Church

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Do Not Preach Jesus!

You may have seen the news on what the city government of Houston is doing.

Some local pastors have been issued subpoena’s to turn over certain sermons about homosexuality and may mention Houston’s openly gay mayor. Of course it is the buzz on Facebook and Twitter.

Houston area pastor’s and minister’s across the state are telling the government has absolutely no reason to bully congregations who are speaking out about what they believe. It’s none of the government’s business.

It seems this started with a new bill that has been introduced that will, among other things, allow men who identify as women to use the restrooms of their choice – and vice versa.

Of course the church would be against that. What person in their right mind wouldn’t be?

But silencing opponents that preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God is not a new thing. It happened in the early days of the church when Peter and John preached in the name of Jesus. In that case the religious leaders caught the apostles,

and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:18

But it was too late! The message had been given and

many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. Acts 4:4

That’s the fear of government officials, kings, presidents, senators, congressmen, mayors, despots, tyrants, and dictators – loosing their power and ruling ability to a Higher Power!

They fear the preaching of the Word of God. It convicts of sin and presents the only redemption available to mankind.

Peter said it best.

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

The name of JESUS!

Abba, in Jesus’ name, give the pastor’s and minister’s the boldness to speak Your word! YES&AMEN

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You can’t escape the Word!

I remember one Sunday, not too long ago, I was preaching. Actually I was reading a lot of scripture and I had someone get up and walk out the door.

It happens. It happened to Jesus.

There was a time when some guys wanted to judge, convict, and execute someone that broke the Law of Moses.

Jesus said that if any of them were without sin they should go ahead and do it.

Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. John 8:9

The spoken word of God is powerful.

The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12

The word of God convicts and there are those that cannot stand or sit in its presence.
The reading of the word conflicts with their life and so they must get up and leave.

I fear the day will come for the unrepentant when they shall hear the word and not be able to get away from it.

The Bible says the day is coming when the books will be opened and the dead will be judged by what is written in those books. (Rev 20:12)

I believe the books that are opened are the 66 books of the Bible. Each word is read and there is no escape.
The Law is read along with the penalties for disobedience and there is no escape.
The Prophets are read and tell of the coming Messiah and the re is no escape.
The Gospels are read and there is no place to run.
The letters of Paul are read and there is no place to hide.
When it’s over each person is convicted by their own conscience and by God Himself.

I pray that no one ever walks out again on God’s word. It is the word to change lives if they will listen and heed it.

Abba, I know there was a time I, too, did not listen to Your word. I ignored it. I mocked it. I ridiculed it. But now I live for Your word. It is the very air that I breathe. It is life to me. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Let the Shemitah Begin

It’s about to begin – the seventh year; the Sabbath year; the year of the release.

The next Shemitah year on the biblical calendar begins Sept. 25, 2014 – Rosh Hashanah, the civil new year.

In the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord. You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. Lev 25:4

Modern Israel hasn’t paid much attention to this ancient commandment – until recently.

More and more farmers and consumers are expressing concern about fruits and vegetable intentionally grown and harvested in the seventh year – also known as the Shemitah year, or Sabbath year.

Now the Israeli government and Jewish religious leaders are hoping to work together to reinstate the practice.

The new Shemitah budget will go to the Religious Affairs Ministry, which intends to use a portion of the funds for promotional materials, and educational assistance for farmers wishing to honor the commandment.

Another small portion of the budget will be used for the special ceremony that marks the end of the Shemitah year Sept. 13, 2015 or Elul 29 on the Hebrew calendar.

That ceremony will take place at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem during Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles.

At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the Lord’s release. Deut 15:1-2

You may wonder why I mention this so much.

Until a few years ago I paid no attention to Hebrew Feast Days. I now believe that’s a major fault of the Christian church.

If these times, days, and seasons were important to God – then they should be important, at least, for a Christian to learn about.

Read your Bible. Learn and be informed.

Abba, I don’t know it all. I don’t understand it all. But I am willing to learn. I ask the Holy Spirit to teach me. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Possess the Land

Look around your church. Who lives across the street or down the block? Who lives around the corner or within an arm’s reach?

I ask myself that question this morning. There are so many so close to our church that go to church somewhere but there are many that don’t. That means there are many that do not know Jesus as Savior.

Like Israel, we spy out the land all around and determine we cannot possess it.

We need to quit listening to the voice of opposition (even our own) and listen to the voice of victory.

Num 13:30 “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

At last night’s revival, Margaret reminded us to possess the land around our church. It is a land of great harvest and opportunity. It is a land the Lord God has given. We can’t take it until we possess it!

Abba Father, let’s go into the land, knowing you are going before us and preparing the way. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Know the Spiritual

I will be the first to admit that I don’t know everything about the Bible. Even though I have read it, there are parts of it that just escape my knowledge and understanding.

However I recognize there are many more people that know less than I do. I have made it a lifetime priority to study God’s word and live accordingly.

Many others have loosely dabbled with the Word and are living accordingly. Some do not know anything about God or only know some very basic things like the crucifixion.

As a result I can get blank stares from people when I speak of the spiritual.

Matt 22:29 You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.

I recall several years ago sitting with a family as a psychologist was talking to them. One of the girls in the family was having some problems.

The psychologist asked my opinion.

I told her that this family was under a generational curse that included some demonic activity.

You can guess how that went over. I got a blank stare from the psychologist and I’m sure she would have liked to recommend a psychiatrist for me.

She did not understand the scripture and the power of God.

It’s time for the church to stop thinking in the physical and begin thinking in the spiritual. There is much more to life than what is merely seen and heard.

Abba, Your word is strength and power. It is understanding and life. It is hope. Increase my knowledge and understanding that I may rightly teach others. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Assembly

Ps 26:5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers,

Just as Christians assemble together in a church – evildoers also assemble together.

All it takes is some commonality between them. It doesn’t matter if it’s a gang or a gathering of terrorists.

Why do people gather at a bar? To drink, to get a buzz, and even to get drunk. Do you find non-drinkers gathered drinking in a bar? Not likely.
Do you find a non-gang member gathering with the gang or a non-terrorist grouped with the terrorists? Not likely!

Like minded people gather together.

The like-minded men of Sodom gathered at the house of Lot. Gen 19:4
A gang of at least 42 young men gathered together and made fun of the prophet Elisha. 2 Kings 2:23, 24
Demetrius gathered together his fellow idol-makers. Acts 19:23-34

So who do you gather with?
What type of people are you like minded with?
Are you getting together for something honorable, evil, or just “fun”?
And is your fun honoring God?

Abba, I love gathering with your people, whether it’s in church, at work, or in my home. I abhor the gathering of those that seek to do evil but I know that Jesus died so they may also have forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, and gather together with Your people also. YES&AMEN

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Get back to spiritual basics

This morning I was up at 3am and turned on the TV. Wagon Train was on and I tuned in just in time to hear this old man pray. It was quite a prayer. At the end of it he received an answer to his prayer and shouted, “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!”

The show was filmed in 1961 and I thought how far we have gone off the straight and narrow path.

That became a subject last Wednesday evening. The American church and American Christian has become too sophisticated and has strayed away from God.

Other nations around the world are responding to the Gospel and seeing the evidence of the miraculous power of God.

I have heard testimonies of healings; even those being raised from the dead. None of these stories originate in the USA.

The word of God tells us why.

Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

The TV show from 1961 praised God in the dialogue. TV today curses Him.
Indeed we have left our first love.

Rev 3:17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked —

It is time for the American church to return back to the basics of God. Back to faith. Back to believing. Back to living in the bounds of Christianity!

Abba, in Jesus name I want to live in the Spirit and not in the physical! I want to return to the simplicity of the faith. YES&AMEN

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Hard Work and Cheerfulness

2 Cor 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver.

I experience it. My children experienced it – the act of giving.

When I grew up and could buy and give a gift. I felt so good to buy my parents or Linda’s parents something for anniversaries, birthdays, and Christmas.

My children have felt the same joy with giving to us.

The ability to give comes with hard work and talent; the harder you work, the more you earn, the more you can give.

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 2 Cor 9:6
In the world of agriculture it takes hard work to sow bountifully – to plant many seeds. It’s easy to plant one or two seeds and gather the harvest from them. It’s easy to keep the weeds away from one or two.

Plant an acre of seeds and it’s a totally different story. You will have to work hard to plant and to keep invasive predators and plants under control. You will work hard to gather the harvest but what a bountiful harvest you will have.

You have worked very hard and have more than you need. What a joy to give to someone else! You have become a cheerful giver.

And so it should be in church. You work hard to earn your pay but what a joy it is to give and see your church prosper and change the community. What joy to see your missionaries be blessed by your giving.

You become the cheerful giver.

Abba, though the sacrifice of Your Son has cost you much and it must have grieved You so – You must also have great joy at the response of sinners that have found the forgiveness in what was done. I for one thank You for giving. I pray I may do the same for others – give of myself. In Jesus’ name, YES&AMEN

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Unlimited Giving

Heb 7:1-2 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,

I admit that tithing was required under the Law of Moses but Abram and Jacob practiced it before the Law demanded it.

Giving to support the work of God is supported by God and by His people.

God doesn’t move backwards but forward; He doesn’t lower the standard but raises it. He didn’t move from the blood of bulls and goats down to the blood of chickens or squeezing blood from a turnip – He moved the standard up and gave the blood of HIS OWN SON!

So if God once demanded 10% from His people, do you think He would now be happy with 5% or 1%?

But you do how you feel led to do! The early church did and they did not limit themselves.
Acts 4:34-for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

But you do how you feel led to do!
2 Cor 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Abba, I don’t want to give just 10%. In Jesus’ name, I want to give all I have for Your service. I want to do it cheerfully. I know Your blessings for me will far out-weigh any anything I can give back. YES&AMEN

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Lifted Hands and Low Necklines

1 Tim 2:8-9 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel Continue reading →