dickbraswell

Word for Today:  February 24

Do it now.

Today is the day of salvation…Now is the accepted time…

Some reading this will continue to live and look and see only in the realm of the natural.  Some will put this down and fall right back into the same trap and same bondage and same defeat and same failure.

Some will stay sick and stay whipped and stay depressed and stay lost.  Some will continue to be harassed and vexed and tormented by the devil and demons.  Some will say “next time” or “later” or “not today.”

Some may slip away and never be as touched by the Holy Ghost as you are being touched right now.

Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near…

He is Here.  He can be found right where you are this minute.   He is near.  He is calling you and prompting you to DO IT TODAY.  You have intended to.  You have planned to.  You want to.  The best place to start is right where you are.   The best time to start is right now.

So DO IT.  You need healing.  You need forgiving.  You need peace.  You need assurance.  You need to know that you are loved.  You need power over the devil and addictions and weaknesses.   You may need to start over again.  You may need to undo some things and you may need to do some things.

It is time for a Spiritual Re-boot. Today is your day for a new beginning.

Don’t leave this page without it

 The message today is entitled “Many Infallible Proofs” and it is a message of encouragement.  I would like to prove, without any shadow of doubt, that Jesus Christ is risen and Alive Today.   He is Risen.  He is Alive.  He Lives.  And this One Fact is the foundation of our Christian Faith and the central theme of the Bible.  It is this Truth that gives hope and assurance to every believer.  Luke writes in the first chapter of the Book of Acts that Jesus, Who was tried, tortured and crucified, was seen alive in His Resurrection Body by a multitude of people following His burial.  Luke declares that this Miracle of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is authenticated by many infallible proofs. 

1 ¶  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:    

Luke declares here that the Crucified and Buried Christ was raised supernaturally from the dead and was seen by many in His Resurrected and Glorified Body.   And that this Miracle was authenticated by many infallible proofs.  This Day, the Day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, is without doubt, the most important and significant Day in the History of all Creation.  This Day marks the Day that Believers were (and are) delivered from the powers of darkness and the bondages of sin.  This is the Churches’ Fourth of July.  It is the Day of our Liberation.  It is the Day that guarantees our freedom and “independence” from the control and influence of our enemy, the devil.  Since this is the Day the Church should declare as its declaration of deliverance, don’t you think it natural and fitting that this day should be filled with joy and celebration?  And Praise?  And thanksgiving?  And Worship? 

All four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, record the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.  The Apostle Paul writes of this in I Corinthians chapter 15:

3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Of course, in this last verse Paul was speaking about the vision of Jesus he had while he was on the road to Damascus fulfilling a mission to arrest and  imprison those who were believers.  Jesus revealed Himself, supernaturally, to the Apostle and this encounter forever changed the course of history.

 Paul declares in this passage that Jesus was seen by more than five hundred people at one time.  Later on Jesus appeared to Peter and then James and Thomas… but Paul says, “I saw Him with my own eyes, as One born out of due season and I heard Him speak with my own ears.”  Paul would say to us today, “I saw Him, I heard Him… I am an eye witness to this Miracle and I have some Infallible Proofs that He is Alive.” 

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was and is authenticated by many infallible proofs.  Even scientists have declared from their research and studies that the Literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ is unquestionable.  Theologians and educators and philosophers all through the ages have embraced this awesome Truth.  Jesus is Alive.  Now, since this is an established fact, I want to cheer you up and encourage you and give you some hope of the great things that are yet to come. 

Have you ever been discouraged?  Down in the “dumps?”  Stressed out?  Filled with despair?  Hopeless?  Worried and afraid?  Tired of living and afraid of dying?  Do you remember the comic strip character who always had a dark cloud over his head; and that followed him and stayed there wherever he went?  The black cloud of despair and hopelessness.  Whenever it rained it rained only on him.  Whenever lightning struck it struck only him.  Whenever anything bad happened it always happened to him.  Do you remember?  He walked around with the little black cloud hanging over his head all the time.  Everywhere he went.  It’s amazing how many feel  just like that little character.  “That’s me.”   It is you?  I can identify with this little guy.  I have been there myself.   Seemed like every demon of hell was on my case.  But, saints, the FACT that Jesus Christ is Alive and Involved in human affairs is the ONE FACT that can and will deliver us from living under a “black” cloud.  Just to Know that the Lord of Glory is by me, with me and in me is enough to dissipate that black cloud.  To be assured that He Lives is the Great Assurance and Guarantee that we have been delivered from the bad stuff and brought into real life… abundant life… the God Kind of Life.  We do not have to stay “under the cloud. Hallelujah. 

This “same Jesus” the disciples witnessed ascending into the heavens (Acts 1) is now our Advocate, our Deliverer, our Protector and our Friend.  This is a Good Word.  In fact, it is called the Gospel.  And the Gospel is Good News.  We should be encouraged. 

“My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ Blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest thing

But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name

When darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

And in every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the vale

His oath, His covenant, His Blood

Support me in the whelming flood

When all around my soul gives way

He then, is all my Hope and Stay

When He shall come with trumpet sound

O may I in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless to stand before the Throne

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand”

If you are standing on Jesus Christ you are standing on Solid Ground.  When the heavens and the earth are shaken, when things happen that you do not understand, when it seems that the whole world is falling apart and you are coming apart…  If you are standing on Him you will not fall and you will not fail.

“Bro. Dick, I believe what the Bible says about Jesus, but can you give me some infallible proofs today that prove that Jesus is Alive?”  “I have read and I know what the Bible says about the Resurrection then, but what about now?  Today?”  “Do you  have any infallible proofs to present if we were in a court of law and if you were an attorney and if I were a jury, could you PROVE that Jesus is alive?”  Friend, I have my case all prepared.  Are you ready?  I can show you and prove to you, without doubt, and not by circumstantial evidence, but by Fact that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and He is Alive.

I know that Jesus is alive because He still answers Prayer

Let me ask a question. Have you ever in your entire life experienced an Answered Prayer?  Do you personally know of anyone in your acquaintance who has ever had a definite, tangible answer to Prayer?  The fact that you have witnessed answered prayer is an affirmation of the Fact that Jesus is Alive.  Do you think it is worthwhile to Pray?  Do you think it is important to pray?  Do you believe that God controls affairs in heaven and earth and that He responds to sincere Prayer when you pray in Jesus’ Name?  Do you really believe that?  IF you do, the very fact that you believe that God hears and responds to prayer is proof that Jesus is Alive. 

My life has been and continues to be a demonstration of God’s loving care and direction.  He has heard and answered prayer.  This ministry is proof of answered prayer.  The fact that we have not only survived but thrived in spite of lying attacks of the devil, in spite of financial challenges… in spite of being ostracized and criticized…  and being faced with imminent foreclosure… when we were taken advantage of by crooked contractors and lying lawyers and bankers… when we were misunderstood and cut off from our denomination…  God heard and answered.  The Fact that we are HERE is proof that Jesus is alive.  Hallelujah. 

The fact that God heard our cry and provided for us and protected us and prospered us in adverse and impossible situations is proof that Jesus is alive.  When there was no way He made a Way.  He heard the praying of our men in our Saturday Night prayer meetings.  From those times of intimate praying and worshipping, we witnessed the birth of new ministries and mission outreaches. 

He heard our cry when we did not know how to accomplish His Call and His Purpose.  He gave direction and specific instructions as to the manner and means of establishing Church Government that would steer us though troubled waters and pending disasters. 

He heard my prayer for a Place where men and women and young people and children could worship and praise God in freedom and liberty.  He heard my cry for the opportunity to preach a Full Gospel to a people who were hungry to know the Truth.  He answered my prayer and gave us a family of loving individuals who would join hands and show the world, the devil and hell how God can take a little and make a lot out of it. 

We asked for nations and God raised up and called missionaries right out of our small congregation and sent them to foreign soil and they established churches which established more churches which established Bible Schools and Medical Clinics and humanitarian aid organizations and which ordained pastors and teachers and evangelists and prophets and apostles.  Don’t tell me Jesus is not alive.  Don’t tell me God is not Real.  Don’t tell me the Holy Ghost is imaginary….  Don’t tell me The Resurrected Christ is not building His Church…. You are too late with too little.  There is PROOF that He is Alive because of what He does in answer to sincere heart -felt prayer.  I can personally attest to that. And you can see for yourself the concrete evidence of Answered Prayer when you come and see what God has done.  He is Alive. 

I know that Jesus is Alive because He is still doing what He came to do.

He is still healing sick people.

A lifeless Savior cannot do that.  You know of individuals, maybe in your own family, who have been miraculously healed from sickness and disease.  You have witnessed the Healing Power of a Living Lord. 

I remember the times in my family when for years we had no medical insurance.  I have watched in amazement as He, the Healer, cooled the fevered brows of my children at times when they were sick.  I have experienced miraculous healings in my body in times when no doctors were around or no medicines at hand.  When times of flu epidemics and virus invasions and infectious diseases were all around, I saw them stay away from my house.  Because Jesus is the Great Physician.  He heals.  Still.  Just like He did on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  Instead of the “24hour virus” we opted for the 5 second virus.  And that’s about as long as they lasted.  I have seen tumors disappear.  I have witnessed deaf ears opening.  I have seen with my eyes the evidence of Miraculous Healings. 

This is another one of the Infallible Proofs that Jesus is alive.  I was there when Jesus healed in answer to prayer.  We laid hands on the sick and we watched God work in their behalf.  We anointed the sick with oil and called the Elders to pray and experienced the Presence of the Living Lord as He performed healings and deliverances.  How wonderful!   He still heals!  And He heals because He is Alive.

He is still delivering the oppressed. 

An uncaring, lifeless corpse cannot do that.  But a Risen Living Lord Can.  In His Life on earth, Jesus delivered the oppressed and cast out devils. 

I was in a meeting years ago in a Baptist church in Georgia.  We had just become aware of demonic oppression and demonic attacks that paralyze and immobilize individuals.  There was an individual in that community that had remained confined in his home, in a small darkened room, and who could not leave the house because of some kind of “phobia” the psychiatrist had diagnosed.  No treatment nor medicine nor counseling had been successful  in getting help for this case.  They just could not get out of that room.  They could not go to the grocery story.   The drug store.  The Mall.  They were bound.  And miserable.  They could not drive or leave the house.  The pastor of the church where I was preaching told me about this individual.  As a result of the recent Revelation God gave me regarding demonic activity, I simply told him this was the work of demons.  Demons. 

Boldly (and with some trepidation) I suggested that we go to that house and “cast out devils.”   I had never done this before.  I was not sure how to do it.  I only knew that the Bible said that Jesus did it and that we could do “even mightier works” if we would only believe.   We went to that house and confronted the demons head on.  We laid hands on the one possessed and oppressed.  We spoke to the demons.   We commanded the demons.  We resisted the demons.  We cast the demons out.  It was not a very pretty sight, but the poor oppressed individual experienced a transformation right before our eyes.  Light came in and Life was restored.  The demons left… reluctantly, but they left.  When they left so did the “phobia.”  And deliverance came.  That very evening, the person who was so bound and who had not been out of the house or off the property for years came to the evening preaching service and gave a powerful testimony of the delivering power of a LIVING LORD.  What Jesus did He still does.  And this is just another Infallible Proof that He is Alive.  Hallelujah. 

He is still making the Impossible Possible.  

Have you ever been faced with a hopeless and impossible situation?  A situation that absolutely could not be resolved by any human effort?  A place so hard that it would take a miracle for deliverance?    Jesus, the Resurrected Living Lord is Expert in making the impossible possible.  He did it then and He still does it today. 

I have been guilty of trying to fix things that could not be fixed.  I have been guilty of trying to figure a way out when there was no way out.  Jesus is Alive and is the Miracle Worker of all Miracle Workers.  When I read about the things He did in the New Testament that were impossible, it brings encouragement and hope to me.  He walked on the water.  He calmed the storm.  He stopped funeral processions and raised the dead who on the way to the graveyard.  He fed thousands and thousands with a few fish and a few loaves of bread.  He changed water in wine.  He opened blind eyes and unstopped deaf ears.  He forgave sinners.  He preached with power and brought Dead Organized Religion to its knees.  He is still making the impossible possible.  We have personally stepped out on nothing and watched as He turned Nothing into Something. 

In the times this ministry needed a miracle, the Miracle Worker was always there.  He caused an attorney to stand up and  prophesy a positive, delivering Word to me by the Holy Spirit   while I was in the presence of lawyers and bankers as they made arrangements to foreclose on our buildings and property.  It was a positive prophetic Word given in the mahogany paneled board room at a local bank and it came directly from Heaven from the Risen Living Lord personally to me.  Awesome.  Startling (especially to the CPAs, attorneys and bankers present) but so powerful that they could do nothing but give me another chance… and then God came through and delivered us from imminent foreclosure to the place where are  today.  Debt free.  From the burdens of millions and millions of dollars.  The fact that Jesus is still making the impossible possible is another infallible proof that He is Alive. 

Many, many times when challenges greater than our resources were set before us, God came through and met every need. 

He turned an apparent tragedy into a triumph when a dog my little boys loved got hit by a speeding automobile.    A beautiful German Shepherd named “Prince,” was a loving companion to my small boys but one day, in the presence of the boys, he was crushed under the wheels of a passing car.  They cried and called for me to come and get him off the road where he lay.  When I arrived, the sight was not pretty.  He was bloody, his legs were askew and he was lifeless.  As the boys stood by me I told them I would have to take Prince to the back yard and bury him.  Then one of the kids said “Daddy, why don’t you pray for him?”  An impossible situation.  How can I do this?  What will I tell them when I have to put Prince in the ground?  But I did.  I prayed.  But they had much more faith than I did.  I took the lifeless body and put it on the porch right by the front door and told the boys to go inside and get ready for bed (this happened late in the day).  I planned on burying Prince when the kids were asleep.  When they were all tucked in for the night I reluctantly went back to the porch where Prince lay.  Do you know, when I opened the door that dead dog jumped straight up and walked over to me and began licking my hand.  I was startled.  Dumbfounded.  And overwhelmed at the power of prayers prayed by little boys.  I ran inside, got them to come and see the Miracle of Prince.  And the ONE who makes the Impossible Possible proved once again with another Infallible Proof that HE is ALIVE.  

He is still repairing broken homes. 

He is putting marriages back together again.  He is making homes that were hell into homes that are heaven.  This is another infallible proof that Jesus is alive.  Remember the story of the Woman Jesus met at the well in Samaria?  Do you remember the things He told her about her personal life and her family situation?  Do you recall that He offered this distraught, broken and abused woman Living Water?  Water that would continue springing up inside that would forever quench a thirsting soul?  Water that would produce everlasting life?  And she asked to drink from this well of living water.  Jesus healed a broken and abused woman suffering from shattered and shallow relationships.  He still is in the Home Repair Business. 

Over the wonderful years I have been privileged to preach and teach and pastor, I have personally witnessed, time and time again, as Jesus came into hearts and homes and turned hopeless family problems into little heavens.  Where husband and wife really love each other and children respect and honor their parents. 

I was sitting at my desk one day  years ago and was speaking with a pouting, hate-filled husband and wife as they gave their marriage one last chance by agreeing to come into my office for counseling.  I listened to their accusations against each other.  I heard their complaints and criticisms.  I really wondered if this marriage could really be fixed.  God came into the room with us.  The atmosphere changed from North Pole frigid to tropical warm and cozy.  The icy remarks they were making trailed off.  Their smirks turned into soft smiles.  Their eyes locked on to each other and the tears began to pour.  Hallelujah.  The Home Repair Service was at work in front of my eyes.  Jesus moved in their hearts.  They renewed their commitment to Christ and then pledged themselves again and renewed their vows right there in my office.  They embraced.  Kissed.  Smooched.  I was almost embarrassed.  They hurried away to be alone and Once Again enjoy the remarkable remaking of their marriage and home.   Don’t tell me He’s not Alive… Only a Living Savior can perform such a miracle as this and this is another Infallible Proof that Jesus is Alive. 

I remember a  man who was unfaithful to his wife and not too ashamed about it.  And I remember a man who’s little girl crawled into his lap and asked; “Daddy does Jesus live in your heart?”   I remember the brokenness that resulted and the powerful conversion that followed.  I saw a shattered relationship totally healed by the question of a loving little girl and the work of a Savior Who loved even more.  A home emerged.  A strong home.  A home and marriage that today glorifies God was restored by a Risen and Living Lord.  Just another proof. 

An older man came one day to our Sunday morning service.  He wept through it all.  At the conclusion of the message he came and knelt on the floor in front of me and  with a broken and contrite heart asked Jesus to forgive him and come into his life.  He was gloriously saved by the power of God.  He became one of our most faithful members.   He was so broken and humble.  One day he told me that he had left His wife and they had been separated for many years.  His children had grown up and he was sort of an outcast.  He longed for his family to be together again, but, he said, it will take a miracle.  He got involved in the church.  He visited the lost.  His witnessing technique was unorthodox, but very effective.  Many Saturdays I would see him walking down the street from where he parked his car and knocking on the door of each house on the block.  When the man or woman of the house answered his knock, he would take off his hat, hold it in his hand and say “Maim, could I tell please you what Jesus did for me?“ Then he would share his testimony.  I don’t know how many people were saved as a result of his compassion.  But many did. 

He became the driver of our bus and brought loads of children to church each Sunday.  He would visit their homes on Saturday and line them up for the ride to church the next day.  One  home had a drinking father who was careless and abusive.  But this did not deter Bro. John from giving his testimony and inviting him and his children to come to church.   That man was Born Again one Sunday because of Bro. John.  And the once drunken daddy later became a fired up Pentecostal preacher and pastor. 

Then one special  Lord’s Day, Bro. John experienced another miracle.  His wife of years past looked him up, got together with him and they came to church together.  A few days later, they stood in front of me and renewed their marriage vows.  John’s Miracle had come to pass. And then… his children came back and began attending church with mother and daddy.   

Jesus, the Living Lord and healed another broken home and home had become heaven.  I preached John’s funeral a few years back and was able to tell his story to those present.  His witness still lives and this happens to be just another Infallible Proof that Jesus is Alive.

He is still giving purpose and direction to confused lives.

 It is just amazing to see how this Living Jesus is invading the lives of those who have no purpose or direction and transforming them into great testimonies of His Power.  I know of individuals whose lives were misdirected and wasted who are now living productive lives that are a testimony of God’s Power.  Remember how He saw a little man in a tree whose life was hated because he collected tax money?  The little man nobody had anything to do with spent the evening with Jesus and was changed forever. 

This is not to mention the fishermen brothers who came under the electrifying influence of this Man and who forever changed the course of history because they left their nets and followed Him.  And what about the countless others who were contemporary with Him, who loved Him and followed Him?  They stepped out of lives with no lasting purpose, no real direction and connected with Real Life and were foundational in the establishment of the Kingdom of God on planet earth.  That was then but look what is happening in the now. 

 Our very first missionaries were the most unlikely candidates for mission work anyone could imagine.  One was a former bar tender and beer hall partner plying her trade on the lower streets of our city.  She got Born Again.  And then began to preach on the very street she formerly sold booze on.  She paired up with an educated lady from New Jersey (with a master’s in social work) whose life was a wreck.   She often testified that she felt emotionally and spiritually as if she had been hit by a Mack Truck.  Her husband abandoned her.  Her relatives turned against her.  Her children were taken from her.  She was a basket case.  But she was Called.  And God put her back together again and what she became was much better than what she was.  (Doesn’t God always make things better than they were before they were broken?)

These two African American Women from a predominately White church with a White pastor obeyed the call of God and went to West Africa as missionaries.  Their pioneer work has exploded into multiple churches in four African Countries, many Bible Schools and thousands of converts.  Just another proof.  This Living Lord is giving direction and purpose to lives and producing awesome results for the Kingdom of God.  Another infallible proof.  Jesus is Alive. 

People everywhere need to have a purpose for living.  They need to have a reason for their existence.  They need divine direction for their lives.  Otherwise it becomes an aimless meandering and struggle through life and that kind of living is filled with misery and failure and disappointment and despair.  God has a plan for you.  God has a Purpose for you.  God has Direction for your life.  And you will never have lasting peace until and unless you turn loose of yourself and take hold of Him.  This is the only way you will ever fit into God’s Plan for your life.   

I knew a fine young couple many years ago who had everything most people would want to insure their happiness.  They both had college degrees.  The  wife held a Master’s in counseling.  He was in a management position and climbing the corporate ladder in a local international chemical corporation.  They were prompted by the Holy Spirit to seek something Higher and Nobler.  After many months of faithfully attending the church and serving in many leadership positions and loving the Word, they came to me and said, “Preacher, we are tired of just burping on all this good Word Food we need to really get on with the Call God has placed on our lives…we need to begin giving out what God has put in….” 

And they did.  They sold a beautiful contemporary home in an affluent neighborhood, they resigned their professional positions and sold all their goods.  They came to me and said “we are ready to go.”  They sailed to Australia and began supporting local ministries there… (living primarily off their savings since we had no mission funds to support them at that time) and from there they began laboring in mission endeavors in the Pacific.  Their influence has been (and still is) awesome in the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people, both young and old.  They connected with Youth With a Mission and taught and worked in the University of Nations in Kona, Hawaii.  God blessed them in abundance, both materially and spiritually.  And they got lasting relief from their spiritual Indigestion by losing their lives and finding Real Life.  Just another Infallible Proof that Jesus is Alive. 

He is still saving souls. 

He is today saving those who are lost.  He did in the past and He is doing it today.  The Day of Grace is NOW.  It has never passed.  We are blessed to be living in the Age of Grace.  When you go fishing you go fishing to catch fish.  When you go hunting, you go hunting to get game.  When I stand up to preach I preach to reach those who are lost.   That is the main purpose of the Gospel of Christ.  That is the main purpose of the Body of Christ.  That is the One Thing dearest to the Heart of God.  He loves.  He loves with a love that we as mortal beings cannot fully fathom.  He loves you.  He loves me.  He loves the world.  He died in order to save us from the penalty and curse of sin….

I remember one service in particular when there was a strong move of the Holy Spirit.  There was a Presence that permeated the atmosphere and we all “felt” it.  After preaching, I gave an invitation for salvation.  A young lady came forward and indicated to me that she wanted to change her life.  She told me that she had never been in any of our services in the past but that she came on this day to get her life in line with the Will and Purpose of God.  I began to ask her some questions (as I usually do) “’are you a Christian?”  “No, sir, I am not…”  So I just led her in a very simple prayer that all of us who are Born Again have prayed at one time or another.. .  “Dear Lord, I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins… I ask you, Lord, to come into my heart and save me today… I really believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God , the Messiah, and that He died on the cross to cleanse me from my sin… I give you my heart right now….thank you Jesus for saving me today…”  

Just as she was praying this simple prayer, those of us who were ministering to her, saw a visible and literal change come over her face.  Her entire countenance began to light up… in the middle of her tears a sigh of relief came and then a look of total and complete peace.  I really thought she was going to go straight up from where she was standing!   We actually SAW the peace of God come into her heart as she received Jesus into heart.  Right in front of me and the entire congregation.  What a miracle.

 A few days later she phoned me and explained to me that she had found her Messiah.  I did not know at the time she was praying that she was Jewish.  An Israelite.  That ONE race so near and dear to the heart of God.  Can you believe this?  Here we are just a small country church way out here in the boonies, no bill board advertising, no TV commercials, no ads in the paper… just out here.   And then a wandering, seeking, hungry Jewish girl finds us and finds Him.    No wonder she was radiant… Jesus is still saving souls.  Another infallible Proof that He is Alive. 

Because the Gospel is a “whosoever” Gospel, we are driven to seek the lost, whoever they are and wherever they may be.

It was a great privilege of ours to go into Russia shortly following the collapse of Communism.  I have never seen so many hungry souls in my life.  Hundreds.  Thousands.  We held evangelistic meetings in large Cultural Halls that would seat two or three thousand.  I saw those Gospel Hungry and God Hungry persecuted poor people line up two and three hours before we opened the doors.  Our teams would distribute New Testaments printed in the Russian Language and there would almost be a spiritual riot as they rushed to receive their free Bible.   The buildings would be filled to standing room only.  They would patiently listen to us as we struggled to preach the simple Gospel through an interpreter… and then we would watch every single individual in the entire building come to the altar at Invitation Time to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.   As we witnessed this notable work of the Holy Spirit, we were reminded once again.  Jesus is Alive… and Well.  He still saves the lost.  Another infallible proof that He is Alive. 

His Word is still Powerful.    

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Are you aware that everything that you see on earth and in the heavens is literally “held together” by His Word?  His Word “upholds” all things.  That term “upholds” means that the Word of God keeps things from falling apart.  It is the Cohesive Element of all Creation.  And it is by the Power of the Word of God that everything consists.

Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The Word has power to get you right.  The Word has power to keep you right.  The Word has power to solve every problem and meet every need.  God’s Word is alive and full of power.

Heb 4:12  For the word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Some years ago I chaperoned (along with some other parents) a bus load of fourth graders from our school as we traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to tour, among other educational sites, a planetarium. Inside the huge blacked out dome a strange projector was stationed in the center of the auditorium.  We sat in seats that allowed us to get a panoramic view of the ceiling…. Sort of like lounge chairs.  The place was darkened and the projector was turned on and on the domed ceiling we saw a representation of the starry sky.  You could make out the big dipper and the little dipper and many other constellations I had never seen nor been aware of. 

The guide explained about the position of the stars and the seasons and times.  I had never seen so many little dots of light in my life.  When I saw such a display of mass and distance and such an array of stars and galaxies and milky ways…. Chills began to run up my spine.  Do you mean to tell me that God made all these stars and planets and galaxies?  Did He actually do all this?  And then did He give man the intelligence and expertise to design and build a place like this that can duplicate in detail the creative Genius and creative Power of Almighty God?  And then the guide began to change the display and simulated us traveling on a speeding rocket ship as it traveled at warp speed through the mass of stars… and then there were more stars and more stars and more galaxies and more galaxies and more milky ways…. The further we went the more we saw.  Tears came.  Awesome.  Almost unbelievable.  And then I came to realize that all of THIS was created… came into being… by and through the Spoken Word of God…. “Let there be….”  And it was.

The Word has more power than death.  Than disease.  Than disaster.  Than the devil.  Than demons.  Than facts.  The Word is a First Order Force.  All things are subordinate to the Word of God… because the Word of God is Alive and Full of Power.

We took our boys to the creek one day for a special time to picnic and wade in the clear cold water.  We took a large watermelon and dropped it in a small eddy of swirling cold creek water.   Pat had put together some sandwiches and snacks… we were planning on a great family time together.  Once there, all unloaded, with everything in place, we heard a distant rumble.  On the horizon a very dark and intimidating cloud began to build and then flashes of lightning could be seen in the distance.  My little boys were so disappointed.  We had looked forward to this special time together.  As I prepared to pack things up and head back to the car, my smallest (about 4 years old) stood up pointed his little hand toward the ominous storm and said “storm I tell you go away.  Do not come here.  I tell you to leave.  In Jesus’ Name…”  I only wished I had demonstrated that level of faith… but I didn’t.  Probably good that I let him do it instead of me… because he had the faith and I did not.  And it left.  Because of the Word of God out of the mouth of a 4 year old.  Just another infallible proof.  Jesus is Alive. 

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus Lives today

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life’s narrow way

He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives,

(and this is the most powerful proof)     

He lives within my heart…..

I present my case to you in the matter of Jesus being Alive Today.  This has been my closing argument.  I have concluded beyond any shadow of  doubt (as should you the jury) that Jesus is Alive.  The tomb is empty.  Death is defeated.  The grave has lost its victory.  Satan has been overcome. 

Let us rejoice for our Savior who was dead is now alive.   And forever more shall He Live.   And those of us who place our faith and trust in Him shall also live and never die. 

The Maker of the Universe

As Man for men became a curse

And the claims of the law that He had made

Unto the uttermost He paid

His Holy Fingers made the bough

That grew the thorns

That crowned His brow

And the nails that pierced His hands

Were mined in secret places He designed

He made the forest from whence there sprung

The tree from which His Body hung

He died upon a Cross of wood

Yet He made the hill on which it stood

The sky that darkened over His head

By Him above the earth was spread

And the sun from Him that hid its face

By His decree was poised in space

Jesus loves you.  Jesus died for you.  Jesus wants you in His Family. 

And He is Alive…. Proven by many infallible proofs.

Word for Today:  February 23

Here is my bold confession for today:

“I am a member of the body of Christ

My decision has been made.

The die has been cast.

I have stepped over the line.

I will not slow down, back down, be complacent or stuck.

My past is redeemed and my future is secure.

I am done with low living, sight walking, small planning, unbent knees, wimpy dreams, weak visions, mundane talking,  greedy penny-pinching giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer have to have my way, be first, number one, recognized, regarded or rewarded.

I will live by faith and work with God by the Power of the Holy Ghost.

My pace is set, may step is fast, my goal is pleasing God, my road is narrow, my way may be rough, my companions may be few, but my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the place of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, let up, back up, or shut up. I will stay preached up, prayed up, paid up, and stored up, for the cause of Jesus Christ

I am a committed disciple of Jesus Christ.

I will go until He returns, give until I drop, preach until all hear and remain faithful until He comes.  And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

My identity is clear and my flag is flying.

I am not ashamed.

I will never be ashamed.

I will speak up.

This is the time I boldly, fearlessly and courageously Stand for God… no matter when.  No matter what. No matter where.

The only Thing that matters to me is Jesus Christ.”

I am His

Unless we have an adequate understanding of the Incarnation we will never begin to comprehend the magnitude of our Redemption.  The Incarnation is the work of God in Christ in which the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us.  This is mentioned in the first chapter of the Gospel of John.  The Word (Christ) became flesh and dwelt among us.  The Word is Jesus.   Here in John’s Gospel the “Word” is translated from the Greek “Logos” and John uses this term to describe Jesus Christ.  Let’s look at the first chapter of the Gospel of John beginning with verse 1:

 1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, (notice that “Word” is spelled with a capital W) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life (“Zoe” or the God-Kind of life. This is not “natural” life, but Supernatural Life; it is a Quality of Life.   God never fails.  If we live in the God Kind of life neither will we.  God has power and wisdom and love and all of His God Attributes.  If we live in the God Kind of life, so will we share in these attributes); and the life was the light of men.

5 ¶ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (Did not recognize Him).

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power (authority) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (If you have “received” Jesus He has given you authority to become sons of God with all the privileges that pertain to being a literal son of the Most High God.)

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (If you are “saved” you are Born Again of the Spirit.  You are not “after” the flesh nor “after” the will of man but you are Born of God according to His Will.)

14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Incarnation is the Fact that God condescended;  He left His place in Heaven, lowered Himself, and put on the clothing of humanity.  The Word became flesh and dwelt on earth among the human race and revealed to us the Nature of God and the Glory of God.  This is a foundational principle of our Redemption and we need to come into a full understanding about it.  Paul has something to say about this remarkable work of God in Philippians chapter 2: 

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form (nature) of God, thought it not robbery (something to be grasped at) to be equal with God:

(When Jesus was in heaven with the Father He had the “form” or all the attributes of God… He possessed the Nature of God because He is God)

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form (nature) of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

(When Jesus condescended to earth He “took upon Himself” the form [nature] of a bond slave or servant and was made [created] in the likeness of human flesh)

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(Where “form” refers to the “nature” of Jesus, “fashioned” refers to the outward appearance of Jesus.)

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (three realms… heaven, earth and demonic)

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 ¶  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure

We will attempt to present some of the benefits that have been made possible for every believer as a result of the Incarnation.   

When Jesus condescended to earth He “laid down” or left behind the nature or attributes of God that He had when He was in heaven with the Father.  The language in verse 7 says that Jesus “emptied” (made Himself of no reputation) Himself of His God nature and assumed the nature (form) of a slave made in the likeness of man.  He left His God Nature in heaven and took on the form or nature of a human being and that not just a “normal’ human being but the nature of a slave.  He became a “person” of the lowest caste… the most oppressed and humble of any human condition. 

Notice verse 8 where it is stated that Jesus was found “in fashion” as a man… in this case, “fashion” refers to the outward appearance where “form” refers to the nature or character of Jesus. 

Do you understand that what you see on the “outside” of a person does not reveal what is really on the “inside” of a person?  This is perhaps why the natural world missed seeing and knowing Who Jesus really was.  He did not “appear” to be God in the flesh but He was.  Jesus had the “fashion” of a man but He was actually God on the inside.   It is “natural” for us to believe what things “look like” but in reality, the real truth may be invisible to the natural eye… it is what is “inside” that is Truth.  This is one reason why natural man has difficulty understanding Truth…. Because natural man is programmed to govern his life by what He sees rather than what the Word says. 

Man was originally created so nearly like God (the Creator) until it was possible for God and man to be united in One Individual… Christ Jesus.  God created man in the beginning so nearly like Himself until it was literally possible for God and man to come together and be united in One Individual… the Man, Christ Jesus.  In Psalm 8 it is said that God made man a “littler lower than Elohim …”

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels (Elohim), and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

At the Incarnation, God “took on” human flesh.  Every person alive on earth right now is “wearing” human flesh.  This means that you and I were created so much like God until it is possible for God to come and abide inside of us. 

This “Incarnate One” was prophesied many times in the Old Testament.  Notice:

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it (Jesus, the Incarnate One) shall bruise thy head, (His victory over the devil) and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Satan’s attempt to destroy Jesus on the Cross)

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (“God with us”)

Isa 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end…

These Old Testament Prophets, anointed by the Holy Spirit, looked through the eyes of Divine Revelation and saw Jesus coming into this earth as the Son of God, the Messiah.  They received the revelation that there would be a Man somewhere in the future, Who would come to earth and make it possible for alienated humanity, separated by sin, governed by the devil, destined to hell, and held captive by the enemy, to be reconciled or brought back to God.  The Messiah would be the Means for God and Man to be put back together again.  These Old Testament men saw this through the eyes of prophecy, but they never saw it in reality.  They saw it prophetically.  But you and I have the awesome privilege of living in an age that has revealed this profound Fact to us in reality.  They lived in hope.  We have the actual Record (the Bible) of His coming and we see Who He is through the eyes of Faith.  We do not have to Hope for His appearance, we can look back in History and know that Jesus Christ is the One Who made it possible for man to be reunited with God… He is the God Man… the Promised One… the Messiah. 

Man is the only living creature who was created in the same “class” with God.  He (man) was made or created to fellowship with God.  If man is to fellowship with God and if God is to fellowship with man, man and God must be in the same “class” otherwise, fellowship is impossible.  Man cannot “fellowship with an animal or a plant or any other created being other than another man or with God.  This is because only man and God happen to be in the same “class.”  The only beings capable of “fellowship” are creatures who are in the same class.  Man is in the same class with God;   he was created in the “image” of God. 

It was in Christ that God condescended into human flesh, and through His condescension (Incarnation) made it possible for man and God to be reunited.  In time and in eternity.  Not temporarily, but eternally.  This means that every man who is Born Again is in reality, human flesh with God living on the inside.  This is not damaging the deity of God, but we can see that, in fact, every person who is Born Again is an incarnation…. Because “incarnation” (with a small “I”) means “God in flesh” or “flesh with God inside.”   If you are saved, God lives inside of your flesh.  You are flesh with God inside.  He is “in you.” 

 Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you…

If God is living in you, that means the power of God, the Nature of God the ability of God, the Person of God, all of God’s Attributes are latent inside of you and inside of every Born Again child of God.  This is why believers do not have to live a life of struggle and failure and fear and defeat….  God is inside along with His Power and His Ability.   We are able to overcome.  His Power is working in us. 

Eph 3:20  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

The idea is for us to walk in faith and “let God out” of us when we are in hard situations.  We just walk around letting God out.  This is how we “work out” our salvation.  We “work out” what God has “worked in.”   Many have no knowledge of what (or Who) is “in them” and this lack of knowledge brings about their destruction.  

Ho 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

 They live in a state of struggle and stress and failure… they “try” so hard and their “religion” and church and spiritual lives become such a burden until they are continually depressed and overwhelmed.  They are continually striving and working and laboring and attempting to maintain their salvation by and through their performance instead of by Faith.   A revelation of the Incarnation is life changing.  It will revolutionize your Christian Walk and give you assurances you never had. 

When we speak about “letting God out” we need to know how to “let Him out.”  It is a faith thing that is activated by our knowledge.  When we “know” the Truth the Truth we know, when acted on,  will make us free (deliver us from all demonic forces and powers.)   As we “acknowledge” every good thing (Jesus) that is in us our faith becomes “effectual” or energized.

Phm 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Faith works by and through Agape or the God Kind of love.   The major means of releasing the God inside of us is through love.  Love never fails.  Love is the One Thing that always works and never fails. 

When we begin to release God out of us, Love is going to flow like rivers of water.  It will get deeper and broader and swifter.  Nothing we do or say or believe will affect the world as much the rivers of love that gush out of us as we release the God Who is in us.   If God is love and this is His Nature, and if He is inside of us then we are enabled to love others with the God Kind of love.  When we let God out Love begins to flow.  When love flows out of us the Nature of God is released into the earth. 

As we begin to release God out of us, Faith is also going to flow.  Faith is the Nature of God.  Faith is the result of what your spirit eats.  When your spirit eats the Word and gets healthy on a Word diet then “faith cometh…” for Faith is developed by hearing the Word.   

Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith is a “natural happening” of a healthy spirit.  A healthy spirit hungers for more of the Word.   The Word in us produces the God kind of faith.  Faith working in us produces revelation.   Word revelation in us develops spiritual knowledge.  And when we act on that knowledge we are kept in victory. It is this Truth that makes us free.  Hallelujah.    

The human spirit has ears.  It has a mouth.  It has a mind.  It has emotion.  It needs attention.  When you continually and constantly feed your spirit the Word you become more and more conformed to the Image of Christ. 

The Incarnation is an established fact.  It is more than theory or theology or philosophy.    It is an historical fact.  Because the Incarnation is the fundamental principle of the Christian faith, the Christian Faith is Supernatural… not natural, but Supernatural.  It is supernatural because we have a Supernatural Redeemer.  His Incarnation is Supernatural.  He was born of a Virgin (Isa 7:14).  He is fathered by the Holy Ghost.  He is the “last Adam” Who completed and perfected the Eternal Purpose and Will of God that was thwarted in the Garden of Eden by the devil and disobedience. 

When God created Adam, God told him that He would create an “help meet” for him.  While Adam slept in a deep sleep, God took one of Adam’s ribs and from that rib made a help meet for Adam and called her a Woman… because she came “out of” Adam.  Then God commanded Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply” and replenish the earth.  All of their offspring were reproduced naturally.  Not supernaturally, but by and though the means of natural conception and childbirth. 

Adam was created by a Sovereign Supernatural creative act of God.  But you and I are created or produced by natural means.  We have a natural father and a natural mother and we were born through natural conception and childbirth.    Jesus was not born by natural means.  He was born of a virgin who was impregnated by an immaculate conception. His Father was not Joseph but God Himself.  Jesus was born of the Seed of Woman (Genesis 3:15) but a woman has no seed… she provides the egg, not the seed.  It is the Male that implants the seed.   The Seed of Mary, therefore, was the Seed of God Himself.  She brought forth a child that had in Him the blood and nature of God.  From the time of Adam until the birth of Jesus there was never a birth outside the natural means of conception and childbearing.  Every birth was by and through natural means.  But when Jesus came, He was born Supernaturally because He was conceived by the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost “overshadowed” Mary, the young virgin, and she was found to be with child.  I cannot explain this.  Nor can you. Nor can anybody else.  This is a supernatural divine and sovereign act of God Himself.  We do not have to explain this… we simply are compelled to believe it.  This divine fiat took place at precisely the right time. 

Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law…

God operates on a schedule.  He is always on time. He is never a day late or a day early.  Everything about creation (and our lives) is intricately and delicately planned.  God has a plan for everything and for everybody.  You are where you are and what you are because God has a plan and design for you.  When you follow God’s Plan and Purpose everything is good.  It may not appear good or feel good or look good, but it is good.  Because all things work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to His purpose… (Rom 8:28) 

What was the “fullness of time” Paul writes about in Galatians chapter 4?  It was God’s time for His Redemptive Plan to be completed.  God causes the rise and the fall of nations.  He institutes and positions certain individuals in places of leadership and authority.  God is the Divine Creator and Orchestrator of all of Creation.  He exercises authority and power over all creation. 

When Jesus was born approximately 2000 years ago, the social, geographical and political conditions were ideal.   Not until this specific time had ideal conditions existed for the revelation and manifestation of the Promised Messiah.  The Greek empire had risen to significance and gave to the world the most unique and descriptive and comprehensive language ever mastered by man.  It is exacting.  It is flexible.  It is descriptive. It is the most beautiful and expressive language the world has ever known.  God knew He was going to have a challenge putting all the awesome things He had in store for you and me into a language that we could understand.  The Greek language is the most beautiful and descriptive language on earth.  God needed such a language in order to describe the greatness of His Grand Plan for man.  For example, in the English language there is only one word for “love.”  In the Greek language there are multiple words for “love” and each one describes a different kind of love.  In the English language there is only one word for “life.”  In the Greek language there are multiple words for “life” and each one describes a particular kind of life.  In the “fullness of time” or when God deemed that a language was available which could closely articulate His Will and Plan, the Incarnation took place… Jesus came to earth. 

Not only was the social condition right, but at this particular time in history, the political situation was right as well.   The Roman Empire had risen to power and had conquered the nations surrounding the   Mediterranean Sea.  All these nations had been brought under one government.  For their time, the Romans were far more advanced than many other empires.  They built a massive and intricate road system that provided transportation and communication for all the nations under the control of the Romans.  These roads were open and gave access to all the nations in the regions surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.  Not only did the Romans develop a system for land travel, but they also open sea lanes and began to develop commerce with all the nations they had conquered and brought under the control of the Roman government. 

In the “fullness of time” God saw to it that roads existed for travel, sea lanes were open for commerce and a language was in place for communication…. All of these are necessary to communicate and “export” the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Good News.  The disciples traveled overland.  The Apostle Paul sailed the sea.  And the Gospel Writers had a medium to record the awesome Works of God.  “In the fullness of time.”  Now in this setting, God sent His Son “made of a woman.”  It is more than obvious that the Incarnation was not an accident or afterthought… but It was orchestrated and carefully planned to take place at this particular time by our Loving Heavenly Father… in order that we might be redeemed. 

The Incarnation makes a statement to the world.  If God was in Christ it is therefore possible for God to be in us. 

What benefits are available to every believer as a result of the Incarnation of Christ?  In Philippians chapter 2, our main reference regarding the Incarnation, notice:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

There is a particular word in this verse that is translated “made Himself.”  This word describes what happened at the Incarnation.  That word is “kenosis” which means “self-emptying” or “the emptying of self.”  There is no word comparable to this word in the English language.  Jesus “emptied Himself.”  This was an act of self will.  Jesus chose to “empty” Himself of His “God Form” He had in Heaven with the Father.  Jesus lived in this “God Form” with all the attributes and powers accompanying it throughout all eternity past.  At the Incarnation, Jesus “laid down” or “emptied” Himself of this “God Form” and took upon Himself the Form of Human flesh.   He did not do this temporarily.  He did not do this just for the 33 years He lived on earth.  When He laid down His God Form, He did it forever and forever.  Eternally.  He never “picked it up” and assumed His original God Form again.  He ascended into Heaven following His death on the cross, in a Glorified Human Body.  And He will be in that body when we see Him in heaven.  It’s amazing but He will have the only “imperfect” body in all of heavens’ population.  His body will be the only one with scars.  He arose and assumed His rightful place at the right hand of God… the focal point of all power in heaven and earth… and He rules there with a scarred body.  Pierced hands and feet and side and brow. 

At the Incarnation, when Jesus “emptied” Himself, it was His choice to eternally vacate His God Form and take on the Form of Human Flesh.  This Act of unimaginable sacrifice guarantees that every Born Again Believer will also live in a glorified human body throughout eternity in Heaven with Him.  Hallelujah.  This “heavenly body” will be resurrected, glorified, sanctified, full of the Holy Ghost, never sick, never sad, never tired, never worried, never aging, never flawed in any way… the mind will be open and unlimited, we will be able to Know even as God knows…can you possibly imagine living forever in a body like this? 

Look beginning at verse 9….

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

There is power and authority in the Name of Jesus.  The disciples were commanded to go out and cast out devils in the Name of Jesus.  They were commanded to heal the sick and raise the dead in the Name of Jesus.  In His Name and under His Authority every knee shall bow of all things in heaven, in earth and under the earth.  That is Angels in heaven.  That is all creatures on earth.  That is all the demon spirits and forces under the earth.  They all recognize the Authority and the Power in that Name.  The Name of Jesus.  When we speak that Name, all these forces and entities must submit.   Do you know we are at the mercy of the devil if we do not know and apply the Word of God?  Do you know that we are at the mercy of the devil if we do not exercise the privilege we have of using the Name of Jesus to force demonic powers to bow at our command? 

12 ¶  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

This verse has been quoted many times and, through misunderstanding, used as an excuse for doubt and unbelief.  What does it really mean to “work out your own salvation?”  What does an athlete do when he or she “works out?”  A work out is an exercise.  If we are going to work out our salvation it will be a process of exercise.  To work out our salvation is to be exercising (doing) what Jesus has told us to do.   This “work out” means that we will be doing what God has given us the Authority and Power to do.  The Works of Jesus.  Preaching.  Teaching. Healing.  Delivering.  Ministering.   Loving.  Giving.  Jesus Himself told us that we would be doing even “greater works” than He did while He was on earth (John 14:12). 

We live in and enjoy victory when we work out what God has put in us.  We become a blessing to the Kingdom.  However, in order to accomplish this level of victory, we must exercise what God has given us.  In every place of failure in the Believer’s life, the cause is not exercising (through ignorance, or disobedience or laziness) what God has put in. 

“Fear” in verse 12 is better translated as “dread “and does not mean horror or terror.  The term used here describes a “wholesome dread of displeasing God.”  When we have a “wholesome dread” of displeasing God… when we had rather do anything other than displease  God;  when we want our life to be so perfectly patterned after His will that He will be “well pleased” with us just as He was with Jesus.  Remember what God said concerning Jesus?  He said, “this is My Beloved Son in Whom I a well pleased…” (Mt 3:17).  We can prevent “displeasing” God through “exercise.”  By working out what God has worked in.   Resist saying wrong things, believing wrong things… resist depression, worry, frustration, stress… just exercise and work out what God has worked in.

“Salvation” here is the all-inclusive word of God’s Grace… soteria and it means deliverance from all oppression and bondage, healing of sickness and disease; it means having a sound mind and it means preservation through all satanic attacks.  It also means having the ability and power of God  and possessing all benefits provided by the Grace of God. 

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

What is God’s good pleasure?  We find out what God’s good pleasure is in Luke 12:32.

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

The Kingdom is God’s Perfect Will being done on earth.  God wants to give you and me the Kingdom.  He wants to give us His Perfect Will. 

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Here we see three levels of the Will of God:  good, acceptable and perfect.  The Perfect Will of God is the Word of God.  God’s Perfect Will is His Word.  God’s perfect will for you and for me is that we line up our lives with the Word of God.  When we do this, we find ourselves in the Perfect Will of God.  Anything less that this will get us in trouble.  We can examine our lives and discover the area in which we are having trouble.  Then we can search the Scriptures and discover what God says about it.  If we are having difficulty and problems with our health, we can search the Word and see what God has to say about healing.  Then, we can take authority over our body and force it to line up with the Word of God.  Our body must obey our spirit.  We can actually constrain our body to conform to the Word and refuse to take anything less than what God says we can have. 

The Bible says that the “thief comes to kill to steal and to destroy….” (John 10:10).  Do you know the main thing the devil is stealing from the church?  He is stealing the Word.  When we do not have the Word working is us, we are subject to all the attacks of the devil.  Whatever area of our life that does not agree with the Word of God is the area we will have trouble with.  It may be in the mental realm, or the physical realm, or the material realm… it may be in our relationships with others… whatever it is, we need to make our situation or circumstance line up with exactly what the Word of God says.  If we will “exercise” our authority over our body, our mind, our finances, our relationships, and our circumstances and make them submit to the Power that is in us… we will discover the “perfect will of God.” 

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ is the Foundation Principle of our Christian Faith and the core Truth of the Gospel. The concept is profound and often overlooked or misunderstood.  However, if we are to ever come into a fuller knowledge and understanding of the Nature and Character of God, we must have some measure of Revelation concerning this great Truth. 

This One Fact has proven to be the most assuring, confidence building and liberating principle that God has ever revealed to me.  It is a real challenge for me to mentally grasp the awesome details of the Incarnation and even more difficult for me to articulate it in a way others can fully appreciate it and accept it.  I pray that this study will open the door to a deeper and more passionate understanding of the Greatness of God and a fuller appreciation of the Measureless Love Jesus has for each of us.

What will it take?

What will it take to bring Real Revival to the Church?

Do we have to bottom out before we look up?

• We have built nice buildings, but this didn’t work.
• We have up-graded our facilities and padded our pews, but this didn’t work.
• We have paved our parking lots and landscaped our buildings, but this didn’t work.
• We have established great programs, but this didn’t work.
• We have brought in outstanding “world-class” preachers and evangelists and teachers, but this didn’t work.
• We have hired staff members and started Small Groups, but this didn’t work.
• We have promoted, organized, educated and funded but this didn’t work.
• We have established educational programs and Bible Institutes and recreational projects and we have preached on TV and Radio,  we have live-streamed our services, we have published books and pamphlets, but none of these have really produced New Testament Results.

What will it take?

•  Hungering for God
• Thirsting for more
• Longing for Jesus
• Seeking until we find
• Searching and believing
• Rearranging priorities
• Repentance
• Humility
• Sincere praying
• Full surrender
• Forgiving and forgeting
• Loving like Jesus loved
• A Divine visitation
• A Holy Ghost baptism
• A Pentecostal renewal

Only God can do what must be done to awaken the Body of Christ.  And when we make our Move, God will make His Move.

Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord…  Zech 4:6

The fifth chapter of Revelation gives us an exalted view of Jesus Christ.  At the time John wrote this he was exiled on the little island of Patmos which was located a few miles off the coast of Asia Minor. He was left there to die because he would not keep his mouth shut about Jesus.  Thank God for blabber mouths like John.  John was an old man at this time, probably in his 80’s, maybe even a little older, when the Romans left him there to die.   They did not know that he was going to have the time of his life when they left him.    The boat had not gotten out of sight good before he was on his face worshipping and talking to Jesus.  He had a vision.  An awesome vision.  A spectacular vision.  The Bible says he was “in the spirit on the Lord’s Day” and while he was ”in the Spirit” he was literally caught up and he saw some remarkable things that were “out of this world.”

The Book of Revelation is a description of the vision of John while he was on the Isle of Patmos.  This Vision takes us right into the gates of heaven.  And we get a full view of Jesus as the One in heaven Who is worthy.  The vision tells about a scroll held in the right hand of God that contained some wonderful writings on it.  The Bible says that it was written on the inside and on the outside but it was sealed with seven seals.  Every creature in heaven wanted to know what was written on the inside and the outside of that scroll.  But they could find no one who was worthy enough to open the scroll.  They searched all over heaven.  They looked everywhere.  But no one in all of heaven could do it.    John really wanted to see what was written on the scroll.  He was  disappointed  and desperate because it could not be opened.  So he began to weep.   Then  in the midst of this awesome scene in heaven, the Lamb of God appeared and took the scroll out of the right hand of God.    And all of heaven began to declare “Worthy is the Lamb.”  They sang a New Song.  It was entitled:  “Thou Art Worthy.”  (Verse 9)    Let’s read about this now in Revelation chapter 5:

1 ¶ And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, or in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 ¶  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Have you ever in your life seen or heard of a scene like this?   One day we are going to be able to hear that heavenly choir and the combined talents of the ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands proclaiming with one voice…. Worthy is the Lamb!  Worthy is the Lamb!  Wow!  What a concert that’s going to be!  

 I want to tell you something… listen to me… we are here at this place at this time on this earth to proclaim that Jesus Is Lord.  We are not here to build a church or to hear a preacher or to articulate a doctrine or to lift up a denomination…  we are here to proclaim that Jesus is Lord and Jesus is Worthy.  Do you agree with me?       

Let’s go back into the New Testament and observe Jesus as He walked on the earth in His physical and visible body.  There were two things that amazed people about Jesus…   They were amazed at His Power and they were amazed at His Authority.   When He spoke in the in the synagogue one of the first things those in charge asked Him was “by whose authority or by whose power do you speak…?”   The very tenor of His voice as He spoke and the very nature of the words He uttered conveyed the power and the authority of a living God.   People recognized that this was not an ordinary Man…. they recognized that this was not just another rabbi or just another teacher;  there was something supernatural and extraordinary about Jesus. 

There really was something extraordinary about Him, wasn’t it?  I remember a time recorded in the bible when He was in a small boat with His disciples headed for the distant shore, and they were caught in a vicious storm.    He just spoke the word in the back of the boat and the storm stopped   Do you remember?  He stood up and said “peace, be still” and all the wind stopped blowing and all the rain stopped falling and all the waves stopped their crashing.   Instantly, in the middle of a storm, Jesus spoke and there was peace.  There was calm  The storm stopped.   There was never before  a man like this Man. 

I remember a time in the Bible when He was walking down a dusty road and saw a blind man.  And Jesus had compassion on him.   The man had been blind from his birth.    Jesus spit on the ground and made some mud out of his spit (pardon the crudeness).   He took it and put it on the man’s eyes and sent him to the pool to wash.  The man went.  The man washed.  The man received his sight. Just like Jesus said.   The blind man was touched by this unusual Man and his unusual method and his eyesight was restored. 

Do you know that Jesus is Worthy?  I read about Him and I saw Him confronting demon powers… I mean the powers of the devil and hell… I saw these demonic forces tremble in fear at His presence because they recognized that He was very God.  I saw Jesus, this unusual, extraordinary Man, as He sought out the sick and the afflicted… the crippled, the diseased, the wounded and the hurt… those who were held captive by the power of sin… and I saw Him, with His gentle touch heal them and deliver them from death and distress.      Worthy is the Lamb. 

I saw Jesus as he forgave guilty sinners caught in the very act of the vilest of sins. In compassion He reached out and said: “go and sin no more… thy sins be forgiven thee…”  He raised the dead.  He cleansed the lepers.  He resisted the devil, He opened graves and He interrupted funeral processions.  What a Man is this Man I am telling you about!  He is no ordinary Man.  He is not a man like the world had ever seen before… This is a Man that all of heaven paid homage to.  John tells us that every knee in heaven bowed and every voice cried out; “Worthy is the Lamb.” 

What Jesus did then did He does today.  What Jesus was then He is today.   What Jesus said then He says today.    The writer of Hebrews says “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever…”   Jesus is changeless… what He did then He does today.  Who He was then He is today.  What He said then He says today.  Hopeless and helpless humanity teetering on the verge of moral suicide can reach out to this Lamb of God and be saved, delivered, and set free.  Amen. 

Someone right now is on the verge of collapse and defeat.  Someone is on the verge of failure… someone hearing this or reading this is about to break up and give up and quit… I’ve got good news for you… if you are in this condition God directed you to hear this message…  Jesus Christ is able to reach down into the darkest and deepest need of your life right now and remedy your situation… whatever it may be.  Nothing is ever too “broke” for God to fix.  Don’t you even think about giving up because Jesus Christ,   the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world… is Worthy and He is able right now to meet your need. 

John looked into heaven he saw all of heaven crying out “Worthy is the Lamb!”  Let me tell you about the Lamb of God.  Let me tell you about Jesus.  First, I want to tell you Who He is, and then I want to tell you What He does, and then I want to tell you Why He does it. 

Who Is This Lamb of God? 

Who is this man that all of heaven bowed down before and declared to be Worthy?  Who is He?  Why has He made such an impact on the human race?  How has He shifted the entire course of history? Just what kind of a Man is this Man they called the Carpenters’ Son? What kind of man is this who spoke and all of creation’s ears heard and heeded His voice? 

One day the disciples were at Ceserea Phillipi and Jesus asked, “Who is that men say that I am?”  The disciples said that “some say that you are Elijah and some say that you are John the Baptist and some that you are teacher or a prophet raised from the dead…” then Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?”  Remember what Peter replied?  Do you?  He spoke up and said “Thou and the Christ the Son of the Living God…”  And Jesus got excited when Peter said that… He said “Simon Barjona flesh and blood hath not revealed that unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven…”   “God has told you that I am the Messiah, the Anointed One, The Messiah promised in the Old Testament, the Prophet, the Priest and the King.”    That’s Who He is. That’s Who Jesus is.   John, the Gospel writer received a revelation of Who He is when He wrote in Chapter 1 and verse one:

 “and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth…” (John 1:14) 

Who is this Lamb of God?  Who is this Lion of the Tribe of Judah?  Who is this Root of David?   Who is this Person that all the inhabitants in heaven bow down to and cry out in voices filled with praise; “Worthy is the Lamb… Worthy is the Lamb…Worthy is the Lamb…?”

Do you believe what Jesus says?  Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life.”  Do you know what bread does?  Bread fills us up.  Bread satisfies our hunger.   Bread keeps us alive.  Bread nourishes our physical body.  Jesus is Heaven’s Bread sent from God to nourish our spiritual bodies and keep us alive.  Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life.”

Then in John chapter 8 Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.” Now, what does light do?  Light reveals and illuminates… what does Jesus do?  He reveals the character and nature of God to us.   He illuminates our way by the anointed spoken Word of God. He guides us by His Presence. He shows us the pitfalls of life. He protects us from the snare of the enemy.  I say to you… Worthy is the Lamb!  Worthy is the Lamb!

Who did Jesus say He was?  In John 10 He said, “I am the Door.”  What is a door good for?  A door is good to go in and to get out that’s what a door is good for.  And do you know what Jesus meant when He said I am the door?   He meant that “ by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”  Jesus Christ is the Door. He is our access into the very presence of God.  He is our High Priest.  He is our representative in Heaven.  Worthy is the Lamb. 

In John chapter 10 He said, “I am the Good Shepherd.” What does a good shepherd do?  A good shepherd takes care of his flock.  He makes certain that they are in the fold and out of harm’s way at night;  He is certain of their number.   He is certain of their safety.  He knows where they are  and  He takes care of their every need.  He never leaves them.  He never forsakes them.  He cares for them and keeps them secure and safe. 

In John chapter 11 He said,   “I am the Resurrection and the Life” and John chapter 15 He said, “I am the True Vine, If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” 

He gives us Resurrection Life.  Not just ordinary life, but supernatural life.  Resurrection life is the God Kind of life.  It is not psuche but it is Zoe.  It is the same kind or quality of life that God has.

As we “abide in Him” or take up our residence in Him and live in His Word, then He says we can ask what we will and it shall be done unto us.  Abiding in Him assures us of asking the for the right things.  And we ask for the right things the right way, we have what we ask for. 

Let me tell you how the world saw Him.  The world saw Him as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a dirty smelly barn.  But I see Him as King of Kings and Lord of lords.  The world saw Him as a carpenter’s Son Who would never amount to anything.  But I see Him as the Living Son of the Living God. The world saw Him as a defeated Dreamer hanging lifeless on a cruel criminal cross. But I see Him as Victor over death hell and the grave. 

Worthy is the Lamb!   The heart of Old Testament Scripture is Messianic in purpose.  You can hardly find a chapter anywhere from Genesis to Malachi but what there is some glimpse of Jesus. The very heart of revealed scripture is Messianic in nature.  Jesus  is like a scarlet thread woven into the fabric of every page of the Old Testament.  And that tapestry comes to a full and complete revelation when we get to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 

He was foreshadowed in the Garden of Eden shortly Adam’s miserable fall when God spoke to the serpent and said;

 “I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise His heel.”  

This is a direct Messianic Promise declaring that there would be One coming Whose heel would crush the serpents’ head.  In turn the heel of that Coming One would be wounded and bruised by the serpent.     He was clearly seen by the prophets in the Old Testament.  They did not know Him in the flesh but they knew Him by the miracle of divine revelation.  Every prophet of God in the Old Testament had a glimpse of the coming Messiah.  In Isaiah chapter 7, the prophet wrote;

 “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son and call His name Immanuel”  

That Name means “God with us.”  In Isaiah chapter 9 and verse 6 the same prophet by divine revelation foresaw Jesus and said;

 “His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.” 

In Isaiah Chapter 53, which was written nearly 800 years before Jesus was born, is the wonderful chapter portraying Jesus as the suffering Servant. 

“He was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed….”   

All through the Old Testament there are glimpses and foreshadows of the coming Messiah.  David, Israel’s great singer, sung in Paslms about Him before He was born.

 “The Lord is shepherd I shall not want He maketh me to lie down in green pastures He leads beside the still waters He restoreth my soul…”  

We find Jesus in every book on every page in practically every verse and every word;  the Old Testament is an arrow pointing unerringly to the coming time when all the world would recognize…

 Worthy is the Lamb of God!  Hallelujah. 

I see Him typified in many ways it the Old Testament.   I see Him in Noah’s ark because Noah’s ark was God’s provision to keep safe a faithful few who believed in the word of God.  The Ark was God’s miraculous provision for safety and deliverance for the believing family of Noah, the builder of the ark.  When the rains came and the judgement of God fell, those huddled in the safety of the ark were spared.  They inherited a New World.  A Fresh World.  A Purged World.  This typifies the Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ in the Grand Plan of Father God.  The Ark of Safety is a type of the One Who is Worthy.  

 I see Him as the Passover Lamb.   When the Hebrews were held in the grip of Egyptian bondage, they prayed for God to look upon their affliction and deliver them.   And God heard their prayer.   One by one the plagues were sent and finally Pharaoh let the people go… but not before the Passover was perfected.  I see the father in the Hebrew household as he goes out and slays that little sinless paschal lamb.   I see him as he takes the blood and catches it in a basin and take a branch of hyssop and dips it in the blood and then goes to his house and strikes the blood across the top of the door and on each door post.   I see him as he goes in his dwelling knowing that God said;

“when I see the blood I will pass over you… When I see the blood I will pass over you.”   

This Passover Lamb is a type of Jesus Christ. 

I see Jesus personified and typified in the Old Testament tabernacle.    I see Jesus pictured as the promised Son and Seed of one hundred year old Abraham and ninety year old Sarah.  I see Jesus typified in the House of Israel and the intricate sacrificial system of the Jews.   Don’t you see that God has moved heaven and earth since Creation in order that we can  know…

 Worthy is the Lamb!  Worthy is the Lamb!

Where is your heart today?  What is your attention set upon?  Where is your life headed?  Is it to know and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord of All? Is it to know that He and He alone is Worthy?   All other things in this life are secondary to the central fact that Jesus Christ is Lord of All… Lord of all!   

Who is He?  Who is this Jesus?  I’ll tell you Who He is… He is God in the Flesh.  He is  Very God  Who condescended  and took on human form and human flesh. He is God clothed in humanity.  He is God wearing a human suit.    Philippians 2:7 declares that He made Himself of no reputation… that is, He laid down (took off) His deity and put on humanity.  He vacated His God Form and God Power and God authority and then left heaven that he might walk on and in this earth and redeem us from the curse of Adam’s disobedience.   He became Man in order to redeem mankind from spiritual and eternal death.  Deity put on humanity so that we could walk in forgiveness and divine healing and health and be delivered from every power of the devil.   

Where are you today?  Do you know that Jesus is Worthy?    This is the day when all humanity needs to bow at the feet of a Risen Ascended and Glorified Lord.   This is the hour when we ought to recognize that we are the visible, tangible body of Christ on  earth and we are to carry out the commission that He gave us by going throughout the earth and preaching and teaching and baptizing in His Name… by telling the world that Jesus is Worthy.      

 What does He do? 

Everybody who has ever had a personal confrontation with Jesus Christ knows that Jesus Does Something.    The Savior I serve is not a god placed on a shelf who never does anything, never breathes, never feels ,never sees, never knows;  but the Jesus I’m preaching about is Worthy and He is a Savior Who does things.

 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me… “

Jesus quoted this one day in Nazareth as He read in the synagogue.  They gave Him the Scroll and told Him to read.  He read from the prophet Isaiah and quoted this very passage which is found in  Isaiah 61:11.     This is what He said to those religious leaders:

 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord hath… (number one) anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; (number two) He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted; (number three) He has sent me to comfort all that mourn; (number four) He sent me to give beauty for ashes; (number five) the oil of joy for the mourning; (number six) the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.  (parentheses mine)

 Isaiah 61 tells us what Jesus does. 

He is the Anointed One Who preaches Good Tidings to the meek.

He has been sent to bind up the broken hearted.

He is here to comfort all who mourn.

He restores beauty to the disgraced and defamed.

He gives us joy in the place of mourning and

The Garment of praise in place of the spirit of heaviness.

I Jn 3:8 declares that Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil.

“For this purpose was the Son of God manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil…”

What does He do?  He reconciles man to God. 

Three things happened when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden.

Number one, spiritual death came on the entire human race.  

Number two, man was alienated from his Creator and

Number three,  a Curse came on this world. 

That’s what the devil did.  That’s what happened when Adam sinned.  But  Jesus undid what Adam did.  Jesus undid the mess that Adam made.  Where man died spiritually through Adam’s disobedience, we are made spiritually alive by our faith in Jesus.  When sin drove a wedge of division between the Creator and the creation, Jesus came and reconciled man to God… He reestablished our fellowship with the Father.  

I’ll tell you what else Jesus does…  Jesus delivers us from the Curse.  Hallelujah. 

Gal 3:13 We are redeemed from the curse of the law…

This is what He does. He reconciles man to God, He reestablishes our fellowship with God  and then He justifies us and makes us righteous.  Wow!  Would you like to be Righteous?  Faith in Jesus Christ makes us Righteous.  According to the Word, our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ produces the righteousness of God in us. Jesus takes up residence in our heart and trades our sin for His Righteousness.  

Being Righteous means you have a right standing with the Father.  It means you are justified.  (Made Just-as-if-I’d never sinned) He sanctifies us.  He sets us apart as His own creation and soon He will glorify us by causing us to put off the garment of this human flesh and put on the garment of our resurrection body.  Then, we will live in perfection.   We will think in perfection and we will be everything God ever created us to be. Hallelujah.   

 What does He do? He’s at the right hand of the Father in Heaven interceding for you and me.     He is personally praying for the unity of His body.   He is on His throne at the Father’s Right Hand.  He is the Head of the Church and He is directing its affairs.    He is supervising angels and spiritual authorities and powers.       

What does He do?  The  Gospel of John shows us  that He saves lost people.  Lost people just like Nicodemus.  He restores broken homes just like the woman at the well who had five husbands and who was living with a man who was not her husband.   He heals the sick and afflicted just like the man who was lame for 38 years and who patiently waited by the Pool of Bethesda for his healing.

What does he do?   He feeds the hungry and fills the empty just as He fed the 5000 with a few fishes and a few loaves of bread.  He satisfies the longing heart with spiritual food that can and will sustain through times of great distress and disappointment. 

What does He do?  He forgives sinners.  Check out the adulterous woman who was caught in the very act of sin in John chapter 8.  So you think you are guilty?  We all are.  And Jesus is the Great Forgiver.  Not only does He forgive, but He removes our sin from us as far as the east is from the west.  In other words, to a place of infinity.   To a place where they do not even exist anymore.

What does He do?  He gives life to the dead just like He gave life to four-day-long dead Lazarus.  At his tomb when they rolled the stone He said “Lazarus… come forth”  and life came into that four day old corpse… a corpse that was already decomposing.   The power of God exploded in it, gave that dead body life, and brought it out of the grave.  Jesus is our Guarantee, our Warranty that we too shall overcome death and the grave.  At His voice, the dead shall be raised and those of us who remain at His Coming will be changed instantly… at the blink of an eye… and we shall be like Him.  Hallelujah.

What does He do?  He comforts the distressed… In John chapter 14 He gathered His disciples together and He said “let not your heart be troubled… you believe in God believe also in me…”   What a profound Word!  We have the capacity to “let not… ” to stop our heart from worrying and being stressed out; to prevent our heart from being afraid and from being filled with anxiety.   When times are tough and impossible situations loom we can “let not” and prevent worry from overcoming us and rendering us helpless and hopeless. 

I tell you what… this Son of the Most High God became poor… He was Heaven’s Prince… He was at the right hand of God… He was administrating all of heaven’s affairs …. He was in Ivory Palaces…. He was in charge of all creation…. But the Lamb of God became poor that we might become rich.

 2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

He chose poverty to give us prosperity.  He chose to “have not” in order that we might “have.”  He was the richest and wealthiest individual in all of creation, yet He willingly laid down His wealth and took on our poverty.  “For our sakes” he became poor that we might, through His poverty, become rich.

He came down that we might go up.  He became sin that we might become righteous. He was sent into the jaws of hell that we might ascend into the glorious boundaries of heaven.   He had no home… no place to lay His head.  He had no garment to call His own except those that were given to Him as gifts.  He said the birds of the air have nests and the animals of the field have homes to go to but the Son of Man hath not a place to lay His head… a “homeless”  Son of God is today, right now, at the Father’s side building extravagant and unimaginable mansions for us.  Hallelujah.

  Col 1:15 “for by Him were all things created that are in heave and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created by Him and for Him He is before all things and by Him all things consist…He is the Head of the Body the Church He is the beginning the firstborn from the dead that in all things He might have the preeminence…”

The Word of God says that Jesus holds all things together.  There is only One Element that keeps all creation in perfect balance and harmony…  and that is the influence and the Power and the Authority of the Lamb of God.  Listen to me church… The planets are kept in orbit; the stars are set on fire and kept on fire, the suns continue to give forth their light, all the galaxies hang in perfect balance;  and everything in creation consists and holds together because of Jesus. The Lamb of God.  “Worthy is the Lamb.”    Worthy is the Lamb.   Since we Know Who He is  and we Know what He does… the third question I told you I would try to answer is this:

 Why does He do it? 

There is no explanation, none whatsoever, for the reason He does it apart from His matchless, boundless, measureless, eternal love.  There is absolutely no physical, visible, scientific, way or reason that He should do What He does other than the fact that  He just loves us.  Just like we  are.   With all the human limitations and imperfections and shortcomings,  He just loves us.  He just loves us.  He just loves us.  He is Love personified.  He is Love demonstrated.  He is Love manifested.  He is Love illustrated.  He is Love embodied.  He is Love epitomized.  He is LOVE.  Worthy is the Lamb.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life…

Why does He do it?  That’s why He does it.  Because He “so loved the world….”

For God comendeth His love toward us that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us…

The mystery is… He loves us.  The fact is we as human beings will never be able to comprehend the “why” so there is no logical or reasonable explanation left for us to understand this demonstration of God’s compassion and care for us.  Limited as we are in our darkened understanding… we cannot comprehend the measure of God’s love.  If I stood here until Jesus came and until angels blew their trumpets and until the skies were rent in two and until every grave was opened and every saint in ages past were raised by the power of the Omnipotent God… if I preached constantly till that day I could not tell you nor explain to you the measure of God’s love. 

Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made

Were every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade

To write the Love of God above

Would drain the oceans dry

Nor could the scroll contain the whole

Tho stretched from sky to sky

I’ve always been amazed at what happened to people when they saw Jesus.  They were never the same again.  Never.  They were changed.  They were different.  They were taken into a new place in the human experience.  Not only were they changed, but the world as they previously saw it was also changed.  God “became” evident everywhere.  In all of creation.  The grass was greener.  The flowers were more spectacular.  The birds sang better and the whole world became a demonstration of the Glory of God.   Worthy is the Lamb. 

The Prophet Isaiah saw Him high and lifted up and then he beat upon his breast and buried his face in his hands and he cried “Woe is me for I am man of unclean lips.”  

Moses saw Him and he was told to take off his shoes because  he was standing on holy ground.  

John saw Him on the Isle of Patmos and fell at His feet as dead.

Thomas saw Him when He walked through the wall and appeared there in the midst of the disciples,  and old doubting Thomas put his finger in the print of the nails in His hands and His feet and His side and he said  “My Lord and my God…” 

Paul saw him on the dusty Damascus road when a light as blinding as twelve sunshines shone in the middle of the day, and he fell on his face and cried out  “Who art Thou, LORD?”

I saw Him one day when I was a 12 year old boy sitting about half-way back in a little country church… and after of years of fear, dread, and frustration, anxiety, nervousness… I saw Him.   I did not know a fraction of what Jesus had for me, the only thing I knew was that I was afraid and I needed some help.  And I came in my own childlike way that night to the altar of a Baptist church and prayed a simple prayer… and I saw Jesus. 

Jesus has been gracious to me through all these years.  He called me to preach.  He has protected me from all kinds of satanic oppressions. He lovingly gave me this ministry to share with you the Good News.   I’ve never been more fulfilled in my life than I am right now.  I am grateful to God.  When you leave here today, I want you to leave with just one theme on your lips and that is…

WORTHY IS THE LAMB.  WORTHY IS THE LAMB.

Word for Today:  February 21

Seems that everyone is interested in the harvest.

The masses are ready for the crops to come in.  They are hungry and weary.  The time for the increase is anxiously waited for.  Believers want the blessings of harvest.  They want crops.  They want fruit.  They want increase.  Unfortunately few are interested in Seed Time.

There will be no harvest if there has been no planting.  What we do with the seed determines what kind of harvest we will reap.  The seed amount determines the harvest amount.  The more seed the more harvest.  The less seed the smaller the harvest.  The seed we plant determines the harvest we reap.

There is a Bible Principle that is very important when we consider the harvest we want.  Since most are interested in reaping an abundant harvest, it is important to understand that the harvest we reap will be according to the seed we plant.

Like begets like.  This is a principle that is built in and basic in all of Creation.  Like begets like.  Cows have cows.  Pigs have pigs.  Horses have horses.  Corn begets corn.  Peas beget peas.  Beans beget beans.  Like begets (produces) like.  Birds have birds.  Fish have fish.  Every kind of life begets the same kind of life.  The kind of seed you plant determines the kind of harvest you get.  When a farmer wants cotton, he plants cotton seed.  When a farmer wants beans he plants beans.  When a farmer wants potatoes, he plants potatoes.

Like begets like.

What crop do you want?

Then, what are you planting?

Word for Today:  February 22

New Ground.

My farmer grandfather always saved his New Ground for his watermelon crop.  He said if you want the biggest, the best and the sweetest watermelons, plant the watermelon seed in New Ground.

New Ground is the Best Place to plant the Word Seed.  We have been cleansed by the Blood.  We have had all the stumps removed and the rocks hauled away.  We have been leveled and cleaned and nurtured by the work of the Holy Ghost.  Our hearts are ready for the seed (Word) to be planted and for life to come forth.  Sometimes we produce a crop or two.  But, then, something happens.

• Neglect moves in.
• We become weary or tired or discouraged.
• Somebody hurt my feelings.
• No one spoke to me. The music is too loud.
• The preaching is too long.
• The worship is too radical.
• Nobody notices me.
• I don’t have a place.
• My gift is being ignored.
• I am being overlooked.
• God does not answer my prayers.
• This faith stuff is not for me.
• I tried but things got worse.

Are you in here somewhere?  Have you been thinking these things?

Unless we are constantly producing regular crops, our hearts be­come fallow ground.  Hard.  Crusty.  Dry.  Dead.  Lifeless.  In need of breaking up.  Until it is broken, the heart will remain cold, lifeless, dead and unfruitful.

… break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12

Show me Jesus, ever always,

That I may broken, humble be,

And that you, O Loving Father

May show others Him…  through me

Word for Today:  February 18

The Glory of God.

When God created Adam his outstanding characteristic was the Glory of God.

Man was made in the Image (likeness, shadow) of God.  Man shared the Glory of God.  He became like God.  He received the Character and Nature of God.  He received the Mind of God.  He received the Power of God.

He literally took God’s Place on the earth as the One in Control.  He had the Glory.  He lived in the Glory.  He walked in the Glory.  He manifested the Glory of God.  All creation Knew.  Saw.  Witnessed.  Beheld.  Everything living and everything inanimate recognized the Glory of God in Adam.

The real problem began when man lost the Glory.  Adam sinned and when he did he lost the Glory.  The Glory departed.  And death entered.  Where Glory was now death is.   “Death entered…”  And death will stay until the Glory is restored.

When a person gets saved, he comes into the Glory of God.  He is crowned with the Glory that Adam lost.  Adam had the Glory and he lost it.

We are born without the Glory and at Salvation we get it.  When we get the Glory of God we get Life.

He that hath the Son hath life. 1 John 5:12

I am come that ye might have life…  John 10:10

Glory and Life are synonymous; Death and no Glory are synonymous.

The full manifestation of the Glory of God will be the last thing that takes place before Jesus comes back.  The Church, this age and this hour are destinations for the Glory of God.  We are purposed, created and brought into this narrow band of time in order that we might come into the full manifestation of the Glory of God.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.   Isa 60:1

“For we walk by Faith, not by sight…”  2 Cor 5:7

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…”  2 Cor 4:18

“By Faith, he (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he (Moses) endured as seeing Him Who is invisible…”  Heb 11:27

“Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven…” John 3:3

            God calls His People into realms beyond the natural.  We are birthed into a higher dimension when we get Born Again.  According to Paul, “if any man be in Christ, he is a New Creation, old things are passed away; behold all things are become new…”  2 Cor 5:17.  The New Creation is delivered from the “old things” and brought into the realm of “all things new”.   The Word says “we are in the world, but not of the world…”  We are citizens of “another country” and we have been raised up to sit with Jesus in “heavenly places…”   The New Testament is the Believer’s Instruction Manual.  It tells us how to Live in the realm of the Supernatural.  It gives instructions about how to live Heaven’s Life here on earth.  It provides Revelation regarding our Position in Christ and our Purpose on earth.

            In the New Creation provision, we are called to See the Invisible.  The Word says:  “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…”  This is not some psychic phenomenon, or some fortune-teller foolishness, but a real Command to Look beyond what we see until we see what God sees.   Until we are able to “see the invisible” we will never be able to do the impossible!!  If we are living in the realm of the possible, we are just like all the other natural, “mere” men on the earth.  You know and I know that we are not called to be “mere men” but New Creation Men!!  We are Born with Heaven inside us!!  We are called and commissioned to take the world away from the devil and lay it again at the feet of Jesus.  We are a New Breed.  A New Species.  We are Aliens on earth because we are Born to Live in Heaven.  We are a generation of Jesus People, equipped with the Word and empowered by the Spirit.  We must See the Invisible!!

            The Church is living far below the full potential God has birthed in it.  Most who make up the Church do not know the hidden forces that are in them.  The very Forces that make God God are inside every Believer!!  There is great and awesome potential inside every New Creation in Christ.  Why do you think the Word tells us that we “can do all things through Christ…”?  Why do you think God tells us that “nothing shall be impossible to you…”?  Why do you think God promises us that “if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven…” We are called to be “more than conquerors…” and we have been equipped with mighty weapons of warfare that are “not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds…”  God is calling LIFE CHURCH to SEE THE INVISIBLE and DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!! 

            Look at Moses.  He FORSOOK Egypt.  He saw beyond the Natural and the Immediate and into the Spirit and the Future.  He left what everybody thought was a “sure thing” because he saw the Invisible.  The world held no attraction for him.  Money, power, rank, station, reputation, future…. all these were weighed against the “Invisible” things he saw by faith and the promises of God were much better than the wealth of the world.  Hallelujah!!   He left the world, the world system, and the things of flesh behind and he “endured” (kartereo: to be strong, steadfast, patient) because he saw the invisible.  Seeing the invisible is preceded by Forsaking and Enduring!!  Faith has a flip-side!!  It is not all just “believing with the head and heart” it is believing with a DETERMINATION to Do the Word and Obey God!!  “Faith without works is dead…”

            How do we “see the invisible”?  How can we penetrate the Dimension of the Supernatural?  How do we get “raised up” so that we can sit together with Christ in Heavenly places?

I.  OPEN YOUR EYES.

            “Except a man be Born Again, he cannot see…”  John 3:3

Get saved.  Stay saved.  Resist the attractions of the world and live for God.  Get Baptized in the Holy Ghost and submit to the Spirit of God.  Walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. 

            You may not be able to “see” because you are not right with God.  You can 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 and not by sight unless you are Born Again.  The natural world burdens your heart and the problems load your soul.  You can only see things as they are and you 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, he was BLIND, and he could not SEE the INVISIBLE.  He would have made a GOOD CHARISMATIC, but he was limited by lack of sight.  Jesus said, except a man be BORN AGAIN he cannot see…

            If Jesus said it, it must be important.  He wants you to be able to SEE the INVISIBLE and DO the IMPOSSIBLE.  Without the NEW BIRTH this is will never happen. 

            Many who are saved have difficulty “seeing” and “forsaking” and “enduring”.  They are continually knocked down and drug through 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 and continually victims of violent mood swings.  One day is good.  Then 10 are bad.  One victory is won, then 15 are lost.  Ground that has been gained is constantly being lost and retreat is the only way out.  You need to receive Power from on High.  You need an encounter with the Holy Ghost that gives you the ability to resist the devil and win the battle!!  You need to be Filled with the Spirit and Baptized in the Fire of God!! 

            Seeing the invisible and doing the impossible.  The first priority is to GET BORN AGAIN and BAPTIZED with the HOLY GHOST!!

II.  REALLY BELIEVE

            “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth…” Mark 9:23

            Faith Vision is seeing THINGS AS THEY CAN BE instead of seeing things the way they are!!  Faith vision is seeing THINGS as GOD SAYS they can be instead of seeing things as the WORLD SAYS they will be.  To believe is to abandon all REASON.  To believe is to hold to TRUTH instead of being moved by FACTS.  To believe is to hook up to the WORD and to plug into GOD.  To believe is to resist all doubt, negativism, and pessimism.  To believe is to TRUST IN and RELY ON and DEPEND ON and ADHERE TO God and His Promises.

            Faith believes when there is NO HOPE.  Faith trusts when there is NO FEELING.  Faith relies on when there is no ENCOURAGEMENT.  Faith adheres to when ALL ELSE FAILS.  Faith holds on when everybody gives up and everything falls apart.  You can see the INVISIBLE when you look beyond the NATURAL.  When you resist every symptom and rebuke everything that contradicts the Word of God.  Faith sees.  Even in the dark.  Faith sees over the horizon and beyond the natural.  Faith is really believing.

            David BELIEVED.

            Joshua BELIEVED.

            Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego BELIEVED.

            Moses BELIEVED.

            Abraham BELIEVED.

            Paul BELIEVED.

            Jesus BELIEVED.

            Because they BELIEVED, they SAW THE INVISIBLE and ACCOMPLISHED THE IMPOSSIBLE. 

Jesus Christ is the SAME, yesterday, today, and forever!!  God is no respecter of persons.  What God did for others, He will do for you and me.  And he will do it NOW!!

III. DO IT NOW.

            “Today is the day of salvation…”

            “Now is the accepted time…”

            Some here today will continue to live and look and see only in the realm of the natural.  Some will leave here and fall right back into the same trap and same bondage and same defeat.  Some will stay sick and stay whipped and stay depressed and stay lost.  Some will continue to be harassed and vexed and tormented by the devil and demons.  Some will say “next time” or “later” or “not today”.  Some may slip away and never be so touched by the Holy Ghost as you are today.  “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near…”  He is Here.  He can be found right where you are.  He is near.  He is calling you and prompting you to DO IT TODAY. 

You have intended to.  You have planned to.  You want to.  DO IT NOW.  You need healing.  You need forgiving.  You need peace.  You need to know that you are loved.  You need power over the devil and habits and weaknesses.  You need to SEE THE INVISIBLE so that you can DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.