Articles & Teachings

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Time for rejection or acceptance?

What is going on? Life seems to be raging out of control. It seems as though no one cares about anything or anyone but themselves and there seems to be a hopelessness surrounding us as believers. It seems like chaos is prevailing.

The other night I was listening to a message from a precious brother in the Lord and he was talking about how we are distracted by all these sorts of things and he used the scripture 2 Tim 3:1-5. It says But know this that in the last days perilous times would come. Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of God, having a form of Godliness but denying its power. and from such turn away!

I struck me that this is really where we are at in time and there are so many Christians walking in this kind of behavior. The first verse really hit me "But know this"...Know this...get it?

It says these kind of times are coming it's just part of the end times. God is warning us.

I had to begin to search my heart and say God if any of this is in me get it out. I want to be a lover of You not have all this stuff in me!

This scripture ends by saying these people have a form of godliness but deny His power. I believe this is a religious spirit. It's why the church is so powerless!

But then it goes on to say...From such turn away. Hhmm?

That is a hard one for most people to comprehend because we are supposed to be loving and merciful and tolerant. But God is telling us if people are acting like this to turn away from them.

If we look around today this kind of behavior is going on everywhere in the Church and even in us!

I want to challenge you to walk through this list and ask God to show you if any of this is in you. Then repent and turn in the opposite direction with the help of the Holy Spirit.

I also want to say that I think it is time to begin to turn away from people who are operating in this stuff and tell them why you can no longer fellowship with them.

But beware you need to check the log in your own eye before you do this!

In verse 16-17 of this chapter it says all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be Complete, Thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So know that all this bad stuff is coming but God has given us the scriptures to complete us and equip us. We can over come all this stuff if we begin to ask Jesus to cleanse us by His blood and begin to stand on the Word and let it wash our minds. Let it change our thinking.

God wants a body who loves Him and each other and is selfless! It's time to take a good look at ourselves and the Holy Spirit to shine the light on all the dark places. Honestly it only hurts for a little while but once it's healed look out! There is no telling what God can do through a clean, purified in the fire, vessel of Honor!

So take some time and get alone with God and let Him change you on the inside so you are accepted in the beloved and not rejected because He never knew you because you chose to walk in your old unrenewed nature.

Are you ready for His Coming?

         God is trying to pour out His Spirit here on the earth but there are not many who want it. We say we do, we even pray for revival but when He comes in the least little bit we judge it and say that it's not God. I think it's time that we become a little more sensitive to the things of God and His Holy Spirit. We are going to rob this generation of a major blessing and move of the Lord if we continue to think this way. Even worse we could lose this generation altogether.

     I've noticed when He comes or try’s to move it doesn't always fit into our lifestyle. God’s ways are not ours and we better get used to that idea. We think He would only move in a way that will be convenient for us. We are so busy with everything under the sun. We think all the things we are doing are so important. But are they really? Do they have eternal kingdom value or are they just things to make us feel better about ourselves and our accomplishments?

   Then I see a lot of people making excuses that they can't give that kind of commitment or time to "revival" or a move of God. I'm so busy! I have a life! I have to do this and that. I know there are things we have to do and God does care about them as long as they don't hinder "His plans for our lives" and all of creation. There is so much more at stake than your comfort zone.

    I believe it's time for believers to take a hard look at what we are filling our time with. Ask you self these questions if you're bold enough!    Did God tell me to do what I'm doing?

  Is it something that is going to make a difference in my generation?

  Why am I doing this?

Who am I trying to please? (Man or God?)

  Is what I'm doing building the Kingdom of God or my own?

Is it ok with You, Lord, to do this?

I believe these are real questions we must ask ourselves. These questions will help us in every area of our lives if we apply them.

    I have recently been going through my own time of soul searching and evaluating my life. When it comes down to it, most of the things we do, wastes precious kingdom time and doesn't really matter. Most of what we do is very self centered.

    I believe we are going to stand before God and give account for what we've done with the talents, abilities and callings, He has given us.

    I want to talk about Matt 25:14-46. This is the parable about the talents. But have you ever seen the last part where He begins to talk about the separation of the sheep and goats? I never noticed that He finishes this parable about the talents by talking about whether you are a sheep or a goat?

    By using your talents we are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick, etc. What did you do with your talent?

    We need to be about "the Fathers business" and stop being so caught up with our own worldly things. I know there are some things we have to do and God wants us to do them as long as it is what He told us to do. I'm not sure our excuses will hold up as we stand before our Heavenly Father and say, but I was? You know?, I needed to?......... Meanwhile people are dying and going to hell at an alarming rate while we make excuses!

    I think we may be in danger of hearing those horrifying words.......

"Depart from me you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.........inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me"!

    The everlasting fire was created for the devil and his gang. If we continually choose our own way over Gods' we are rebelling just like Satan and we will end up in the same place as him. A place that was not created for us.

     So, are you a sheep or a goat and what are you doing with the talents He gave you? Even if you only got one! What are you doing to the Father in your everyday life?

    God wants to move and transform our generation but he can't because we have not prepared the way nor have we been obedient to increase what he's given us. Every time the children of Israel prospered they turned from God. We are so prosperous and blessed and we think we've got it all under control.

     I won't apologize for sounding so harsh. I think it's time we wake up and realize where we are in eternity.

     He is coming with or without your consent and I hope we are all ready and not so busy trying to bury our talents and do our "thing" that we miss our day of visitation or even His return!

      Applying this to the "The House of Prayer": We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and strength. I'm not talking about doing things or works. But when it comes to those of us who are called to sacrifice our lives to stand before the Lord and minister day and night in the House of Prayer what are you doing about it?

    Are you joyfully being obedient to the Lord and the call on your life or are you making excuses of why you can't obey? Will He find that you faithful to increasing what He's spoken to you and given you?

     Are you ready for His coming?

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What is Prayer?

Prayer is nothing more than communicating with God. When you communicate it goes both ways. One big mistake we make when we pray is that we talk to God and give Him our list of wants, needs, and desires and even tell Him to fix all our problems, but we never take the time to listen to what He has to say. That's right; God wants to speak to you! Some people try to say that God doesn't speak anymore, but that's not true. He wants to talk to His beloved more than anything. He really wants to answer you and He even does care about the little things in your life. We just don't take the time to wait on Him for the answers. The bible says He speaks in a still small voice. This is like our conscience or the inward witness we sometimes have.

Say you were about to do something wrong. Inside you hear or have the feeling you shouldn't do what you are about to do; that is your conscience or better your spirit man telling you not to do it. Once you become born-again that is where the Holy Spirit dwells and if you listen to your spirit He will keep you out of allot of trouble. The key is you must listen.

So, when you pray or talk with God you need to learn to listen as well as let Him know your problems and situations. Wait for Him to respond to what you've asked Him. You might just be surprised as He actually speaks to you. This is prayer.

(According to Larry Lea) "Prayer is also agreeing with God's will" or His word

(1 John 5:14-15). He says that" immature faith tries to manipulate God; mature faith seeks to move under the banner of Gods will". This is the same as praying His word back to Him and putting Him in remembrance of the promises He has given us to live by and refusing to move until you see the answer.

There are also other kinds of prayer like; intercession, petitions, supplications, thanksgiving, agreement, prayer of faith, etc.

Intercession is where you pray and stand in the gap for someone else like Moses did in Exodus 32:11-14, 30-34.

Petition is a formal request to the Lord or pleading with the Lord. This is a lot like Intercession.

Supplication is earnest, urgent, humble petitions. This too is a form of intercession. Praying on behalf of someone or for a specific need. It can also be for you.

Thanksgiving is even a form of prayer. When we ask the Father for something, we need to thank Him as if we already have it. This is also very similar to the Prayer of Faith (Mark 11: 23-26.) The bible says without faith it is impossible to please God and that every one of us has been given a measure of faith. When you pray the prayer of faith you ask believing you have it before you actually see it. You have to receive it by faith in your heart or see it with the eyes of your spirit.

Prayer of Agreement is when you agree with someone for a specific need. This is a very powerful form of prayer. In Matthew18:19 this scripture says "if two or more of you agree as touching anything it will be done."

So you see prayer is a lot more than what we think it is. This is only a tiny little bit on the subject. To learn more you need to ask God to begin to teach you by His Holy Spirit what prayer is and dig into the Word of God, ( the Bible), and find out for yourself.

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