TESTIMONY FROM THE PAST

ONE DAY EARLY IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK SOMETHING HAPPENED THAT WAS BAD. WE DID NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE WORD. HOWEVER WE DID KNOW THE NAME OF JESUS, EVEN THOUGH WE DID NOT KNOW THE FULL AUTHORITY AND POWER THAT IT COMMANDED. MY WIFE WAS COOKING SOME GROUND BEEF IN A SKILLET. THE GREASE WAS COOKING OUT OF THE MEAT AND WAS GETTING TO THE POINT THAT IT SHOULD BE DRAINED OFF. IT WAS PROBABLY A GOOD 350 DEGREES IN TEMPERATURE. MY WIFE WAS FINISHING UP SOME OTHER PART OF THE MEAL AND WAS THEN GOING TO DRAIN THE OIL OFF THE BEEF. IN THE MEAN TIME OUR SON WHO WAS A TODDLER CAME IN AND GRABBED THE SKILLET HANDLE AND PULLED IT OVER ON HIS ARM. HE LET OUT A SCREAM AND HIS ARM WAS COVERED WITH THIS HOT BOILING OIL. HIS ARM WAS INSTANTLY BEET RED. MY WIFE GRABBED HIM UP AND WRAPPED A BLANKET AROUND HIS ARM AND BEGAN TO PRAY AND SPOKE TO THE ARM IN JESUS NAME TO BE RESTORED WITH NO BLISTERING OR SCARING AND FOR THE PAIN TO LEAVE. HE STOPPED CRYING THE INSTANT MY WIFE TOLD THE PAIN TO GO IN JESUS NAME. I CAME HOME RIGHT AT THE TAIL END OF IT ALL. OUR SON FELL ASLEEP IN MY WIFE'S ARM AND SHE LAID HIM DOWN. I ASK HER WHAT THE BLANKET WAS FOR. SHE SAID TO SHIELD HER EYES FROM SEEING HIS ARM, BECAUSE SHE KNEW IT WOULD BE HARD FOR HER AT THAT TIME TO BELIEVE FOR A HEALING AND RESTORATION WHILE LOOKING AT THE BURNED ARM. IT WAS TO PROTECT HER FAITH FROM DOUBTING. WE HAVE SINCE GROWN AND DON'T LET WHAT WE SEE INFLUENCE OUR FAITH. OUR SON SLEPT FOR A SHORT WHILE AND WOKE UP LAUGHING. WE WENT OVER AND UNWRAPPED HIS ARM AND IT WAS PERFECT. NO BURNS, NO RED SPOTS, NO BLISTERS. WE DID NOT KNOW MUCH, BUT WE STOOD ON WHAT WE DID KNOW AND GOD WORKED A MIRACLE FOR US..

TESTIMONY PT. 1
Hello everyone. My name is Michael. I have been a Christian since 1975. My experience in the church was bad, and not the way it should have been. It has been said that Christians shoot and bury their wounded. A lot of them do, because they have never renewed their minds and hearts to the Word of God. They call themselves Christians and walk in the world.The church I first attended was not teaching any thing helpful to a Christian, let alone a new convert, a babe in Christ. When I started going I was not a saved person. My girlfriend attended there so I went with her, and we got married, and continued to attend. I got saved in that church, only because of a group that came and ministered the Word of Salvation to us. Six months of sitting in services at that church and never heard any word on salvation. We continued there for about 2 years.Never were we taught the things we were to need to walk this new life. Nothing on Walking in Love, forgiveness, not taking offence, health and healing, miracles, authority in Christ, or anything we really needed at all. In 1977 we moved to another church that was teaching more of what was needed to live in this world as a Christian. Only they weren't living or walking the talk they were speaking.I got offended ....!!! Hurt..!!!! And unforgiving..!!!!! Which lead to a life of bitterness for the next 23 years.. (What a waste) I continued to go to church, but it was out of duty not out of a heart of love, or being thirsty and hungry for righteousness and the kingdom of God.In 1982 We moved to a third church and sat there 18 years out of duty, sulking in bitterness, not able to walk in the calling on our lives to teach, preach, and sing the Word.One day in the year 2000 something happened that caused me to think and reflect on a statement that my daughter said about me. That day it all turned around for me. Angry and upset over what she had said, I sat in my study alone, when I spoke out loud to myself a question. I said, " what she said was true, so why am I getting so upset over it?" Just as I said that I heard a voice say," I'm glad you ask, now we can get this taken care of." What happened after that changed me from an unforgiving, bitter, unproductive, hurtful, not able to help others, into a minister of the Word, seeing people healed and set free, helping others find the way, helping others grow in the things that they need to walk in Victory in this life in Christ.I am doing my best with God's help to keep others from walking down that long wasted path i walked, being bitter and unproductive. God has us testifying of our past ( being like an open book ) and then teaching a foundation of what we need to live a Christ centered lives. How to deal with hurtful, unforgiving, offensive, unlearned in the scriptures, rejecting people. And not not becoming like that, but instead becoming one who walks in Victory and draws people to Christ.The day it all turned around in my life was awesome. The Lord just started speaking once that question left my lips. I am going to take you through that day and what the Lord showed me in the Word that transformed me from a loser to a winner in Christ.I will be talking about a dark past that I never really wanted to even remember let alone share with others. The Lord said to be an effective minister that I would need to be an open book, nothing hidden or covered up, in order to reach and help others. I told Him yes I can do that, so in the next blog posting I will go through my testimony of where I had been, and what happened on that day of the great turnaround, to where I am today. Then the Lord and I will start some foundation teaching and build on that, to deeper things in Christ. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL.JOHN 10:10ANYTHING THAT KILLS, STEALS, OR DESTROYS IS FROM THE DEVIL.AND ABUNDANT LIFE TO THE FULL COMES FROM GOD.

TESTIMONY PT. 2
Many things happened from the time I gave my heart to the Lord until that turn a round day in 2000. As I stated in the First Posting the Christians, and Churches I attended were not teaching any substantial, meaningful, fruitful things pertaining to how to live a Christ centered life in this world. I was offended at them and found a church that taught more, but they didn't walk in it. I was more offended and found yet another church, where I spent 18 years pouting and drowning in unforgiveness and bitterness toward others. One day my daughter said a statement about me, and I got upset over it. When You live in bitterness even the truth will upset you. As I was sitting in my place of study thinking on what she had said, and rehearsing those words in my mind, I spoke out loud these words. I said, " What she said was true so why am I so mad and upset about it?" As soon as those words left my lips I heard a voice from deep within my heart say, "I'm glad you asked, Now we can take care of this problem in your life." All those years in church hearing the word but not living it was about to come to a head. That word was in me and God was about to bring it out and show me what I needed to do. On this day He turned my whole life around and launched me on a journey that amazes me.. First the Lord asked me if I remembered what my son had said his favorite scripture was.Sure I said it's Song of Solomon 2:15 which says, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes."He said that I had walked in bitterness and unforgiveness so long that it was like a brother to me, and I let the little things set me off, and they were choking the life out of me.He then directed me to go to MARK 11:22-26King James Version (KJV)Passage Mark 11:22-26:22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.The Lord told me when it comes down to it without forgiveness nothing will work. First I had to forgive the hardest person in the world to forgive.( MYSELF ) and all the others I had ought against.He then directed me to this passage of scripture.Passage Hebrews 12:11-15:11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;The Lord said," Michael you have walked in bitterness, and you have defiled many. You can't progress and a lot of those you hurt haven't progressed either. " ( I'll come back to this point and tell you what I had to do to make it right.)There was one more set of scripture that the Lord took me too, that day, and it set me free so I could go back to HEBREWS 12:11-15 and do something about that root of bitterness, and those that I had defiled (hurt).He then took me to PSALMS 51:1-141Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.THIS IS AN AWESOME PASSAGE I BROKE DOWN AT VERSE 10Oh Lord what do I need to do.1. Realize the things that I've done.2. forgive others and myself and ask the Lord to forgive me.3. Ask God to remove that root of bitterness from me.4. Ask God to create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.I did all those steps and what freedom came over me.. Heaviness lifted. Was that all I had to do? NO I had to go back to all those that I had hurt and speak to then about my life and my new life and ask them for forgiveness, and bring a restoration to all our lives... ( I'll tell you about that in the next posting.)

TESTIMONY PT. 3
Hebrews 12:14-1514. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;As I stated in the last posting I had defiled or hurt many people as I walked in bitterness all those years. Asking the Lord to forgive and clean me up wasn't going to be all I needed to do. He told me I must go back to many of them and ask for their forgiveness. One very important thing He impressed on me was this truth. Many times we know we must go back to people and make amends or restitution. We charge out and find those people and talk to them and think, If they accept my apology great, and if they don't, well I tried. I did my best. No you haven't. The Lord told me to go to these people, but only when he told me to go to each one, and to listen for the words to say to them, and only say those words. He was working in their lives and only can we say we did our best is after we do it in God timing and with the words he gave us to say.Everyone hears forgiveness in different ways and words.The first thing I had to do was go to my wife and to my children and ask their forgiveness, because I was a mess for most of the kids lives. Then to about six other people from the past I must go. As I was weed eating the back yard on afternoon, the Lord began to speak to me about going to a man named Sonny. I said yea right he would probably shoot me if he saw me on his front porch. The answer was still the same you must talk to him. As i was trimming the yard I looked up and Sonny was coming cross the alley towards me. I shut the weed eater off and he ask me a question and we started talking. A miracle in itself. He was asking about some people that had moved into the neighborhood. As we talked I was listening for the right words to say concerning forgiveness. The Lord told me with Sonny the way he hears I'm sorry will you forgive me is in the word apologise. I said, Sonny we have had a problem for a while. I did some things that I shouldn't concerning you. He said, I know I've wanted to kill you for at least four years. ( It was bad between us ) ( real bad ) I said to him that I was not that person anymore. I guess he could see that word apologise was about to come out. He said forget it that is water under the bridge. ( He did not want to hear that word come from me because it would then take the burden off me and force him to make a decision concerning the situation.I told him no it is not water under the bridge, and I want to apologise for my actions of the past. He looked at me and stared at me for a moment and the said OK... We talked for a long time and have been like brothers ever since. He has asked me to watch his house when he is gone. My apology placed a choice for him to make. To accept it or to reject it. He accepted it and it was awesome. Whichever way he went in his choice to accept or reject my apology, I could truly say I did all I could do, because I listened for the words to say and said them. I didn't have to wait for when to go because he came to me. He was ready.One of the others I needed to go to came a little later at a store. The Lord said now is the time just go up to him and start talking as if nothing ever happened between you at all. ( He had a chainsaw cranked up and was yelling for me to come out of the house. He was mad at me for something I had done. I came out with a rifle and we then each went back into our houses. ) Bitterness defiles many and many had I defiled. It was bad in those bitter years. And now the Lord was telling me to just walk up and start talking to him as if nothing ever happened between us. He said this man sees forgiveness in that act of walking up to him and talking as if the past never happened. I did just that and stood in that store and talked and talked like had never missed a step .. In every case I went back to the people the Lord told me to go too. I listened and said what the Lord said to say. And all of them gave me the forgiveness I was seeking. We are all friends. I know you won't always get 100% good results like I did, but if you just rush into it and not listen for what to say and when to go you sure won't get 100% good results. Doing it in God's way and God's time is the only way you can say I did all I can do.I was restored in Christ and restored to the people I had hurt in the past. Now I needed to get back into the Word and get a foundation and build a good solid mature Christian out of myself and go on to teach others as God had called me to do.

RUNNING WATER

.................RUNNING WATER...................Doctors of the past had a problem. Lot's of their patients died that shouldn't have. When surgery first started the doctors fixed the problems and the patients still died, even when it was a minor operation. Finally about the time of the Civil War a doctor discovered that there were germs, that we couldn't see, that were causing the problem. Up until that point doctors never washed their hands before surgery. They could have had anything on them. They would go from patient to patient without washing their hands. So they were putting germs into the wounds from their hands, thus causing infections that killed the patient. During the Civil War doctors started washing their hands before surgeries. The mortality rate did not improve much if any, and they were puzzled. Then it came to one of them, that they were washing in a basin. That means all the germs were being contained in the water they were washing in and were still on their hands. So they started to wash in running water and the survival rate climbed upward.GOD SHOWED US THIS IN LEVITICUS 15:13, BUT MAN MISSED IT UNTIL THE CIVIL WAR.LEVITICUS 15:13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in RUNNING WATER, and shall be clean.DIRTY HANDS OR CLEAN HANDS.....IT MAKES A DIFFERENCEPSALMS 18:20-2420. The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.RIGHTEOUSNESS: Right standing with God. Godly conductCLEANNESS: Pureness21. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.22. For all his judgements were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.23. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.24. Therefore hath the LORD recompenced me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.RECOMPENCE: Reward .. YOU ARE REWARDED ACCORDING TO THE CLEANNESS OF YOUR HANDS.PSALMS 24:1-51. The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.2. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?4. He that hath CLEAN HANDS, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.CLEAN: innocent, guiltless, blameless.PURE: cleanSWORN: done it seven times becoming an oath of agreement. this means seven time right then and there. not an accumulation of times. The seventh time a thing was done in succession it became settled. example: When a guest had eaten and were ready to leave the host was required to ask them seven times if they enjoyed it and would they like to return again. The guest was required to answer yes six times out of respect and the seventh time they were to answer their true heart on the matter and that settled it.Deceitfully: Having a tendency or disposition to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.So if you have kept your hands clean and a pure heart and not sworn deceitfully then verse 5 is for you.Verse 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of salvation.PSALMS 26:1-7 KJV.1. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.2. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.3. For thy loving kindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.4. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.( dissemblers: Those that do in secret, conceal, or hide.5. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.6. I will wash mine hands in innocency ( Cleanness ): so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:7. That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.Ever wonder why some people say the right things, and pray the right things, but they never get any prayers answered? Or why some churches have long prayer list, but most people get off them only when they die.2 Cor. 6:14- 7:114. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? ( INFIDEL: disbelieving, untrustworthy )16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.18. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.2nd Cor. 7:11. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.One reason is because we have had, and many churches have had, dirty spiritual hands.QUESTIONS These are just a few things to ask ourselves, there are many more, but let's see how we do with these1. Should we watch what we see, hear, and say?Genisis shows us the power of vision.Genisis 30:27-43 KJV27. And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.28. And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.29. And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.30. For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?31. And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock.32. I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.33. So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.34. And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.35. And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.36. And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.37. And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.38. And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.39. And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.40. And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.41. And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.42. But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.43. And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.JACOB NEW THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT YOU LOOK AT OR SEE ALL THE TIME, AND USED THIS TRUTH TO INCREASE HIS HERDS.WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN LOOKING AT LATELY? WHAT YOU CONTINUALLY LOOK AT BECOMES A PART OF YOU.Proverbs 18:21 KJV.21. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.DEATH AND LIFE ARE IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE...( WORDS )WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SAYING..? IT IS EITHER WORDS OF LIFE OR WORDS OF DEATH.THE WORD LOVE HERE MEANS TO HAVE A STRONG ATTACHMENT TO IT. IN OTHER WORDS YOU SAY IT SO MUCH IT BECOMES A PART OF YOUR LIFE AND EXPECTANCY, AND YOU WILL EAT IT OR RECEIVE IT. CHECK YOUR SPEECH AND SEE WHAT YOU ARE ALWAYS SPEAKING, AND SEE IF IT IS LIFE OR DEATH THAT YOU ARE SPEAKING.EXAMPLE ( THIS IS A TRUE STORY ) There was a man that ever since he was young ( about 2 years old ) he was always saying that he would not live to see 40 years old. He became a christian and knew he was called to minister. Still he was always saying he would never live to see 40. He enrolled and started to attend a Bible School in the Tulsa/Broken Arrow area of Oklahoma. HE WAS 39 AT THE TIME AND STILL SAYING HE WOULD NOT LIVE TO SEE 40. THE BIBLE TEACHERS TRIED TO GET HIM TO SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS WORDS BUT TO NO AVAIL. TWO MONTHS BEFORE HIS 40TH BIRTHDAY A TUMOR WAS FOUND IN HIM AND HE WENT INTO A COMA. THE PREACHERS AND TEACHERS PRAYED FOR HIM, HOWEVER NO IMPROVEMENT. ONE OF THEM SAID SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT HERE. THE MAIN TEACHER WAS PRAYING AND THE LORD TOLD HIM THAT THERE WERE SPIRITUAL LAWS THAT HAD BEEN SET IN MOTION AND THEY COULD NOT BE REVERSED AT THIS TIME. THE MAN DIED BEFORE HIS 40TH BIRTHDAY. AT THE FUNERAL THE PASTOR TOLD THE MOTHER OF THE MAN WHAT GOD HAD SAID. SHE SAID YES HE ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD DIED BEFORE HIS 40TH FROM A VERY YOUNG CHILD ON HE KEPT SAYING THAT HE WOULD DIE BEFORE HIS 40TH BIRTHDAY.. THIS MAN ATE THE FRUIT OF HIS WORDS.WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SAYING? DO YOU SAY THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER. IF YOU DO THEN YOU BETTER CHECK IT OUT AND MAKE SURE IT IS WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR LIFE. THE MORE YOU SAY IT, THE MORE YOU HEAR IT , THE MORE IT BECOMES A REATITY TO YOU.2. Should we cheat, lie, steal, murder, or commit adultery?LET'S PICK STEALING OUT OF THAT GROUP. EXODUS 20:15 THOU SHALT NOT STEALHAVE YOU EVER STOLE OR ARE YOU STILL STEALING? EVER TAKE LONGER LUNCHES OR BREAKS THAT YOU ARE GIVEN. EVER BRING HOME PENS, PENCILS, RUBBER BANDS, PAPER CLIPS, FROM WORK AND KEEP THEM. IF YOU HAVE THEN YOU HAVE AND OR ARE STEALING.3. Should we dabble in witchcraft?DEUTERONOMY 18:9-139When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.10There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.12For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.13Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.4. Should we put anything between us and God?SO MANY THINGS THAT MANY CHRISTIANS DO ARE NOT WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING. MANY CHRISTIANS READ HOROSCOPES. MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE BOUGHT THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS AND EVEN TAKEN THEIR KIDS TO THE HARRY POTTER MOVIES, WHICH ARE ABOUT WARLOCKS AND WITCHES....SATANIC. GOD SAYS SUCH THINGS ARE AN ABOMINATION TO HIM.ABOMINATION: detestable and contrary to His character.HOW DO WE GET RID OF DIRTY SPIRITUAL HANDS?Passage Ephesians 5:25-27:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.THIS SCRIPTURE TO HUSBANDS HOLDS THE KEY TO CLEANNESS. THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD. WASHING: CLEANSING... THIS IS AN ACTIONKing James Version (KJV)Passage James 1:21-25:21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.WE MUST LAY ASIDE ALL THE DIRT OF THIS LIFE BY WASHING IT AWAY WITH THE WORD OF GOD. BE A DOER OF THE WORD AND NOT A HEARER ONLY.PUT THE WORD IN YOUR HEART.PSALM 119:11Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.WE MUST KEEP AND DO THE WORD. NOT WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TOLD US, NOT WHAT PREACHERS HAVE TOLD US, NOT WHAT TRADITION HAS TOLD US, BUT WHAT THE WORD REALLY SAYS. THE ACTION OF DOING THE WORD WASHES US AND KEEPS US PURE.

TRY MY REINS LORD......(KJV)Passage Psalm 26:2Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.REIN : a strap fastened to a bit by which a rider or driver controls an animal A REIN IS WHAT IS USED TO GUIDE .. DAVID IS TELLING THE LORD TO GUIDE ME AND SEE THAT MY HEART IS WILLING TO BE LEAD. IF A HORSE WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO GUIDE IT THEN IT CAN NOT BE USED. THE SAME WITH A PERSON . ANYONE THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THEMSELVES TO BE LEAD CAN NOT BE USED BY THE LORD. IF A HORSE DOES NOT TRUST THE HOLDER OF THE REINS IT WILL RESIST GUIDANCE. WE MUST TRUST THE LORD FULLY AND ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE GUIDED BY HIM.IF YOU ARE A SELF CENTERED PERSON ALWAYS DOING THINGS YOUR WAY AND NEVER ALLOWING THE LORD TO GUIDE YOU, THEN YOU ARE LIKE AN UNBROKEN HORSE. I DIDN'T DO IT GOD'S WAY FOR MANY MANY YEARS. ONE DAY I REALIZED I HAD NOT BEEN DOING WHAT I SHOULD FOR ABOUT 26 YEARS. I REPENTED AND ASK THE LORD TO FORGIVE ME AND HELP ME TO GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK AGAIN. AS I TRUSTED HIM AND ALLOWED HIM TO GUIDE ME IT SEEMED SO MUCH WAS ADDED TO MY LIFE. SOMETHINGS WENT REALLY FAST AND SOME SLOWER, HOWEVER IT SEEMED I WAS BEING PULLED IN 50 DIRECTIONS AT ONCE. SO MANY THINGS WERE OPENING UP FOR ME TO GO AND DO. I ASK THE LORD WHY DO I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO, AND WHY WERE SOME THINGS MOVING FAST AND SOME SLOW. HE SHOWED ME TWO THINGS.FIRST HE SAID,"LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS MICHAEL." BACK IN THE DAYS OF THE CALVARY ( EARLY ARMY ) IF THEY HAD A HORSE THAT COULD NOT BE GUIDED, THAT HORSE COULD NOT BE USED. SINCE HE WOULD NOT FOLLOW THE LEAD OF A RIDER HE MUST REMAIN IN THE CORRAL. THIS HORSE MAY BE BETTER QUALIFIED. HE MAY HAVE MORE STAMINA, BE ABLE TO RUN FASTER, AND ABLE TO JUMP JUMP FARTHER THAN ALL THE OTHER HORSES, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE GUIDED ALL THAT ABILITY WAS UNUSABLE. THIS MEANT OTHER NOT AS CAPABLE HORSES WERE SENT INTO BATTLE IN HIS PLACE. THE LORD SAID I WAS THAT HORSE FOR 26 YEARS, KEPT IN THE CORRAL, WHILE OTHERS WERE SENT OUT TO DO THEIR CALLING AND MY CALLING FOR WHICH I WAS EQUIPED. THEY HAD TO DO MORE BECAUSE I COULD NOT BE BRIDLED AND WOULD NOT FOLLOW THE REINS.SECOND THE LORD SHOWED ME A PICTURE. WHEN I GOT MY LIFE RIGHT WITH GOD AND WAS WILLING TO GO AND DO, AND BE LEAD AND GUIDED, I BECAME AS A HORSE SADDLED WITH MY CALL IN THE SADDLE BAGS, AND AS I GALLOPED ACROSS THE LAND I NOTICED SMALL BAGS TIED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE SADDLE BAGS BOUNCING AS I RODE. I ASK WHAT ARE THOSE? HE SAID THOSE ARE THE CALLS OF OTHERS THAT ARE AT HOME IN THE CORRAL. I MUST SEND THEM WITH YOU. YOU WILL PLOW THE FIELDS OF THEIR CALL UNTIL THAY CAN BE GUIDED AND LEAD. THAT IS WHY SOME THINGS HAVE GONE FAST OTHERS HAVE PLOWED THE FIELD UNTIL YOU WERE READY TO BE GUIDED AND APPLY THE ABILITY YOU WERE GIVEN FOR THIS CALLING. AND WHY SOME THINGS ARE SLOW IS BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER FIELD YOU ARE PLOWING UNTIL THEY ARE READY TO TAKE OVER. YOUR SADDLE BAGS ARE FULL AND OVERFLOWING BECAUSE YOU CARRY YOUR CALL AND THE CALL OF OTHERS UNTIL THEY RIDE UP AND TRANSFER THE BAGS. WE CARRY THE CALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE NOT YET OR MAY NEVER GET BORN-AGAIN. AND WE CARRY THE CALL OF THOSE THAT ARE BORN-AGAIN, BUT ARE NOT ALLOWING THEMSELVES TO TRUST AND BE LEAD. THEY ARE STILL IN THE CORRAL. THAT'S WHY THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO. WE ARE DOING OUR PART AND THE PART OF THOSE STILL IN THE CORRAL AND THOSE THAT HAVE NOT EVEN MADE IT INTO THE ARMY YET.TRUST THE LORD. HE WILL NOT GUIDE YOU INTO A PLACE THAT HE HAS NOT EQUIPED YOU FOR. LET HIM TAKE THE REINS OF YOUR HEART.

...............AIN’T IT FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY..................My sister liked to listen to Elvis when she was younger. As a result I heard many of his songs. Ain't it funny how time slips away was one of those songs. One day as I was studying the Word a voice in me seemed to be saying ain’t it funny how time slips away. I thought on that phrase and the spirit of the Lord started showing me some things. This that I am about to write is the result of that study time.Time is a valuable resource that is not renewable. Once it is used, or spent, or slips away it is gone. There are 1,440 minutes in a day. 10,080 minutes in a week.Approximately 524,160 in a year with a few variables in the math. I was born in 1956 and up to the time I am writing this I have lived about 26,513,280 minutes. How have I spent them? If I got 8 hours of sleep a day that comes to 8,867,760 minutes. That still leaves 17,645,520 minutes .. That is close to the amount of minutes Jesus was here from birth to the cross. What have I done with them?New Living Translation (NLT) Passage Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.New Living Translation (NLT) Passage John 9:44. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.The night is coming, and then no one can work.King James Version (KJV) Passage Luke 19:13And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.OCCUPY: to keep totally busy with what you are directed to do.Occupy doesn’t mean to fill space.In these scriptures we find that we are to keep busy working for the time is coming when we can’t work. The time for planning and working is know. After we leave this life we can’t do what we should have done for the time has past.Jesus left the splendor of Heaven. He stepped out of eternity into time. He was in time constraints for about 17,173,440 minutes. How did he spend those minutes?King James Version (KJV) Passage Luke 2:49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?He spent his time doing the Fathers will.His ministry was about 1,794,240 minutes long from baptism to the cross. How did he spend those minutes and how are you spending yours?King James Version (KJV) Passage John 21:24-2524. This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.25. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.We think Jesus did a lot when we read the four gospels, however it is a very small sample of what he really did, seeing what John said in these verses. The world couldn’t contain the books if all he did were recorded.New Living Translation (NLT) Passage James 4:14-1714 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.King James Version (KJV) Passage James 4:14-17:14. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.Are we following a course that we have planned out for our lives, or are we seeking God’s plan and doing it? If we know what we should do and don’t do it then that is sin. We can’t make a plan and chart our own course and ask God to bless it. We have to find out God’s plan for us and walk in it and it will be blessed. If our life is a mess then we have gotten off the road God has chosen for us and are out there on our own. Get back on track with God’s plan.Amplified Bible (AMP) Passage Colossians 4:5-65. Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity. 6. Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].Gracious or grace which means favor and kindness. That is how we are to speak. And with salt in our speech, that is to say with prudence, wisdom, and insight.In the King James it says redeeming the time, in the Amplified it says making the most of the time and seizing the opportunity. Opportunities like time can slip away. Opportunities lost may never come again so we must be watching and grab them when they come our way. Your opportunity to minister to a lost person may be the last time they would have had to receive Christ before they leave this world. Don’t let it slip by. Make the most of every opportunity, turning it to the best advantage, since none can be recalled if missed.

DON'T LET YOUR WALK UNDO YOUR TALK...................


Ever hear someone say, " DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO !!! " ? Walk always means talk. Your walk is speaking all the time. Talk does not always mean walk. You can talk the talk and not walk the talk. Is your walk saying something different than your walk in saying?

Let's go to the bible for an example of someones walk undoing their talk.

King James Version Mark 14:27-31
27. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28. But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
29. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

Peter talked a big talk. His talk was contrary to what Jesus was saying. Peter said he would not deny Jesus even unto death. WOW a great talk.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT PETERS WALK.

MARK 14:64-72 (KJV)

64. Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
65. And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
66. And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

PETER'S WALK DID NOT LINE UP WITH HIS TALK.

PETER'S STATEMENT WAS THIS.

29. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

JESUS WORD TO PETER WAS THIS.

30. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

PETER'S FINAL WORD WAS THIS.

31. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

Peter heard the Words of Jesus, rejected them, and gave words of a self deceived person. We can never walk above the Word no matter how big the talk.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO KINGDOMS. GOD'S LIGHT AND GOODNESS OR THE DEVILS DARKNESS AND EVIL.

YOU AS A HUMAN WALK IN ONE OF THESE TWO KINGDOMS. SOME OF US PROFESS TO LIVE IN ONE KINGDOM, BUT WALK IN PARTS OF THE OTHER KINGDOM. THEN EXCUSE THE BAD THINGS WE CONTINUE IN AWAY. I WAS TALKING TO A RELATIVE ABOUT HOW GOSSIP IS IN THE BACKBITING FAMILY AND HOW WE AS CHRISTIANS WERE NOT TO DO IT. HER EXCUSE FOR DOING IT WAS, " OH WELL EVERYONE DOES IT." i DON'T THINK THAT WILL HOLD UP AT THE FACE TO FACE WITH THE LORD THAT WE WILL HAVE ONE DAY.

Romans 6:13-16 (KJV)
13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

YIELD:to surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another : hand over possession of :...to surrender or submit (oneself) to another .... to give (oneself) up to an inclination, temptation, or habit ... to relinquish one's possession of (as a position of advantage or point of superiority)

IT IS A CHOICE THAT WE MAKE TO GIVE OVER TO EITHER THE TRUTH OR A LIE, TO WALK IN DARKNESS OR LIGHT, TO DO RIGHT OR WRONG. WE CAN NOT BLAME OTHERS FOR OUR FAULTS. WHAT THEY DO IS NOT A TEMPLATE FOR OUR LIVES. JUST BECAUSE WE THINK EVERYONE DOES IT, DOES NOT MAKE IT RIGHT FOR US TO DO.

James 3:1-13 (KJV)

1. My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

A MERE MAN CAN NOT CONTROL HIS TONGUE, HOWEVER WITH THE LORDS HELP AND HIS WORD IN US, WE CAN CONTROL THE TONGUE. A GOOD CONVERSATION CAN COME FROM A WISE PERSON.
Amplified Bible James 1:19-22

19. Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.
20. For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].
21. So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.
22. But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

(KJV)Passage James 1:19-22
19. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

SELF-DECEIVED : to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid

Text: to cause one's self to believe what is untrue ..Synonyms beguile, bluff, cozen, delude, dupe, fool, gull, have, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, misinform, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick Related Words cheat, chisel, defraud, fleece, gyp, hustle, rook, swindle

WHEN WE TALK OURSELVES INTO DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE WORD OF GOD REVEALS, BY EXCUSING AWAY THE TRUTH WE DECEIVE OUR OWN SELVES, AND ARE HEARERS ONLY AND NOT DOERS. KING SAUL WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS AND IT COST HIM HIS DESTINY. DO THE WORD WITHOUT EXCUSE.

This is my now !
This is your now !
Ecclesiastes 9:10-11:
10. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
11. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
Chance:a : something that happens unpredictably without discernible human intention or observable cause .. Opportunity

People are always saying if I was better at this or that I would do this or that. You don't have to better at anything to do it. In the scriptures we just read we found out that whatever we find to do we better do it now, because now is the only time we have. Every moment we live is now. The scripture tells us that time and chance ( opportunity ) comes to all. It isn't always the fastest that wins the race, or the strongest that wins the battle, but that opportunity comes to all. We must be watching and ready for when opportunity comes we must grasp it. I have seen boxing matches where one is far superior in skill, power, and speed . However as the fight progressed the superior one let his guard down and lessor fighter was ready and with one punch knocked the better fighter out cold. When it looked like it was all over for the lesser fighter the time and opportunity presented itself and he was ready, and he did what others thought he could not do. Never give up keep believing and standing on the word and when it looks like no way is it going to happen, be ready for the time and opportunity will come. Grasp it and be victorious.
Esther 4:8-16 This is your time , this is your now, just as it was Esther’s time.
8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
9. And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
10. Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
11. All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or women, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
12. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
13. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
14. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
15. Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
16. Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
You were gifted and created for this time for right now. Your age or size or any physical characteristic does not exclude you from doing the Lord’s will. You may have to do something that isn't logical, but do it anyway. Esther had to decide whether to go to the kings court or not. If she went without being invited it could mean death. If the king pointed his golden sceptre at a person it meant it was ok to enter. It was her time but she had to act because the king had not called for her. She chose to go and accept whatever happened. Because she did what she was here to do, she saved a nation. You are gifted for this time. This is your time. You might like to have lived in another time, but this is your time. Walk in it and do what the Lord asks of you and it will be well with you.
Now Faith
Hebrews 11:1-3
1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
The word now in this day was a word of time and place. It simply means right now. Faith is now. It is in the moment, and always right now.
Mark 11:12-26
12. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:
13. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
14. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15. And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16. And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
18. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
19. And when even was come, he went out of the city.
20. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.
21. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.
22. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26.But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
When you pray when do start believing you receive, and when does it start to produce? Right Now.
When did the fig tree die? Was it when Peter saw it withered, or was it when Jesus spoke?
Philippians 3:13-15
13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Don’t be distracted by the past.. Forgetting: to put out of the mind: don’t dwell on.
Live today, think today, now is the day.
2nd cor. 6:1-2
1. We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Paul is writing to Christians, and the Christians over the years have missed what he was saying? What does it mean to receive the Grace of God In vain?
Salvation: rescue, deliverance, safety, saving, health, welfare, something saved.

Grace is all that Salvation has. To get saved and not walk in the safety, health, deliverance, healing, and safety, would be to have receive it in vain. You have not partaken of all it has to offer. This is receiving the Grace of God in vain . Vain means to make something idle, lacking, powerless, and not allowing it to do it's duties. Have you received the Grace of God in vain? Have you not allowed health, healing, deliverance, welfare, safety, or any of the rest of what the grace has to offer, to work in you?

In the next scriptures the word salvation is a totally different word than any other place it is written. It means defence in these scriptures, and as you read them you can put defence in it's place and get the full meaning.
Titus 2:11-12
11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Ephesians 6:17:
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
the word salvation in these two scriptures is a different word that in any of the other times you see it in the new testament.
It means defense:: capability of resisting attack : /dictionary/defensive means or method of defending or protecting oneself, one's team, or another.
Resisting: to withstand the force or effect of.


Psalm 27
1.The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
SALVATION: deliverance, liberty, prosperity, safety, and salvation.
Now is your time, and you have all the weapons and protection you need to get the job done that God has called you to do. You have what is needed to grasp every opportunity that comes your way. This is your now

.........................SINGED CHRISTIANS.....................
WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN AND HAVE BEEN THERE 10,000 YEARS, YOU’LL HAVE NO LESS DAYS TO SING HIS PRAISE THAN WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED. AFTER YOU’VE BEEN THERE THAT LONG, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE PROPHETS OF OLD. ( PEOPLE LIKE MOSES, ABRAHAM, ELIJAH, DAVID, OR JOSHUA.) SOME OF THEM MAY BE GATHERED AROUND TELLING OF THE EXPLOITS THEY DID FOR GOD. YOU MAY BE LISTENING IN ON THE STORIES WHEN THEY NOTICE YOU STANDING THERE. THEY MAY STOP AND ALL TURN YOUR WAY AND SAY, " HEY, YOU LIVED UNDER A NEW COVENANT, A BETTER COVENANT. IT WAS ONE ESTABLISHED ON BETTER PROMISES; A COVENANT WE DESIRED TO LIVE UNDER. TELL US THE EXPLOITS AND SACRIFICES YOU DID FOR THE LORD. TELL US HOW YOU CHANGED YOU GENERATION FOR THE LORD. WHAT DID PEOPLE THINK OF OUR GOD AND HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND HOW DID YOU RESPOND TO THEM? TELL US HOW YOU OVERCAME EVIL WITH GOOD. WHAT MIRACLES OF GOD WERE WROUGHT AT YOUR HANDS? WHICH OF THESE HERE DID YOU BRING INTO THE KINGDOM? "
WILL YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? DID YOU DO ANYTHING, AND IF YOU DID WAS IT SOMETHING THAT COUNTED FOR ETERNITY? OR WAS IT A SELF-- GRATIFYING REWARD THAT YOU GOT IN YOUR LIFE ON EARTH?
WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE FOR DOING THE THINGS YOU DID? WAS IT SO YOU WOULD LOOK GOOD AND GET A PAT ON THE BACK AND THE PRAISE OF OTHERS?
1 Corinthians 3: 1- 15.. KJV
1. And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
[ PAUL COULDN’T SPEAK TO THEM AS SPIRITUAL ( REGENERATED DIVINELY SUPER NATURAL ) BUT AS UNTO CARNAL ( CONTROLLED BY UNREGENERATED ANIMAL APPETITES, GOVERNED BY HUMAN NATURE, FLESHLY ) AS BABES ( SIMPLE MINDED IMMATURE CHRISTIANS ). ]
2. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. [ MILK: RUDIMENTARY SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS ] [ RUDIMENTARY: FIRST PRINCIPALS ] [ MEAT: THE WEIGHTIER MATTERS ]
3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4. For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6. I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
10. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13. Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
HAVE WE WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE LORD , OR BY AND FOR OUR OWN SELVES? ARE WE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT TELLS WHAT WE DID TO OTHER PEOPLE FIVE TIMES IN TEN MINUTES? DO WE WANT ALL TO KNOW WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING. DO WE SHOW EVERYONE THE FRUIT OF OUR WORKS? DO WE POLISH THEM UP AND SAY LOOK AT WHAT I DID? OR DO WE WORK FOR THE LORD AND LET HIM REWARD US ?
THERE ARE MANY AREAS WHERE WE COULD LOOK TO SEE RIGHT AND WRONG MOTIVES, BUT LET’S LOOK AT ONE SUCH AREA. LET’S GO FOR SOMETHING SIMPLE SUCH AS A CHURCH BAKE SALE. A PERSON THAT BRINGS A DONATION AND SAYS, " MOST PEOPLE ARE ONLY BRINGING ONE THING, BUT LOOK AT WHAT I HAVE BROUGHT. I BROUGHT COOKIES, CAKES, AND HOMEMADE BREAD. ) THAT IS A PERSON SEEKING RECOGNITION FOR THEIR GIFTS. THAT IS A WRONG MOTIVE.
WHAT IS OUR MOTIVE? ALL OUR WORKS IF THEY WERE BUILT ON ANYTHING BUT CHRIST, THEY WILL BURN. VERSE FIFTEEN SAYS WE WILL BE SAVED , BUT WE WILL SUFFER LOSS -- THE LOSS OF EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET A REWARD FOR. WILL YOU BE IN HEAVEN WITH A REWARD OR WILL YOU BE A SINGED NO REWARD CHRISTIAN? I SAY SINGED BECAUSE IF YOU HAD A WRONG MOTIVE YOUR WORKS WILL BURN.
IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO A FIRE SINGED IS WHAT YOU WILL BE.

SINGED:: to burn superficially or lightly :

.........................ALONG CAME A SPIDER.........................

Passage Proverbs 30:24-28
24. There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25. The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26. The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27. The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28. The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE SPIDER. THE SPIDER KEEPS WORKING.. KEEPS PRESSING ON. KEEPS PRODUCING. THE SPIDERS WEB IS PRODUCED FROM WITHIN AND PUSHED OUT. THE SPIDER HAS EVERYTHING IT NEEDS WITHIN IT'S SELF TO MAKE IT IN THIS WORLD. GUESS WHAT IF WE KEEP PUTTING THE WORD OF GOD IN OUR HEART WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED WITHIN US TO MAKE IT IN THIS WORLD. WE GRASP IT IN OUR HEART AND BIRTH IT INTO THE WORLD BY FAITH.

1 JOHN 4:3-4

3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

THE SPIDER IS CONSISTENT. THAT IS HOW WE SHOULD BE. AS LONG AS THE SPIDER IS ALIVE HE IS UNSTOPPABLE. YOU CAN KNOCK HIS WEB DOWN AND HE IS NOT PHASED. HE DOESN'T STOP, CRY, WHINE, GO INTO A DEPRESSION, OR GIVE UP.

HIS WEB IS GONE, BUT HE STILL HAS IT IN HIM TO KEEP ON PRODUCING AND HE MAKES ANOTHER WEB.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

HAVING DONE ALL TO STAND...STAND THEREFORE.

YOU CAN KNOCK THE SPIDER OFF HIS WEB AND AS HE IS FALLING HE KEEPS DOING WHAT HE KNOWS. HE PUSHES A THREAD OF WEB OUT AND IT SLOWS AND BREAKS HIS FALL SO THAT HE ISN'T HURT. THE SPIDER HAS EIGHT EYES , HOWEVER HIS EYESIGHT IS POOR. HE IS A GOOD HUNTER NOT BECAUSE HE SEE WELL BUT RATHER BECAUSE HIS LEGS ARE COVERED WITH FOLLICLES THAT SENSE MOVEMENT OR THE VIBRATIONS FROM MOVEMENT.

THE LESSON OF THE SPIDER IS THIS....THE WORD OF GOD, AND GOD HIMSELF IN YOU IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO OVERCOME ANYTHING IN THIS LIFE. KEEP WORKING AND DOING WHAT YOU KNOW. LEARN TO BE A DISCERNING SPIRIT RATHER THAN TRUSTING WHAT YOU SEE WITH YOUR EYES.

2 COR. 5:7 ( FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT)

Ecclesiastes 8:5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.

TIME: APPOINTED TIME

JUDGEMENT: DETERMINATION

THERE IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO DISCERN IT FROM OUR HEART.

Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

THE WORD SENSES HERE IN THE GREEK IS A WORD THAT MEANS: THE CAPACITY FOR SPIRITUAL APPREHENSION.

THAT IS WHY YOU MIGHT MEET SOMEONE AND THEY LOOK PERFECT, SO PRIM AND PROPER. THEY MIGHT TALK THE TALK, AND SAY ALL THE RIGHT WORDS, BUT SOMETHING INSIDE SAYS THIS ISN'T RIGHT. DON'T KNOW WHY, DON'T KNOW THE REASON, BUT KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG. THAT'S YOUR SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT. ON THE OTHER HAND THINGS MAY LOOK ALL WRONG BUT INSIDE GO HAVE A GREEN LIGHT THAT SAYS THIS IS ALRIGHT. THEY CAN LOOK GREAT AND BE GREAT AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE OK. THAT'S YOUR SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT. IT IS COMING FROM THE HEART AND NOT THE HEAD. HOW YOU EXERCISE THAT DISCERNMENT IS TO ACT ON IT.M WHEN SOMETHING GETS IN A SPIDERS WEB HE IS ON IT, NOT BECAUSE HE SAW IT BUT RATHER BECAUSE HE SENSED IT. A SPIDER DOESN'T HAVE A SPIRIT AND HAS TO RELY ON VIBRATIONS FELT THROUGH THE FOLLICLES ON HIS LEGS. WE ARE TO DO THAT THROUGH OUR SPIRIT. THE SPIDER SENSES THROUGH PHYSICAL SENSES BUT WE ARE TO DO IT THROUGH OUR SPIRITUAL SENSES. HAVE YOU EVER SENSED SOMETHING WAS COMING ? GOOD OR BAD ... RIGHT OR WRONG.. NOT BECAUSE YOU SAW IT, YOU JUST KNEW.

EVER GET A COBWEB ON YOU? IT STICKS, AND IS HARD TO GET OFF. WHAT IS A PROBLEM TO FLIES, BUGS, AND ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES IT, IS NO PROBLEM FOR THE SPIDER. HE GLIDES OVER IT WITH EASE. THE SPIDER PRODUCES AN OIL THAT KEEPS IT FROM STICKING TO THE WEB. WE ARE TO BE LIKE THE SPIDER. WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT ANOINTING. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS COMPARED TO OIL IN THE WORD. WE ARE ANOINTED BY THE OIL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DISCERN AND KNOW AND SEE AND GO RIGHT THROUGH THE STICKY THINGS OF LIFE THAT OTHERS GET STUCK IN AND BOGGED DOWN WITH. WE WHO HAVE TAKEN A LESSON FROM THE SPIDER AND PUT GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS, PRODUCE FROM WITHIN AND PUSH OUT THE ANSWER, AND WALK BY THE DISCERNMENT OF THE SPIRIT, AND NOT BY SIGHT, AND HAVE THE OIL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES ARE ANOINTED TO GLIDE THROUGH AND OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS OF THIS WORLD.

.....................THE REF........................
In sports you have a coach, a play book. Team mates, and opponents. The game has structure, rules, and regulations. It has penalties if you break a rule. Every play is designed to reach a goal. Every play of your opponent is designed to stop you.
The bible is God’s play book. In it is his general game plan. Every game has referee’s. God has a referee also.
In Colossians chapter 3 we find some great truths and instruction as to things we should not get into and some things to put on or do. Let’s read it.
Passage Colossians 3
1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6. For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
7. In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11. Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him
IN VERSE 15 WE FIND GOD’S REFEREE. LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS. " RULE" A MORE LITERAL TRANSLATION IS " BE THE REFEREE". WHEN THE REF BLOWS THE WHISTLE AND THROWS A FLAG IT MEANS A FOUL HAS BEEN COMMITTED. a RULE HAS BEEN BROKEN AND A PENALTY IS ENFORCED. THE PEACE OF GOD I S OUR REF AND WHEN WE DON’T HAVE PEACE IN OUR HEART WE NEED TO STOP AND SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE AND FIND OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO. GOD’S REF TRIES TO WARN US BEFORE WE MAKE A WRONG MOVE OR DECISION AND KEEP US ON TRACK. REMEMBER YOU WILL NEVER LOSE GOD’S PEACE BECAUSE OF WHAT OTHERS DO, IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU DO. GOD’S PEACE IS THERE TO STOP YOU SO THAT YOU DON’T MAKE THE WRONG MOVE AND TO KEEP YOU WALKING IN VICTORY.

.......................CHECK MATE....................
While reading one day I came across a section where the author was describing a painting in a French museum. This painting was called " CHECKMATE ". In it was chess board and the black rook and black queen were close to the white queen and white king. A man was sitting at the board with his head hanging forward cupped in his hands. On the other side was the devil laughing at him.
This piece of art speaks volumes. It has many layers of truth. To me the chess game represented life. The moves it took too get to where the playing pieces were at were choices made when the devil or simply life’s problems arose, or choices made in following the steps made in following the call of God on our lives.
In chess your opponents goal is to put your king in what is known as checkmate. Giving your king no outs and any move would result in him still being in checkmate. And your goal is the same against him. In life just as in this painting it is not people, places, or things that are our enemy, but rather the spirit that drives them. ( the devil )
The board has 64 squares in which you may choose to move your playing pieces. To me these squares represent choices that we make to take ground and neutralize the enemies advance into our lives, or choices we made that gave ground because we didn’t see a trap of the enemy.
One day as a tour was going through the museum and going on after looking at the Checkmate painting one person stayed behind studying the painting. After a while the tour guide came back and ask if there was a problem. The person said, "I am a chess champion, and as I look at this painting I think they need to change the name." " Why, " ask the guide. " Because you see the king still has one more move.
The artist painted it this way to get us to think. The man in the painting as well as in life at times thought or perceived he was checkmated. He was deceived by his own eyes. He still had options. His king still had one more move.
Example.. Have you ever been getting dressed and you looked to see which was the front and back of what you were putting on and after you got it on you discovered it was on backwards or inside out . Our senses can fool us. They can give us a false perception. We can not trust our senses.
2 Corinthians 5:7:
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
FAITH : truthfulness, conviction, consistency
SIGHT : exterior appearance, that which is exposed to view, that which strikes the eye.

How you perceive or the perception you have can put you in bondage or set you free....
Your perception is formed by what you give yourself too. The worlds way or God’s Way. The world will always oppose God’s way.. You can tell how much of the worlds way of thinking is in the church by simply saying what God says and stepping back and seeing if they agree or disagree. It is very important what you spend time looking at and listening to.
What you give yourself to will get into your heart. From your heart is where the issues of life are dealt with. What you perceive in your heart is what you will believe and act on From the heart you create your world...

Passage Proverbs 23:7:
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
This scripture is telling us that a person can tell us something and not be telling us what they truly believe. Ever hear a sportscaster say about an athlete, " His heart isn’t in it today"? That athlete has in his heart perceived he can not do it and has given up. When an athlete is so far behind there is no way to catch up, but he keeps on giving it his all, they say he sure has heart.
In proverbs 23:7 the word thinketh mean to estimate; to form an approximate opinion of( as to size, amount, number, etc) to form an approximate opinion about, a rough calculation based on incomplete data.
You are to study the word and as you do you will gather more data of who you are in Christ and what you can do and believe for and your perception and opinion or what you think in your heart will change, and you will be that.
The devil will try to work through circumstances and problems or people to cause you to form opinions and perceptions of yourself as worthless and useless. He will try to get you to perceive that you will never overcome.
As we grow in the Lord and listen to His Spirit as he gives guidance we will make the correct choices from the heart. Never give up always look up.
Let’s look at the of the chess board of life in the life of Elijah and the life of a widow woman that God sent him too.
Several times the widow woman was in a place she felt checkmated ( no way out ) but the Lord had one more move each time.. We have a king and he is the KING OF KINGS and he can never be checkmated
When ministering this lesson I used a large cardboard chess board with the squares being four inches square. I took a sheet of white and a sheet of black foam board and cut out thirty-two 4 inch squares of both. These squares would represent events, and choices made in life. I took First Kings Chapter 17 and broke it down into 19 squares of events and choices or moves made in life as in a chess game. This chapter is about a time in the lives of Elijah and a widow woman and I added things we face in our own lives and answers we can choose on the rest of the squares. If we truly believe and trust the Lord we will never be in checkmate. We will always through our King have One more move.
1 Kings 17
SQUARE ONE
1. And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 2 .And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3. Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
SQUARE TWO
5.So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
SQUARE THREE
6. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
SQUARE FOUR
7. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
SQUARE FIVE
8. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
9. Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
SQUARE SIX
10So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
SQUARE SEVEN
11. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
SQUARE EIGHT
12. And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
SQUARE NINE
13. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
SQUARE TEN
15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
SQUARE ELEVEN
16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.
SQUARE TWELVE
17. And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.
SQUARE THIRTEEN
18. And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
SQUARE FOURTEEN
19. And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
SQUARE FIFTEEN
20. And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
SQUARE SIXTEEN
21. And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.
SQUARE SEVENTEEN
22. And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
SQUARE EIGHTEEN
23. And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.
SQUARE NINETEEN
24. And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
As we look at these nineteen squares of the Chess Board of the lives of Elijah and the widow woman. Moves of the enemy were made to try to cause them to think Check Mate. It’s over no way out. And we see the Lord had one more move each time. The people had to obey and make a move and then the answer opened up. Elijah was Ask to hide by the brook. He had to go and do this, and the Ravens brought the food..
When the brook dried up he had a choice. God said to go to the widow woman. He could have thought check mate it’s over and stayed there and died. He went and when he found the widow she was in a mind frame of check mate. She had a small amount of meal and was going to fix it for her and her son and eat it and die. The Lord had one more move. He told the prophet to ask her for a cake first and then she and her son could eat and her barrel of meal wouldn’t waste nor the cruse of oil fail until it rained on the earth again. She had to make a choice. She had to make a move. She did and meal and the oil never ran out.
We come to many choices every day. The enemy is working to neutralize us and wants us to give up. He wants us to think there’s no way out.. CHECK MATE Jesus has overcome the world and greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. In Jesus our King we always have one more move. God is always presenting us with a choice as he directs our steps.. He never asks us to do anything that he hasn’t equipped us to be able to do. We must choose too step out and obey and put the enemy in check mate in our lives.
I was watching an episode of the show House tonight and he was playing a game of chess against a boy. The boy spoke up and rattled off a series of moves and counter moves and said to house you are going to lose so just turn the king over and accept it now.. House laid his king over. He kept the board as it was and studied it and found out he could have won. He told the boy this and the boy said I know I was bluffing. House took what he heard and formed a perception that he was going to be check mated and gave up.. That is what the devil tries to do to us. He tries to push us down and into believing that we just can’t make it but God always has a way. You can not check mate God. Life is series of choices. Never think there is no way out. Always choose God and his way. He has the answers for anything that is wrong in your life.

.........UNITY........
HOW DO WE ACT TOWARDS OTHER THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM US? DO WE SEE HOW THEY FIT AND COMPLEMENT US AND MAKE US MORE COMPETE, OR DO WE SAY THEY NEED TO GO BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT JUST LIKE US?
EPHESIANS 4:11-16
11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

JESUS IS THE HEAD AND WE ARE THE BODY. WE ALL ARE DIFFERENT BUT MAKE UP THE COMPLETE BODY. ON A BODY THE NOSE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE MOUTH, HOWEVER THEY BOTH ARE NEEDED. THEY ARE DIFFERENT IN LOOKS AND FUNCTION. PEOPLE ARE THAT WAY ALSO. EACH OF US IS GIFTED FOR A CERTAIN TASK. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO BE JUST LIKE YOU OR ME. WE MUST HELP SUPPLY EACH OTHER IN THE BODY JUST AS THE ARTERY SYSTEM IN OUR PHYSICAL BODY MOVES NUTRIENTS AND OXYGEN AND FUEL TO ALL THE PARTS OF OUR BODY. ALL THE MUSCLES, BONES, TENDONS, AND JOINTS WORK TO THE BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE BODY. WHEN WE REJECT OTHER FOR WHAT EVER REASON WE ISOLATE OURSELVES FROM THE MINISTRY AND GIFT THAT THEY BRING TO THE BODY. WE THEN CAN NOT FUNCTION AS WE SHOULD, AND BECOME A USELESS JOINT. WE BECOME LIKE AN ARTHRITIC JOINT ALL BENT AND TWISTED AND UNABLE TO DO AND FUNCTION AS WE SHOULD.

ARNOLD PRATER HAS SOME GREAT BOOKS OUT THERE. IN ONE OF HIS BOOKS HE MAKES PARABLES OUT OF BIBLE TEACHINGS. HE TOOK THIS SET OF SCRIPTURES AND CAME UP WITH THIS PARABLE.
ONCE UPON A TIME, HE SAYS ALMOST EVERYBODY WAS AN EAR. ALL THE EARS HAD A CONVENTION AND WERE HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME WHEN A NOSE AND A MOUTH WALKED IN, SAT DOWN ON THE BACK ROW, AND WERE VERY QUIET. BUT SOON THE SARGENT-AT-ARMS WALKED OVER AND TOSSED THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT EARS. BUT AFTER A WHILE THE CONVENTION HALL CAUGHT FIRE AND DESTROYED ALL THE EARS BECAUSE NO NOSES WERE THERE TO SMELL THE SMOKE AND NO MOUTHS WERE THERE TO WARN THEM THE PLACE WAS ON FIRE.

A PERSON THAT LOSES THE SENSE OF SMELL SUFFERS. A PERSON THAT LOSES HIS OR HER SIGHT HAS A MUCH DIFFERENT VIEW POINT. THE SAME IS TRUE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH. EVERYONE OF US IS ESSENTIAL. EVERYONE IS INDISPENSABLE.

part 2. OUR GREAT SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE AND THE PRESENT DAY MINISTRY OF JESUS
Passage Acts 4:12:
12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
JESUS CAME AND FULL FILLED HIS MINISTRY TO BECOME THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, AND BRING LOST MANKIND BACK INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER.

HE IS NOT SITTING AND WAITING TO COME BACK, BUT HE HAS A PRESENT DAY MINISTRY THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE HIM AS SAVIOR AND MAKE HIM LORD AND LIVE IN THIS WORLD AS KINGS AND PRIESTS TO GOD.

JESUS HAS MINISTRIES THAT HE IS DOING TODAY. HE IS NOT JUST SITTING AND WAITING. HE HAS A PRESENT DAY MINISTRY.
HE IS OUR MEDIATOR.. A GO BETWEEN FOR MAN AND GOD.

HEB. 8:6
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

1 TIM 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

JOB 9:33
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
JOB SAW THE NEED FOR A MEDIATOR TO GO BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

JOHN 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY WE ARE ALL HEADED TO THE SAME PLACE, JUST TAKING A DIFFERENT WAY. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY, ONLY ONE MEDIATOR, ONLY ONE TRUTH, AND THAT IS JESUS

AN OTHER MINISTRY OF JESUS TODAY IS THAT HE IS OUR INTERCESSOR
HEB. 7:24-25
24. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
INTERCESSION:prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another
JESUS IS INTERCEDING FOR US TO OUR BENEFIT.
JUST AS HE INTERCEDE OR PRAYED FOR PETER, HE DOES THE SAME FOR US.
LUKE 22:31-32
31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
HE IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS, AND IS INTERCEDING ON BEHALF OF US ALL.

HE IS OUR ADVOCATE- LAWYER THIS IS AN AWESOME PART OF HIS MINISTRY TODAY.
1 JOHN 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
EVER SEE A MOVIE WHERE A RICH KID GETS IN TROUBLE AND THE Family lawyer shows up. JESUS IS OUR LAWYER. SATAN IS THE ACCUSER. IF WE DO SIN AND WE REPENT THEN IT IS ERASED AND OUR LAWYER JESUS IS THERE TO BACK UP THE WORD AND SEND THE DEVIL PACKING. JESUS PLEADS OUR CASE.
Heb. 9:24 he loves us.
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
HE DID IT ALL FOR US.
Heb 4:14-16
Passage Hebrews 4:14-16 HE IS OUR HIGH PRIEST
14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We have a high priest, a mediator, an intercessor, an advocate, a lover of our souls. He is sitting in the highest seat of authority in the universe. His father that loved and sent him to take our place sits on the throne of grace. Jesus who loves you is seated at is right hand. They bid you to come boldly to the throne of grace.
Romans 8:31
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Heb. 7:22
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
GOD IS FOR US, AND JESUS IS OUR SURETY.
HEBREWS 9:16-17
16For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
JESUS CAME AND BROUGHT US A NEW AND BETTER TESTAMENT AND THEN DIED SO IT COULD GO INTO FORCE AND THEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD TO MAKE SURE IT WAS IN FORCED.
JESUS IS THE SURETY OF EVERY WORD FROM MATT. 1:1 T0 REV. 22:21
Surety: Personal Guarantee

part 1. OUR GREAT SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE AND THE PRESENT DAY MINISTRY OF JESUS
The Lord of Glory Himself came and redeemed us. He took my place, he took our place, he took your place, and all our punishment was put upon Him.
The Great Subsitutionary Work, and His work in the new creation would be of no value if He did not take care of and protect this new creation.
The church celebrates the birth of Jesus every Dec. 25th . They celebrate His death, burial, and resurrection every Easter. Way to many think that was it, and Jesus retired to sit at God’s right hand and wait for the word to go get the family. His death and burial and resurrection was the physical thing His body went through, however that was not all He was doing in those 3 days and nights. His spirit went and paid the claims of justice in the spirit. The sacrifice was not yet completed. More was to be done even after the resurrection.
Passage John 19:30:
30. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Finished: to accomplish to a point, not necessarily finished
What was finished? Most preachers I've heard say it was the Old Covenant and redemption was now here. Well redeemption wasn't here yet more had to be done. The word use and translated finished did not mean totally finished. It meant finished up to a point and not necessarily finished. Jesus still had to go satisfy the claims of justice in the spirit. He went to sheol or hell and took our punishment. Some say Jesus never went to hell , however if he didn't then you still have to go. He took my place in all things and that means all.
Luke 16:19-26
19. There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23. And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Abraham's bosom was a place that had two compartments divided by a huge gulf. The upper was the place of comfort where the old testament saints went to await the promise of the messiah. The other was a flame of fire and torment or hell. Lazarus was in the comfort side and the selfish rich man was in the torment side.
Ephesians 4:8-9 KJV
8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
After he paid the price in hell he bridged the gap and preached to the spirits in Abraham's Bosom and lead the out and right in to heaven.

Passage Acts 2:24 KJV
24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
This shows us where Jesus went because death had no pain except in the lower part or hell.

John 20
1. The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7. And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
[ THE NAPKINS IS VERY IMPORTANT. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND JEWISH CUSTOMS TO UNDERSTAND THIS. IT WAS NOT WITH THE GRAVE CLOTHES, BUT WRAPPED OR FOLDED TOGETHER IN A PLACE BY ITSELF. IN JEWISH CUSTOM WHEN YOU WENT INTO AN OTHERS HOUSE AND THEY FEED YOU AND FELLOW SHIPPED WITH YOU AND YOU WERE DONE. IF YOU ENJOYED THE VISIT AND PLANNED ON COMING BACK YOU FOLDED YOUR NAPKIN AND PLACED IT AWAY FROM EVERYTHING ELSE IN A SEPARATE PLACE ON THE TABLE. THIS SIGNIFIED THAT YOU ENJOYED THE VISIT AND WOULD RETURN.]
8. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11. But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12. And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.
14. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
JESUS HAD MORE TO DO AFTER HIS RESURRECTION. THE REDEMPTIVE PLAN WASN'T COMPLETED YET. HE TOLD MARY TO TOUCH HIM NOT FOR HE NOT YET ASCENDED TO HIS FATHER.
JOHN 20: 26-31
26. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
SOMETHING HAPPEN BETWEEN WHEN HE SAW MARY AND THIS MEETING FOR HE NOW SAID TO THOMAS THRUST YOUR HAND INTO MY SIDE. HE COULD NOW BE TOUCHED SO HE HAD GONE TO THE FATHER AND BACK. HE HAD TO FINISH THE REDEMPTIVE WORK BY GOING TO HEAVEN AND PRESENTING HIMSELF AND HIS BLOOD AS THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN HEAVEN, AND CLEANSE THE HEAVENLY HOLY OF HOLIES AND SPRINKLE HIS BLOOD ON THE HEAVENLY MERCY SEAT. HE COULD NOT LET MARY TOUCH HIM FOR IT WOULD HAVE TAINTED THE PURE SACRIFICE HE HAD TO YET DELIVER TO HEAVEN BEFORE GOD.

Passage Hebrews 9:12-26:
12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20. Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

[23. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25. Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.]
THE TABERNACLE ON EARTH WAS ONLY A COPY OF THE TRUE ONE IN HEAVEN. JESUS ENTERED IN AND CLEANSED THE TRUE TABERNACLE WITH HIS OWN BLOOD THUS COMPLETING REDEMPTION. HE COULD NOW GO BACK AND BE SEEN AND TOUCHED ON EARTH. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN WHEN MARY SAW HIM AND WHEN HE TOLD THOMAS TO THRUST HIS HAND INTO HIS SIDE.
IN PART 2 WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE PRESENT DAY MINISTRY OF JESUS. HE IS NOT SITTING AT GOD'S RIGHT HAND JUST WAITING FOR THE WORD TO GO AND GET THE FAMILY. HE HAS MINISTRIES THAT HE IS DOING FOR US.