Greetings,
This may be a rather lengthy message, but please bear with me. I have been sharing these things at church and believe the Lord would have me put them out to a wider audience.
Matthew 7:13-27
13. "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
14. "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16. "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17. "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18. "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20. "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21. "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22. "Many will say to Me in that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23. "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
24. "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25. "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26. "Now everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27. "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.''
The above passage begins with Jesus stating truth regarding two gates - a narrow one and a wide one. I believe this goes right along with the rest of the passage where He speaks about false prophets, bad trees, bad people and bad foundations.
Now it is fairly easy to enter into a certain area where there are no constraints or boundaries. It is easy to be known as a prophet if there isn't any "test". If no one tastes your fruit, or if no one has ever tasted GOOD fruit, it would be impossible to know if the fruit is BAD. Also, just saying "Lord, Lord", or doing things that Jesus' people do, does not assure you the place of fellowship and intimacy with Jesus...and hearing and building a religious looking life will not keep your life from falling apart WHEN THE TEST COMES.
God has always tested people before He removes His "limits". He has stated in His word that "everything that can be shaken will be shaken so that the things that cannot be shaken may remain". God builds on the "remains"; the things tried and true, the things that can't be shaken. He builds with and has intimate fellowship with those who "can fit in the narrow gate". People who conform themselves to the width of the gate - and don't expect the gate to accommodate them. People who take the time and effort to know and do truth will not be deceived by what is false, regardless of how well the false is packaged. And the Lord says that people who hear AND DO what He says will have something that remains (that He will build on) AFTER the winds, rain, and flood.
We must understand that the Lord has NO PROBLEM exposing our weaknesses. That's why He has certain requirements for anything that is of eternal value. The "requirements" indicate an area that we must trust because we cannot do anything of eternal value without His help. Requirements such as "enter in the narrow gate", or "hear and do My sayings", indicate faith AND obedience. Hebrews states - "without faith it is impossible to please Him..." and how much faith we have is indicated by the extremes we will go to OBEY Him.
EVERYTHING that can be shaken will be shaken - because the Lord is going for the "remains". He will reveal His Glory through the life of someone whom He has sifted, shaken and stripped of their own strength and wisdom. This is where the Body of Christ is now; especially in America.
The Church in America has not had to rely on God - and therefore hasn't. Oh, we say "Lord, Lord" but if we really relied upon Him, we would see His Glory. But that is going to "CHANGE". We are going to find out what it takes to see God really show Himself. He hasn't changed nor will He, but He is sure going to get us to change - or be ruined. The sifting, shaking, and stripping away of our "independence" will bring us to one place - TOTAL DEPENDENCE UPON HIM - or we will turn and go our own way. Once again, we must understand that the Glory of God comes AFTER the preparation. ALL gold is tested, purified by fire, before it is used. Malachi 3 states the Lord is coming TO His people before He comes FOR them. Haggai 2 speaks about Glory coming to the Temple AFTER He shakes all things. Acts 15 and Amos 9 tell of the Work of God being rebuilt AFTER a sifting - and then NATIONS come to God! Revelation 2 and 3 speaks of Jesus INSPECTING the churches - and that for those who have an ear to hear the Spirit, and thus OVERCOME, they will witness NEW LEVELS OF GOD'S GLORY!
There is NO GLORY without the sifting, shaking, and stripping away of all that indicates man's strength and wisdom. 1 Corinthians 1 reveals a special truth we must embrace - the weak things, and the things people count as nothing, will be the things the Lord will use to REVEAL HIS WILL and POWER.
What's the bottom line for you and I? 5 things:
1. We must let ourselves become weak in our own strength and wisdom - learn to rely upon His.
2. Release to God our "rights and privileges" and take up His "responsibilities and pursuits".
3. Understand that "inspection" isn't a bad thing, but necessary to reveal the Glory of God
4. The coming days will not be "easier", but more PROFITABLE for the Kingdom of God
5. The line of demarcation has been drawn and will become clearer and clearer. The Lord is telling me "that as it was when Israel was in the land of Egypt (the best of the land), as long as they stayed in Egypt they were far away from the Promised Land. And they weren't about to leave until they were forced to. And as it was for the church in Acts; they were instructed to go into all the world but wouldn't go until they were forced to; so it will be and now is, that the Lord is allowing a "squeeze" to take place - a sifting, shaking and stripping - so that those who will embrace the Lord, His Word, His Work, and His people, ABOVE ALL ELSE, will see the manifest Glory of God. The Glory of God will come and abide until the Kingdom work is finished - and then we'll leave!"
Many of us had our hopes dashed when McCain wasn't elected President. Others were filled with joy when Obama won. But the "HOPE" for mankind can never be in an elected official.
Yes, this is the day of sifting, shaking, and stripping...and revelation of the God of the Ages!
Pastor Jan
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Sunday, July 06, 2008
As you see the Day approaching
Greetings, brethren...
Please be encouraged, and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching...
1 Timothy 6:13-15
13. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14. that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,
15. which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
2 Timothy 4:1,8
1. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the at His appearing and His kingdom:
8. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Titus 2:13
13. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Jude 24
24. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
Hebrews 10:22-25 tells us:
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Notice - draw near (and keep drawing near) with full assurance of faith - AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING. Hold fast the confession of our hope - AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING. Consider each other and help provoke one another to love and good works - AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING. Get connected, assembled together AND SO MUCH THE MORE - AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.
Don't be blind, or insensitive, to what the Lord is desiring. The Day of His appearing is approaching! May you and I live with that thought throughout our days.
Pastor Jan
Please be encouraged, and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching...
1 Timothy 6:13-15
13. I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14. that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ's appearing,
15. which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
2 Timothy 4:1,8
1. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the at His appearing and His kingdom:
8. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Titus 2:13
13. looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Jude 24
24. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
Hebrews 10:22-25 tells us:
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Notice - draw near (and keep drawing near) with full assurance of faith - AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING. Hold fast the confession of our hope - AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING. Consider each other and help provoke one another to love and good works - AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING. Get connected, assembled together AND SO MUCH THE MORE - AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.
Don't be blind, or insensitive, to what the Lord is desiring. The Day of His appearing is approaching! May you and I live with that thought throughout our days.
Pastor Jan
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Promise of the Father
Greetings...
Father God has made extraordinary promises - promises that are "yes and amen" in Christ. Those who are in proper relationship with Jesus share the promise of Father. Below are verses from the New Testament relating the desire of Father for His children. Promises of the same power that He used for the resurrection of Jesus (Ephesians 1:18-23), power to heal the sick and confront victoriously the powers of darkness, promises of the manifest Presence of God, promises of peace that passes all understanding...
The Promise of Father is for those who are His children; heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus (Romans 8). Read these and let faith rise in your heart...
"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.''
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which,'' He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.''
"Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear."
"For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.''
"But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt..."
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Folks, the Promise of God are not weakened because society isn't interested! Just because there are many who really don't care if there is a Father God or care if He has promised anything, or, if He keeps His promises...just because there are even multitudes who will try and convince you that you're wasting your time "believing God"...those things should not stop you and I from desiring the fulfillment of every promise. "Shall the unbelief of some stop the faith of God? Nay, let God be true and every man a liar!"
Every Promise has a purpose. Every purpose has a corresponding promise. Father has everything that pertains to life and godliness wrapped up in His Promise. And, the Promise is to you and your children.
Where are you at? Is the Lord God your Father? Have you been born again? Have you been recreated as a new creation in Christ and have you been filled with the Holy Spirit of Promise?
Father stands ready to pour out all He has promised YOU. What are you standing ready for?
This Sunday, June 14th, at Valley A/G, we're going to hear about the Promise of the Father. The life, the power, the grace and healing - hope you can come. But regardless, understand this: Now is the day of salvation. Now is the time to seek the Lord. Now is the time to receive the Promise -
God bless
Pastor Jan
Father God has made extraordinary promises - promises that are "yes and amen" in Christ. Those who are in proper relationship with Jesus share the promise of Father. Below are verses from the New Testament relating the desire of Father for His children. Promises of the same power that He used for the resurrection of Jesus (Ephesians 1:18-23), power to heal the sick and confront victoriously the powers of darkness, promises of the manifest Presence of God, promises of peace that passes all understanding...
The Promise of Father is for those who are His children; heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus (Romans 8). Read these and let faith rise in your heart...
"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.''
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which,'' He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.''
"Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear."
"For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.''
"But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt..."
He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Folks, the Promise of God are not weakened because society isn't interested! Just because there are many who really don't care if there is a Father God or care if He has promised anything, or, if He keeps His promises...just because there are even multitudes who will try and convince you that you're wasting your time "believing God"...those things should not stop you and I from desiring the fulfillment of every promise. "Shall the unbelief of some stop the faith of God? Nay, let God be true and every man a liar!"
Every Promise has a purpose. Every purpose has a corresponding promise. Father has everything that pertains to life and godliness wrapped up in His Promise. And, the Promise is to you and your children.
Where are you at? Is the Lord God your Father? Have you been born again? Have you been recreated as a new creation in Christ and have you been filled with the Holy Spirit of Promise?
Father stands ready to pour out all He has promised YOU. What are you standing ready for?
This Sunday, June 14th, at Valley A/G, we're going to hear about the Promise of the Father. The life, the power, the grace and healing - hope you can come. But regardless, understand this: Now is the day of salvation. Now is the time to seek the Lord. Now is the time to receive the Promise -
God bless
Pastor Jan
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Lord Showed Him A Tree
Greetings, friends.
This little message is to kind of set the "stage" for what the Lord is getting ready to say and do in our lives and the life of the church.
Healing is the will of God for, I believe, everyone. He has led me to begin a "Healing School" at our church beginning this Sunday evening. Worship, prayer, praise, and, above all, teaching the will of God regarding healing for the body. "He sent His word and healed them..." "Who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases...". Luke 5 and 6 mention people coming to Jesus to "hear and be healed of their infirmities". So we'll follow the Lord's direction and see faith come by hearing the word of God. We'll see the Lord "confirm His Word with the accompanying signs".
For a moment, though, I'd like to teach a little regarding the passage below out of Exodus 15:22-26. This is right after the children of Israel left Egypt, went across the dried up Red Sea, and saw God fight for them as never before. Notice what takes place:
22. So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
23. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?''
25. So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and when he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them,
26. and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.''
A few things to notice:
1. The Lord was leading them - as Moses followed God. The Lord's direction isn't always, at first, into sweetness and plenty! No, they went 3 days into the wilderness of Shur, which means "wall". The Lord led them into a wall...just as He did a few days earlier when they were surrounded by the sea and Pharoah's chariots.
2. The "wall" represents a test. There is no TESTimony without a test. There is no answer to faith's cry without the need for faith to speak. I'm not saying that the Lord is behind everything that isn't going our way; I am saying that we must keep a sensitive spirit to be able to hear His direction and pass the test. There is always an answer to whatever test we may have. There is always a way to deal with a "wall".
3. Moses cried to the Lord, but kept his ear open to what the Lord what tell him to do. Many times we cry to the Lord. But we must make sure, along with our cries, we are able to hear what the Spirit is saying.
4. Moses cried, then the Lord "showed him a tree". Moses actually saw the "tree" (I believe a picture of the complete provision found in the cross) and then knew how to apply the revelation. I believe the way Moses "saw" the tree was through Divine revelation and in answer to the cry.
5. The paths of the Lord...no greater place to walk. Jesus said, "I am the Way (path)..." and as we walk with Him we will have opportunities to either run through a troop and leap over a wall, opportunities to be still and know He is God, or we'll see a "tree" around us that is the answer to our prayers, though it may not look like it at first.
6. I really believe the Lord would have His people now, as then, know that it isn't just a matter of knowing that God heals. I believe He wants us to know that He is the way to walk - to diligently "heed" (pay attention) to the voice of the Lord and do what is right in His sight (as He judges and inspects, as in Revelation 1-3)...
Proverbs 4:20-23 says, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."
May each of us know the Lord's voice and develop a keen, sensitive spirit to be able to hear and obey in every circumstance. He said, "for I am the Lord Who heals you" after He expained to Moses that He had just tested them.
Life isn't about how many tests and trials...it is about walking with the Lord Who is the Answer to all of life's walls, bitterness, testings and trials. He IS the Lord Who heals us!
God bless,
Pastor Jan
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5
This little message is to kind of set the "stage" for what the Lord is getting ready to say and do in our lives and the life of the church.
Healing is the will of God for, I believe, everyone. He has led me to begin a "Healing School" at our church beginning this Sunday evening. Worship, prayer, praise, and, above all, teaching the will of God regarding healing for the body. "He sent His word and healed them..." "Who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases...". Luke 5 and 6 mention people coming to Jesus to "hear and be healed of their infirmities". So we'll follow the Lord's direction and see faith come by hearing the word of God. We'll see the Lord "confirm His Word with the accompanying signs".
For a moment, though, I'd like to teach a little regarding the passage below out of Exodus 15:22-26. This is right after the children of Israel left Egypt, went across the dried up Red Sea, and saw God fight for them as never before. Notice what takes place:
22. So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
23. Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah.
24. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?''
25. So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and when he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them,
26. and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.''
A few things to notice:
1. The Lord was leading them - as Moses followed God. The Lord's direction isn't always, at first, into sweetness and plenty! No, they went 3 days into the wilderness of Shur, which means "wall". The Lord led them into a wall...just as He did a few days earlier when they were surrounded by the sea and Pharoah's chariots.
2. The "wall" represents a test. There is no TESTimony without a test. There is no answer to faith's cry without the need for faith to speak. I'm not saying that the Lord is behind everything that isn't going our way; I am saying that we must keep a sensitive spirit to be able to hear His direction and pass the test. There is always an answer to whatever test we may have. There is always a way to deal with a "wall".
3. Moses cried to the Lord, but kept his ear open to what the Lord what tell him to do. Many times we cry to the Lord. But we must make sure, along with our cries, we are able to hear what the Spirit is saying.
4. Moses cried, then the Lord "showed him a tree". Moses actually saw the "tree" (I believe a picture of the complete provision found in the cross) and then knew how to apply the revelation. I believe the way Moses "saw" the tree was through Divine revelation and in answer to the cry.
5. The paths of the Lord...no greater place to walk. Jesus said, "I am the Way (path)..." and as we walk with Him we will have opportunities to either run through a troop and leap over a wall, opportunities to be still and know He is God, or we'll see a "tree" around us that is the answer to our prayers, though it may not look like it at first.
6. I really believe the Lord would have His people now, as then, know that it isn't just a matter of knowing that God heals. I believe He wants us to know that He is the way to walk - to diligently "heed" (pay attention) to the voice of the Lord and do what is right in His sight (as He judges and inspects, as in Revelation 1-3)...
Proverbs 4:20-23 says, "My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."
May each of us know the Lord's voice and develop a keen, sensitive spirit to be able to hear and obey in every circumstance. He said, "for I am the Lord Who heals you" after He expained to Moses that He had just tested them.
Life isn't about how many tests and trials...it is about walking with the Lord Who is the Answer to all of life's walls, bitterness, testings and trials. He IS the Lord Who heals us!
God bless,
Pastor Jan
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Delusion and Desire = Danger
Greetings in the Holy Name of Jesus!
I have a fire burning in my spirit - I must share this brief message with you and others. I pray that the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, would allow each of us to hear His voice and yield to Him rather than grieve Him.
Mark 4:19,20
"Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."
Notice the words "deceitfulness" and "desires". The Greek translation for deceitfulness means "delusion" or "deluded". "Desires" is translated as a longing, especially for what is not allowed. Delusion and desires seem to run hand in hand and both spell trouble for the child of God. Delusion becomes a stronghold when we ignore what the true facts are; i.e. what the Word of God says. Delusion, according to the dictionary, is a false belief or opinion; to delude is to fool, as by false promises or wrong notions; mislead; deceive; trick. To allow myself to be fooled by false or empty (wrong) promises is to put myself in an area of longing for something that is not lawful or allowed. Anyone remember Adam and Eve? They had the word of the Lord and yet they allowed the tempter control by entertaining the words contrary to the truth; therefore they became deluded and their desires led them astray.
Of course, nothing like that could EVER happen to us, right? Wrong! Another passage is found in Ephesians 4:17-23 - "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind..." The phrase, "according to the deceitful desires" is translated in the Greek as "deluded desires", same as above. Notice the way to get free and live free is to stay with the Truth that is in Jesus and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
One more passage - Hebrews 3:12,13 - "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today,'' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Once again, the word "deceitfulness" is "delusion". Sin, adding to or taking away what God has said, can promise you ANYTHING but will only fail you in the end.
This is the day for you and I to get rid of the sin that easily entraps us! This is the time to take a good scrub with the Water of the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to show us what's right and what needs cleansed or even removed. WE CANNOT AFFORD to live a life that let's us flirt with the deluded desires of the flesh and the temptations that the enemy throws our way. TODAY, if you hear His voice - if you can hear it's not too late. Today, now, is the time to declare the Lordship of Jesus Christ over your flesh, your longings, your life! Don't be deceived by the wily schemes of the evil one. 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 - "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
Today!
Pastor Jan
I have a fire burning in my spirit - I must share this brief message with you and others. I pray that the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, would allow each of us to hear His voice and yield to Him rather than grieve Him.
Mark 4:19,20
"Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."
Notice the words "deceitfulness" and "desires". The Greek translation for deceitfulness means "delusion" or "deluded". "Desires" is translated as a longing, especially for what is not allowed. Delusion and desires seem to run hand in hand and both spell trouble for the child of God. Delusion becomes a stronghold when we ignore what the true facts are; i.e. what the Word of God says. Delusion, according to the dictionary, is a false belief or opinion; to delude is to fool, as by false promises or wrong notions; mislead; deceive; trick. To allow myself to be fooled by false or empty (wrong) promises is to put myself in an area of longing for something that is not lawful or allowed. Anyone remember Adam and Eve? They had the word of the Lord and yet they allowed the tempter control by entertaining the words contrary to the truth; therefore they became deluded and their desires led them astray.
Of course, nothing like that could EVER happen to us, right? Wrong! Another passage is found in Ephesians 4:17-23 - "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind..." The phrase, "according to the deceitful desires" is translated in the Greek as "deluded desires", same as above. Notice the way to get free and live free is to stay with the Truth that is in Jesus and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
One more passage - Hebrews 3:12,13 - "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today,'' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Once again, the word "deceitfulness" is "delusion". Sin, adding to or taking away what God has said, can promise you ANYTHING but will only fail you in the end.
This is the day for you and I to get rid of the sin that easily entraps us! This is the time to take a good scrub with the Water of the Word and allow the Holy Spirit to show us what's right and what needs cleansed or even removed. WE CANNOT AFFORD to live a life that let's us flirt with the deluded desires of the flesh and the temptations that the enemy throws our way. TODAY, if you hear His voice - if you can hear it's not too late. Today, now, is the time to declare the Lordship of Jesus Christ over your flesh, your longings, your life! Don't be deceived by the wily schemes of the evil one. 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 - "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."
Today!
Pastor Jan
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The Pattern
Greetings, friends!
I've been stirred by the Lord to share some thoughts He is giving me. I believe that every one of us who say we know and love God need to pay close attention to the verses I'll be sharing.
Genesis 6:12-15 - "So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it...""
Genesis 6:22 - " Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did."
Exodus 25:9 - "According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."
Exodus 39:42,43 - "According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. Then Moses looked over all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them."
Exodus 40:33,34 - "...So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
1 Chronicles 28:9-12 - " "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it." Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit;"
2 Chronicles 5:1 - "So all the work that Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished..."
2 Chronicles 7:1 - "Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple."
I see a correlation between the Lord giving the plans, the people obeying the plans, and then the power of God available to accomplish His will. Noah didn't ask the Lord to bless the boat so that it would hold all that came and that it would stay afloat for as long as necessary - no, he simply did according to what the Lord said. Moses did cry and beg God to bless their efforts - he only built according to the pattern he was shown. When the pattern was followed, the Glory of God came. When David was told by God that Solomon would build the House of God, David told his son all the plans he'd received by the Spirit of God. Then, after the pattern was followed, there was the manifest Presence of God.
Could it be that the main reason the Glory of God isn't among us as GOD INTENDS is that we have strayed from the pattern? I'm not talking about a "church service"...I'm talking about the Body of Christ as individuals and as a whole moving away from the Designer's Plan and putting together our own brand of what walking with the Lord is to be about. We're so quick to compare ourselves with others who don't measure up as well as we or measure up better (which we can easily give an excuse for). Even in areas where there is some measure of God's power in evidence, we are not seeing the "exceeding greatness of His power to those who believe...".
My heart hungers to move beyond the way things are. I've been asking the Lord to bring about a new revolution and awakening of His Presence...to shake this area, this nation, this world with His Presence, His Power, so that all may know HE is the ONE TRUE GOD.
Not Allah, or any other counterfeit. But what must take place, first, is the return to the PATTERN!
Jesus, the Son of God, is GOD's PATTERN! "This is My beloved Son; hear Him...". He humbled Himself to the Pattern of God - the words regarding the will of God. He learned obedience through the things He suffered (it wasn't always easy following the Pattern). Yet, when it was ALL complete, God HIGHLY exalted Him and gave Him a Name above ALL names!.
The choice is ours. The Pattern is before us - it's up to each of us to submit moment by moment to the Lordship of Jesus -
I'll close with this passage from Colossians 3:1-4
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
When Christ, Who is our life appears (is revealed in and through us, which is God's intended purpose - Romans 8:29) then we will walk in the Glory of God (see Acts 5:12-16).
Follow the Pattern - anything less is disobedience.
Pastor Jan
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5
I've been stirred by the Lord to share some thoughts He is giving me. I believe that every one of us who say we know and love God need to pay close attention to the verses I'll be sharing.
Genesis 6:12-15 - "So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it...""
Genesis 6:22 - " Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did."
Exodus 25:9 - "According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."
Exodus 39:42,43 - "According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. Then Moses looked over all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them."
Exodus 40:33,34 - "...So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
1 Chronicles 28:9-12 - " "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it." Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit;"
2 Chronicles 5:1 - "So all the work that Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished..."
2 Chronicles 7:1 - "Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple."
I see a correlation between the Lord giving the plans, the people obeying the plans, and then the power of God available to accomplish His will. Noah didn't ask the Lord to bless the boat so that it would hold all that came and that it would stay afloat for as long as necessary - no, he simply did according to what the Lord said. Moses did cry and beg God to bless their efforts - he only built according to the pattern he was shown. When the pattern was followed, the Glory of God came. When David was told by God that Solomon would build the House of God, David told his son all the plans he'd received by the Spirit of God. Then, after the pattern was followed, there was the manifest Presence of God.
Could it be that the main reason the Glory of God isn't among us as GOD INTENDS is that we have strayed from the pattern? I'm not talking about a "church service"...I'm talking about the Body of Christ as individuals and as a whole moving away from the Designer's Plan and putting together our own brand of what walking with the Lord is to be about. We're so quick to compare ourselves with others who don't measure up as well as we or measure up better (which we can easily give an excuse for). Even in areas where there is some measure of God's power in evidence, we are not seeing the "exceeding greatness of His power to those who believe...".
My heart hungers to move beyond the way things are. I've been asking the Lord to bring about a new revolution and awakening of His Presence...to shake this area, this nation, this world with His Presence, His Power, so that all may know HE is the ONE TRUE GOD.
Not Allah, or any other counterfeit. But what must take place, first, is the return to the PATTERN!
Jesus, the Son of God, is GOD's PATTERN! "This is My beloved Son; hear Him...". He humbled Himself to the Pattern of God - the words regarding the will of God. He learned obedience through the things He suffered (it wasn't always easy following the Pattern). Yet, when it was ALL complete, God HIGHLY exalted Him and gave Him a Name above ALL names!.
The choice is ours. The Pattern is before us - it's up to each of us to submit moment by moment to the Lordship of Jesus -
I'll close with this passage from Colossians 3:1-4
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."
When Christ, Who is our life appears (is revealed in and through us, which is God's intended purpose - Romans 8:29) then we will walk in the Glory of God (see Acts 5:12-16).
Follow the Pattern - anything less is disobedience.
Pastor Jan
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Wanted: Adopted Parents
Greetings, this fine snowy day...since many of you couldn't get out to church today, here's a little something to meditate on.
I think we all know that the Lord made certain promises to Abraham and his "seed". "Seed" would refer to his sons and daughters; the generations to come. Of course, as Paul wrote in Galatians, that the "Seed" refers to Christ Jesus. Paul goes on to say that those who are in Christ are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
With that in mind I'd like you to consider how our Father God operates in His Kingdom. For example, God gave the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Several generations later we find Moses beginning the move to actually possess the promises. Yet Moses was still a generation away from the inheritance, though he had an enormous part to play in getting the children of Israel up to the point of crossing the Jordan. But when it came time to cross, it was Joshua who had the responsibility of dividing the inheritance to the people.
I've been chewing on this for a while and have come to at least two conclusions. First, the promises of God typically come to us in "installments"; and the greater the promise, the more the installments. The installments come through revelation upon revelation as the prophet said - here a little, there a little, line upon line and precept upon precept. God gave the promise to Abraham yet Joshua received revelation regarding the promised land more than those before him. Joshua was told exactly where to draw the boundaries for each tribe. Second, it is vital for each generation to nurture the next one in all the things of God. We must train them up in the way they should go...not just our biological children, but sons and daughters in the kingdom. This, of course, would include "adopted" sons and daughters of the next generation - those younger and less mature in Christ than we are.
Paul gave us an example of the Kingdom principle when he wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 - "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. " He defined it even greater in Philippians 4:9,"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." This is how the word of God prevails in the earth! People before us committed the Word to us and we, in turn, find others to pour into - not just the Word of God, but our very lives to the point people will learn, receive, hear, and see God living through us!
Father needs His disciples to make more disciples. He needs us who have learned how to hear His voice and obey His heart to pass that on to others. He needs people who will become "moms and dads" in the Kingdom. "Adopt-a-life" should be our focus and then expect Father to bring greater revelation to those we are "rearing".
I'm going to preach this more in depth, the Lord willing, next week (and probably continuing the week following). But the Word of the Lord, I believe, is this: "It's time for the younger to connect with the elder. It's time for the elder to connect with the younger. Training, mentoring, impartation of the Father's life and the principles of that life. The Kingdom of God advancing and making a difference in society - the world- because people know the power of God and their boundaries." You see, He is also saying to each generation and the next one to come - "This is your land! Fathers, tell your children 'this is your land'". The Lord, by revelation and the word of the fathers will further define the phrase "this is your land". He will define the "this" and the "land". He then declares through the fathers what the boundaries are...the promises that pertain to life and godliness and how to take them.
Hopefully, this little teaching will whet your appetite for further study. May I suggest you run some references on mothers and fathers and generations. Then, let the Lord take you out of your comfort zone and sign up with Him to be "adopted parents" in the Kingdom. You are needed, for sure!
Two closing passages:
Psalm 78:3-8 and Psalm 145:4
"Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God."
"One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts."
Abraham did it, and so also did his children; plus Moses, Joshua...Paul, Barnabas...and so should we.
We'll discuss this more in the near future. God is trying to bring our vision into focus and this is part of it.
Pastor Jan
I think we all know that the Lord made certain promises to Abraham and his "seed". "Seed" would refer to his sons and daughters; the generations to come. Of course, as Paul wrote in Galatians, that the "Seed" refers to Christ Jesus. Paul goes on to say that those who are in Christ are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
With that in mind I'd like you to consider how our Father God operates in His Kingdom. For example, God gave the promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Several generations later we find Moses beginning the move to actually possess the promises. Yet Moses was still a generation away from the inheritance, though he had an enormous part to play in getting the children of Israel up to the point of crossing the Jordan. But when it came time to cross, it was Joshua who had the responsibility of dividing the inheritance to the people.
I've been chewing on this for a while and have come to at least two conclusions. First, the promises of God typically come to us in "installments"; and the greater the promise, the more the installments. The installments come through revelation upon revelation as the prophet said - here a little, there a little, line upon line and precept upon precept. God gave the promise to Abraham yet Joshua received revelation regarding the promised land more than those before him. Joshua was told exactly where to draw the boundaries for each tribe. Second, it is vital for each generation to nurture the next one in all the things of God. We must train them up in the way they should go...not just our biological children, but sons and daughters in the kingdom. This, of course, would include "adopted" sons and daughters of the next generation - those younger and less mature in Christ than we are.
Paul gave us an example of the Kingdom principle when he wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 - "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. " He defined it even greater in Philippians 4:9,"The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." This is how the word of God prevails in the earth! People before us committed the Word to us and we, in turn, find others to pour into - not just the Word of God, but our very lives to the point people will learn, receive, hear, and see God living through us!
Father needs His disciples to make more disciples. He needs us who have learned how to hear His voice and obey His heart to pass that on to others. He needs people who will become "moms and dads" in the Kingdom. "Adopt-a-life" should be our focus and then expect Father to bring greater revelation to those we are "rearing".
I'm going to preach this more in depth, the Lord willing, next week (and probably continuing the week following). But the Word of the Lord, I believe, is this: "It's time for the younger to connect with the elder. It's time for the elder to connect with the younger. Training, mentoring, impartation of the Father's life and the principles of that life. The Kingdom of God advancing and making a difference in society - the world- because people know the power of God and their boundaries." You see, He is also saying to each generation and the next one to come - "This is your land! Fathers, tell your children 'this is your land'". The Lord, by revelation and the word of the fathers will further define the phrase "this is your land". He will define the "this" and the "land". He then declares through the fathers what the boundaries are...the promises that pertain to life and godliness and how to take them.
Hopefully, this little teaching will whet your appetite for further study. May I suggest you run some references on mothers and fathers and generations. Then, let the Lord take you out of your comfort zone and sign up with Him to be "adopted parents" in the Kingdom. You are needed, for sure!
Two closing passages:
Psalm 78:3-8 and Psalm 145:4
"Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wonderful works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know them, the children who would be born, that they may arise and declare them to their children, that they may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments; and may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God."
"One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts."
Abraham did it, and so also did his children; plus Moses, Joshua...Paul, Barnabas...and so should we.
We'll discuss this more in the near future. God is trying to bring our vision into focus and this is part of it.
Pastor Jan
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Be Mine
Greetings,
I just had to send you a note...to express a little of the heart of our Father. Since this is Valentine's Day and all, there is a message from the heart of God to each of us. It says simply, "Be Mine".
Father didn't look for the pretty, the popular, or those with plenty of money to send His message to. Instead, He sent it to those who could never measure up to His standard of excellence. He sent it to each person who could never earn enough to buy it or never flatter their way into His good grace. No, His message is a simple one and one that is for all. That message is
1) Father didn't wait for our goodness to do what He had to do (His heart couldn't wait any longer) and
2) Father was in His Son (His Valentine) speaking the message of reconciliation to us.
Romans 5:5-11
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His , we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Behold, what manner of Love the Father has given to us that we should be (could possibly be) called children of God.
May the message of Father's reconciliation continue through the message each of us share. The message, the invitation, the Heart of God - "Be Mine".
...and the Spirit and the Bride say, "come"
Amen
I just had to send you a note...to express a little of the heart of our Father. Since this is Valentine's Day and all, there is a message from the heart of God to each of us. It says simply, "Be Mine".
Father didn't look for the pretty, the popular, or those with plenty of money to send His message to. Instead, He sent it to those who could never measure up to His standard of excellence. He sent it to each person who could never earn enough to buy it or never flatter their way into His good grace. No, His message is a simple one and one that is for all. That message is
1) Father didn't wait for our goodness to do what He had to do (His heart couldn't wait any longer) and
2) Father was in His Son (His Valentine) speaking the message of reconciliation to us.
Romans 5:5-11
Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His , we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Behold, what manner of Love the Father has given to us that we should be (could possibly be) called children of God.
May the message of Father's reconciliation continue through the message each of us share. The message, the invitation, the Heart of God - "Be Mine".
...and the Spirit and the Bride say, "come"
Amen
Friday, January 04, 2008
Preparation and Demonstration
As I shared this last Sunday, the Lord is speaking to our church specifically about "Preparation and Demonstration". I believe it's a word for the whole Body of Christ as well. Before the Lord did anything in the earth, there was always a preparation before the demonstration. From Genesis 1:1 through the end of the Book, that's the way He moves. The Lord brought to light the ministry of John the Baptist as a preparation for the ministry of Jesus. John's ministry was given preparation before there was a demonstration or public appearance. God works on the inside and then the outside.
We are the ones called to prepare for the 2nd coming...and the Lord is doing a work in us so He can do one through us. It's with this thought I want to encourage you - BEG YOU if I can - challenge you in the Name of the Lord, to make EVERY EFFORT to make ALL of our services THIS month. Sunday School, Sunday Morning, Sunday Evening, Tuesday Prayer, and Wednesday Evening. I'm asking you to MAKE A COMMITMENT - just for this month. See what the Lord will do IN YOU so He can do THROUGH YOU.
I realize that life is busy. I realize that some things are very important. However, I believe the Spirit of God is saying that we are running out of time and that we have got to pull out all stops; set aside every hindrance, every excuse that would keep us from fulfilling God's plan to work in us and through us.
The things the Lord is leading me to do this month - from special speakers (Dave Adams this Sunday morning - a prophet/teacher; John and Becky Polis - the 20th both services, representing the apostolic ministry) to the teaching/preaching the Lord is giving me - it is all for the edification of the Body of Christ and the expansion of the Kingdom of God.
I challenge you in the Name of the Lord - You are the ones God is choosing to prepare the way of the Lord. If He was to follow the path you're making, where would He end up?
See you Sunday!
Pastor Jan
We are the ones called to prepare for the 2nd coming...and the Lord is doing a work in us so He can do one through us. It's with this thought I want to encourage you - BEG YOU if I can - challenge you in the Name of the Lord, to make EVERY EFFORT to make ALL of our services THIS month. Sunday School, Sunday Morning, Sunday Evening, Tuesday Prayer, and Wednesday Evening. I'm asking you to MAKE A COMMITMENT - just for this month. See what the Lord will do IN YOU so He can do THROUGH YOU.
I realize that life is busy. I realize that some things are very important. However, I believe the Spirit of God is saying that we are running out of time and that we have got to pull out all stops; set aside every hindrance, every excuse that would keep us from fulfilling God's plan to work in us and through us.
The things the Lord is leading me to do this month - from special speakers (Dave Adams this Sunday morning - a prophet/teacher; John and Becky Polis - the 20th both services, representing the apostolic ministry) to the teaching/preaching the Lord is giving me - it is all for the edification of the Body of Christ and the expansion of the Kingdom of God.
I challenge you in the Name of the Lord - You are the ones God is choosing to prepare the way of the Lord. If He was to follow the path you're making, where would He end up?
See you Sunday!
Pastor Jan
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Good Success
Greetings and Happy New Year!
May your year be a successful one by the power of the Lord!
People have different ideas of what "good success" is. Wall Street has an idea, the New England Patriots football team has an idea...you and I even have an idea of what good success is. However, I'd like for you to follow me for a short few moments as I try and think about "good success" as the Lord would see it.
Joshua 1:6-9 - "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.''
Notice that the Lord told Joshua to be strong and of good courage. Have you wondered why He told Joshua that? The main reason is because it takes strength and good courage to-
1) "Observe, or pay attention, to DO what He's already said to do"
2) "To not turn from what He said (either to the right or the left)"
3) "To keep His instructions IN YOUR MOUTH continually"
4) "To meditate in His instructions day and night, so we'll know WHAT TO OBSERVE"
As this year progresses each of us will have things the Lord is leading us to do, just as the Lord was leading Joshua and the children of Israel into the land of promise. Joshua knew that even though they were going to a land that "flowed with milk and honey" it wasn't going to be a cake walk. He knew of the giants and walled cities that were before him. He knew that the people he led were prone to doubt, unbelief, and even rebellion. Yet he still knew he had an assignment from the Lord. He understood what good success was - knowing, doing, and finishing the will of God. God promised to supply whatever Joshua needed to accomplish the task - but Joshua had to be strong and of good courage. Joshua had his part and God had His.
I ran across 2 verses yesterday that really got me thinking about this. Ecclesiastes 10:9,10 - "He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits wood may be endangered by it. If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success."
Say, for instance, you had an assignment or a responsibility to build a home. You had the resources all around you; all you needed to do was have the wisdom necessary to take the resources and work them, fit them, size them, etc. until your assignment was finished. You look all around you and see huge rocks and trees. Plenty of materials necessary to build a strong house, except they must be BROKEN before they can be FIT TOGETHER (like the Body of Christ, "fitly joined together" and "assembled together"). But, without strength and good courage, you may not attempt the work at hand. Notice the risk that Solomon wrote about - "...may be hurt by them...may be endangered by it..." If you've ever been injured while attempting to work with rocks or wood (or known someone who's been hurt) you'll agree that it can take a great deal of courage to do what needs to be done.
Working in the Kingdom of God is "risky" business. Any time you build relationships, it's risky business. Anytime you take a sledge to a rock you run the risk of being hit by some of the pieces. But the reward is worth the risk!
You see, the Word calls us "living stones" and "the house of the Lord", but the Lord only uses broken pieces and those which will fit with others. It is very easy to allow the hurts we endure from the tasks we're called to do to keep us from being strong and of good courage - which will keep us from good success.
May you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. May He have complete freedom to do all He wants to do through you this year. May you and I not be so worried about the "pieces of rock" or the "splinters in the fingers" that we take our eyes off the prize and miss out on His true "good success".
Remember James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Blessings,
Pastor Jan
May your year be a successful one by the power of the Lord!
People have different ideas of what "good success" is. Wall Street has an idea, the New England Patriots football team has an idea...you and I even have an idea of what good success is. However, I'd like for you to follow me for a short few moments as I try and think about "good success" as the Lord would see it.
Joshua 1:6-9 - "Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.''
Notice that the Lord told Joshua to be strong and of good courage. Have you wondered why He told Joshua that? The main reason is because it takes strength and good courage to-
1) "Observe, or pay attention, to DO what He's already said to do"
2) "To not turn from what He said (either to the right or the left)"
3) "To keep His instructions IN YOUR MOUTH continually"
4) "To meditate in His instructions day and night, so we'll know WHAT TO OBSERVE"
As this year progresses each of us will have things the Lord is leading us to do, just as the Lord was leading Joshua and the children of Israel into the land of promise. Joshua knew that even though they were going to a land that "flowed with milk and honey" it wasn't going to be a cake walk. He knew of the giants and walled cities that were before him. He knew that the people he led were prone to doubt, unbelief, and even rebellion. Yet he still knew he had an assignment from the Lord. He understood what good success was - knowing, doing, and finishing the will of God. God promised to supply whatever Joshua needed to accomplish the task - but Joshua had to be strong and of good courage. Joshua had his part and God had His.
I ran across 2 verses yesterday that really got me thinking about this. Ecclesiastes 10:9,10 - "He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits wood may be endangered by it. If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success."
Say, for instance, you had an assignment or a responsibility to build a home. You had the resources all around you; all you needed to do was have the wisdom necessary to take the resources and work them, fit them, size them, etc. until your assignment was finished. You look all around you and see huge rocks and trees. Plenty of materials necessary to build a strong house, except they must be BROKEN before they can be FIT TOGETHER (like the Body of Christ, "fitly joined together" and "assembled together"). But, without strength and good courage, you may not attempt the work at hand. Notice the risk that Solomon wrote about - "...may be hurt by them...may be endangered by it..." If you've ever been injured while attempting to work with rocks or wood (or known someone who's been hurt) you'll agree that it can take a great deal of courage to do what needs to be done.
Working in the Kingdom of God is "risky" business. Any time you build relationships, it's risky business. Anytime you take a sledge to a rock you run the risk of being hit by some of the pieces. But the reward is worth the risk!
You see, the Word calls us "living stones" and "the house of the Lord", but the Lord only uses broken pieces and those which will fit with others. It is very easy to allow the hurts we endure from the tasks we're called to do to keep us from being strong and of good courage - which will keep us from good success.
May you be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. May He have complete freedom to do all He wants to do through you this year. May you and I not be so worried about the "pieces of rock" or the "splinters in the fingers" that we take our eyes off the prize and miss out on His true "good success".
Remember James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Blessings,
Pastor Jan
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