is truly a friend and a blessing for Israel for what is sacred to You is sacred to us especially that Your Son did His great work there and because of it brought about this new creation we see unfolding all around us to make Your Kingdom come and Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, wee seek protection for President Trump and his family from all the firey darts of the adversary spoke against him and them.  That all those who speak gossip, slander and hatred that their  oths may be shut up and their teeth be crushed on the stones thy hurl at him. Lord let the convicting power of the Holy Spirit burn in their hearts to either repent of being silenced forever!  Lord put a seal on our lips that we may always reveal the truth and speak only words that uplift and encourage others to walk in His Light and to be appreciative of the anointing You have placed on him for our time. Lord give us boldness to voice the truth and to do what we say being able to say with Paul: Be imitators of me as I am of Christ Jesus! Lord, put on our lips the words to prophetically proclaim and bring to pass that it is time for the wealth of the wicked be handed over to the righteous.  So Lord make us good stewards of that which You are placing in our hands.  That we will be generous in our giving to the poor, the widow and the orphan. That we will be vessels to spread You Love during this Harvest that has begun.  That we are willing to lay down our life so that others may live and experience Your Love for them!  That we will have Discernment from the Holy Spirit to guide our actions that they will be in accord with your...

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 24:15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous; do no violence to his home; 16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity. Responding To A Fall R Aylor It seems a man with wickedness in his heart is a man prone to lash out against those who walk in righteousness. They might be jealous for any number of reasons… They may manufacture and rationalize reasons to dislike godly people in their own mind saying things like their pleasantries are fake or self-righteous… If the godly person is well off and respected in the community, this wicked person may hope for their downfall and they may even rejoice when they sin and their holier than thou image is brought down. But there is a big difference in how a godly and a wicked person deal with failure. First let’s think about the wicked man Solomon speaks of. If he is reprimanded at work for tardiness or some other infringement… Thats a failure of sorts right? How does he respond? He defends himself and talks trash about his boss or others involved… Instead of getting back up he stumbles in his bitterness. Let’s say he looses his job… Instead of humbling himself and owning up… Instead of learning from his mistakes he badmouths the company. With his gossip he is does violence to those who have acted righteously like our text indicates. His continual stumbling in grumbling and bitterness poisons his heart toward the righteous. The worst part of this mans failure is not so much in his misconduct at work… we all stumble at work and home and in all of life… and yes it is a real failure… but in their heart this person becomes crippled for life as long as they remain bitter towards others. Solomon says: “16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” Look, maybe you have lost your job or been publicly humiliated… Guess what, even if it was not your fault and others have truly mistreated you… don’t stumble in bitterness toward them. Even if you were in the right… when our heart dwells on wrongs it becomes tainted with the same kind of bitterness that the unrepentant man experienced and we stumble until we forgive and love those who have done us wrong. Only then do we become the person Solomon spoke of saying: for the righteous falls seven times and rises again… I love what Joseph said to his brothers years after they sold him into slavery: Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Pray Father Im reminded of Jesus call to Peter on the Sea of Galilee saying follow me and then the last words Jesus spoke in the book of John which were to Peter again… after he had just found out he would be a martyr for the Lord and Peter looked at John and asked Jesus: “what about this man”… John 21:22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” So Lord please help us keep our eyes on you whether we have been done wrong or not… help us not to manufacture or dwell on wrongs… but no matter what comes to get up and walk in the righteousness of Jesus and be motivated by him to love others and live for the Lord.

In this moment, I will choose to “think on these things”.   In the midst of chaos – when I’m feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and frustrated about these circumstances, I will choose to “think on these things”.   Lord, when fear overwhelms me, I will let go of the “what-ifs”, meditate on your precepts, consider your ways (Ps. 119:15), and “think on these things”.   TRUE First and foremost, I choose to think about what is true. God, YOU are truth (John 14:6). In your Word, the ultimate truth (John 17:17), you said that I have been given a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7), I’ve been given wisdom (Eph. 1:8), and I’ve been given power over the enemy (Luke 10:19).   When worries about tomorrow arise, I choose to dismiss them. I will not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself (Mat 6:34). But God – YOU are my refuge and strength – an ever-present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1). You didn’t say you would be my help for the un-truths I’ve dreamt up about the future, but you said you would be my present help for today - for the reality of the trouble that exists today. So Lord, I will lean on you and trust you today. This is truth.   NOBLE Next, I choose to think about what is “noble”. Your throne is noble, and I acknowledge that you are the only one seated on the throne (Rev. 4:2) – the one true living God. When I feel controlled by the obsessions of the world or things that have stepped onto the throne in my mind, I recognize that this has happened, and I envision you on your throne. Right now, I enter that throne room and sit at your feet. There is safety here and I sit, breathe, and just be in your presence. I want to be closer than close to you.   Like David, I will meditate on your commandments, which I love and cherish. (Ps. 119:48).   When fear of persecution overwhelms me, I will think about the most noble thing you did – humbling yourself, robing yourself in flesh, and taking on the form of a servant (Phil 2:7) … for me. This is grace. This is truth. This is love. You are love. I chose to think about your nobility today.   JUST Next, I chose to think about what is “just” – what is “right”. Your justice is like a river, your righteousness like a never-failing stream (Amos 5:24). When there is justice, it brings joy to the righteous (Prov. 21:15). Lord, let me be righteous, even in trying times – give me the wisdom to understand what is right (Prov. 28:5). And when I fail, I lean on your compassion. Your word says that you long to be gracious to me – that I will weep no more if I turn to your grace when I cry for help. I cry for help in this present moment. As soon as you hear, you will answer me (Is. 30:18-19). You are answering me. This is just.   PURE Next, I chose to think about what is “pure”. As I place my hope in you, I am able to become pure, because you are pure (1 Jn. 3:3). Your words are pure, like silver refined in a furnace (Ps. 12:6); gracious words are pure (Prov. 15:26), your commandment is pure and it enlightens my eyes (Ps. 19:8). Your wisdom is pure; it is gentle, reasonable, and overflowing with mercy and blessings (Ja. 3:17). Don’t let me be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to you (2 Cor. 11:3). Today, I strive for peace and holiness (Heb. 12:14), the pure water of your cleansing – let it flow over me. Let it flow through me. Let it flow from me. This is pure.   LOVELY Next, I choose to think about what is “lovely”. When bleak situations arise and I feel miserable, let me be reminded that my delight is in your law, and in your law I choose to meditate day and night (Ps. 1:2). As I choose to delight myself in your law right now, I will focus on the fruit that comes from my tree, planted by the rivers of water (Ps. 1:2) – even if I don’t see that fruit yet – you’ve promised it in my season – oh, what a season that will be!   As I sit here and meditate on your words, I am reminded of how lovely they are. They are sweet – sweeter than drops of honey to my lips (Ps. 119:103). This is lovely.   GOOD REPORT Next, I choose to think about what is of “good report”. Lord, you know that lately, I hear report after report after report. And you know the worries I have because of these reports: worries about my health and the health of my loved ones, worries about the economy, worries about canceled events, worries about food, shelter, and supplies. Worries about being isolated and going stir-crazy.   But, Lord – I choose to focus on the good report. I choose to believe the report that says, you died and were buried, but you rose again to redeem these people – to redeem me. You didn’t stop there though – you sent us comfort – you poured out your spirit like a mighty, rushing wind (Acts 2:2) and I’ve received that same spirit. Because of this gift you’ve given to me, to my children, and to all that are afar off (Acts 2:39), I have a living hope (1 Pet. 1:3), I have an anchor to my soul (Heb 6:19), I have power to witness (Acts 1:8), I have faith as a grain of mustard seed (Luke 17:6), and I have peace (Romans 5:1). Wow. This is a good report.   VIRTUE Next, I choose to think about what is virtuous. Your law is virtuous – oh, how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day (Ps. 119:97). Let it always be on my lips and let me meditate on it day and night. I choose not only to think about it, but to act upon it. This is your recipe for prosperity and success (Josh 1:8).   PRAISEWORTHY Finally, I choose to think about what is “praiseworthy”. If I’m sleepless in bed, I will spend the hours in grateful reflection (Ps. 63:6). Sometimes, I yearn for answers to the unknown or let my mind wander into thinking that you have forgotten me. I choose to remember the miracles you’ve done throughout history during these times – the miracles you’ve done in my life – the miracles you’re doing today – and sing praises to you for your mighty acts (Ps. 77:12). I am anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with a spirit of thanksgiving, I simply share my requests with you (Phil 4:6).   I cast my anxiety on you because you care for me (1 Pet. 5:7) – you care deeply for me. And you are big enough to hold it. This heavy weight that makes it hard for me to even function – in this moment, I reach over my head, I muster up the courage and strength to grab hold of it and I hand it to you – the God of the universe – the God that made every star, every grain of sand, and the God who made me. I choose to trust you.   As I allow you to renew me in the spirit of my mind (Eph 4:23), I feel transformed (Rom. 12:2).   I am encouraged. This is my confidence. This is my meditation. This is my hope.   I will think on these things.

Archives Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We are hear to obey Your Commands as we wage this war to stop all the infiltration of thoughts that are self-defeating and keep us distracted from what You want us to hear and do for the spread of the Your Kingdom in America and around the world.  Lord we seek protection from all of the sounds that distract us and to silence the voice of those who are adversaries of Your Plans for us.  Father, we are here to unite our hearts with Yours.  Show us O Lord what we are to do and how we are to do it. Father, Your Son, Jesus/Yeshuah has told us to seek the Kingdom first and that all things will be given  to us.   So here we are Your Kingdom come Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Father, through the convicting power of the holy Spirit we admit our sinful ways to You that many times our hearts have evil intents against our brothers and sisters.  We admit it and ask for the precious Blood of Your Son to wash clean. Lord that our thoughts of selfishness of greed for riches, our lusts of the flesh and seeking glory of ourselves be fully exposed and we repent of them so that we shine the Image of your Son in all we do and say!  Father Your forgiveness and mercy are so amazing and if fills us with a hope and joy that no one can take from us or stop us from walking in Faith to fulfill all You have Planned for us in this day and in this moment! Father, through the discernment that the holy Spirit gives us we will be obedient in these days as our chosen leader President Trump advises us to be cautious during these days of health concerns.  We will not walk in fear but by Faith for we have placed our trust in You that this whole health scare of the corona virus will pass over us for we walk under the covering of the Blood of the Lamb, Jesus which is more sacred and powerful than that which the children of Israel experienced when You saved them from Egyptian captivity.  Father we know we are in these days to test our patience to know it will all come to pass very shortly.  So Lord we lift up our Praise to You now that we have a great gift awaiting us for even praising You in moments of suffering of any kind reaps a great reward that You give us now and into eternity!  Praise You Lord! Alleluia! Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit hovers over President Trump and all those who are aligned with him to guide them and direct them in all their decisions.  That Your Will be done and that the words of the prophets have great influence on him just as You guided the Kings of Israel through the words of the prophets that we too will listen and obey Your Will as they express it to us in this hour!  Lord it is not doom and gloom we seek or that we are to hide waiting for the bus to come pick us up.  But we are here Lord to continue to spread the Kingdom and to see signs and wonders in our day that Your Will be done now in our midst!  We are here Lord to shine in our Robe of Righteousness with compassion for all You have placed in our lives to care for especially the poor, the widow and the orphan.  As You have said we give one cup of water in Your Name we have done it to You.  We are happy to serve You, Lord fill us with even more compassion and strengthen us to fulfill Your Will! Father, we seek the silencing of all those who attempt to bring America down by spreading lies and deceit through words spoken in the different forms of media in our day.  That we will truly stop listening to those who are follow int isms of destruction in our day.  That we will rightfully elect those You have chosen to lead us in our day.  That we will be wise in our voting and see the wolves in sheep clothing who need to face judgment and be brought down from any position of power and influence in our life.  That we will truly judge those who have the character to lead and that truly seek You as their source of the Wisdom they need to lead.   Lord .

Archives Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, There is so much to be thankful for today!  We know You hear are crying out as so many things are changing here in America and literally around the world!  Thank You, Father! We rejoice as we see the angels around us and there are more of us than of the enemy!  We rejoice because the Your Word is true it is all rigged in our favor! No matter how weak we fell or seem so small when we look at the enemy as if he is Goliath we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, Your Son, our Redeemer!  You put in us the courage of a David who used a small stone bring down a giant!  Yes sometimes our prayers seem like small stones but when we are accurate in our throwing the giants are falling!  Lord, we are so hopeful because  more will be happening in the days ahead!  So Lord we come with confidence believing that we say to this mountain be removed and fall into the sea and it shall be!  Your Son said it and He never lied or deceived us in His Words!  What a Mighty and awesome God we have and we give You all the Glory because Your Mighty Arm protects us and makes us whole!   Lord, this Army is here to run to the battle under the banner of Your Son’s Blood!  Thank You, Victory is our in Your Name! Father, we are so grateful for the anointed President, You have given us.  Truly an answer to prayer from those who have been in trenches of spiritual warfare from the past to this present day!  Lord, we are grateful that we finally have a President who not only says truth, but is willing to stand in truth.  Thank You that he is for life!  Thank you that he is here to protect the unborn!   Thank You that his words are clear and his stance is set.  We continue to cover him and place a protective shield around him as he stands in public and flies hither and yon to being true freedom and justice into our land and spark other nations to do the same. Lord we continue to lift him up and declare over him his re-election this year and that the sham of this impeachment will be dust in the bin of history in short order in this week!  Lord, only the fool says in his heart there is no God!  But we know the fools will be filled with shame and guilt for such mockery and all those who promote and continually endorse it will see the Hammer of Justice fall on them as they spend time in prison for their crimes which they cannot deny or hide any longer!  Lord You are victorious in all Your Ways and we are so grateful and will continue to be a part of the spreading of Your kingdom and defenders of the Truth.  We are here Lord to worship You in spirit and truth! Father, we continue to intercede for all those who are wounded and feel lost and abandoned because of the abuse sexually, physically and mentally in relationships that are part of the evil destruction of the family and the worthiness that You have created in us and restored by the Blood of Your Son, Yeshuah!  Father give courage to those who work to bring healing into these abused ones lives.  Let the Love You have for them be made manifest through our actions to rescue them from these pits of destruction whether it be in a marriage or any kind of social situation!  Lord as Jesus has instructed us we are here to set the captive free because what You have done for us we are here to share with them.  Lord continue to reveal to us those areas in which we have to do more to set them free,  We are grateful for those who have stood in righteousness like our president and so many others unnamed who are doing this miraculous work in Your Name!  Lord we declare over America that this sex trafficking and all forms of abuse stop and that the healing Love of Jesus make a way when there seems no way!  We know that Jesus has come and destroyed the works of evil and we are her to witness and be used to continue to fulfill what He has established now in the generations to come! Father,

Good to see all of you today.  We're going to continue our series in the Gospel of Mark today.  Last week, Larry gave us a panoramic view of chapter one. Today, I'm going to give us a snapshot of a particular element in chapter two.  Before we look at this text, I'm going to ask you to join your hearts together with me in prayer.  Father, thanks so much for your provision, your care, your grace in our lives.  Lord, we want to thank you for the salvation that you provided for us in the Lord Jesus.  Thank you for the grace and the guidance you give us every day.  Lord, I thank you for your Church; when she's filled with your Spirit, she is the hope of the world.  I thank you so much for South Fellowship, the ministry that this church has in this community, in this city, and around the world.  Lord, I thank you for every person that's here today, and I thank you that I have the privilege to worship here and now to share from your Scripture.  So Lord, as we look into your word, we ask now that by your grace and your Spirit, you would show us who you are, what you're about, and what that means for us.  Father, we ask all of this in the great and glorious name of Jesus and for our sake.  Amen. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the most famous buildings in the world.  According to the best records, construction on the cathedral began sometime between 1160 and 1163 and was finished about 200 years later. Of greater significance, it served for over eight centuries as one of the finest examples of Gothic medieval architecture ever devised and built. But as you know, last April a section of the cathedral caught on fire, undermining its infrastructure and causing the majestic spire to crumble in a heap. When Notre Dame was built its beauty, majesty, and ministry made it the wonder of all of Europe. But now, after catastrophe, it needs to be saved, restored and made right. And that serves as a metaphor for the condition we find ourselves in today... 

A week into 2020 Michelle opens up this new season of podcasting with a new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You. She begins the series reading Ephesians 1:17-23 from The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We are a week deep into 2020 - Can You Believe It? A Brand New Decade! I’ve been sitting with the Lord the last few months, resting and listening. Quieting my heart to hear His truth and His word as I walk out God’s plan and purpose in my life for 2020. I’ll share a bit about this in a future episode, but the short version is God gave me several passages of Scripture from Habakkuk 2:1-3 (NLT), Amos 9:13-15 (MSG), and Isaiah 14:24, 7-8, 4 (tpt). Through these passages He revealed to me that most of my year is beyond “The Finish Line” and that as I walk with the Father - my vision will increase, as I walk with the Son - my victory will increase, and as I walk with the Holy Spirit that velocity will be added to my life. I’m in an entirely new season, seeking intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit like never before and seeking to run the uncharted path of my race with vision, velocity and victory as I move out of the old season and into the new. How about you? What is your word for 2020? Leave it in the comments or email or send it by direct message to me: for email send to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com or on Facebook DM @BloomingInspired. Everyone who sends in their word will get a photo print of my Word of the Year as a free gift for engaging with the podcast. This week we are beginning a new series called “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading today will be from the book of Ephesians 1 in The Passion Translation. Grab your Bible, your favorite winter beverage and get comfy as we dig into this new study for our new year. This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings, and that same power that raised Him from the dead now lives bodily in us and we have access to it by Faith. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “The Same Power.” We’re looking for what it means that the same power that raised Jesus from the Dead now lives bodily in us. So let’s begin: Verse 17: I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him. Paul has just commended the believers at Ephesus for their love and devotion as well as their strong faith in God. Then He prays for them - as we reread those words, what do you hear God saying to you? I pray that the Father… would impart to you the RICHES of the SPIRIT OF WISDOM and the SPIRIT OF REVELATION to KNOW HIM through your DEEPENING INTIMACY WITH HIM. Last night I was painting bookmarks I will send off to Edna,TX this weekend for the gift bags that will be given to women attending a conference where I’ll be speaking on February 22nd. I am a bit overwhelmed painting bookmarks for 100 women, but I’m also deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way. I love creating gifts for people that spark a desire in their heart to know God more. I went to bed very late and as I laid my head on the pillow I had these sentences running through my mind: “Ministry happens in the culture of relationship. Impartation happens in the culture of intimacy.” My question becomes if Wisdom and Revelation is imparted by Spirit that comes from knowing Him in intimacy - what cultivates intimacy in your life? For me, it’s worship… Hands down. Not just singing songs to God, but focusing my heart on His presence and His goodness. Engaging my heart with what I see the Father doing and hear Him saying. Prayer and Intercession birthed out of the deep ache of my soul drives my heart in longing toward God in intimacy. I want to lean back against His chest and feel His heart beating - then I want my heart to find that rhythm in my own life. I want to be attentive to what He is doing every moment of every day not just in the ministry moments. What I’m realizing is I can know God in a relationship with Jesus Christ and never fully engage or incline my heart toward Him. I can do ministry for God, serve the people of God and never fully know the heart of God because I do not engage His heart in intimacy. Intimacy is a key to experiencing the Wisdom and Revelation that comes only by the Holy Spirit. For many years I read the Bible seeking to understand the words of Scripture with little to know understanding, but then as I learned to listen and hear from God as I read. The more I inclined my heart to deeply know Him, the more He revealed Himself to me through both Scripture and Experience. Encountering the Presence of God - Holy Spirit - will change my heart, my mind and my life. So let me ask you… How engaged is your heart with the presence of God? Moses, David and the disciples and apostles knew God in this way. What would happen if we inclined our heart to know God deeply through intimacy and presence? Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Verse 18: I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones! Paul prayed that the imagination of the believers at Ephesus would have the eyes of their imagination illuminated. Come on… If you love to dream, explore and create then this should get your heart pounding! God wants to light up your imagination and use it for His glory! Isn’t that exciting? I remember being a young girl in third grade and we had to write a story and draw a picture to match it. My momma and daddy loved the oldies music from the 50s and 60s and so we had tons of little 45 records with various songs on them. The Purple People Eater was one of my favorite songs. I wrote my story about this one-eyed, one-horned, flying Purple People Eater and drew a picture of it. My teacher told my parents at the open house that I had a “Very Vivid Imagination.” And I do… When I read fiction I picture myself as one of the characters in the story so I can understand what is happening. The same thing with Scripture - I’ve begun to read Scripture as if I were living it rather than just reading about it. My redeemed imagination has the power to tap into the Holy Spirit’s revelation and wisdom in a way my natural mind and reasoning cannot. Now, I’m not saying we throw logic and reasoning out the window - I’m just saying to truly know God in intimacy we need an integrated approach where our intuition and imagination plays an equal role as we Engage His presence, Read His Word and Encounter His Love. Faith brings us into this relationship with God, but it is all the fascinating ways He created us, and the fact that when we believe in Him by faith all of who He is comes to live inside of us. Paul also writes in this passage that when He floods us with His Light, and we experience that flooding until we are full of revelation of the Hope of His Calling… That somehow, and this is atrue mystery and a wonder, that this revelation of Hope and His calling makes us a full expression of the wealth of God’s glorious inheritance that He finds in us… We are called Saints - His Holy Ones! Christ in You - that is the key. Discovering who Christ is unlocks revelation and wisdom insight into who we are… Then, we need only find the way He wants to express Himself through us to fully realize His purpose in our life. And this comes through intimacy. Verse 19-20: I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm! C’mon! Not only does Jesus by Holy Spirit come to live inside of us, but the same power that RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, Paul writes in Romans 6 & 8 that this same power lives in us and if it raised Jesus from the dead it will give life - more than eternal life, but abundant life here on earth as well. Matthew 10 indicates Jesus commissions His disciples to carry the same power that He carries to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons and cleanse lepers. The SAME POWER - He even says that the signs of healing, casting out demons, and handling deadly poison and snakes should not harm the disciples (poison and snakes both bring death) and in John 14 He says that those who believe in Him and did not see Him will do all the works He has done, He being Jesus, and even greater works because of their Faith in Him. At the end of Matthew, what most believers in the Western Church call “The Great Commission” tells the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus to go into all the world preaching the Gospel, baptizing believers into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to teach them all the things He had imparted through commandment to His disciples. He imparted to His disciples authority and power by the measure of their faith over every evil thing the enemy is empowered to do in this earth. And yet, we live fearing the devil and cowering at death’s door. Faith in what you have not yet seen, but believe in empowers us to do the greater works! Works greater than the signs, wonders and miracles we see Jesus performing in the Gospels. He even told His disciples not to rejoice in the power they had to work miracles, signs and wonders among the people, but rather to rejoice that these things were evidence that their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. Faith should bring us into revelation, wisdom, and power. Do You Understand? Verse 21: And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised,not only in this age, but in the age that is coming! Do we really live like we believe Jesus has been exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence? DO WE? He is now and forevermore gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised! And yet professing believers in the body of Christ believe to live is a Struggle and to Die is to Gain Everything God Promised. But, that is not what Paul said. Paul wrote so eloquently that he would count his suffering with joy, just as Christ endured the cross for the Joy Set Before Him. And Jesus counted it joy, that He would gain us, when we endure suffering and overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit - knowing that as Paul wrote, “To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain…” What if we believed it is true that to live is Christ and die is gain? What would we do with the power and authority that comes to us by faith? What kind of victory could we realize if we only believe Faith and Power belong to us in Christ? They are both brought to us by the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1 and 1 Corinthians 12) and because Jesus, by the Sealing Work of the Holy Spirit, now lives inside of us - so do this faith and power, the authority to act as He acted when He lived upon the earth. He is our archetype and model. Not, the traditions of men we are often taught by well meaning leaders in our church houses today. Verse 22: And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others. How would we live differently if we truly believed that Jesus is who Paul prophesses him to be, who the disciples and apostles knew Him to be? How would we live differently if we believed that in Christ we find the lone leader and source of everything we need as His body? Jesus outranks everyone. EVERY. ONE. He alone is sufficient to meet our every need. He alone is the provision and the protection we are looking for - and He alone paid the price that we should live free, empowered and faithful to all He calls us to - especially the work of His Holy Spirit within us. Verse 23: And here’s where we’re going to wrap it up. And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it! I don’t know about you, but the way the Passion Translation transcribes this verse is a bit confusing to me, but I can read it in the NKJV and see how it says, that we as Christ’s body are continually being filled by Him, who fulfills Himself in us. IN OTHER WORDS, as Brian Simmons included in his footnote for this verse in the Passion Translation: “That is, we are those who are filled (completed) by Christ, we also complete (fill) Him. What a wonderful and humbling mystery is revealed by this verse.” What if we REALLY believed this is true!? That our identity is so wrapped up in Christ and who He is that when we fully realize who He is… We fully become who we are supposed to be. That in Him we find ourselves, and our purpose and our destiny… As we allow Him to be fully expressed through us - finite as we are - somehow we complete Him as His body reaching a lost and dying world. What a glorious thing to consider. As I close out today’s show I want to say something a bit strong - to challenge you a bit - and, I hope that is okay! I want to challenge everyone within the sound of my voice to consider this one thing… When you are singing, Waymaker at church on Sunday or are contemplating that prayer request where the outlook is not so lively, and here is what I want you to consider: Either we believe this is true or we don’t. Are we living our lives full of faith and power, believing God for the impossible and the greater works, or are we dumbing down the testimony of Scripture about faith, power and impossibilities to fit our experience and expectations or traditions from a religious perspective? Do we live like Pharisees? Questioning every sign and wonder, warning people off of the devil while dismissing the power of God and holding onto our set of rules, taboos, doctrines and superstitions about God. Do we leave no room for revelation, power or even repentance to have a perfect work at any moment of our lives? Have we studied the Scriptures searching for Him, but miss Him when He shows up in power and moves among us. Where is the bold faith that steps out and risks everything for God, seeking to see His Kingdom come and Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven? When was the last time you stopped, listened and prayed to know what the Father was saying or doing so you could partner with Him rather than try to talk Him into doing what you thought He should do? And finally… Do we live like the Apostles? Stepping out in risky, unfavorable and downright dangerous circumstances BY FAITH - seeing the impossible not only become possible, but probable as the miraculous becomes mainstream. Do we live by supernatural power imparted by the Holy Spirit or by the whims of our Human Heart? Are we satisfied with our normal religious preferences and failing to step out to take up a cross and follow Jesus with Bold Faith to see His Kingdom become our reality even now? Lord God, I pray that as these words go out penetrating the airwaves through the internet that your will would be accomplished. That they would be guided to the hearts of those who listen and bring with them the HOPE of Your Faith and Power that is waiting for us to step up, step out and step into the Kingdom of God. Saying, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Is not a passive wish we speak out, but a promise from Heaven, that when we ask, seek and knock that you will respond and answer, reveal and unlock what we are seeking you for… So Lord we are asking, seeking, and knocking - meet us where we are with your faith and your power and give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation as your light illuminates our imaginations with Your Impossible Possibilities! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will be reading in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We will be reading Luke 8 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. As I mentioned earlier, I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

A week into 2020 Michelle opens up this new season of podcasting with a new series called Faith & Power: Understanding the Power of Who Christ Is In You. She begins the series reading Ephesians 1:17-23 from The Passion Translation. Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. We are a week deep into 2020 - Can You Believe It? A Brand New Decade! I’ve been sitting with the Lord the last few months, resting and listening. Quieting my heart to hear His truth and His word as I walk out God’s plan and purpose in my life for 2020. I’ll share a bit about this in a future episode, but the short version is God gave me several passages of Scripture from Habakkuk 2:1-3 (NLT), Amos 9:13-15 (MSG), and Isaiah 14:24, 7-8, 4 (tpt). Through these passages He revealed to me that most of my year is beyond “The Finish Line” and that as I walk with the Father - my vision will increase, as I walk with the Son - my victory will increase, and as I walk with the Holy Spirit that velocity will be added to my life. I’m in an entirely new season, seeking intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit like never before and seeking to run the uncharted path of my race with vision, velocity and victory as I move out of the old season and into the new. How about you? What is your word for 2020? Leave it in the comments or email or send it by direct message to me: for email send to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com or on Facebook DM @BloomingInspired. Everyone who sends in their word will get a photo print of my Word of the Year as a free gift for engaging with the podcast. This week we are beginning a new series called “Faith & Power: Discovering the Power of Who Christ is in You!” Our reading today will be from the book of Ephesians 1 in The Passion Translation. Grab your Bible, your favorite winter beverage and get comfy as we dig into this new study for our new year. This Week’s Reading Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings, and that same power that raised Him from the dead now lives bodily in us and we have access to it by Faith. Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The title for this episode is “The Same Power.” We’re looking for what it means that the same power that raised Jesus from the Dead now lives bodily in us. So let’s begin: Verse 17: I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him. Paul has just commended the believers at Ephesus for their love and devotion as well as their strong faith in God. Then He prays for them - as we reread those words, what do you hear God saying to you? I pray that the Father… would impart to you the RICHES of the SPIRIT OF WISDOM and the SPIRIT OF REVELATION to KNOW HIM through your DEEPENING INTIMACY WITH HIM. Last night I was painting bookmarks I will send off to Edna,TX this weekend for the gift bags that will be given to women attending a conference where I’ll be speaking on February 22nd. I am a bit overwhelmed painting bookmarks for 100 women, but I’m also deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve in this way. I love creating gifts for people that spark a desire in their heart to know God more. I went to bed very late and as I laid my head on the pillow I had these sentences running through my mind: “Ministry happens in the culture of relationship. Impartation happens in the culture of intimacy.” My question becomes if Wisdom and Revelation is imparted by Spirit that comes from knowing Him in intimacy - what cultivates intimacy in your life? For me, it’s worship… Hands down. Not just singing songs to God, but focusing my heart on His presence and His goodness. Engaging my heart with what I see the Father doing and hear Him saying. Prayer and Intercession birthed out of the deep ache of my soul drives my heart in longing toward God in intimacy. I want to lean back against His chest and feel His heart beating - then I want my heart to find that rhythm in my own life. I want to be attentive to what He is doing every moment of every day not just in the ministry moments. What I’m realizing is I can know God in a relationship with Jesus Christ and never fully engage or incline my heart toward Him. I can do ministry for God, serve the people of God and never fully know the heart of God because I do not engage His heart in intimacy. Intimacy is a key to experiencing the Wisdom and Revelation that comes only by the Holy Spirit. For many years I read the Bible seeking to understand the words of Scripture with little to know understanding, but then as I learned to listen and hear from God as I read. The more I inclined my heart to deeply know Him, the more He revealed Himself to me through both Scripture and Experience. Encountering the Presence of God - Holy Spirit - will change my heart, my mind and my life. So let me ask you… How engaged is your heart with the presence of God? Moses, David and the disciples and apostles knew God in this way. What would happen if we inclined our heart to know God deeply through intimacy and presence? Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Verse 18: I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones! Paul prayed that the imagination of the believers at Ephesus would have the eyes of their imagination illuminated. Come on… If you love to dream, explore and create then this should get your heart pounding! God wants to light up your imagination and use it for His glory! Isn’t that exciting? I remember being a young girl in third grade and we had to write a story and draw a picture to match it. My momma and daddy loved the oldies music from the 50s and 60s and so we had tons of little 45 records with various songs on them. The Purple People Eater was one of my favorite songs. I wrote my story about this one-eyed, one-horned, flying Purple People Eater and drew a picture of it. My teacher told my parents at the open house that I had a “Very Vivid Imagination.” And I do… When I read fiction I picture myself as one of the characters in the story so I can understand what is happening. The same thing with Scripture - I’ve begun to read Scripture as if I were living it rather than just reading about it. My redeemed imagination has the power to tap into the Holy Spirit’s revelation and wisdom in a way my natural mind and reasoning cannot. Now, I’m not saying we throw logic and reasoning out the window - I’m just saying to truly know God in intimacy we need an integrated approach where our intuition and imagination plays an equal role as we Engage His presence, Read His Word and Encounter His Love. Faith brings us into this relationship with God, but it is all the fascinating ways He created us, and the fact that when we believe in Him by faith all of who He is comes to live inside of us. Paul also writes in this passage that when He floods us with His Light, and we experience that flooding until we are full of revelation of the Hope of His Calling… That somehow, and this is atrue mystery and a wonder, that this revelation of Hope and His calling makes us a full expression of the wealth of God’s glorious inheritance that He finds in us… We are called Saints - His Holy Ones! Christ in You - that is the key. Discovering who Christ is unlocks revelation and wisdom insight into who we are… Then, we need only find the way He wants to express Himself through us to fully realize His purpose in our life. And this comes through intimacy. Verse 19-20: I pray that you will continually experience the immeasurable greatness of God’s power made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the mighty power that was released when God raised Christ from the dead and exalted him to the place of highest honor and supreme authority in the heavenly realm! C’mon! Not only does Jesus by Holy Spirit come to live inside of us, but the same power that RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, Paul writes in Romans 6 & 8 that this same power lives in us and if it raised Jesus from the dead it will give life - more than eternal life, but abundant life here on earth as well. Matthew 10 indicates Jesus commissions His disciples to carry the same power that He carries to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons and cleanse lepers. The SAME POWER - He even says that the signs of healing, casting out demons, and handling deadly poison and snakes should not harm the disciples (poison and snakes both bring death) and in John 14 He says that those who believe in Him and did not see Him will do all the works He has done, He being Jesus, and even greater works because of their Faith in Him. At the end of Matthew, what most believers in the Western Church call “The Great Commission” tells the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus to go into all the world preaching the Gospel, baptizing believers into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to teach them all the things He had imparted through commandment to His disciples. He imparted to His disciples authority and power by the measure of their faith over every evil thing the enemy is empowered to do in this earth. And yet, we live fearing the devil and cowering at death’s door. Faith in what you have not yet seen, but believe in empowers us to do the greater works! Works greater than the signs, wonders and miracles we see Jesus performing in the Gospels. He even told His disciples not to rejoice in the power they had to work miracles, signs and wonders among the people, but rather to rejoice that these things were evidence that their names were written in the Lamb’s book of life. Faith should bring us into revelation, wisdom, and power. Do You Understand? Verse 21: And now he is exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence! He is gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised,not only in this age, but in the age that is coming! Do we really live like we believe Jesus has been exalted as first above every ruler, authority, government, and realm of power in existence? DO WE? He is now and forevermore gloriously enthroned over every name that is ever praised! And yet professing believers in the body of Christ believe to live is a Struggle and to Die is to Gain Everything God Promised. But, that is not what Paul said. Paul wrote so eloquently that he would count his suffering with joy, just as Christ endured the cross for the Joy Set Before Him. And Jesus counted it joy, that He would gain us, when we endure suffering and overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit - knowing that as Paul wrote, “To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain…” What if we believed it is true that to live is Christ and die is gain? What would we do with the power and authority that comes to us by faith? What kind of victory could we realize if we only believe Faith and Power belong to us in Christ? They are both brought to us by the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1 and 1 Corinthians 12) and because Jesus, by the Sealing Work of the Holy Spirit, now lives inside of us - so do this faith and power, the authority to act as He acted when He lived upon the earth. He is our archetype and model. Not, the traditions of men we are often taught by well meaning leaders in our church houses today. Verse 22: And he alone is the leader and source of everything needed in the church. God has put everything beneath the authority of Jesus Christ and has given him the highest rank above all others. How would we live differently if we truly believed that Jesus is who Paul prophesses him to be, who the disciples and apostles knew Him to be? How would we live differently if we believed that in Christ we find the lone leader and source of everything we need as His body? Jesus outranks everyone. EVERY. ONE. He alone is sufficient to meet our every need. He alone is the provision and the protection we are looking for - and He alone paid the price that we should live free, empowered and faithful to all He calls us to - especially the work of His Holy Spirit within us. Verse 23: And here’s where we’re going to wrap it up. And now we, his church, are his body on the earth and that which fills him who is being filled by it! I don’t know about you, but the way the Passion Translation transcribes this verse is a bit confusing to me, but I can read it in the NKJV and see how it says, that we as Christ’s body are continually being filled by Him, who fulfills Himself in us. IN OTHER WORDS, as Brian Simmons included in his footnote for this verse in the Passion Translation: “That is, we are those who are filled (completed) by Christ, we also complete (fill) Him. What a wonderful and humbling mystery is revealed by this verse.” What if we REALLY believed this is true!? That our identity is so wrapped up in Christ and who He is that when we fully realize who He is… We fully become who we are supposed to be. That in Him we find ourselves, and our purpose and our destiny… As we allow Him to be fully expressed through us - finite as we are - somehow we complete Him as His body reaching a lost and dying world. What a glorious thing to consider. As I close out today’s show I want to say something a bit strong - to challenge you a bit - and, I hope that is okay! I want to challenge everyone within the sound of my voice to consider this one thing… When you are singing, Waymaker at church on Sunday or are contemplating that prayer request where the outlook is not so lively, and here is what I want you to consider: Either we believe this is true or we don’t. Are we living our lives full of faith and power, believing God for the impossible and the greater works, or are we dumbing down the testimony of Scripture about faith, power and impossibilities to fit our experience and expectations or traditions from a religious perspective? Do we live like Pharisees? Questioning every sign and wonder, warning people off of the devil while dismissing the power of God and holding onto our set of rules, taboos, doctrines and superstitions about God. Do we leave no room for revelation, power or even repentance to have a perfect work at any moment of our lives? Have we studied the Scriptures searching for Him, but miss Him when He shows up in power and moves among us. Where is the bold faith that steps out and risks everything for God, seeking to see His Kingdom come and Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven? When was the last time you stopped, listened and prayed to know what the Father was saying or doing so you could partner with Him rather than try to talk Him into doing what you thought He should do? And finally… Do we live like the Apostles? Stepping out in risky, unfavorable and downright dangerous circumstances BY FAITH - seeing the impossible not only become possible, but probable as the miraculous becomes mainstream. Do we live by supernatural power imparted by the Holy Spirit or by the whims of our Human Heart? Are we satisfied with our normal religious preferences and failing to step out to take up a cross and follow Jesus with Bold Faith to see His Kingdom become our reality even now? Lord God, I pray that as these words go out penetrating the airwaves through the internet that your will would be accomplished. That they would be guided to the hearts of those who listen and bring with them the HOPE of Your Faith and Power that is waiting for us to step up, step out and step into the Kingdom of God. Saying, “Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Is not a passive wish we speak out, but a promise from Heaven, that when we ask, seek and knock that you will respond and answer, reveal and unlock what we are seeking you for… So Lord we are asking, seeking, and knocking - meet us where we are with your faith and your power and give us the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation as your light illuminates our imaginations with Your Impossible Possibilities! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to michelle.bentham@bloominginspirednetwork.com. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will be reading in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We will be reading Luke 8 this week and digging into the life of Christ Verse-By-Verse considering what we would believe if reading the Scriptures was the primary way we inform our faith! You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. As I mentioned earlier, I will be speaking at a women’s conference (R.E.A.L. Women Conference) at (The Ranch Cowboy Country Church South) in Edna, TX. Registration is available for $40 through January 10th, and will be $45 after the 10th through the day before the conference. Tickets at the door will be $60. This one day conference is February 22 this year and includes a continental style breakfast, full lunch and dinner provided. I’d love to see some familiar faces attending. If you’d like to register please email or DM at the email listed above or through our FB page for details or visit theranchsouth.org for more information! If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on both Apple and on Google Podcasts - take a moment to Subscribe today! Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs weekly on Tuesdays. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page.

Archives Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We come to You in a spirit of humility and repentance to make amends for the mistakes we  have made in bring President Trump to a moment of impeachment!  Lord Your prophet Kim Clement warned us of this day and now it is upon us.  But today we declare No impeachment will succeed we stand on Your Promise that when we repent You will heal our land!  So Lord we admit we have been foolish with our birth right as Americans to control our government.  We have foolishly set aside our vote and our voice to allow these elections to turn against us.  Lord now we are here to take up our duty to bring the change we are praying for.  Lord give us Wisdom in those we choose and support to be elected and represent us!  Lord this day is a sham and it is on us because we have run out of political correctness and fear and sloth to allow the liars and deceivers to have their way!  Lord now may their teeth be crushed by the stones they have thrown at our President and may their foolish shame be exposed before them and may we rise up in righteousness and let the Hammer of Justice fall on those who have been so weak to be more interested in selfish gain than in what is good for the American people.  Lord like the Israelites of old we have been warned keep the temple clean or we will see our land destroyed.  Now is the time Lord we rise up and say with Your Prophet: No Impeachment! Out with the evil ones and bring in the righteous ones! Father we declare that our temple of the government to be cleansed as are we by the Blood of Yeshuah!  Lord as You drove out the money changers from the temple we too say to the money changers here!  You have our house into a house of thieves, but now more: Out now!  Lord we take upon ourselves the duties to reform our government by electing those who are truly anointed of You to bring us as a nation under You, God with Liberty and Justice for all! Father, we declare a cleansing of the temple of our worship what we call churches that Your Poeple may rise up and bring in righteous men and women to lead us inprayer and worship of You!  That we will see those who are truly of a humble contrite heart lead us as we are told that we will have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers filled and anointed of the Holy Spirit to lead us in spirit and truth.  Lord the only Gospel we want to hear is that which makes You Master and Lord over us for we have no king, but King Jesus! Father, during these days as we reflect on what we call the Christmas season may we truly cleanse our temple to make the Light of You Love shine through us and pierce the darkness around us.  Lord that we will truly reflect on giving gifts of love and just gifts of manipulation or expectation but truly express our love!  Not to just reward someone which they may deserve but to truly give to one another because it expresses a heart of Love just as You, Father always love us.  You do not put expectations on us.  You ask us to freely love You as You freely love us!  O lord during these times may we learn that great lesson even in our brokenness that Love is what heals and delivers us into the peace and Joy You have destined us to love under now and for all eternity. Father we declare protective love over all those who are weak and heavily burdened in this life those who are poor, those who are orphans, those who are widowed and alone!  We speak words of Comfort and Joy over all those whom have been abused in their life by words or deeds of perversion.  Lord we as men in Your Army declare over all women, whether they be wives, daughters or friends that Love and respect and honor that they deserve for they are made in Your Image.  Lord we reject the image of commercialism and want only the Image of You to burn in our hearts for them!  That we may walk together in spirit in truth to live as You have always wanted us to live in Your Kingdom n...

Archives Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father,             We are here to give You thanks and praise for making us Your Family!  Now we are Your Army to protect, defend and spread Your Kingdom here in America and around the world! We trust You completely as You have placed around us Your Heavenly Host to protect us and lead us in this hour of battle as we believe and know Victory is ours!  Your angels are here to assure us this is true and are willing to assist us us in the destruction of the enemy and all the evil influences that are set upon us to weaken us and make us doubt.  So Lord we walk by Faith and not by how we feel!             Father,  You have set before us Life or death, blessings or curses.  We choose life & we choose Your blessings for we know that we give You all the Gory for the marvelous things and wonderful miracles that take place when we give You Praise and Your Presence covers us.  Lord we feel that weight of Your Glory on us now  as Your Light penetrates the darkness around us and You separate us from those who have chosen evil and to worship the false god of this world.  Lord it is You that awaken us and anoint us to do what You have written in our book before we even began our days and as we walk now let us full the destiny You have planned for us.  May we see it pass on to generation to generation that Your are Lord the giver and provider of all we need to live in Your kingdom here on earth and as it will unfold in the days to come.             Father, in our prayer we intercede for President Trump, his wife, family and all who are aligned with him.  Lord give him the strength to endure the constant mockery, hate and evil words that are cast upon him and all his loved ones.  Lord silence the mouths of his enemies smash their teeth on the very rocks they use to try to stone him with and may the Rock of our Lord Jesus be the rock of his salvation in all these times of battle.  Continue to anoint him with the Wisdom of the holy Spirit to fool the enemy and make them reveal who they truly are nothing but traitors and betrayers of all that is good in America!  Lord give President Trump the boldness and courage to continue to make America free again to worship You and pronounce Your Name without worrying about what is politically correct to say and to above all be not afraid of hurting someone’ feelings if the Truth is spoken that calls sin sin and what You see as abomination we see and protest the abomination set before us.             Lord, help us to become aware of when we truly repent from sin and make recompense to show our sincerity of change we are free from all guilt of the past and nothing stands in our way of being a holy people.  Your Son’s Blood washes away all guilt, shame, embarrassment and condemnation.  We are free of the past and we walk now as new creatures in Christ Jesus.  O lord deliver us from holding on to thoughts about the past that now we are made new and we are taking on the Mind of Christ.  We are here to think good thoughts and praise You for all that You have done in each of us.  So we rejoice that what You have done in us is happening here in America and around the world where the Holy Spirit is blowing a mighty gushing wind!             Father refresh and renew the lives of husbands and wives and families and relationships among us.  We want to see one another as You see us through the Sacrifice of Your Son for us. We are all Your children no matter how long we have been on this earth.  Make us one in Faith so that we are the Image  of Your Son  and all those who are in search of the truth, will see us as a people that is submissive to Your Will.  In seeing us they will hunger for what we are.   Lord make us so aware that all of the bickering, back biting, arguing  and division over matters that have nothing to do with the love of Jesus Christ.  Lord that we may love through our differences and have unconditiona...

Archives Listen to the Prayer Audio: ​ Heavenly Father, As we gather here before Your throne we are confident that You will use us to bring Your kingdom stronger in America and around the world.  We trust You Father that Your plan for us is great and that we will see Your Glory shine through everything that takes place this day and all the days ahead.  Release Your Holy Angles as protection in our midst to over come the enemy in all of his tactics and plots to defeat us. Lord, we hear Your Voice above all the noise the enemy makes in this hour as they are in the death throes of loosing control and all of their systems that are corrupt are disintegrating and falling apart.   Thank You, Father for separating us from those who claim to know You but You do not know them.  It is time of separation of the wheat from the chaff, those who truly are loyal to You and are willing to die to themselves take up the cross and follow Jesus as His Army for Victory on earth as it is in heaven! Father, we are grateful that You have anointed President Trump with a spirit like King David to face the enemy with boldness and defeat the Goliaths of our day called the Deep State and all of the hordes behind it.  Lord, he has even stepped forward to proclaim that Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel. With Kim Clement we have learned ISRAEL IS FOREVER!  We love what You Love Lord.  Even though the Israelites do not know Your Son our Messiah we know You have never abandoned them at the right time they too will worship and honor Yeshuah as Messiah.  Lord the land of Israel is sacred to You for the Blood of Your Son was shed there.  So Lord we cry out No dividing the land! No two state solution!  Lord You made a covenant with Abraham and promised his descendant this land it theirs and no man can change that! Lord give President Trump wisdom and strength to uphold Israel as nation that is an important part of Your Plan for mankind!  Lord, that during these days they too will prosper to fulfill the plan that has been spoken through Mark Taylor and others that America and Israel will lead the world to new and wonderful discoveries and benefits for all mankind!  Thank You Father for us to be alive in this time to see the miracles You have in store for us.  Lord Your Plan is winning and the plans and plots of the enemy will fall and be crushed! We proclaim: ISRAEL IS FOREVER TO YOUR GLORY,  O LORD! Father, we know You are true to Your Word!  That You never revoke the covenant You made with Abraham.  It is still a part of Your plan.  Any covenant that we truly make with You lasts and that You never break the covenant it is always us because of weakness and foolishly think we know better than You or can fix it better than You!  Lord forgive us we are always eating of the tree of knowledge instead of the tree of Life.  Lord thank You for the Gift of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all Truth! What a great and awesome Gift we have.  Lord we are so grateful for even in the plan that unfolded for America was established with Mayflower Compact on this day in 1620...399 years ago! What a great Gift You have given us.  Lord that is why we call out in repentance against all that we have allowed to destroy and undermine the covenant we made with You through our forefather and mothers in Faith! Lord, You gave us America to break away from the tyranny of the divine right of kings and all the rulers who have made their people captives and beholding to man instead of the God of Freedom given us through Jesus the Christ!  Lord we are so grateful that here in America there is a growing awareness of what we have been given and to really know and understand our heritage in Faith!  Yes, we have made many mistakes and done what is evil in Your sight in this land, but as we return in repentance You blot out all our iniquities and wash us white as snow! Lord, this land is Your land and we sand on hallowed ground because of those...

Archives Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father,     We seek Your protection in this time of prayer.  Keep us off the enemy's radar.  May all his ways of interference come to naught.  Let the confusion, unrest, rebellion and chaos stay in his camp.  Let the screams of despair be heard there in their defeat as Your Kingdom Army continues to follow Your Commands and bring the enemy to their knees before the Cross of Christ where they face the defeat He has already brought!  Thank You Father for releasing Your Holy Angels to surround us on this call, but also for what You are doing in America at our borders and in every state of our Union!  Victory is ours!  We rejoice in all You have done for us and are continuing to do now! We have a great Hope in our hearts which no one can take from us or in any way undermine.  For our Hope is in Your Son, Yeshua!  We sing a song of Praise to You! Father we are grateful for giving us an anointed leader in President Trump and all who are with him in waging war against an enemy that has choked America for a long time.  You hear our cry of repentance when we face the mistakes we have made and we know and see the result of this repentance as our nation rises up to return to the Plan You have had for our land since the beginning!  It is because of Faith and a Trust in You that we have a great nation and as Your Army now we re-dedicate ourselves to that which You have called us to be.  Like in Gideon's army of old we are the faithful remnant who blow the shofar and make the song and noise of Victory ring to put the enemy on the run! Father, continue to raise up those who are willing to offer themselves as a living sacrifice as Yeshuah taught us: lay down your life for another as we found in the woman who died in the synagogue willing to protect the rabbi and the man who rose up to put a stop to any further bloodshed.  Lord, we are so grateful that we have men and women around us who are willing to stand up to protect and serve us whether they be in the military, law enforcement or any American who will say here I am use me!  Bless them and give them their just rewards for service and we lift them up to You in our covering of Faith in prayer. Father we especially lift up to You the crises that is at our southern border, and all of the evil that comes to do America harm and invade our land with those who will harm us and plan and plot to destroy our life and liberty.  Father, may all those who are behind this and their money be exposed so that the Hammer of Justice will fall on them.  Lord we are tired of false leaders, whether it be pope, bishop, priest, preacher evangelist that are in our churches who make it sound as if righteousness and justice sound mean and hateful. May they be exposed and fall from leadership now!  You, Yourself have told us You hate evil and want it destroyed.  So Lord, may even the church leaders who promote this illegal approach to immigration fall before You for Your Justice shall prevail! Lord, we bring before You all those false teachers, instructors, mentors, professors and any who have a place of high regard that oversee our youth may they fall from their positions and raise up Godly men and women who will truly instruct and teach us the Truth about our American heritage, our Constitution, Bill of Rights and our true traditions that make us a nation under You Lord God as You truly want us to be. Lord our Youth are precious to us and we know they are our future and we want them to have Hope for a bright future and life that is blessed by You as we fulfill Your Commands! Lord, we seek more of the Holy Spirit to dominate in our lives to give us Wisdom in our discernment in choosing those who lead us and those who truly speak Truth and live lives that encourage us to follow You and live the Abundant Life You have planned for us! You have given us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter and Guide into ALL truth,...

Archives Listen to the Prayer Audio: Heavenly Father, We come before You with humble and contrite hearts knowing You know everything about us and yet still You have chosen us to be Your Army of Prayer Warriors.  We are truly grateful for all that You have done for us through Your Son, Yeshuah! We bring to You today our hearts so that we will hear Your Word to us and we are here to fall Your Battle Plans for today!  Keep us off the enemy's radar and keep our lines of communication open so that we will be united in spirit and pray with one voice and our prayers will be turned into action as Your Holy Spirit leads and guides us! Father just as You protected Your People out of Egypt led by Moses through the Red Sea lead us too in freedom through the Red Sea of the corruption, lies, treasonous and destructive ways of the Deep State, the Globalists, the Illuminati and all other secret organizations whose only goal is to destroy America and bring all mankind under their rule for Satan.  Lord You have given us the prophetic word that this is not to be so.  So Lord we seek Justice to fall on these enemies and what they have planned and plotted against us will come crashing down on them and any of those who have pledge their allegiance to them.   So that Lord, just as Your People were led on dry land through the sea so to us Lord and let the seas engulf them just as You did the army of Pharaoh of old.  May our enemies be scattered nd fall on their own swords so that Your People can live in Peace and Security with You as our only and true God! Father, continue to give strength and wisdom to President Trump in his time of leadership in our nation and even in the nations of the earth. That Lord he will continue to strike down our enemies  whether it be in finances or efforts of war efforts against us.. Lord he has proclaimed that he is here to protect us and restore America to the land You established it to be.  Lord keep the enemy and any evil plots planned against him whether it be a threat to his life or any member of his family's lives.  We stand as an Army of Protection in the spirit around him so that he can continue to move us forward.  Bring to him all the resources he needs and righteous men and women who have the same vision for America.  Let Justice be the rule over America now! Father, bring to a close all the mouths of those who speak out against him to shame him or bring forth lies about him.  Lord begin a move of Justice against all the media that continue to tell lies and report that which is fake over that which is the Truth.  Raise up Your people who will buy out these forms of media so that we can have true journalists and  other who will truly report the Truth.  Lord bring a Sword of Justice down on the lies and deceit and make more and more American awake to what needs to be done and have theart and determination to do it! Father, even those among us right now of Your Army that are called to lead and to step into positions of leadership have them encouraged and given the fire to get off their behind and run to the front line.  Lord raise up those who are called to lead us in house gatherings of worship, those who will walk with boots on the ground our neighborhoods, our cities, towns and countryside to reclaim and proclaim that this land is Your Kingdom now and we will hold this territory for You until You come! Father, give bravery, boldness and a willingness to Your Army here to strike at the enemy for we have the authority of Yeshuah in our prayers and actions to push back against the enemy and yes to even in battle destroy the enemy!  Lord awaken us to move to the higher ground  You are calling us to be!   Lord, that we will see the enemy fall and that those who are revealed as corrupt will be brought to Justice and proper punishment be meted out to those who are guilty and will not cease in their efforts.  Lord, now is the time to flood them with the waters t...

So Lord of the Flies it is. LeBron's still out and the Young Kids have gone back to floundering...Join us as we talk about the biggest problems with the current LeBron-less Lakers and how the Front Office could improve the team heading into the Trade Deadline.+- We talk about how the The Young Core "Trust The Process" Era nears its end.- What the Front Office may do with our 2019 1st Rd. Pick.- And how a general shift of mentality regarding Young Core Development may have naturally already occurred before we've even felt it. ...Follow us on Twitter: @LakersLegacyPodPlease Rate & Review us on iTunes!Email: TheLakersLegacyPod@gmail.comListen to the Lakers Legacy Podcast on ITunesListen to the Almighty Baller Radio Network on iTunesor check out the rest of the Almighty Baller Podcast Network at AlmightyBaller.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wilson preaches on Jesus healing the man with Leprosy and his faith, although I gotta admit while I don't have leprosy I have had this lower back pain for a couple months now. So Lord if you are willing you know what to do.

This short meditation by Michel Quoist draws us beyond our distractions to focus on Christ. The music is by Henry Thornowitz, played for us by Julia Herzog and Christiane von Albrecht. Lord, here we are . . . Caught between the infinity of our desires and the limitation of our means, torn, pulled here and pulled there, confused and exhausted. So Lord, here we are, finally still, and finally ready to listen. You’ve seen how dissatisfaction has made us suffer. You’ve seen how fear has led us astray in choosing our commitments. You’ve seen how we were afraid of doing too little. And You’ve seen the cross imposed by our limited means. Lord, make us strong enough to do what we should do calmly, simply, without wanting to do too much, without wanting to do it all ourselves. In other words, Lord, make us humble in our wish and Your will to serve. Help us above all to find You in our commitments. For You are the unity of our actions; You are the single love in all our loves, in all our efforts. You are the wellspring, and all things are drawn to You. So we have come before You, Lord, to rest and gather strength.

Speaker or Performer: Pr. Mark D. Lovett Scripture Passage(s): Matthew 12:38-50 Date of Delivery: February 17, 2016 In the name of the FATHER and of the +SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT.This is an evil generation. But then, so was the last generation. In fact, every generation since Adam has been an evil generation. The inclination of men’s heart is evil, even from their youth. There’s no golden age of any society or of any generation. Everyone born of flesh is flesh and belongs to the flesh, and therefore is corrupt and does wicked deeds.But the most wicked of deeds is not fornication or greed or lust, or any of the mortal sins. No, the most wicked of deeds is to demand from the Lord a sign. But not just any sign. Gideon demanded a sign, or at least requested one, and he got it. So, too many of the prophets, priests, and kings. Many of them asked for signs and many of them received the signs. In fact, it seems that one of the oddest passages of Scripture is in Isaiah 6 with king Ahaz refuses to ask for a sign from the Lord and is rebuked for it. That’s when we hear the prophet’s words, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign; behold the virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son. And you shall call His name ‘Emmanuel’.”Here our Lord rebukes every generation for asking for a sign, and yet as we have seen, many have asked before and received and poor Ahaz didn’t ask, preferring not to put the Lord to the test, and he was rebuked. It seems all backward. That is, until we discover why the sign is asked for.Every time anyone has asked of the Lord for a sign of His mercy, His favor and grace, they have received such a sign. That doesn’t mean they have heeded the sign or even thought of it as a sign from the Lord, but it is. The sign of His mercy and grace, His love, compassion, and long-suffering, His love toward you, is, of course, none other than the Lord Jesus Himself. He is both the sign and the reward. But also everything that comes with the Lord Jesus: the preaching of His gospel – that’s a sign of His favor; the administration of His sacraments – those are signs of His favor and love for us.Even tonight, the Lord being among us as He promises, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them,” He is giving us the sign of Hs love for us and favor toward us; a sign of His covenant of forgiveness in His blood. When you ask for a sign that God loves you, that He will have and has had mercy on you, this is what you get. If you’re looking for a different sign when you ask for the Lord’s mercy and favor, then you’re part of the wicked generation.But to the wicked no sign will be given. None but the sign of Jonah, that is. The wicked are those who reject the Lord’s favor and love, His mercy and peace. They don’t want signs of His grace and favor, they want signs that He is, in fact, God; that they must worship Him. They want proof that they must submit to Him. So do you. You want proof, especially when life has gone sideways. So you ask for signs. That’s what the scribes and Pharisees were after. Show us a sign that proves that you are God. Cast out all doubt that you are in control and Master of all. But no such sign is given. The only sign given is the sign of Jonah: His resurrection and the preaching of His gospel. But these are not the signs asked for by the wicked. They won’t believe these signs because they are not looking for His mercy and grace. And they will die in their sins.So Lord says that the evil spirit – the spirit of unbelief – goes out of a person and wanders around. This evil spirit is exercised by the Holy Spirit who comes with the preaching – the proclamation – of the Gospel. But those who reject the Spirit, who deny the gospel of Jesus, the evil spirit returns and the state of that person is worse than before they heard.But don’t look to these things as some type of proofs of the faith. Don’t be looking for signs that the evil spirit returns brining seven of its brothers with it. Don’t look for signs at all. Except for those signs the Lord gives; signs and pledges of His love, His mercy, and His grace toward you. These are trustworthy and are, in fact, more than signs. They are what they say they are. The Sacrament of the Altar is not a ritual, it is a the bestowal of God’s love and forgiveness on you, His promise that the risen body and blood of Jesus sustains you in your life and faith.Baptism has ritual around it, but it is not ritual or ceremony. It is the actual blessing of God, marking you with His name and sealing you by His Holy Spirit.You have been given the sign of God’s favor and mercy; of His love love and election. It is here, in the breaking of the bread and the prayers. It is here where Christ dwells with men and men with Christ. Rejoice, O blessed generation, for the Lord is good and upright, and He is instructing you in the way of righteousness, the way of true faith.+ In Nomie Iesu +

January 24, 2016Pastor Paul Gilbert Do You Have the Grace of God?Ok, open your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 6. If you are a guest, you need to know that we walk through books of the Bible here. We preach through books of the Bible. We've been working our way through 2 Corinthians here now for a number of months and we will continue through to the end of the school year. If you are a guest, we'd love to capture your visit. There is a big area outside with a sign that says “GUESTS”. Stop there. We have a gift we would love to give you. Again, the Connect Breakfast that Pastor Dave mentioned is happening next Sunday, first service, in Gallery 14. It is a great chance to find out more about church. Now, enough of that and into God's word. 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, let me read this for us then we will dive in.Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,“In a favorable time I listened to you,and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.We have spoken freely to you,a Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.Lets pray. Lord, this is a heavy passage. It is a hopeful passage, but  it is a heavy passage. We can't get to hope until we go through heavy so I pray that you would give us the grace to hear it and absorb it and receive it. As we are hearing the hard words of your Word, help us to recognize they are your gracious words. They are your life-giving words. They are your words full of hope. So Lord, give us ears to hear as we dive into your word this morning. In Jesus' name, Amen.Let me ask you have you ever put your heart, mind and soul into something. I mean, just laid it on the line? You labored, you powered your way through, you invested your time, money, energy, but it all came for naught? Ever had one of those times? Well, a couple stories.Three college students a number of years ago from the University of Tennessee (as you hear this story, it will not surprise you where these men grew up, ok?) Three students from the University of Tennessee decided to road trip to Gainesville, the armpit of the south, for the UT/Florida game. They made their plans, they secured their accommodations, they packed their bags. It is only 10-12 hours from Knoxville to Gainesville on ...