About the Fast = Isaiah 58 - By Pastor Don Moore

Bible Study taught September 29, 2011 (near the feast of Rosh Hashanah)

God does things by seasons. At His assigned Holy Days, heaven is closer and more open. At the time of Rosh Hashanah is an appointed fast for the Jews, and Pastor Don spoke about fasting.

Regarding fasting - it is not just a fast from food. Sometimes a couple will fast from sex for a time for spiritual prayer. It can be a fast of a habit, of television, of Facebook and blogs. 

Pastor Don says that we need to learn to live a fasted life all the time. We can even have a fast of words - so that we are not speaking negative words.

In the book of James it says that no man controls his tongue, it is like a rudder that steers a huge ship. 

Fasting can help us develop willpower, self-control.  There is no mention of willpower in the Scripture. 

The ability of our will is how we are made in God's image. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, that is what we call willpower.

Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

The modern-day church shies away from pointing out transgression

Isaiah 58:2 Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching God.

Notice the passage: as if they were a righteous nation, not forsaking the ordinances of God. God wants our obedience, not just lip-service.

Isaiah 58:3 ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen? Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exploit all your laborers.

The people are assuming something. There is no fruit from their fasting. They assumed that if they fasted, God would give them the fruit of their labors, but their fast is not in accordance with what God wants. They are assuming that God did not see their fasting, and thus they have no blessing. But have they done what God told them to do?  They afflicted their souls - ashes, sackcloth, dust, thirst, hunger, etc. They fasted but nothing happened. Something is wrong. If sickness, they assume there is sin, if no prosperity they assume sin. We assume if things are not going the way we expect that something is wrong. 

In the American church, with all the freedom to preach and teach, there is still the same amount (if not more) of divorces in the church as in the secular world. 

Verse three is a wake-up call. No power, no presence, no deliverance.

If you read Deuteronomy Chapters 28-30 you see the blessings and curses God promises the people. If one is keeping God's commands the diseases of Egypt would not come on the people.  Problem is, the people are not keeping God's commands.

Even today, the power has left the Church in many instances.

Luke 18:11-14  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We believe that if we do right actions, God will answer us. 

Leviticus 16:29 This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.

Leviticus 23:27 Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall bethe Day of Atonement. It shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. 

Pastor Don pointed out that the letter of the Law includes the heart of the law. At the Church the river is flowing. Did you get wet or just stand on the sidelines?

Jeremiah 14:12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

The Israelites were in captivity for seventy years when Jeremiah made this prophesy. 

Fasting is the practice of self control and willpower.  Paul pointed out that it didn't matter what condition he was in - if he was prosperous or poor he would still live out God's plan. 

If tragedy strikes, don't let that take your soul's joy away. When Job suffered, he knew His Redeemer lives. Jesus is there for us.  

Isaiah 58:4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness.You will not fast as you do this day, to make your voice heard on high.

God tells the Israelites not to fast as they are this day. Their fasting won't force God to hear and answer their prayers.  It isn't about fasting to get something, to make your voice heard on high. A period of fasting and prayer should cause us to shut up and listen to what God wants to tell us. We are to listen to what the Spirit is saying, and seek to obey that.  We will never find God's will in our feelings.

Isaiah 58:5  Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

God is asking us to make sure that the way we are fasting is the way God chooses for us, not the way we think we ought to be fasting.

Isaiah 58:6  Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?

This hits us really hard. It is counterproductive to fast to make God do the activity of help us with our idols. If we look to something or someone to do what God does, it is an idol. Are we looking for a beautiful woman, a trophy wife, a woman with a job, a woman to do for you what God wants to do for you, then it is an idol. 

God tells us the why to fast, not the how-to. We are to be set free from the bonds of wickedness, but this does not tell us how it operates.  It is a spiritual mystery.

Did Jesus fast?  He was not bound by the things mentioned in Isaiah 58, so why did He fast?  He did the 40 day fast in the wilderness after His baptism.  He fasted and prayed often.  

The Apostles did not fast when they had Jesus with them, but fasted after He ascended.

Jesus stayed in the perfect will of His Father and the Holy Spirit. While He was on earth He was man, and needed to pray and fast to stay built up to do His Father's will. 

Pastor Don asked us - When you are run down do you have the good sense to pray?

Prayer is focused talking to God. If you are not certain how to pray, pray in tongues and let the Father answer.

We should fast the same way.  Be clear about why we are fasting. We can't be fasting to manipulate God.. We fast because of what it says in Isaiah 58:6 (see above)

The purpose of the fast is for ministerial strength, to serve others by developing our own willpower and self-control, in the absence of fear.

The devil manipulates us by fear, doubt, and unbelief. 

Esther 4:16 Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!

Esther fasted to loose the bonds and release her to deal with the attacks of the devil. It gave her strength to take bold action against the plans of satan and to save her people from perishing. Before she could approach the king, she needed to hear from God, to gain her self-control, willpower, and to hear what the Will of God was for her situation.  She knew what to do and needed strength and determination to go do it.

In Mark 9, the father of a demonically possessed son approaches Jesus, and tells Him that the disciples were not able to cast out the demon that was in his son. To cast this particular devil out required a fasted person. When you don't see the fruit of your spiritual life, people getting saved, the sick healed, demons cast out, people asking for prayers of deliverance, it may mean that we need to spend more time in fasting and prayer. God will send us people for us to minister to.

We work through the anointing. Jesus came to save those who were lost.

Mark 9:14-18 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. ¹⁵ Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?” Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”

Pastor Don worked on mental wards and have seen people with seizures where it was a demon-possession problem, not a physical issue. When a demon-possessed person is medicated it just slows down the vessel and the demon can't act out as much. But when the medicine wears off the demon is there and active. It must be cast out. If the problem is medical (brain waves, etc) it means that the Holy Spirit can fix it.

Mark 9:19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

The disciples did not have faith to heal this guy.  Faith is not quantitative, but qualitative. it isn't that we need more faith, we were all given a measure of faith, and it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed to move mountains.  Many Christians pray for God to increase their faith, they don't need more faith, they need faith for.

We can have faith for the healing of a headache but not have faith for the healing of a hip injury. As we apply our faith in situations, we build our faith for those circumstances, but we may not have faith for other circumstances. The more we practice faith, the easier it will be to apply faith in new circumstances.

When the disciples were in the boat asleep and the waves came, they cried out to Jesus and He remarked at their lack of faith, reminding them that He fed the 5,000, so if He could do that, and He told them He was crossing over the water, why would they not have faith that the wind and the sea would not destroy their boat?

The disciples had cast out demons in other people, for Jesus sent them out and they came back glowing with reports of their victories.  But when they faced this epileptic demon, they did not maintain their faith. The demon trashed the child around and the disciples thought, oh, maybe we didn't cast out the demon. And that was enough doubt for the demon to return to the child.

Mark 9:20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.

The demon puts on a show for Jesus.

Now, remember, Jesus is a man, a spirit-filled man. He does not have the omniscience of God at this point, for He is man.

Mark 9:21-22  So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus speaks with the boy's father to get information about the situation. Jesus needs the consent of the father to do the healing for the son.

Jesus is having a calm conversation while the devil is trying to distract Jesus with a  show.  

Unless the Holy Spirit directs us to cast out a demon, we are not to walk around casting out demons at random, we can make the person worse than before. If there is nothing done to fill the place vacated by the demon, he can come back and bring more demons to occupy the empty space.

The epilepsy demon is a bully spirit. If the child is under the age of accountability, the parents need to give their permission. If the child is of the age of accountability, he/she can ask for help.

Mark 9:23  Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

Jesus is asking the father to move from unbelief to faith. 

Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

The father prayed saying I believe, help my unbelief.

Mark 9:25  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”

Jesus acted quickly when He saw the people coming together. Demons want an audience, and with more people assembled, there would be a greater force of unbelief, and the atmosphere would e filled with unbelief.

When we heal or cast out demons we want a faith-filled atmosphere, or at least, if a person doesn't have faith for healing, that they can be in neutral, suspending their unbelief. Most times when a demon is cast out it is done one-to-one, and not in front of a huge audience. It is better to control the circumstance and the situation.

Jesus commanded the demon to leave and not to enter the person again.  

Mark 9:26-29 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”  So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”

This kind of demon only came out by the prayer of faith and fasting. 

Jesus lived a fasted life, so he had no fear, had self-control, and was plugged into the will of God.

Ask yourself, what do I have faith for? What don't I have faith for? 

Churches have faith for different areas, for example Baptists have strong salvation faith, Methodists have faith for missions, Presbyterians have faith for traditions, etc.  

We all have strong faith for some things, weak faith for others.

The demon convulsed the boy, but Jesus did not panic, he just raised him up, no problem. 

We need to have faith in the power and ability of the Lord.

How does faith come?  Romans 10:17  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

If we are struggling in sin in any sea and not getting anyone saved, go to God in fasting and prayer to gain strength and self-control in those areas. The enemy knows where we are compromised and those are the areas he will attack.

 I am praying your day is blessed.

Heather

Who Am I In Christ

In these end times, when satan is on the prowl seeking whom he may devour, it is so important to keep our focus on who we are in Christ.  God has given us so many promises, and we need to remind ourselves them. I brought this forward because I needed to remind myself of these truths, and I know they will bless you. I used four translations of the scripture NKJ (New King James) AMP (Amplified) NIV (New International Version), and KJV (King James) NASB (New American Standard Bible)

I AM:

1. A child of God (Romans 8:16)
NKJ: The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God
AMP: The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God.
NIV: The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
KJV: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God
NASB: The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

2. Redeemed from the Hand of the Enemy (Psalms 107:2) 
NKJ:  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy
AMP: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has delivered from the hand of the adversary
NIV: Let the redeemed of the LORD say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe
KJV: Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy
NASB: Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary

3. Forgiven (Colossians 1:13-14)
NKJ:  He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
AMP:  [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,  in Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.
NIV: For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
KJV: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
NASB: For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

4. Saved by Grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8)
NKJ: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God
AMP: For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God
NIV: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
KJV: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
NASB: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

5. Justified (Romans 5:1)
NKJ: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
AMP: Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
NIV: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
KJV: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
NASB: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

6. Sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11)
NKJ: And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
AMP: And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.
NIV: And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
KJV: And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
NASB: Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

7. A new Creature (II Corinthians 5:17)
NKJ: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
AMP: Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
NIV: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
KJV: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
NASB: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

8. Partaker of His Divine Nature (II Peter 1:4)
NKJ: by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
AMP: By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
NIV: Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires
KJV: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust
NASB: For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

9. Redeemed from the Curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13)
NKJ: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)
AMP: Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)
NIV: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree."
KJV: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree
NASB: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"--

10. Delivered from the Powers of Darkness (Colossians 1:13)
NKJ: He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love
AMP: [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love
NIV: For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves
KJV: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son
NASB: For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

11. Led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14)
NKJ: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
AMP: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
NIV: because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
KJV: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
NASB: For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

12. A son of God (Romans 8:14)
NKJ: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
AMP: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
NIV: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God
KJV: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
NASB: For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

13. Kept in Safety Wherever I Go (Psalms 91:11)
NKJ: For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
AMP: For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
NIV: For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways
KJV: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways
NASB: For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.

14. Getting All my needs Met by Jesus (Philippians 4:19)
NKJ: And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
AMP: And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
NIV: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
KJV: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
NASB: And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus

15. Casting All my cares on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7)
NKJ: casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
AMP: Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
NIV: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
KJV: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you
NASB: casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you

16. Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might (Ephesians 6:10)
NKJ: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
AMP: In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
NIV: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power
KJV: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might
NASB: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

17. Doing All Things Through Christ who strengthens Me (Phil. 4:13)
NKJ: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
AMP: I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
NIV: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
KJV: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
NASB: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

18. An Heir of God and a  Joint Her with Jesus (Romans 8:17)
NKJ: and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
AMP: And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.
NIV: Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
KJV: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
NASB: and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

19. Heir to the Blessings of Abraham (Galatians 3:13-14)
NKJ:  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),  that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith
AMP:  Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); to the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit.
NIV: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
KJV: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
NASB: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE"-- in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

20. Observing and Doing the Lord's Commandments (Deut 28:12-14)
NKJ: The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
AMP: The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them. And you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
NIV: The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
KJV: The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: and thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
NASB: The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, and do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

21. Blessed Coming in and Blessed Going out (Deut. 28:6)
NKJ: Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
AMP: Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.
NIV: You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.
KJV: Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
NASB: Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

22. An Heir of Eternal Life (1 John 5:11-12)
NKJ: And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
AMP: And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life.
NIV: And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
KJV: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life
NASB: And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

23. Blessed with All Spiritual Blessings (Eph. 1:3)
NKJ: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ
AMP: May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm!
NIV: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
KJV: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ
NASB: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

24. Healed by His Stripes (1 Peter 2:24)
NKJ: who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed
AMP: He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.
NIV: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
KJV: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
NASB: and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

25. Exercising My Authority over the Enemy (Luke 10:19)
NKJ: Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
AMP: Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm you.
NIV: I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
KJV: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
NASB: Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.

26. Above Only and Not Beneath (Deuteronomy 28:13)
NKJ: And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
AMP: And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.
NIV: The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom
KJV: And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them
NASB: The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,

27. More than a Conqueror (Romans 8:37)
NKJ: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
AMP: Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
NIV: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
KJV: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
NASB: But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

28. Establishing God's Word here on Earth (Matthew 16:19)
NKJ: And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
AMP: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.
NIV: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
KJV: And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
NASB: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.

29. An Overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of My
      Testimony (Revelation 12:11)
NKJ:  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
AMP: And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].
NIV: They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
KJV: And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
NASB: And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

30. Daily Overcoming the Devil (I John 4:4)
NKJ: You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
AMP: Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.
NIV: You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
KJV: Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
NASB: You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

31. Not Moved by What I See (II Corinthians 4:18)
NKJ: while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
AMP: Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.
NIV: So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
KJV: While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
NASB: while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

32. Walking by Faith and Not by Sight (II Corinthians 5:7)
NKJ: For we walk by faith, not by sight.
AMP: For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance
NIV: We live by faith, not by sight.
KJV: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
NASB: Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

33. Casting Down Van Imaginations (II Corinthians 10:4-5)
NKJ: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
AMP: For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)
NIV: The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
KJV: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
NASB: for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

34. Bringing Every Thought into Captivity (II Corinthians 10:5)
NKJ: casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
AMP: [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)
NIV: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
KJV: Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ
NASB: We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

35. Being Transformed by Renewing My Mind (Romans 12:1-2)
NKJ: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
AMP: I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].
NIV: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will
KJV: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
NASB: Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

36. A Laborer Together with God (I Corinthians 3:9)
NKJ:  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
AMP: For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God's garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God's building.
NIV: For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.
KJV: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
NASB: For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

37. The Righteousness of God in Christ (II Corinthians 5:21)
NKJ: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
AMP: For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become [endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of] the righteousness of God [what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His goodness].
NIV: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
KJV: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
NASB:  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

38. An Imitator of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1)
NKJ: Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
AMP: Therefore be imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].
NIV: Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
KJV: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children
NASB: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

39. The Light of the World (Matthew 5:14)
NKJ: You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
AMP: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
NIV: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
KJV: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
NASB: You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

40. Blessing the Lord at All Times and Continually Praising the Lord with My Mouth (Psalm 34:1)
NKJ: I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
AMP: I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
NIV: I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips
KJV: I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
NASB: I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

I think Neil Anderson, in the Bondage Breaker uses these affirmations also. It is good to be reminded of these.

Hope you have a blessed Day.

Heather

Facts and Truth and deliverance from the demonic by Susan Felder and Pastor Don Moore

This Bible study was taught on 9/21/11. Sorry for the format - although I typed this with paragraphs, Xanga is bunching the paragraphs together.

SUSAN FELDER: Facts and Truth

Luke 8:26-39 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.  When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”  For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.  Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.  Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.  Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Truth sets you free.  What's your legion?  The man had a legion - over 5000 demons in him. The demons were frightened of Jesus. 

The demon possessed man was in a bad way, but he knew who to run to.  He exercised his will and ran to Jesus.

Fact  - the man was demon possessed
Truth - Jesus could set him free.

We make excuses for why we can't be set free, and the demon wants us to believe those excuses for he needs a body to possess. Demons live through humans and they want us to feel torment. Demons like facts,  - depression, divorce, children suffering, etc. The demons want us to stay in the realm of facts.

In our lives facts can be painful but they are not the truth.

You may feel that the fact is you have a migraine or depression, and it may be real on earth, but it is not the truth. It is not permanent. Facts are temporary, truth is prominent.

The Son of God came to set us free, and by His stripes we are healed. We don't walk by sight, we walk by faith. Facts are so tangible that we forget the truth. We need to focus on the truth and the truth sets us free.

PASTOR DON - continued the teaching 

We are a spirit who lives in a body and our body has a spiritual experience. 

When we allow our spirit to be subjected to a lower being, we have a natural experience. We have a choice - let our spirits be subject to the flesh, or let our spirits be subject to the Spirit of God. 

We all are subject to our feelings. We want to do things on our own but we need to be subject to the Spirit of God. We are trained by the parents set over us and influenced by our feelings.

Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and Scribes, and to Nicodemus. Jesus commented that the nation didn't understand, even though they were learned men.

The devil took truth of Jesus, copied facts, and fed his lies to the world, to people. People get the facts, but they forget that the source is Jesus. One example is the book, The Secret, which teaches Biblical facts but leaves out Jesus.

What are we going to let lead our spirits - our flesh or the Holy Spirit? The more we want the Lord and Truth, the less the facts matter. Truth sets us free, but it is conditional - it s based on DO YOU BELIEVE.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Prophesy taught by Katherine Briggs and Pastor Don

Bible study of 9/16/11 - Katherine Briggs (whom we dearly miss at Friday Bible studies) taught a wonderful class on Prophesy.  Unless other wise stated, Bible passages are from the New King James Bible. Kathy began the Bible study with Scriptures and then Pastor Don added further comments.

KATHERINE BRIGGS

According to Webster's Dictionary, prophesy means: the foretelling or prediction of something to come.  The Scriptures are a book of prophesy. Preaching to the public the interpretation of Scripture. To utter as if by divine inspiration.

It is a spiritual gift:

1 Corinthians 12:10A - ...to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy,...

Parents prophesy over their children:

Proverbs 31:1 (King James) The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 

To be effective and useful, prophecy must be done in love or it profits nothing:

1 Corinthians 13:1-3  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Words of God can speak life into a situation. Ezekiel was instructed to speak to the dry bones.

Ezekiel 37:4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!

Prophecy can illuminate and inspire. It is an anointing of God to enter into a situation to preach, announce, instruct, protect, deliver, or change a situation. It can show what will come, and even the one speaking the prophecy may not know what or when.  For example, Daniel foretelling about the birth of Jesus.

As we saw above, it is a gift of the spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10)  and

2 Peter 1:19-21 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Man does not prophesy, it is holy men of God moved by the Holy Spirit. Prophesy in Scripture is for the Body of Christ.

When we receive a word of prophesy from another, we must test it to make sure that it lines up with the Word of God. If it doesn't line up with what the Bible teaches it is not from God.  We also need to make sure that the prophesy edifies and lifts us up.  

Matthew 7:20-23 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?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

1 John 4:1-6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Prophecy and other gifts of the Spirit flow through God's power. They are hindered or stopped by doubt. We can hinder a prophesy by stating - IF it will happen. The if sheds doubt.

COMMENTS BY PASTOR DON MOORE

When God speaks in the prophetic, unless God states that it is unconditional, it is conditional.

For example: God sent Jonah to prophesy to the Ninevites. He was going to destroy their land unless they repented.  When they repented and changed their ways, God did not destroy the land.

If God says He will do it, He will.  God does not lie. 

When Hezekiah was told to put his house in order, he turned to the wall and prayed, asking God for more time.  God honored that prayer and Hezekiah lived for fifteen more years. (Sadly, that was not good for Israel. Hezekiah, during those fifteen years, had a son born to him who brought down the destruction of Israel through his evil ways)

Our country, America, is trying to stand on prophesy, but is not meeting the conditions. We are pulling way from being united UNDER GOD. Unless we pull back in line with God's word, we can pray, and that does not mean God will come and heal our land. His healing of our land is conditional to our obedience to His Word.

Sometimes we want God to change the results of our disobedience, but God does not.  For example, the first child that David had with Bathsheba  (a child conceived in sin) died, even though David prayed that God would spare the child's life.

Some prophesies are set in stone, others are conditional.

When prophesy comes, we need to have discernment - We can't always listen to the voice of the prophet - unless the prophet is speaking the Words of God and those words line up with the Bible. If the prophet is saying something contrary to God, it is not a true prophesy and God will not honor a false prophesy.

Personal prophesy is always conditional unless God terminates the conditions.

The prophet may only be able to speak about the condition, but the outcome is between the recipient of the prophesy and God. 

God always looks for someone to stand in the gap until the final judgement comes. There are conditions and ramifications to be paid.

The love of God is not separate from the judgment of God.

Prophesy is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When we are born again we receive the Holy Spirit within us, but it is not the same as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit that comes with the spiritual gifts. When we are born again we receive an infilling of the Holy Spirit, but the Baptism of the Holy Spirit endues us with Power and the Grace of God. Still, we can have this infilling of the Holy Spirit and do nothing with it. We are to diligently seek the gifts of the Spirit. We need to step forward, in faith, and do what the Lord wants us to do.

When the Holy Spirit fell on the people gathered in the Upper Room, observers thought the people were drunk, but really what was happening was the fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32 - which Peter quotes in the following.

Acts 2:14-21 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.  For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Notice that not only men, but women will prophesy.

We need to seek what God has for us.  We want spiritual gifts to be activated and to operate in the five-fold ministry.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 details the spiritual gifts.   There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The gift of word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophesy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues.  Notice that through all these gifts is the SAME SPIRIT - the HOLY SPIRIT operating.

The five-fold ministry - Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

The Five-fold ministry are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers -  and all the spiritual gifts and the five-fold ministry are to be used for the equipping of the saints. 

There are other gifts mentioned in the Bible.  

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Areall teachers? Are all workers of miracles?  Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?  But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

The gifts are manifested in works of administration and helps.  Never underestimate the kinds of works and help that you do. What happens in the kitchen ministry is important and vital to the Church.  No area of helps is unimportant.

All of the ministries are edified by Christ and to be used for edifying the Body of Christ.

Why did He do it?  Ephesians 4:9-10 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Jesus, when he walked on earth as man, had to get His power from the Holy Spirit the same way we do. That gives us the courage to act and operate in these gifts and ministries. If Jesus had been born as God on earth, we would have no hope to operate in these giftings, but we can do what Jesus did. Jesus showed us it was possible to do these things He did.

Jesus is raised up to His rightful place in Heaven and soon He will come down to rule and reign and establish His Kingdom on earth.  Jesus defeated the enemy, and we have been given the power and authority to carry out His plans on the earth. 

Jesus, the second Adam, defeated sickness, sin, and death. While He walked on earth, fully man, he did the very things that we are instructed to do. He did them with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not through His Godhood.  Because He was able to do these things as a man, so should we be able to do them.  When He died and was resurrected, He defeated satan, and then gave us authority over satan and his minions. The devil is defeated, but we still give him power over our lives.  It is a choice. We can either walk in victory over satan or let the enemy hold power over us.

When Jesus was met near the tomb, He told Mary Magdalene not to cling to him because He had to ascend to Heaven and present the perfect blood sacrifice to the Father.  We know God said, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  We want Jesus to say that to us as well.

Ephesians 4:7-10  But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)

Matthew 25/Revelation 20- judging, dividing sheep from goats by Pastor Don Moore

Pastor Don taught this Bible study on September 10, 2011 - this was taught after Hurricane Irene, and a question was raised by someone about helping others.  We need to help the brethren first. - We can help others, but we need to make sure that it is done with the goal of reaching others for the Kingdom of God. But we also need to make sure our brethren in need are taken care of.

Matthew 25:41  Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels

The left hand is the place of rejection, cursed. These people did not have a personal relationship with the King and neglected the brethren.

We have to be obedient to the Lord, and be careful how we help others, not wanting to go against the grain of the Lord. We don't want to be unequally yoked. 

If we are doing what we think we should be doing according to the flesh, we may be disobedient to what God wants. 

Matthew 25:31-40 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?  When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

 There are goat nations and sheep nations. Goats do not follow the Lord, they rebel.  There are times when sheep follow goats and that can be to their detriment.

Goats are stubborn and can't be led. They have a short memory. 

Pastor Don said that there are times when we sin years earlier, and then something bad happens - we forget the seeds of the sin that we had sown years ago and blame God for the disaster, forgetting that we are reaping what we have sown. We need to pray that there is a crop failure for seeds of sin sown much earlier.

There are two kinds of fire - there is a purging fire to cleanse and restore and there is a fire for punishment that lasts forever. 

We need to have faith through the purging fires.  Purging fires hurt, but if we maintain or faith and are obedient, we come out the other side purged. 

Pastor gave an example of David and the census - he said that when David disobeyed God, a plague hit the nation.  God offered David a chance to be punished by men or punished by Him. David asked God to mete out the punishment for he knew that he would fare better with God's punishment.  God removed his hand of protection and the satan caused a plague to hit the nation.  David said that he accepted the responsibility for his disobedience.  At the right time, God stopped the plague.

But, even though God stayed the punishment, for the rest of David's life, there was a constant state of war in Israel 

God can mitigate in our favor or against us.

Matthew 25:41-46 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Notice - the least of these (the brethren). They fed and clothed someone - but did they neglect the brethren? The brethren are fellow believers, and we all have a relationship with the Lord. God is going to ask:  How did you treat the brethren.

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

John 13:35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. 

We are to do what we do to the glory of Christ. The glory should come back to God

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 

There will be a judgment.  Pastor asked, would God have us do something if there was no purpose in it? 

Those who, during the tribulation, lived right and held to the Word of God will be given the honor to rule and reign with Christ for one thousand years.  What happened to others?

Some are the Bride of Christ and they were with Jesus at the wedding feast during the tribulation time. They will come back with Him to conquer.

These are the ones who did not get raptured, who are are on earth during the reign of the antichrist and who do not worship the beast or take the mark of the beast.  They will be beheaded for their faith.

Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

The thousand years is the millennial reign of Christ - The Bride of Christ are already on thrones. Those who died in faith, are already with Christ, but they won't be reunited with their resurrection bodies until this millennial reign is finished.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years

This is the best way to be - to be in the rapture, to be the Bride of Christ. Next best, to be in faith, not take the mark of the beast, and resist the antichrist, and they won't have to face the second death = the second death will have no power over them.

Revelation 20:14-15 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Death, Hades and those who are not found written in the book of life will face the second death - the lake of fire 

Those who die in faith, not taking taking the mark will rule and reign with Jesus for 1000 years as priests of God and Christ.

The culmination of Matthew 25 goats and sheep is fulfilled in Revelation 20.

Joel and Amos speak of the Bride who comes as an obedient and powerful army. 

The end of the story is we win, satan loses.

Praying your day is blessed 

Heather