The Power of Overcoming "The Power Of The HolySpirit"

We are are going to talk about one of the most important people to know in order to overcome. The precious Holyspirit. He is the mighty third person of the Godhead. Hes the very power of God and he was there in the beginning hovering over the face of the deep. Jesus said that he would be the comforter that he would send that would lead us into all truth and bring back all his words to our rememberence. Its very important that we have intimacy with him. In the book of Genesis we find a profound phrase Adam KNEW EVE(Gen 4:1) The word knew here comes from the greek word GINOSKO. It is the greek word from where we get the english word intercoarse. Its deep deep intimacy. Now lets not forget that hes the mighty power pieace of the Godhead. Because of that the enemy wants to interupt that intimacy. We were created to have it. However the enemy is the master of conterfeit. Relationships can be one at times. God gives us all things richly to enjoy and the institution of marriage is one of them. However it was meant to be a suppliment not a subsitute. There is a line that got popular in the movie Jerry Macguire You complete me" There has never been a more untrue statement uttered! We are already complete in HIM who is the head of all principalities and powers(Col 2:10) Now we can see the urgency in the words of Jesus saying IT IS EXPIDIENT(neccessary) that I GO AWAY(John 16:7) The disciples at that time did not understand that. Jesus was the best thing that ever happened to them and they could'nt percieve or concieve life without him. Jesus told them where Iam going you cannot go. Jesus knew that the intimacy by the sending of the HolyGhost was going to be better and more deep than anything that they had ever expierenced. Now in closing this blog lets begin talking about the Omnipresence of God and the Abiding presence of God. The Lord said in and through the mouth of David Where I can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to the higest depth or make my bed in Hell your there(Psalm 139) This is talking about the fact that Gods everywhere. Hes in the forest, and at the supermarket. We have all heard people say that they are like the closest to god while hunting or fishing. Why? Its because they do sense him because Hes everywhere all at one time. However theres also is his ABIDING presence. This is his presence indwelling on the inside of us. In the book of John Jesus said that comforter that He would send in his namke would abide in us forever(John 14:16) The Lord said through the mouth of Paul that we are the temple and tabernacle of God! I like especially in the book of second Corinthians I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK IN THEM and I WILL be their God and they shall be my people(2 Cor 6:16) When we enter into a place we are litterally taking his presence with us because its in us.EVERY born again believer has his abiding presence on the inside. Nonethingelse will fulfill or satisfy. Jesus said that a mans life does not consist in the abundance of things they posses(Luke 12:15) Notice he did'nt say not to posses its just that are lives dont consist of it. In other words stuff without the presence of God is stale. This is the reasons that many with millions become suicidal. The bible declares that God hath set eternity in our hearts(Ecc 3:11) This means that there is a God shape hole on the inside of us that only he can fill. Attempting to fill it with anythingelse is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. The creation can never have satisfaction apart from its creator. We get this abiding presence when we recieve Jesus as lord. Jesus said WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN(John 3:3) This happens when we believe in our hearts and with mouths confess Jesus as savior and Lord. Jesus talks about it in the book of Revelations. Behold I stand at the door and knock(Rev 3:20) This is he through the spirit prompting and propeling you to himself so that this presence can be on the inside! How can it cause us to overcome? Lets see what God says in and through the mouth of John We are of God little children and HAVE OVERCOME THEM, because GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US than he that is in the world(1 John 4:4) This overcoming power is on the inside when its abiding within us. Its through that power that we run through a troop and leap over a wall, its in that power that we press through the crowds of attempted opposition. In the next blog we'll talk about the imershing presence. Its achievede by recieving tthe mighty subsequent expierence to salvation called the baptisim of the HolyGhost!!! We;ll talk about why its important and how to recieve it.

The Power Of The Overcomer "The Tool Of A Tame Tounge"

The book of James says that are life is like a ship that althrough maybe being driven by fiearce wind is able to be turned around by the rudder which represents our tounge. We found out that we are the governor and its our responsibility to apply and appropriate pressure to that little member causing it to be bridled just like bits in the mouth of a hoarse. I've told people that the Lord said to me one time Brian "The best answer to pressure IS PRESSURE! The greatest way that we do that is the words of our mouth. We sqaw at the end of the last blog the few of many references found in the book of Proverbs that are words are like carriers and containers of the blessing or the curse. God said through the mouth of Moses Everyday the choice of blessing and cursing is set before us(Deut 30:19) The deciding vote is most often cast by the little member that boasts of great things. Today we need to get into taming the tounge. God said in and througth the mouth of James The tounge is a fire a world of iniquity so the tounge among are members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the COARSE OF NATURE(turns wheels on an axil sets things in motion) and is set on fires of Hell. Every beast of the field hath and has been TAMED BY MANKIND, BUT THE TOUNGE NO MAN CAN TAME(Jms 3:5-8) The Lord says through James that lions tigers and bears can be tamed easier than the tounge! The only thing that can do it is surrender to the written word and submission the the HolyGhost. Remember if we can control of our tounge we can our WHOLE LIFE! the bible gives us a number ways to do it. Nummer one PRAYER. We seen in an earlier blog that David prayed that the Lord would keep the door of his mouth, we must do the same thing. When we pray and ask we are placing a demand on his ability upon any inability in us. Number two, PURPOSE. We have to on purpose everyday desire our words to be good for the use of edifying. We are the ones that are in control of what we are saying. It dont matter how much the windmaybe trying to drive you in a direction. Your the sailor your like the pilot and its up to us to turn it! Notice James uses the phrase twice in just a few verses. TURN ABOUT!!! Things can be turned about, but we have to use our words and confessions the right way. However before we do that we have to purpose that only his words will come up out of our mouths. The centurian who understood authority came to Jesus asking him to heal his servant. Hes like im not worthy that you enter under my roof BUT SPEAK THE WORD ONLY and my servant shall be healed for IM A MAN UNDER AUTHORITY(Matt 8:8,9) whats he saying here? He understood the authority behind te words of Jesus! We have to keep them in our mouths as well! The bible declars that not one word of God falls to the ground VOID OF POWER! Isiah said that the word does not return umto him VOID but prospers to the place thats its been sent(Isiah 55:11) We are the senders. Is it prospering where we are sending. The Lord goes onto say in and through James that blessing and cursing cannot come from the same mouth just like sweet and bitter water cannot flow from the same spring. We must just asthe centurian understand the authority of what bwere saying. There is a spiritual substance released behind every word. Jesus told the the fellas who wanted to call down fire like Elijah consuming them by saying YOU DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT SPIRIT YE ARE OF(Luke 9:55) Our words can be just as Micah by the spirit prophesied by the SPIRIT OF THE BREAKER(Micah 2:13) Number three, POWER. How many y'all know that you are going to be different with power saw than a hand saw! Theres is going to be a whole lot more of caustiousness!!!!!!!!!!!!! They heal or hurt, they build or break, they encourage or discourage, they strengthen or weaken, they puify or pollute!!! So lets understand the power of them and think before we speak instead of speak and than think about what we said! The bible declares the righteous man STUDIES TO ANSWER(Prov 15:28) Prov 15:1 a SOFT answer TURNS AWAY WRATH, SWEETNESS OF THE LIPS INCREASE LEARNING(Prov 16:21) If we really want someone to hear us start with a positive and recognize the power behind what you are saying! God SAID let there be light and it came faster than 186,000 miles per second. We have that same creative power on the inside of us thats being released through words!!!

The Power Of The Overcomer "The Power Of Confession pt 2"

In the last blog we began talking about the power of being an overcomer. Jesus said in this world we will have tribulation, BUT be of good cheer I have overcome the world. Notice the word but is like right in the middle of his statement. The word but cancels out everything that was said before it and the only thing thats important is what comes after. we are overcomers in him. This is the reason we see Jesus repeat the phrase over and over in the book of Revelation to HIM THAT OVERCOMES! In the last blog we saw that the power of confession is very important and intrical element of us overcoming. Jesus confessed the word in the wilderness, the shunamite woman said it is well, Danial perservered through twenty one days of warfare and the angel said that it was his words that they had need of. At the end of the blog we began talking about the spirit of faith. We having the same spirit of faith believe and therefore SPEAK! The Lord said out of the mouth of John we overcome him by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony(Rev 12:11) Is confession important? You bet! Remember young David a shepherd boy in the field. Hes like mending the sheep and begins to hear goliath mocking the men of God. He than rose up and SAID who is this uncircumcised philistine? Already we see the carriers of faith called words spring into action. His older brother began to mock and pester saying Who mending te sheep? He didnt care about the sheep. He was upset that his little brother had the boldness that he and the rest of the forty thousand caustious cowards did'nt. Lets look at first Samual sevenenteen and see the many times where it declares and DAVID SAID. David SAID(1 Sam 17:29) David SAID(1 Sam 17:32) Daid SAID(1 Sam 17:34) David SAID(1 Sam 17:37) Than David SAID(1 Sam 17:45) look at the amount of times the word mentioned David Said! Speaking it out is no small thing! Faith comes by hearing but its released through saying. However as seen earlier must flow from a heart of abundance of the word. Why was it that he had so much confidence going against goliath? Its because he had the bear and lion. In other words the confession into becomes the confession unto. We see clearly that his words were intrical and we also see the opposition that attempted to come up against them. God calling Abram Abraham was important in the fulfilling of our destiny. Moses REFUSED TO BE CALLED the son of pharoahs daughter(Heb 11:24) Does it matter what we allow ourselves to be called? YES! We will never rise above the conssions we make over our lives and situations. The book of Proverbs gives us one verse after another dealing with how they will bless or curse build or break. Lets look at a few. There is that cuts like the piearcing of a sword but the tounge of the wise is health(Prov 12:18) A righteous man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth(Prov 12:14) He that keeps his mouth shall keep their lives(Prov 13:3) The lips of the wise shall preserve them(Prov 14:3) A wholesome tounge is a tree of life(Prov 15:4) Pleaseant words are sweeter than honeycomb sweet to the soul and health to the bones(Prov 16:24) Death and life are in the power of the tounge and those that love it shall eat the fruit thereof(Prov 18:21) He that keeps their tounge keepeth their soul from troubles(Prov 21:23) In the book of James were given an awesome and amazing analogy of the power words and the way their guide and govern our lives especially in the midst of conditions and circumstances. It descibes a ship being driven by fiearce winds. The ship represents our lives. It says that it'll go in the direction of the governor. You and I through his authority is that governor! Our lives can be bridled by our tounge just a wild hoarse can be with the bit in its mouth. In the next blog we'll continue on in James and talk about ways to tame the tounge.

The Power Of The Overcomer "The Power Of Confession"

Jesus said in the book of John In this world we will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD(John 16:33) We are on enemy territory and for that reason there are things that we will have to be overcome. In the book of Revelation Jesus tells us the great blessing and benefit of being one. We get the right to be made a pillar in the house of God, we are given a white stone with a name only known by him given to us personally from him, were granted the right to sit on the throne with HIM! Glory to God! So lets talk about a few of the ways the Lord enables us to overcome. Number one, The power of CONFESSION. Jesus said whosoever shall SAY unto this mountain and shall not doubt in their heart but shall believe whatever he SAITH shall come to pass, he shall have whatever he SAITH(Mark 11:23) Notice that Jesus is emphasising what we say when it comes to mountains. A mountain can represent something that needs to be overcome. Jesus only uses the word believe once and the word say THREE TIMES! The point is saying is just as or even more inportant than the believing. Another thing when it comes to confession is that people most often focus on the negative side. They will confess their sins which God said in and through the mouth of John that we are to do. If we confess our sins hes faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness(1 John 1:9) However there is alot more to the importance of confession than just confessing our sins to God. In the book of Romans we find that we are believe in our hearts and CONFESS WITH OUR MOUTHS the LORD JESUS(Rom 10:9) This is not a confession of sin, its one of the LordSHIP of Jesus in our lives. One verse prior to that we find that Paul by the spirit says The word is nigh thee even in OUR MOUTHS and in our hearts. We see here that the word must be in our mouths and than in our hearts. When we begin to confess the reality of the truth of the word the more its being written down on the table of our hearts. For instance if you are growing in faith attempting to become fully persuaded as far as healing in concerned. We must find the healing verses and begin to confess them out verbally to him at least three times a day. Why? Because the word is quick and powerful and creates images that are being placed in the heart. David said by the spirit that the tounge is the like the pen of a ready writer(Psalm 45:1) After that the word declares with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with THE MOUTH CONFESSION IS MADE UNTO(Rom 10:10) Notice the CONFESSION INTO BECOMES THE CONFESSION UNTO! Because the more we confess the word its getting in us and pretty soon it'll be being spoken out of an abundance of the heart as Jesus said and its than that our words are carrying great weight. Its misunderstanding of this that causes people to be like well I confessed it like once and nonething happened. It takes some persistent repitition to get into us so that it can come out of us like rapid fire. Lets define confession. First, its affirming something that we believe, Second its testifying to something that we know, and Third its witnessing to a truth that we have embraced. In the book of Hebrews Christ is called the apostle and highpriest of our confession(Heb 3:1) Our words give him something to work with. The bible also says in Hebrews Seeing that we have a great highpriest thats passed into the Heavens Jesus the son of God LET US HOLDFAST TO OUR CONFESSION(Heb 4:14), and CONFESS without wavering in CONFESSION for He is faithful who promised(Heb 10:23) Jesus used words to defeat the enemy in the wilderness and if he did it and he was the word made flesh, HOW MUCH MORE MUST WE? The book of Ephesians says we are to be followers of Christ as dear children the amplified says imitaters. This means that we are to be doing the same thing that he does. We are to be the very reflection of him everyway everyday! Finally three things that help empowr our confession. Prayer. David prayed Lord set a watch over my mouth and keep the door of my lips(Psalm 141:3) he also prayed Lord let the WORDS and meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight(Psalm 19:14) Number two, Persuasion. We have to become convinced in the word of God thats coming out of our mouths. Jesus said that we are to believe what we say shall come to pass. This is after he tells us have faith in God. Its not just having faith in God but also faith in the word of God thats coming out of our mouth. Did you know that you will believe your own words more than anybody elses? This is one supreme reason that the enemy ever endeavors to get our words and use them against us. Remember Elijah had by the power of God called down fire from Heaven consuming the 450 prophets of Baal? It was like right after that Jezebel SENT A MESSAGER(1 Kings 19) How do things come? They come by hearing! This is why Jezebel did'nt just show up herself. These words so discouraged and depressed him that He asked the Lord to take his life. In the book of Danial we find Danial in the midst of warfare. He perserveared through prayer for twenty one days. It was day number twenty one that the angel was like from the first day that you chastened your heart toward God he heard you and answered BUT THE PRINCE OF PERSIA WITHSTOOD YOU, and get this next phrase I HAD NEED OF YOUR WORDS(Dan 10:12) Words are like intrical in warfare! The best defense is a good offense and words of God coming from our mouth out of the abundance of our heart is a tremendous tool over the tormentor or trouble. Our words will fix landmarks in our lives. In the book of Numbers. They were given the promised land of milk and honey. Moses sent twelve spies into the land to search and like get a feel for the terrain. Ten of them brought back an evil REPORT, and they SAID WE ARE LIKE GRSSHOPPERS IN THEIR SIGHT and SO WE WERE IN THEIR SIGHT(Num 13:33) In the book of second Kings we find the account of the shunamite woman. She wanted a son but she kept it within herself and she served the man of God elisha. She did to the point that she had an addition built on for him to stay. Is God unrighteous to forget the work and labor of love to the saints?(Heb 6:10) Not a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was than hes like you will have a son which he knew by word of wisdom and she was like basically dont play with me. Well sure enough it happened and when he was little older he fell out in the field on his head and died. The shunamite woman went after the man of God elisha and as she went said these words that were the link that hooked IT IS WELL(2 Kings 4:23) Now some miight have attempted to say that would be denial. Listen faith dont deny, ITS RELIES! She was looking by the eyes of faith and it impacted and influenced the words of her mouth! We have to become persuaded in our mouth but that comes by being persuaded in our hearts which is the spirit of faith in action! We having the same spirit of faith we BELIEVE AND THEREFORE SPEAK(2 Cor 4:13) Is believing just enough? we'll talk about ot more in the next blog.

The Power Of Desire "Focused Like Flint"

In the last blog we began talking about the power of desire. It is a penetrating and powerful force that will push and propel us forward especially in the midst of seemingly impossible condition and circumstance. We talked about the woman with the issue of blood, blind Bartimaus, and the paralytic man whose four friends brought him down through the tiling of the ceiling. What was the momentum that caused a channel of Gods enduing and enabling power to surge into each of those situations? DESIRE! We finished with talking about deligence, determination and discipline. Today we are going to talk about being focused like flint. Desire will be something that will help us to do it. We live in a world that is full of distraction and will attempt to captivate and capture. However He wants us zeroed in on the very word that hes spoken to us and continue to be nutured on the words of faith peertaining to it. Loss of focus can come very easily when not careful and caustious. Consider Peter, hes like walking on the water toward Jesus and when the waves began to boistfully blow it got his attention. He sank like a brick! Ahab a king who had everything that ones mind could possibly phatom. One day he sees nabods vineyard and was immediately distracted. It lead to deep depression because it consumed his thoughts night and day. The thing is that it should have never been a blimp on the radar screen! Martha and Mary are getting the house ready for Jesus visitation. Martha gets encumbered and troubled, while Mary is like chillin in the corner sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to his word. The point is there was a loss of focus. In the book of Hebrews we find how important focus was in the completion of the desire of the son of God. For the joy THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM, HE ENDURED THE CROSS(Heb 12:2) In the book of Phillipians Paul by the spirit makes an awesome and amazing statement THIS ONE THING I DO(Phil 3:13) That phrase totally sums up focus! The Lord in and through the mouth of James warns us of being divided and double in our hearts and minds(Jms 4:8) What can we do to stay focused like flint? Number one, Time. There is no substitute when it comes to time with him. Its there that he breathes his breathe of life upon the desires that hes placed and put in us. Remember that hes called a consuming fire!!!(Heb 12:29) He knows how to kindle a flame. All it takes is one blow of his ressurrection life to come into it getting it back to focus. Lets go back to what Jesus said about Mary, She has CHOSEN THE BEST PART(Luke 10:42). Notice it was her CHOICE. How much time we're willing to invest is always up to us. The word is quick and powerful and gives birth to images within our spirit man. Jesus said that his words are spirit and life(John 6:63) We are a spirit we have a soul and we live in a body. The desires of our hearts our sustained in our spirits. Thats a big reason that time in the word perrtaining to it is imperative. Number two, Talking. We need to be confessing them to the Lord on a daily basis. Theres a two fold thing that happens. As we do it, our words are like arron boys released into the very atmosphere. When Danial was praying twernty one days, remember what the angel said to him? From the first day that you chasten yourself before him God he heard you. WE HAD NEED OF YOUR WORDS(Dan 10:12-14) Does God have need of our words? Absolutely. Christ is called the HighPriest of our confession(Heb 3:1) Jesus said we shall have what we say(Mark 11:23) the other purpose of talking is that our tounge litterally becomes like a pen thats writing that desire deep within our spirit where the springs of life are. In the book of Psalms God calls our tounge the PEN OF A READY WRITER(Psalm 45:1) Its not important that we do this talking before other people. They are for our BENEFIT and BLESSING! Number three, Thanksgiving. It will keep us focused! Thanksgiving ius like the lid on the jar of our faith. Its the highest form of faith, cause we are thanking him for something that has yet to manifest and materialize. The bible declares in the book of Phillipians Be careful for nonething, but by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING(Phil 4:6) The bible says that when we refuse to stay in a state of thanksgiving our understanding will become darkened(Rom 1:21) This is what happened to Ahab. He became unthankful over all the other vineyards he owned. It will stunt and possibly stop ous desires before him from being fulfilled. The children of Israel get into it. They stayed in the wilderness for for forty years when it should have been an eleven day journey into the land of promise. The book of Corinthians tells us that it was written for our admonition to be like FORGET THAT! Im not going to have an attitude of INGRATITUDE and forfeit my desires. What were they focused on? Not Gods goodness and glory. Mary and Martha at the tomb of Lazarus. Were they thankful when Jesus arrived? NO. Martha was like If you had come earlier, he would'nt have died(John 11:21) what did Jesus say If you BELIEVE shouldest thou not see the GLORY OF GOD(John 11:39) Believing is a big part in the fulfillment of our desires. What is like proof that we are believing? We find it in the book of Romans The God of hope fill you JOY and PEACE IN BELIEVING(Rom 15:13) We said some time ago that enthusiasim and excitement are the byproducts of expectation. Show me expectency, I'll show exilerated and exzuberant THANKS! Keep FOCUSED LIKE FLINT!

The Power Of Desire

In this blog the lord has quickened to me to talk about desire. It is a powerful force that will propel and push through any attempted opposition. Often when the word has been used its been in a negative light. Its been talked about pertaining to the flesh. However desire is a fire that is birthed by the giving of the promise from the word of God. Jesus said Whatever we DESIRE when we pray believe ye recieve and you shall have them(Mark 11:24). It according to the master is an important and intrical element in prayer. When we chasten ourselves before him this great fire ought to be beaming from our very bosom. Think about the desire of the woman with the issue of blood. It was when she had heard of Jesus that she began to press into the crowd surrounding her. What was the motivating momentum? DESIRE! Blind Bartimaus a beggar along the side of the road. He hears that Jesus is passing by, and began to cry out saying JESUS thou son of David have mercy upon me. The people began telling him to hold his peace but HE CRIED OUT EVEN MORE! What caused him to do so? DESIRE! The woman had the issue of blood for twelve years. Maybe you've been in the midst of a condition and circumstance for a long time. I want you to understand by the spirit of God it CAN CHANGE in a short period of time. In such situations it can be tempting to say well its been so long and accept it as a lot. Remember back to our recent series on the abundant life? One of our messages was the cost of it being PATIENCE. Whats the fuel between amen and here it is? DESIRE! Glory To God!!! In the book of Luke there was a paralytic man that was taken by his four friends through the tiling of the roof to get to Jesus. Desire never stops until it gets to the completion and culmination! In the book of Psalms the bible says that God gives us the DESIRES of our hearts as we delight ourselves in Him(Psalms 37:4) I believe that God is into DEEP DESIRE! Hes like deep calleth unto deep and he puts TRUTH in our inward parts!!!! He knows our deepest desires that the word birthed. Hes well pleased when we like a bulldog bite bown on the bone of it!!!!!!!! Winston churchill "once said that a nose of a bulldog is slanted back so that it can bite and breathe without turning loose!" So how can we keep the fuel of sdesire fanned? Number one, Deligence. We have to aggresively go after those things that we are desiring. Whether its a closer relationship God, Healing in our bodies, restoration in our relationships, or financial freedom. In order to be deligent we must be careful and caustious what we allow into our hearts. God said that out of our hearts shall flow the forces of life(Prov 4:23). What are the channels that travel into it? Eyes ears and mouth. We must be deligent to stay away from whatever could possibly could snuff out that desire like a smoltering flax. We have to be deligent to be in the word daily, specifically the areas and arenas your believing him for. The word is to our spirit as food is to our body. its the reason Jesus uses a physical term to convey a spiritual thought. Men shall not live by BREAD alone, but BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD. Jesus also said Give us this DAY our DAILY BREAD(Matt 6:11) If your only in the word on Sundays, it will not feed that desire on the inside of yourself. Now when the word is pouring out it could potentially seem mononous. I want you to know althrough it goes in like water, it'll come forth like WINE!. When Jesus had the people fill the waterpots at the wedding of Canan, it was water but it BECAME WINE! Keep on a daily basis feeding that desire and althrough it seems like water it'll be turned to wine! The bible says the word is QUICK AND POWERFUL(Heb 4:12) Its placing power of the inside of you every time you meditate and speak it out of your mouth. Number two, Determination. The enemy will attempt to cause the desire to dwindle and eventually disappear. So its going to take determination to cling to the desire no matter what devilsh scheme or strategy is planned to put it out. The Lord said through John greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world(1 John 4:4) How many you know the Holyspirit is in you and puts desires on the inside of you. when that desire becomes developed enough it'll be so big that no matter whats going on in the outside you'll not be moved by it. Abraham clinged with determination to the promise, Noah with determination clinged to the desire even in the midst of a whole generation mocking. Nehemiah with great determination passed out swords to half the hands of the people and bricks to the other half in building the walls of Jerusalem. Number three Disipline. God said in and through the mouth of Paul that this Christian walk of ours is like a race and only one recieves the prize and its the one thats NOT AIMLESSLY BEATING THE AIR(1 Cor 9:24-26) In other words we are to be running with desire like an advanced athlete thats not moved by pressure or potential problem. its because we have an expected end, a goal that he himself has placed and put into our heart. Keep the fire of DESIRE burning bright and the blessing will come upon you with all its MIGHT!

The Abundant Life "Outlook For Offenses"

We are continuing on in our series with "Outlook For Offenses" In these days we must be on guard from offenses. Its one the enemies most deceptive traps and strategies in preventing us from the promised land known as the abundant life. In the book of Luke Jesus tells us that its impossible to live this life without having the opportuniuty to be offended(Luke 17:1) Its not a matter of if the offenses will come, its a matter of how we'll respond and react when they do. The word OFFENSE comes from the greek word SCANDALON. It refers to and signifies the laying of a trap. Its often hidden deep kindof like a landmind. Jesus said that it would be one of the chief signs of the final times. In the twenty fourth chapter of the book of Matthew theres laid out the spinal column of prophecy. Nation will rise against nations, there would be famines earthquakes and pesilences. However we see the mackdaddy and motherload of then all beginning at verse ten. MANY WOULD OFFEND BETRAY AND HATE ONE ANOTHER. Notice that this chain all begins with the link called offense. Many times the offenses that come will be from the most seemingly unlikely of sources. In other words it'll be from places that we thought were sound stable and secure. We must have our foundation built on NONETHING LESS THAN JESUS CHRST AND HIS FAITHFULLNESS!!!! David found this out when he laments Its not an enemy that reproaches me than my soul could bear but its my friend an equal we took sweet fellowship together in the throng(Psalm 55:12) In other words the offense came from a source in whom he had a close relationship. The closer an association the greater potential for offense. If we get our eyes on people than it can quickly lead down this slippery slope toward a harden heart whch brings us into sin and ultimately death. How can we by the power of the word of God protect our lives from this most deadly and dangerours of satans schemes? Number one. LOVE THE WORD. When we are in love with the word we will not be our feelings. Often when someone is offended, you'll notice that much of their speech is dominated and dictated by how they feel. God said in and through the mouth of John LOVE NOT the world neither things that are in the world(1 John 2:15). The word world here is decribing the worlds system. We are in the world but we are NOT OF IT and the way we react and respond is to be absolutely completely and TOTALLY different from the world! However the only way to do that is to love the word more than ANYTHING OR ANYONE! Joeseph didnt get into offense even through he was sold into slavery by his own family. When it was all said and done He had the power to authorize having his brothers killed. We see at the end of the book of Geneseis instead of having them killed he fell upon them kissing them in radical reconcilliation. What caused Joeseph to react and respond in this manner? He LOVED THE WORD, in other words he LOVED GOD! In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and THE WORD WAS GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God says in the book of the Psalms Great peace TO THOSE THAT LOVE THY LAW, AND NONETHING SHALL OFFEND THEM(Psalm 119:165) God tells us here with crystal clarity to the very degree that we love his word is the direct proportion of protection we have from offense. Number Two. LONGSUFFERING The bible declares LOVE SUFFERS LONG and is kind(1 Cor 13:5) The NLT says LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE. We will not get easily irritable when we are no longer offended. in verse seven it goes onto say that LOVE ENDURES THROUGH EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE! When we are operating in ENDURING LOVE we WILL NOT BECOME OFFENDED! This is the agape love of God thats been shed abroad in our hearts by the HolyGhost(Rom 5:5) This is the enabling and endueing force enabling us to endure when offenses come. The bible says that JESUS ENDURED THE CROSS(Heb 12:2) What caused him to endure the cross? He so LOVED THE WORD(John 3:16) This was the propelling power that pressed through the wipping scourjing and the cross itself. We see in the book of John that Jesus ABIDED in the Fathers Love and it was made manifest in and through him. The thirteenth chapter of John says that its to be radiating in and through us which causes the world to know that we are his disciples. People will take notice of love that suffers long. Jesus said in the book of Luke If we love those that love us what thanks do we have?(Luke 6:32) When we are able to rise up in this enduring love that stays free from offense it causes our lives to be like a shining spotlight in the face of individuals. Lets be the witness that we have been created for and called to be! Number three, LEANING NOT TO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. When we are in the midst of a situation where offense has come we must not allow ourselves to be in the arena of reason. Back to the account of Joeseph not only was he dominated by the Love for God and the word but also by the power of FORGETFULNESS. In Gen 41 we find where one of his sons was named Mannasah. The name meant GOD CAUSED ME TO FORGET! He was able to be protected from offense by not letting thoughts to develop pertaining to what he had been through. God has done this very thing toward us. Hes like their sins and iniquities I'll remember NO MORE(Jer 31:34) He puts our sins in the SEA OF FORGETFULNESS(Micah 7:19) The bible says Love BELIEVES THE BEST IN EVERY PERSON(1 Cor 13:7) Love is able to look through the fog of offense and see the good things and thats what we are to be completely focused on. Finally, LIVE TO GIVE. When we live to give, our minds will not be on me. When we talk to people that are offended notice what they are talking about ME ME ME. If our minds were like screen and we were able to change the channels. You know what we would find on every station? It would be something about me! The bible says LOVE SEEKS NOT THEIR OWN(1 Cor 13:4,5) Theres a poen that goes If theres a song to sing sing it, a bell ring, ring it, love was not placed in our heart to stay, love is not love until its GIVEN AWAY. The point is someone thats trapped in offense will no longer give away. They become trapped in a prison of SELF preservation and protection. God describes this in the book of Proverbs. A brother OFFENDED, is HARDER to be won over than a strong city: and thir contensions are like BARS...,(Prov. 18:19) These people will not venture out or let anyone in. Jesus said its when we LOSE OUR LIFE IS WHEN WE FIND IT! There are two bodies of waters in the middle east. The sea of Galilee and the dead sea. The first one takes waters in and gives them out. As a result theres plant life and fish. Its alive with LIFE! However the dead sea takes waters in but never gives it out. There is no plants fish or anything living at ALL. When we are seed conscience and NOT SELF CONSCIENCE its than that we are positioned to recieve the abundant life and live in the full until IT OVERFLOWS in JESUS NAME! Jesus said Give and it SHALL BE GIVEN(Luke 6:38), Paul said SOW BOUNTIFULLY and WE"LL REAP BOUNTIFULLY(2 Cor 9:6) Giving is what will produce our living. We are talking about this very thing THE ABUNDANT LIFE! Lets all be on the OUT LOOK FOR OFFENSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!