Asking the right questons

Asking the right questions

John 16: 4 Netbible, I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you. 16:5 But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’ 16:6 Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I have said these things to you. 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. 16:8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment – 16:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 16:10 concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned

A time and a place for fasting

A time and a place for fasting

Isaiah 58:5 Net Bible. Is this really the kind of fasting I want?Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, bowing their heads like a reed and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes?
Is this really what you call a fast,a day that is pleasing to the Lord?
58:6 No, this is the kind of fast I want.I want you to remove the sinful chains,to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke,to set free the oppressed,and to break every burdensome yoke.
58:7 I want you to share your food with the hungry
and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people.
When you see someone naked, clothe him! Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!
58:8 Then your light will shine like the sunrise;your restoration will quickly arrive;
your godly behavior will go before you,and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard
.58:9 Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond;you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’
You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.
58:10 You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed.
Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.
58:11 The Lord will continually lead you; he will feed you even in parched regions.
He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring that continually produces water.
58:12 Your perpetual ruins will be rebuilt;you will reestablish the ancient foundations.
You will be called, ‘The one who repairs broken walls, the one who makes the streets inhabitable again.’

Do not worry

Do not worry

Matthew 6:25 Netbible, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 6:28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 6:30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 6:31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 6:32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

2 Chronicles 7:14

When do we pray 2 Chronicles 7:14

2 Chronicles 7:10 And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. 11Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected. 12And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. 13If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
 

If I shut up heaven, pestilence among my people, strange weather happenings.

As I write this I see several things happening and happening fast. From gay rights, goverment contol of  health care, H1N1, winter weather. These things appear to be out of control and people feeling very violated. Can we as a nation and humble ourselves before the Lord and seek His face.

The Gospels do not speak of this verse directly, but when things do go wrong the New Testiment does speak to us about the need of peace when we are troubled. John 14:1 Also the word of God speaks of how that nothing can separate us from His love. In addition, we see that we can do all things through Christ that strengthen us.

But when we look at whats going on, Instead of seeking the Lords face, I see that we are allowing things that should bring us to our knees, bring us too depression and despair more than any time in my life.

Just a reminder, Praise shakes off the heavyness of depression. He is always with us.

Romans 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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All the promises of God part 2

Just think about it, all the blessings of God belong to us.

Eph 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Is He on or off

Is He on or off the Cross?

Jesus Standing.

The Gospels, and the book of Revelation start with a similar theme, one see’s him as a baby being with us, the other holding us in His hands and with us. An answer to an interesting question, Have you ever been asked the question have you ever seen Jesus standing? We seem when asked that question too go to Acts 7:52 on the stoning of Stephen. But the Revelation of Jesus Christ has a better image concerning or Lord standing. Take a look in the first chapter when John was in the spirit on the Lords day (note compare this to 1 Cor 14 and you find that He could be praying in tongues “in the Spirit”) and we find John turning around and John saw Jesus standing. We go on and we find Him holding the churches in His hand and having Him walking in our midst.

So when Jesus was over looking Stephen we  find the position of how Jesus is looking toward us and we should view that God is always with us.

A Celebration

         A Celebration

 It has taken me a while to appreciate the Christian holy days. As a Pentecostal we tend to not acknowledge the traditions that have been set before us. Allot of this is do to not wanting to be like "Rome". But as I  look at Lent this year I am thinking about  what does it mean to be Pentecostal.  I know that between the two Lent and Pentecost Sunday is 40/40 day event. These two seasons are different from Christmas because at Christmas we seem to limit our thinking to the birth of Christ and the Second cooming. We do not see the complet product like we do in Lent and Pentecost. Yet what does it mean to be Pentecostal do we really know what we have experienced or have we experienced what we know. In other words are we living it out daily letting people see the Spirit of Christ in  us.

Being Pentecostal is a Celebration of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, knowing that He is alive, and lives today.

As the  old Hymn says "He walks with me and talks with me He tells me that I am not alone"

Renewing my mind

This week has been kind of rough. Emotionally, I have hit a few walls. The way out is. I have to realize that I do not depend upon how I “feel”. But understand that as the Lord brings me to the place of brokenness needed for the current season. I have to depend upon Him, accepting the things I cannot change, letting both the Word of God, along with the convection of the Holy Spirit; bring me to a place of renewing  my mind in the issues I am facing.

Romans netbible, 12:1 Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – alive, holy, and pleasing to God – which is your reasonable service. 12:2 Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect

He Is

He is Holy and Worthy

Revelation 4:8-11 netbible, Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful,Who was and who is, and who is still to come!”

4:9 And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 4:10 the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying:

4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,to receive glory and honor and power,since you created all things,

and because of your will they existed and were created

For or With

FOR OR WITH

Matthew 8:15 netbible,  “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 18:17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector. 18:18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 18:19 Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 18:20 For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” 18:21 Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?” 18:22 Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!

How do we agree with someone one is important. Is it rather for or with. Both work but something to think about. 'For", sometimes makes me think of how we treat pets,  pat them on the head and send them away. Rather than praying "with " someone means coming along side and working together to met the need.

Secondly, I know this passage deals with how a brother sins, but it also shows the authority we have in Christ.

Are we listening?

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 netbible, Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, 5:13 and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 5:14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. 5:15 See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all. 5:16 Always rejoice, 5:17 constantly pray, 5:18 in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 5:19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 5:20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. 5:21 But examine all things; hold fast to what is good. 5:22 Stay away from every form of evil.

God, will regard our prayer

Ps 102:17 KJV, He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;

20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;

22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.

25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

Just another rant

Just another rant

Another area that I am dealing with in my walk with the Lord is. How that we talk about the former and latter rain running together. I am also finding, that the anti Christ types are also running together as well. These types are tying to bring us to a place of none activity rather than obeying Gods word and enjoying the promises of God and the out pooring of His Spirit. The elements of the anti Christ types are similar but can be different, sexual sins, additions, spiritual additions. Renewal of Paganism, even though its hard to trace various pagan groups history. Most of the time it a wannabe issue rather than reality- still demonic. Also note fads come and go, but they are meant to create fear rather than Biblical Faith, limiting the developing of relationships with none Christians. Copying signs and wanders. Making us look like we do not know what we are saying or doing.

We need to re look at who we are in Christ seeing that as I have covered before in various blogs that the word of God is a living document and can be trusted from generation to generation. This means that we have to Trust in Him, developing a biblical world view on life. It is not a matter of renewal or reformation it a matter of obedience and relationships in the issues of life we are facing.

A Review

How are we doing with our prayer time? Bloged down? Started good but? Take a look at Matt 6:24-34 AMP

24No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be [s]against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon ([t]deceitful riches, money, possessions, or [u]whatever is trusted in).
25Therefore I tell you, stop being [v]perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the [w]span of his life?
28And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field and [x]learn thoroughly how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.
29Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his [y]magnificence (excellence, dignity, and grace) was not arrayed like one of these. [I Kings 10:4-7.]
30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith?
31Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying, What are we going to have to eat? or, What are we going to have to drink? or, What are we going to have to wear?
32For the Gentiles (heathen) wish for and crave and diligently seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows well that you need them all.
33But seek ([z]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([aa]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [ab]taken together will be given you besides.
34So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.

Spiritual Warfare

Understanding what we are wrestle against

 Eph 6:12 AMP,  For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.

I know that when Jesus Died, He defeated death Hell and the grave

Philippians 2 AMP 7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and ]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. 8 And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! 9Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,   11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This exaltation brought Jesus above place above every demonic power we will ever face. One of the reasons I confess as well as thanking our heavenly Father that Jesus is Lord everyday. All the signs and wanders we see in Gospels point to the fact that Jesus has authority over all things. The simple thing is that He lives within us as we make Jesus Christ  Lord of our lives.

Matt 16: 17 AMP Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.18 And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the ]infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.