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Word for Today:  May 6

The prerequisite for seeing.

You will never “see the Invisible” until you are born of the Spirit.  The natural man cannot discern the things of God because they are spiritually discerned.  You cannot walk by faith unless you are Born Again.

The natural world burdens the heart of the natural man and its problems load his soul.  He can only see things as they are and he cannot look beyond the natural and see the invisible.

Nicodemus was religious.  Nicodemus was educated.  Nicodemus was righteous.  Nicodemus was seeking God.  Nicodemus was moral.  Nicodemus was LOST and he was BLIND and he could not SEE the INVISIBLE.  He would have made an excellent church member, but he was limited by lack of sight.  Jesus said, except a man be Born Again he cannot see…

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Joh 3:3

If Jesus said it, it must be important.  He wants you to be able to SEE the INVISIBLE and DO the IMPOSSIBLE.  Apart from the New Birth this is will never happen.

Many who are saved have difficulty “seeing.” It is hard for them to “forsake” and “endure.”  They are continually knocked down and overwhelmed by the enemy.  They are overcome more often than they overcome.  They are subject to worry, fears, doubts and discouragement.  They are depressed and done in.  They are unhappy constant victims of violent mood swings.  One day is good.  Then ten are bad.  One victory is won, then fifteen are lost.  Ground that has been gained is constantly being lost and retreat is the only way out.

We need to receive Power.  We need an encounter with the Holy Ghost that gives us the ability to resist the devil and win the battle, see the invisible and do the impossible.

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:  Lu 3:16

Word for Today:  May 5

What God wants.

God wants His Kingdom to come in the earth.  God wants His will to be done in the earth.  God wants the same things that are happening in heaven to happen on earth.  This is the prayer that Jesus prayed in Matthew chapter 6:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven…

This is what God wants.

This is why you have a purpose in life.  This is why you can do all things through Christ.  This is the reason for the existence of the Church.  The Church is here to bring God’s Kingdom from heaven to earth.  If we are not bringing God’s Kingdom from heaven to earth we are not doing what we were born again to do.

The Christian Faith is not a salve for the guilty conscience.  The Christian Faith is not a passive religious experience to make people “feel” good.  It is a dynamic declaration of victory to the powers of darkness and a furious fight to take enemy territory.  The Christian Faith… especially the Spirit-Filled Christian faith is Warfare. We are fighting the Good fight of Faith.  The battle is the Lord’s and WE WIN.

Every time.  All the time.  Any time.

Earth’s Next Great Event

Jesus Returning for His Church

What’s next?  The Bible is very plain about the events that will take place at the close of this age.  If we know the Word we will know what is going to happen.  If we are aware of the Eternal Purpose of God we will know what to expect and when to expect it.  God never intended for His children to be ignorant of His End-Time plan.  Now, if you do not care, you will not know.  If you are lazy and carnally minded, you will not know.  If you are caught up in the world system, you will not know.  If you are bound up in religious bondage and dead doctrine, you will not know.  However, you can know and you will know if you open your heart to the Holy Spirit right now.

First, we are living in the End-Time.  There is no doubt about this.  Look at what the Bible says concerning events that will be taking place at the time Jesus comes again.  (See overhead)  From what I can determine from the Bible, there is not ONE PROPHECY left to be fulfilled before Jesus Comes Again.  His appearance is IMMINENT.

The NEXT EVENT will be Jesus coming in the clouds to take His Church  out of the earth.

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpadzo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord…”  1 Thes 4: 16-17.

“Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left.  Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come…”  Mat 24:40-42

This is referred to as the Rapture of the Church.  It is a “catching away” or a “snatching away” of all true Believers from the earth at a time when it is least expected.  It will be world-wide and it will be sudden.   It will be blessed for those are saved and it will be tragic for those who are lost.  According to the Bible, the Saved who have died and gone to be with Jesus will be reunited with their bodies and they shall “rise first” and then those of us who are alive and remain shall be taken up together with them in the air.  Suddenly, all the Christians will be gone from the earth.  Suddenly, all Christian influence will be removed from the earth.  Suddenly, all the church buildings and facilities of True Believers, will be vacant and empty.

Godly men and Godly women and Godly young people will ALL BE GONE.  Mothers will leave unbelieving children.  Daddies will leave unbelieving children.  Brothers will leave unbelieving brothers.  Sisters will leave unbelieving sisters.  Families will be divided.  Friends will be separated.  Only those who are READY will be taken.  Those who are living in disobedience, in rebellion, in open sin… those who are lukewarm and lazy will be left.  The True Christians will all be gone.  No one left on earth but the lost, the backslidden, the unbelieving, the skeptic… “the lawless and disobedient, the ungodly, the sinner, the unholy, the profane, murderers, manslayers, whoremongers, those that defile themselves with mankind, kidnappers, liars and perjurers…” (1 Tim 1:9-10)

All goodness will be gone.  All love will be gone.  All kindness will be gone.  All compassion will be gone.  The CHURCH will be GONE and the world will be left to the powers of hell and destruction.  Antichrist will emerge and begin to rule and millions will be tortured, persecuted, abused, murdered.  There will be another holocaust… but this one will be world-wide and it will cause blood to run in every street in every city in every nation on the earth.

Demon forces will be loosed on earth and suffering will be supernatural.  These events are plainly detailed in the Book of Revelation, Chapters 6 through 18.  After the Rapture, there will be NO ESCAPE.  The suffering and torment that will be experienced by those who are left behind is indescribable.  Men will cry for the mountains to fall on them and for the earth to swallow them up… they will scream for death but death will not come.  “…and the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief captains and the mighty men and every bondman and every free man hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand?…”  Rev 6: 15-17.

This is called the Time of Tribulation.  And it will last for a period of 7 years.  For 7 years the antichrist will reign and the earth will be ruled by demon forces.  There will be a continual series of Judgments… 7 seal judgments, 7 vial judgments and 7 trumpet judgments… Millions will die as this 7 year period of Tribulation ends with the Battle of all battles… the Battle of Armageddon.  “And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, thrust in thy sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”   (184 miles)  Rev 14:17-20.  See also Rev 19: 11-21.

While these events are taking place on earth during the 7 years of Tribulation, those of us who were Caught Up at the Rapture will be in heaven with Jesus.  We will be preparing for the Millennium.  We will be getting ready to return to earth with Jesus and to rule with Him for 1000 years.  There are two events that will take place in heaven while antichrist is ruling on earth.

First, we will go with Jesus to the Judgment Seat of Christ.  It is here that all Believers will be rewarded according to their faithfulness while they lived on earth.  We must each stand individually before Jesus and answer to Him in regards to our conduct on earth.  “For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels and then He shall reward every man according to his works…”  Mat 16:27  “…for we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God…”  Rom 14: 10-12  “For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad…”  2 Cor 4:10.  “And, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be…” Rev  22: 12.

It is here that we will be rewarded and receive our crowns which will be laid at Jesus’ feet.  It may be a time of great rejoicing and it could be a time of great regret.  We will be judged and rewarded according to our works.  We are not saved by our works, but we will be rewarded according to our works.  The rewards we receive and the crowns we are given will be cast at the feet of Jesus as we honor Him and worship Him.  It will be all that we have to GIVE to Him.

Next, we will accompany Jesus and all the Saints of all the ages to the Marriage Feast or Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God…”  Rev 19: 7-9.

Now, the choice is YOURS TODAY.  Which will it be, Tribulation or Triumph?  Suffering or the Marriage Supper?  If you could miss the wrath of God that will be poured out without mixture… surely you would.  If you could instead be guaranteed a place at the Marriage Supper, I know you would accept.  I am sent by God to make you an offer.  I am His messenger (angel) to give you that invitation.  What will it be?  What will you do?  God extends to you a request for your presence… will you accept?

Word for Today: May 4

Power’s evidence.

The Power of the Holy Spirit so prevalent in the New Testament is, unfortunately, not a present day reality in the majority of churches.

Signs, wonders and miracles are not the real evidence of Holy Ghost Power.  The evidence of the Power of God is:

• Changed lives.
• Sin, repented of and removed.
• Love and forgiveness prevailing toward those who have wronged us.
• Clean living and holy thinking and right doing.
• Caring more for prayer and fellowship with the Father than for personal pet pastimes.
• True Worship, Joyful Praise and Strong Word Preaching and Teaching.
• Desiring God more than anything else… seeking Him and crying out to Him and longing for Him.
• When everything that offends is cut away and put down… when all our Idols are smashed and reduced to dust.

The Power of God always causes SOMETHING to HAPPEN.  God’s Power produces results.

We don’t need more education or super-star preachers.  We don’t need bigger and better buildings or more efficient organization and more talented administration.  We don’t need more professional choirs and musicians and more skilled worship leaders.

We need the Power of God

And ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you… Acts 1:8

When Bad Things Happen

For whatsoever (whosoever) is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith…  1 John 5:4

Bad things happen.  They hap­pen to good people. They happen to people who are believing God and standing on the Word.  When bad things do happen what are we to do?

There will be issues we must address:

Why did this thing happen? 

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why do in­no­cent, good, spiritual, God-serving, God-fear­ing people suffer as if God is not concerned?  Where is God when everything falls apart?  Why doesn’t He do something?  Why can’t preachers and pastors produce a logical, truth­ful and scriptural an­swer to these perplexing questions?

Why do people worshipping God on Sunday lose their lives in a church that is destroyed by a tor­nado?  Why do Godly people who pray and seek God not get healed from their sicknesses and dis­eases?  Why are the most innocent and committed believers sav­agely at­tacked and devastated by demonic cir­cum­stances?

The only answer that is legitimate is “we do not know.”   We can lie and tell people we know why but the truth is “we do not know.”  This really seems like a cop out.  However, we need to remember that the devil is a mean devil and demonic forces are ruthless and in­tent on destroying those who love and fear God.  The most vicious attack is always aimed at those who are the greatest threat to the kingdom of darkness.  Satan is not fair.  Satan is mean.  Satan is the source of death, de­struction and defeat.  Bad things happen and they are caused by the devil.

“If those who are really committed to Jesus and who need a life-saving miracle can’t receive it, then, nobody can…” 

God does not answer our praying on the basis of how good we are.  God’s relationship ship to us is not based on our “goodness” or our “performance.”  God’s love for us is not based what we do or what we do not do.    God does not work in our be­half on the basis of how spiritual we are.  God does not come through for us on the basis of our living right, or praying right, or thinking right or being right.  God does not send us mira­cles because we are baptized in the Holy Ghost and because we speak with other tongues.  God’s grace is not given because of our goodness.   God answers us on the basis of the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ.   It is by the shed Blood of Christ and through the righteousness of Jesus.

“Well, what’s the use… I don’t have confi­dence in what the Bible says anymore…”

Do you realize that this is exactly the position the devil wants us to take?   If we doubt the Word and lose confidence in God, then the purpose of Sa­tan’s attack is accomplished.  The very place of victory is our faith.

…..and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. I John 5:4

If our faith is damaged and our confidence in God is diminished, then Satan has won and we have lost.  Wherever our faith is weakened is where Satan is strength­ened.  Whenever we begin to lose con­fidence in God, we begin to have confidence in the devil.  To leave one is to side with the other.  To deny one is to agree with the other.

Then, what are we to do? 

This is the time for us to REINFORCE OUR FAITH.   We should make our most powerful confessions in the times of our darkest trials.   We should not back out of our faith just because we got broadsided.  This is the time to fight the good fight of faith.  This is the time to be ag­gressive.  This is the time to get on the offense.  The best defense is a good offense.

Stand strong.  Speak boldly.  Sing.  Shout.  Dance.  Rejoice.  Read the Bible to the devil.  Call him in and make him sit down and have a Bible study with you.  Hit him where it hurts with the Word.  At­tack with the Sword of the Spirit.  Resist him and watch him run in terror.

Bad things happen because we live in a flawed world.  We live in a world that has suffered a crippling blow by the entrance of evil resulting from the fall of Adam.  As long as evil exists, bad things will happen.  They will happen to good people and to people who are not good.  It is a result of the sin curse under which the world (and world system) exists.

The ONE thing we always need to remember is that God is not the author of bad things.  God is a good God.  Bad things are caused by the devil and can be the result of bad choices people make.  They can also be a result of sin, disobedience and refusing the mercy and grace of our awesome loving God.   However they can be random and totally undeserved but an opportunity for the works of God to be revealed in you.

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. Jn 9:1

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jn 9:2 

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Jn9:3 

When bad things do happen…. Remember, God is right there with you and He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Intensify your determination to press on and press through.  Let the devil  know that he does not have anything that will separate you from the love of God.  Search the scriptures and find those verses that speak to your need and stand on them unwaveringly.  Talk to the devil and command him to back off.  Let him know that you are not ignorant of his devices and that you will never let him get away with his lies and his attacks.  His devices are all flawed and God has given you some mighty unfailing and super powerful weapons that are able to pull down his strongholds and break his control over your situation.  The more you strengthen your faith the weaker the devil becomes in his strategies and plans.

Every bad thing that happens to you is an opportunity for you to discover deeper levels of God’s grace.  In the very midst of it you will receive greater revelation of the goodness of God and the grace of God.  Understand that no test or trial is unique but it is common to man.  God is faithful and will with the trial also provide a Way of escape (John 14:6).

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1Co 10:13 

Word for Today:  May 2

Faith eyes

It is our old human nature that really wants to “see” results.  When we do not see re­sults, the natural tendency is to get discouraged and back off of our faith stand.  Remember, we walk by Faith and not by sight.   Walking by faith means that we see the “invisible” with our faith eyes.  When we see the invisible, we can do the impossible.  The Believer really “believes” when there is no natural evidence.

 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)  2 Cor. 5:7     

God is working in our behalf even when we see no results.  Our miracle is on the way.  Our answer is coming.  The great temptation is to “look” for something and “hope” to “feel” something in order to keep on believing.

Keep on believing and in God’s time you will not only see it but feel it as well.

We are promised that we will “reap in due season if we faint not…”  Gal 6:9

This is the unfailing promise given to us by our unfailing God.

Use your faith eyes.

What you see is what you get

Message delivered April 19, 2002 at LIFE CHURCH

Hag. 2:9   The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

Joel 3:16   The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: (undulate) but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Soon, the one most significant event since Creation will occur on this planet.  Every nation and people and tongue will experience the impact of this Spiritual Happening.  It will be the last and the greatest Move of God on the earth before the Return of Jesus.  This “thing”, I believe, is will take place in our lifetime and be the last and greatest sweep of the Holy Ghost before Jesus returns.   It will be a shaking.  A global shaking.  A shaking in the heavens and a shaking in the earth.  As this shaking occurs…

• The attention of the whole world will be FOCUSED ON THE CHURCH.

Because the Church will finally and ultimately become what it was created to be.  No longer a wimpy, wrung-out, sissy, thumb-sucking baby… but an Army.  The Army of God.  The militant, turned-on, Holy Ghost-Filled, Sword wielding, Church of the Living God.  Not afraid.  Not ashamed.  Not timid.  Not weary and worn out.  Not broken down and bruised and bleeding.   Mighty.  Powerful.  Fearless.  Militant.  Courageous.

• Powerful empires in the earth will be shaken by internal strife, scandal and division.

Our own government as well as some of the most powerful political figures in this nation will not escape this shaking.  It will not only be a shaking but it will be shocking.   Kingdoms thought to be unshakable will stagger and reel under the mighty Hand of God.

• The powers of darkness will break forth in fresh waves of terror.

Great destruction and mass hysteria will come and many will be tempted to give up and fall away.  Nation will literally rise up against nation.  BUT… out of this conflict will come a great Spiritual Awakening that will surpass all Revivals in recorded history.   Sleeping Christians will be jolted awake.  LIFE will literally come forth out of death and influence every living creature on planet earth.

• Millions of people will be saved even more who have backslidden will be reclaimed…

This awesome event will happen almost instantly.  Overnight.  Everywhere.  All over the earth.  Downtown street curbs will become holy altars upon which sinners will kneel and pray and seek the Face of Almighty God.

• Great Wealth and Riches will be brought into the Re-Born Church

(The true Body of Christ will be walking in obedience) and it will become the richest and most powerful Institution on earth.  Ably equipped to saturate the earth with the Gospel of the Kingdom.

• Every False Prophet and every false doctrine will be openly exposed to the world.

Every spirit of deception will be identified and revealed.   There will be no place for the false and counterfeit to hide.  Every secret thing shall be uncovered.  Hearts will be uncovered.  Motives will be revealed.  The truth about them will be known and announced.

• Great Supernatural manifestations of God will occur.

Signs,   wonders and miracles will take place not only in the Church, but on the streets and in the shopping malls and in the workplace.  Healings, and deliverances.  As well as signs in the heavens and in the earth.

• Millions of New Converts and reclaimed backsliders will fill Churches

Churches that are full of the Glory of God and this will cause overnight growth explosions… There will be great open-air meetings to minister to the throngs because no church will be large enough to take care of the crowds.

• Men and women, Young People and even little children will Minister in the Power of God.

Those who have been rejected by organized religion will be exalted by the Spirit of God and used to communicate the Gospel of Jesus in Great Power and Anointing.

• Business leaders and businesses and private enterprises which support the Re-Born Church will become the economic giants of the day.

Wall Street will be shocked.   The economists of the world will be dumbfounded.  The wealth of the earth will be redistributed… and shall literally be laid up for the Righteous.  The silver and the gold belong to God.

• All modern technology will be used to preach the Word to all the world…

All the creative genius being released into humanity will be focused on the Spiritual instead of the natural.  The exponential explosion of technical discovery and wisdom… all this for the Kingdom of God.  Satellite communications… radio…television… computers… the internet… and even newer and more exotic technology that is yet to be developed will revolutionize the preaching and spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

• The whole world will hear and know about Jesus.

Nations and kingdoms will be born into the Kingdom “in a day” just like the Bible says.   The Name of Jesus will be spoken on the lips of all mankind.  What a Day!  What an hour!  What a demonstration of the Glory of God!

This is the approaching Shaking.   This is the prelude to the Revival of the last days.  This is That which was spoken by the Prophet Joel.

All the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord.   Num 14:21

Word for Today:  May 1

It’s time.

“IT is finished!” It is done. It is settled. It is established. It is accomplished. It is MINE. God says so. The Word declares it. I believe it. Therefore I will be glad and rejoice in it. I will praise Him. I will worship Him. I will thank Him. I will show Him my appreciation.  It is Done.

Now, it’s time. It’s time for you and me to move out of our complacency and comfort and begin to take back what the devil has stolen. It is time for us to be aggressive. To be on the offense. Not the defense, but the offense. If we are satisfied to remain in our comfort zone… in the place we now are, we are turning our back on God.   We are limiting the Holy One of Israel.  We are slandering God and His divine purpose and plan for us.

Are you ready?

Will you demonstrate the Power and the Glory of God?  Will you do whatever it takes?

Where do you start?  Right where you are.  When do you start?

NOW