I will put up Friday’s Bible study tomorrow (hopefully). It is a hectic weekend – guess any weekend with three teenagers can be hectic. I chose to spend time visiting other’s blogs today instead of writing on mine.

I am asking for prayer for my friend’s son – he just had emergency surgery for a burst appendix and has fever, I am praying that he quickly recovers. But also, am praying for salvation for the whole family. The child’s name is Patrick.

I wanted to share something with you. A friend from church, Maria,  and I accidentally (as if there are accidents in God’s Kingdom met at the mall). We were talking about Pastor Scales’ teachings, she had missed one night and I shared my notes from my notebook that I just happened to have with me. Somehow past abuse came up in the discussion and I told her about my mother and her notebooks – how she would get up every morning after my father’s incestuous visits to my bedroom and would inevitably say, “I heard him in your room last night, tell me what he did.” And I would have to stand in front of her and tell her exactly what my father did – at least until God gave me blessed amnesia about some of the things. She filled  up two notebooks, several entries per page about everything my earthly father did.

Anyway, Maria said that this was incredible. My earthly mother kept notebooks of all the bad things my earthly father did. Now I am keeping notebooks about all the good things my heavenly Father is doing!

You don’t know how much that blessed me. God is redeeming so many things from my past – things that I never thought possible. I know that I came to God in God’s timing, but there are times when I wish I hadn’t waited so long. God is soooo Good.

Have a blessed Saturday. I am taking Patrick’s sister and brother to the movies with my three kids, they can’t visit Patrick in the hospital and might enjoy the diversion.

Heather.

This is a stellar week of Bible teachings. Pastor Don taught Bible study last night and blessed us so much. I thank God that I am able to learn so much about Him under so many wonderful teachers!!!!

Pastor Don told us that satan is trying to keep the church as poor as possible. (Again, PLEASE remember that this poverty is not just financial poverty, but spiritual poverty, health poverty, teaching poverty, poverty in any area of our lives where we are not functioning under the full power of the gifts that God has given us!!!) ( Heather’s note: Beth Moore, in her study Living Beyond Yourself talks about how she used to use exclamation points because she was excited abut something God had shown her and she wanted us to catch the excitement. If I used exclamation points like that, you would have to search through many pages of them to catch the words that have been taught this week. Assume a lot of exclamation points).

So often when prosperity is mentioned, many start mentioning heresy – heresy is when you teach something that isn’t found in the scriptures, or take them out of context. There is much about prosperity in the scriptures, so it is not heresy.

We are told in the scriptures that we are to be IN the world, not OF the world. Jesus is our King and Lord. He has power and authority from His Kingdom - His authority is over that kingdom. 

In our lives we have a double personality – in the world but not of the world. We are present in two locations. We are here on earth but our citizenship is in God’s Kingdom. What one Kingdom calls “prosperity” does not agree with what the other kingdom calls “prosperity.”

We are AMBASSADORS sent from one kingdom into another. Think about what an ambassador does. An ambassador is not bound by alien rules and regulations. An ambassador must uphold the responsibilities and objectives of the country who sent him. They have diplomatic immunity, not being held under the law of the alien nation in all its aspects. For example, if the ambassador has United Nations license plates and receives a parking ticket, that parking ticket might be forgiven because of diplomatic immunity. But an ambassador must obey the rules that coexist between the two countries, but the Kingdom the ambassador is from has greater authority over the ambassador’s life.

An Ambassador speaks for the Kingdom he is representing. He has the authority to represent his King, and what his Kingdom says. An ambassador is sent by his King and country to another country at the expense of the Kingdom which sent the ambassador. The Kingdom takes care of the ambassador. The ambassador can make additional profits, but all of the ambassador’s needs are provided by the Kingdom. And the Kingdom also provides for the ambassador’s wife and family. The amount provided is based on the wealth of the Kingdom that sends the ambassador.

While the ambassador can keep the perks (like fees for speaking), the money that is in the budget from the Kingdom, must be used as the Kingdom instructs. If the ambassador takes that money and uses it for other purposes, then the kingdom can recall the ambassador, cause him to pay it back, dismiss him, or arrest and jail the ambassador.

If the ambassador is faithful and true, he can keep the bonus. The Kingdom provides health benefits, and sets aside a retirement policy. Usually the term of service is short because the Kingdom knows that if an ambassador is on alien soil for too long they forget that they are representing their Kingdom, and might get used to the alien land. There usually is a long training period, then a short term of service. For example, Jesus began his training before He was the age of 12 because we first see Jesus in the Temple debating deep facts about scripture with the scribes and pharisees. His public ministry began somewhere between 29 1/2 and 30 and he served 3 years (some based on the Gospel of John think Jesus might have served one year from Passover to Passover), but lets say he served 3 years. After that, He is now at the right hand of God, and has received dominion and power over all the universe, so much so that at the name of Jesus, every knee must bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD.

When you are an ambassador of the Kingdom, your retirement plan is different, you get a better deal. An ambassador returns home and is treated with honor. He is received with great rejoicing because he has represented the nation and the King, so he receives double honor (sometimes more).

Pastor Don calls Matthew 6 the “Do not Worry chapter”.  In His ministry, Jesus spoke about money a lot. and this chapter deals with prosperity (but again, please don’t box God in, remember that there are many kinds of prosperity and God wants to prosper us in all areas of our life).

Matthew 6:5-8 And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

What is important to remember is that our King knows what we need, he knows BEFORE we ask. Pastor Don paired this with Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you..

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE Seek first the Kingdom of God. We need to seek to know the Kingdom principles, to go after the Kingdom. Many Christians take this passage and interpret it to mean that you must be born again, but this passage is much more than being born again. We are to go after the citizenship of the Kingdom, and in the process of seeking to know, becoming familiar with, and relationship with God, we begin to understand what being a Kingdom member means.

The Kingdom is not a democracy. Pastor Don asked us how many voted in the last election, many raised their hands. Then he asked how many ever voted on an issue that they did not fully understand. Lots raised their hand. That is why God does not make his Kingdom a democracy. No one on earth has all knowledge, all power. No one knows all things, past/present/ and future but God. He is the only one qualified to make wise decisions with all facts at His fingertips.

Would we want people ruling the system without Kingdom understanding? God sure doesn’t. Politicians usually tell people what they want to hear so that the politician gets elected – then the politician follows his own agenda. Our country was originally set up as a Republic, and in a republic everyone needs to know what they are voting on. Pastor Don said that he is glad for low voter turn out because so many people do not vote from a position of intelligence about the issues.

When the King wants people educated to understand His dictates, he sends out proclamations or makes announcements of the proclamation using a Herald. This informs people what the all powerful King has given as His wishes for His Kingdom. In Christianity we can see God as the King, the proclamation is the Bible, and the Lord Jesus and God’s Prophets have proclaimed God’s wishes to the world.

If we tried to vote, which isn’t allowed, we would be functioning without the Kingdom Principles, and the knowledge that the King has, it would be the blind leading the blind, and things would fall apart. Earth rules and man’s attempts to rule have failed, So, our first Kingdom Principle – seek ye first the Kingdom of God is necessary. We need to know who the workers are that will help us to understand the Kingdom, what our Kingdom rights are, and what our jobs are so that we can reestablish God’s Kingdom back on earth, taking it away from the control of satan.

Matthew 6:8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

How awesome is that! The King who set up the Kingdom knows what we need to function in His Kingdom. As a Christian Ambassador coming to occupy the alien land, God knows what we need. When we can fully get Kingdom Mentality, it will change our life more than anything else. When God gains dominion, authority and we obey His decrees, the King supplies our needs before we even ask for them.  Anything that we need, or are aware of that we need, God will give. God will give to the righteous (those who believe and obey God.)

We will not want for any good thing. (The key is it is good things that God ordains are good for us).

Here is the key to how to get what we need. Verse 9 Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  God is the source of what we need, He knows and has already given it to us, even if we don’t see it in the physical yet.

Verse 10 Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE We have down here, what is in Heaven, it only needs reproducing. And the way to attain is to ask.

Then we went on an aside to the idea of the third day. Everywhere in the Bible that 3rd day is mentioned is a reference to God’s purification, cleansing, and coming to get His Bride, removing us from the earth. It is an illustration of the rapture.

Hosea 6:1-3 Come, and let us return to the LORD: for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in his sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to earth.

The first two days we are revived, and then He will raise us up. God wanted us to be so sure about this principle that he gave us many examples of third day. Jesus was in the tomb three days, then raised up. Jonah in the belly of the whale three days. One day is as a thousand years, so Adam on the first day ate forbidden fruit and died (before he became 1000 years old), then we had on the 2nd day the faith of Abraham, and the giving of the Law, on the 3rd day David established the line of Kingship, and then on the 4th day Jesus was born, died, and resurrected for our sins. We have gone through two more days, and are now on the 7th Day, a new period of beginning a third day cycle, Christ is going to raise us up.

Pastor Don then went on to talk about how time is not marked by dates, but by SEASONS. Mrs. Moore was thinking about how the full moon marks the season of Passover and Pentecost. Pastor Don pointed out that the full moon, as many professionals in hospitals and the police will attest, brings out periods of major levels of energy. All the feast days of the Israelites are based on a 30 day month, and coincides with the moon. The feast of Rosh Hashana begins on the New Moon, and then we go through the day of Atonement to the Feast of Tabernacles (Full Moon). God did this deliberately, for when people’s energy is less they are more introspective, and they would have to be to fully contemplate their sins.

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Money is not the currency of the Kingdom of Heaven. The King can give money to us when we occupy where we are supposed to occupy. But He is not going to give us more than we can successfully deal with. We have to ask ourselves what do we value the most, Kingdom Currency or worldly currency. If worldly currency is our most sought after aspiration, then we can be easily bribed, made to switch our minds about things. But if we seek first the Kingdom of God, then we stand solid in what our King wants. Those of the Kingdom of Heaven value the Spirit more than the flesh.

Pastor Don talked about how satan wants to keep us from understanding Kingdom Principles. He pointed out that when he finally decided to go into ministry he was in his 30′s and satan was trying to tell him it was too late, he should have already been doing this in his 20′s, that his past would get in the way, etc. Lots of arguments about why he could not do what God was calling him to do. Then God gave him a revelation that he was at the right place, at the right time. That God was going to use his past experiences to reach out to others. In a short time God advanced Pastor Don to a place where He was useful to God’s Kingdom as a pastor. We cannot let the circumstances around us cause us to take a defeatist attitude. God’s Kingdom Principles work for us. But if we fall into the paralysis of analysis, we can be defeated. God can give us the years that the locusts ate. Pastor Don also pointed out that if he was given a choice to repeat his past, he would make different choices. But God is using the poor choices he made to let him minister to people that others can’t reach.

There is a right prophetic moment for each of us, and if we use God’s timing we can leave many seeds behind us that will grow.

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Mammon is not just a word for money – but it is the God of avarice, greed, lust, a pagan demoniac spirit. KINGDOM PRINCIPLE We must reject other gods that occupy the Kingdom that we are the ambassador of. Our loyalty must be to our KING from our KINGDOM (God), not the gods of the earth. We must have the love of God, not the love of mammon. In many churches the pastors only preach about financial mammon – the Lexus mentality. God does not have a problem with anyone owning a Lexus, but he does have a problem if the Lexus owns the person. If the person cares more about the Lexus than he does about God’s kingdom, then there is a problem.

Now, if the Lexus, or any other possession can be used to help the Kingdom, that is a different matter. Anything that God allows us to receive on earth is God’s and as such we have to hold very lightly onto things. God can ask us to pass it on to another person, to use it in a way that is not so personal. God might give us things just for us and our enjoyment, but not if it would hurt our relationship with Him. We need to keep the focus on God, not on our possessions. If everything God gives us we hold close to ourselves it may be indicative of a root of selfishness. Some may prefer having just enough to get by, others can handle more possessions because they know that the things ultimately belong to God.

Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: You have to open your mouth to get into the house. We have to ask. Ask God what to do. We have to seek it, go after it, obey what God answers, and then we have to knock – to put ourselves into the position to stay and use whatever effort is needed to get that door open.  Right place, right time.

Matthew 7:9-11 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: We need to know that God is not going to hurt us. We do not have to be afraid to ask God for wealth, success, spiritual growth, revelation, etc. We can’t keep our selfish desire, cheat, lie, or set up those who are in a trust relationship with us. We have to be accountable to God, but God desires to answer our requests.

Matthew 7:13: 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. KINGDOM PRINCIPLE:  Don’t take the easy way out!

Matthew 7:15-20 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves, you will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: Your character follows you, make sure that you are producing good fruit. And be a fruit tester – don’t just blindly accept something or someone, test the fruit.

Psalm 22:28-30 For the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations. All the prosperous of  the earth shall eat and worship. All those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, even he who cannot keep himself alive. A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation.

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: The Kingdom is the Lord’s, not ours. Get busy to do what He wants us to do.

Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. KINGDOM PRINCIPLE:  The Kingdom Principles are in effect in Heaven and on the Earth, and God rules over all – the just and the unjust. God will act when He deems it is the right season to separate the just and the unjust.

Matthew 13:10-11 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE:  God reveals things to those he chooses, and conceals to others.

Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: Just like on the third day in Genesis 1:11-13 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought fort grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day. The fruit has the seed in it. The sons of the Kingdom have good seed. God will prosper good seed, even if the person is not acting smart, if he follows the kingdom principle of seeking first the Kingdom of God, and doesn’t understand God’s decrees, but obeys them, then God will prosper the person. We need to know if we are caught up in mammon, or if we are operating knowing that all is God’s. If we are tempted by mammon, better not to accept prosperity in that area.

Mark 12:34 After Jesus answered the scribe about the two important commandments, To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, and the scribe acknowledged that Jesus was correct,  Jesus said, “Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.  KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: When they realized that Jesus said that they were close to the kingdom of God, no one questioned Him further. We need to ask questions, to ask “How can we get there?”

Mark 12:33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. That was not an easy thing for these scribes and pharisees to hear when they relied on the rituals to deal with God. They didn’t want to take the next step of relationship.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: It is not enough to just hear the Word, the Word in you will change you by revelation. If you have not been saved, have not been changed, then the truth will be in your face, but you won’t see it.

Pastor Don mentioned that some people have believed that Jesus was poor, but the Bible doesn’t support that. He had a one piece seamless garment that was gambled over (something so costly that it was considered more than rags). His disciples had a money bag and were considering buying food for 5000, but Jesus was able to multiply food. Jesus did not need for anything – God provided what He needed.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: We need to evaluate if we are acting according to Earth Principles or Kingdom Principles. Our kingdom is not of this earth – remember, we are ambassadors.

Romans 14:16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil;

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: In the Kingdom of Heaven – God is Good. We must defend His principles and dictates for they are all good.

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: We are to be focusing on God, seeking Righteousness, Peace, Joy in the Holy Spirit. Our behavior and character matters in the Kingdom, not what we are doing in the worldly realm. Is what we are doing bring peace and creating joy.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve god acceptably with reverence and Godly fear.

God gives us grace (which contains within it the empowerment) to serve God in an acceptable way. God’s Kingdom is steadfast, can’t be shaken. We need to trust in God’s kingdom, not the worldly, fleshly kingdom.

We need to remember that we are ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, our short time here on earth is not what matters, only what we do to advance God’s Kingdom. God gives us the grace and power and words to do His will. We just obey, and make sure that what we are sharing is what God wants us to share.

Have a blessed night!!!

Heather

I was so blessed last night when I heard Pastor Scales speak. He has a way of making us aware of where we are in our walk with God. It is very convicting. What I wish you could hear is the joy and humor he uses to make his points. He is so humble and gentle in his dealings with people.

Pastor Scales talked about how the Bible lets us see more of the nature of God by the various nicknames that are used for God, and he gave a few examples. During this season between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we can use these aspects of the nature of God as a measuring rod to see where we stand, and how we can improve.

God is Faithful and Reliable.  He is consistently dependable.

1. God is consistent in character. Malachi 3:6a For I am the LORD, I do not change…

2. God is consistent in His Judgments.  God’s Judgments are always right concerning everything that is. Psalm 119:137 Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are your judgments.

3. God is consistent in His Performance.  Philippians 1:6 …being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

4. God is consistent in His Results. Whatever God has declared will be the way He declared it. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

When God calls us to Himself he wants us to be Faithful and Reliable, consistent in character, consistent in judgments, consistent in performance, consistent in results. (Heather’s note: Remember, He did make us in HIS own image, so why would the requirements for us be any different than for God?)

Pastor Scales said, “Our ministry is what we do, our character is what we are.”

Our Judgement is the choices we make and do every day. Moses and Joshua chose to serve God. Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Our performance relates to how much we rely on Him to perform in and through us, He needs our availability.

Regarding our results, God wants to be able to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He wants us to win the gold crown in the race, and he isn’t going to say, “Nice try.” God has equipped us to get results and he wants us to do as he has done. We need to be faithful stewards of his gifts, and bear fruit.

Pastor Scales told us that we want to pray that all who come behind us find us faithful, walking a straight, not a crooked path.

Romans 1:18-24 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes were clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise,they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.

There are two judgments – the judgment of the faithful where rewards are given, and the Great White Throne Judgment where all will be judged according to their works.

When man changes the glory of God, God judges him. Atheists resist and ignore God, but they can’t get around creation. Where did everything come from? Pastor Scales took off his watch and said an apologist once held up a watch and said, what if I disassemble this watch into it’s tiny components, and shake it up, in millions of years, will they come together to form a completed watch. People laughed at that because they can believe that the things on the earth from cars to watches, to TV’s and computers have a creator. It takes a lot more faith to believe that the earth was created from a random series of fortuitous accidents than that there is a universal creator.

He then talked about Genesis 1 and said that when he was doing a conference in another country (not sure which one Pastor Scales said), he started out at Genesis 1 and said about 20 times to the people, “In the beginning, GOD.” Pastor Scales kept saying that until we got the picture and when he would say, “In the beginning…” we would all with emphasis say “GOD.”

Then he said about 20 times “Before anything there was GOD.

Then Pastor Scales put both lines together – In the beginning, GOD. Before anything there was GOD. Then he said, everything that exists came out of God, for He spoke it and it was so. If you bumped into God before there was anything created, you would have bumped into everything. Therefore, if you have God in your life, you have everything.

Most people want God to relate to us on our terms, but God wants us to relate to Him on His terms. Those who refuse to relate to God, end up worshipping lesser things like the beasts of the field or idols.  Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

Some subscribe to the Big Bang theory, but that is inadequate in describing creation. Our bodies are so fearfully and wonderfully made that there are doctors that make a specialty of studying just one part of the body – the foot, the eye, the heart, etc. There is no way that we can come into existence as a bunch of random elements coming together.

Pastor Scales asked us if we are totally dependent on the God of the Bible as He reveals Himself, and as the Word reveals Him. God is a God of Covenant. In fact, when God cut covenant in the Old Testament, he swore by himself. (Heather’s note, just like we saw with Abraham, God cut the covenant while Abraham slept). Hebrews 6:13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself…

God cannot lie – what He says is true.

The immutability of the covenant of God is 1) God is faithful – he cannot change and 2) God is true – he does not lie.

When the winds blow, and tough situations come into our lives, let us remain faithful and true – let us not give up God’s glory by running with the circumstances our adjusting our belief to circumstances. Press into Him, and He will respond.

We have it so much easier in America, but that kind of makes us lazy spiritually. In those countries where food and medicine are scarce, believers need to believe God for necessities. Their faith grows strong because they must work it so often to just survive.

K.C. Price once said that people need to start believing for a pair of socks, or little things, so that when the bigger, tough circumstances occur we have exercised our faith enough to believe for the tough circumstances. By building our faith muscles, we can have mountain moving faith.

Romans 1:24-25 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lust of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen.

We need to make sure that our worship is directed to God, not to creation, idols, our own beliefs that do not line up with God, our own version of what God is saying.

Pastor Scales spoke of three dimensions of worship.

1. Thanksgiving: 1 Chronicles 16:34 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. This kind of worship is expressing gratitude for the goodness of God. Pastor Scales mentioned that when he wakes up in the morning there are a multitude of things that he is thankful for, first of all, he woke up. He is thankful that he has a bed to sleep in, his feet work, his plumbing works, he can see, hear, taste, has a home. There is a multitude of reasons why we can be thankful. So many times we forget that God has given us so much to be thankful for. We get used to our material things.

2. Praise: Psalm 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised… Hallal is wild and extravagant praise, sort of like what David did when He brought the ark back to Jerusalem. When we praise and worship God we need to take the focus off of ourselves and put it onto God. It doesn’t matter what our neighbor feels about our worship and praise – it is for God.

Pastor Scales said Hallal-you-Jah (which when sounded out sounds like hallelujah) Jah being short for Jehovah. We want to praise God because he is a God of covenant. We want to give our praise to Him, to bless His name. We are not to worship God with Slim Fast worship, with anorexia or bulimic worship. God isn’t into surrogate praise. We praise as  congregation or individually. We may have a magnificent praise and worship team, but they are not to be watched like a spectator sport, we are to praise and worship TOGETHER. We are to be engaged in our worship – He is our bridegroom and we are His bride. We praise God’s character and His attributes are revealed.

3. Worship God:  We move from songs about God, to songs to God, and then we enter another phase of worship which is very deep and intimate. Pastor Scales described it in terms of how the Israelites entered the temple. First they made an offering on the altar of sacrifice (the flesh gets burned up – our sins are atoned for), then we enter the Holy place where there is the laver to wash, the candlestand with the oil (spirit), and the bread (word). After we have been refreshed in spirit and word, the veil is parted and we enter the Holy of Holies, and are in the presence of God. We lose site of what is around us (and this does not happen all the time), and we have an experience of God. We see God as Holy and want to be Holy like God, good and want to be good like God, just and want to be just like God, merciful and want to be merciful just like God. It is like when the bride and groom are together, and when we have that transformational type of worship we come away from it changed. People will see how different we are, for we will be impacted by being in His Glory.

Pastor Scales said that when we are worshipping God, our car can be the Holy of Holies, our bedroom, the bathroom, the cubical at work. Wherever we are worshipping God will become the Holy of Holies. That is not to say that we don’t set aside a time and place for worship too, but we do not have to limit that worship to just then and there.

Pastor Scales said to not change the glory of God and not neglect worship.

Romans 1:26-32 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting: being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness: full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Many today are trying to change the natural use and order of things to something that God did not design. Pastor Scales mentioned how even public TV channels are putting on programs that glorify things that are not of God.  The humor and sitcoms now glorify the flesh in ways that God did not intend. Now Pastor Scales prays for early discernment, so that if he flips on a channel before he gets too involved in a program that the Holy Spirit will tell him to change the channel.

He also pointed out that we approve of those who practice these practices when we watch them on tv or movies. Someone once convicted him of laughing at an off-color joke, telling Pastor Scales- “If you grin -you in.”

Romans 2:1-2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

We must evaluate ourselves, let’s not judge someone else as being wrong, and then do the same thing ourselves. He mentioned about a pastor he knew whose daughter got pregnant out of wedlock. This daughter and her mother were planning on an abortion, but the pastor found out about it and told them that wasn’t an option. The family repented for even considering such an action, and chose the route more pleasing to God. It was important for them to do that because they also were standing on anti-abortion lines, and if they had disobeyed God when the circumstances were tough for them it would have compromised their witness.

We need to walk the talk. It is easy to talk about what we need to do, a lot harder to do the walk.

He mentioned that we sometimes have an experience and then preach about it – explaining what happened and how we resolved it. Sometimes God lets us preach about something and then we experience what we have preached about – and then we see of we can live what we have advised others to do.

Are we living up to the standards we set for others. So often Pastors are not eating what they are serving – if it is good for the church, it is good for the pastor.

Romans 2:3-5 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

This is the day of the Lord, we will either look forward to it with joy or dread. Pastor talked about the Goodness, Forbearance and Longsuffering of God. Before we got saved, there were circumstances that we wrote off as luck. One example Pastor Scales gave is if you drank a lot, got in your car, drove home and didn’t remember anything about the drive home – you were preserved from deadly accident by the Goodness, Forbearance and Longsuffering of God. And many of the good things that happened to us before we were saved can be chalked up to this. After we are saved, if we do things in our own understanding, do things outside of the will of God, he may permit them due to his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering – but that does not mean that God is approving of the things we are doing outside of His will. He is just waiting and hoping that we will repent and come back into His will.

Some people with alternate lifestyles, or those who are saved and not acting within God’s will take God’s silence to be approval of what is going on. It isn’t. It is his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering that permits this to go on while He waits for us to repent.

Romans 2:6-11 who “will render to each one according to his deeds.” eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.

Jeremiah 32:19 You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 17:10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.

(Pastor Scales, as an aside, after being asked to repeat the Bible chapter and number was, suggested this: Pastor Scales’ Helpful Hints for Bible notetakers: when a pastor gives a Bible passage, write down the numbers first, then go back and write the book, you will most probably remember the book, but the numbers are harder. That will increase your ability to take down passages if they are quickly cited.)

God judges the fruit of our labor. Our labor will stop with our death, but the fruit of that labor will continue on past our fleshly life. For example, if you write a book that people read after you die, the fruit of your work continues on. If you give a donation to a missionary fund and die, the fruit of the money you donated will continue on even after you have died.

Haggai repeatedly suggests considering our ways, for our ways produce fruit. Is it a fruit of righteousness that produces glory for God, or is it the fruit of satan that produces evil. We need to cut the bad fruit to the ground with the axe of the Word, cut down or out the wicked ways.

Psalm 27:11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

Romans 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified: for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to My gospel.

Some are judged without the law, for they did not have Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They did not have the ceremonial law or the civic law. They just had a moral law given to them by their conscience. Those that know the 10 commandments would be judged by that. Pastor Scales says that he uses the 10 commandments to unpack the two laws that Jesus gave us about loving God with all our hearts, minds, and souls, and loving others as ourself. The 10 commandments give guidelines about what that is. Commandments 1-4 deal with the relationship of man and God, Commandments 5-10 deal with our relationship with each other. We are blessed because we are judged innocent because Jesus died for our sins.

Remember that Jesus said that God also looks at our heart, and gave the example of murder – it is more than just physically taking the life of a person, it can be harboring evil thoughts towards a person.

If you are not under the law, you still have your conscience to guide you. There is no excuse.

Pastor Scales suggested we ask the Holy Spirit to help us be sensitive to our conscience, to our inner voice, and the suggestions of the Holy Spirit. We want to be clean vessels as we come into this season of Yom Kippur. So that there is no contradiction between who I say I am and what I do.

He suggested that we read Romans 1 & 2 and evaluate ourselves in relation to what these chapters teach.

Pastor Don took the session to another level, having us write down a few things we know we need to work on in our lives, we then turned and prayed for each other and shared these with someone else. Pastor Don is now waiting to hear the testimonies of what God is doing regarding these things.

Hope this teaching blessed you. It is a hard teaching, but we need to be honest with ourselves if we are going to be used mightily in God’s kingdom. I want to please God in what I say and do. Have a blessed night!

Heather

I wish you could have been here tonight to hear Pastor La Fayette Scales. He gave a message that is so necessary for this time between Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).

Pastor Scales had us turn to 1 John 5:11-13 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; and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

This is one of the Epistles of John. John outlived all the 1st century apostles, most of whom had been martyred. John’s teachings so disturbed the leaders of the time that he was outlawed to a little island called Patmos where he wrote the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  Pastor Scales said that you can’t keep a good man down!

1 John can be divided into three parts: Chapters 1-2 – the Light of Jesus.
                                                        Chapters 3-4 – the Love of Jesus
                                                        Chapter 5     - the Life of Jesus

Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. By believing the testimony about Jesus that God gave us, we can gain eternal life through His Son, Jesus.

Success is a progressive delineation of our preordained existence. Our life is a like a journey with parts of the journey being progressively revealed to us through our dreams, visions, and goals that God gives us. God speaks to us through pastors, teachers, evangelists, His Word, our Spirit, our dreams, our visions, and through the revelation given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Unlike those of the world who think that success means what physical possessions we can accumulate during our physical life – success for us is eternal life. All the things that we can accumulate on earth will burn up, for they are not eternal. We need to set our priorities right.

God wants that all should come to Him, that all should have eternal life. He gives us time to seek out His Son – Jesus.  1 John 5:12 points out that we have a choice if we have the Son (Jesus) we have eternal life, if we don’t have Jesus, we don’t have eternal life. This one verse is the definitive argument against those who say that there are many ways to get to God, and that Christianity is only one path. They are liars, for Jesus himself has told us that He is the Gate, and that only through Him can we have eternal life. In Him we become new creations. 1 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

We will have a New Spirit, a New Destiny, a New Eternal purpose. Some things do not change when we are in Christ – if we are bald before, we will be bald after, ugly – ugly, false teeth-false teeth. Yes, God may restore these physical characteristics in some people, but in many they will still be bald, or ugly, or have false teeth after salvation. But there are many things that do change. They will have a New outlook, a New purpose, a New destiny. Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

When we have life in Christ, we have an adventure every day. There are no chance appointments, no accidental encounters. All is predestined by God, he brings people into our lives for us to influence them towards Himself. We will plant and water. He will increase.

In Verse 13 it shows us that a lot will start, but not everyone will finish. In the last days there will be people who have switched belief systems due to the world’s pressure and idolatry. They will be persuaded that there are other ways. But this is NOT TRUE. There is one way to eternal life, Jesus is that Way. There is one door, our Lord and Savior. The thief (satan) comes to kill, steal and destroy. He will try to pull believers away from the truth of God.

There is only one way to the Father’s House, and that is through Jesus. A lot of people are believing lies.

During this period of Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur is a time when believers need to be searching out the truth about themselves, asking the Holy Spirit what needs to be cleansed in us. In these last days we are going to begin to see God’s Judgment on the earth – it will begin in our own house (ourselves as temples of God), and then move toward the corporate house (the Church). We need to be asking ourselves if we are doing what we were designed to do. Are we righteous and holy, or are there areas that we need to repent about. We need to judge ourselves so that we will not be judged. We need to begin to evaluate ourselves using God’s basis of Judgment.

2 Peter 3:10-13 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

We were asked to repeat the term DAY OF THE LORD. Pastor Scales told us that we know that there is a prophetic future. That the flesh will be burnt up, and in light of that we need to ask ourselves: What kind of people ought we be?

He mentioned that our physical possessions will be burnt up. In all the funerals that he has officiated at he has yet to see a Ryder truck follow a hearse to bring a person to the Kingdom of God. The Egyptians tried to bring their possession into the next life, but it didn’t work. Robbers came and stole the items and many of the things in the tombs are now museum items. You can’t take it with you. So many of us have our priorities wrong.

Life is a Person and His Name is Jesus. Yes, we can like nice stuff but stuff cannot be our priority. If God commands us to give our stuff away, we need to obey Him. God told Pastor Scales to hold everything he owns gingerly – loosely. We are to distribute God’s stuff where God wants us to distribute it (all that we “own” is really God’s stuff). Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. We don’t own our stuff, we are just the stewards of God.

In Holy Conduct – (2 Peter passage above) – we have a compelling desire in our heart to be pleasing to God, the fear of the LORD. A healthy dread of displeasing God. We just want to please Him. There are consequences if we don’t. Pastor Scales pointed out that his mother had to singlehandedly raise several children on her own, holding down two jobs. She was a wonderful person as long as you obeyed her, but she also could be a stern disciplinarian if there was disobedience. Pastor Scales grew to fear the consequences of disobedience, but mostly felt her love.

Godliness – (2nd Peter passage above) is Godly character, acting like God. We are not God, but we can imitate Him. We are not Omnipresent – we are just present. God can be all places at once and not be diminished. We are not omniscient – we don’t know everything, but the Holy Spirit will reveal to us what we need to know through the Word of Knowledge. We are not all powerful, our power is limited. We are given the gift of discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 9: 23-28 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another–He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him. He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

This passage mentions three appearances of Christ.  1st appearance – He hath appeared. This is a Historical Fact. Jesus came and died for our sins. Pastor Scales referred to a song we sung during praise and worship – “He came from Heaven to earth, from the earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to sky, now we lift Your Name on high.” This is good theology. Jesus died a perfect sacrifice for our sins, then was raised from the dead.

2nd appearance of Christ – verse 24 Now He appears in the presence of God, where He ever lives to make intercession for us.

3rd appearance of Christ is Yet Appear – verse 28 – the judgment.

Jesus is doing in the Spiritual what the Physical High Priest of the Temple used to do on the day of Yom Kippur. The priest would make a sacrifice (1st appearance of Jesus), and then enter the Holy of Holies to plead for the redemption of sins (2nd appearance of Jesus), and then the Priest would come out and report whether or not the sacrifice was accepted (3rd appearance of Jesus).

The priest would walk out this enactment of the life of Jesus year in and year out in Yom Kippur – but did not understand what he was doing. Jesus was a priest like the order of Melchizedek (Genesis 14). A royal priesthood, and He has engrafted us in Him.

Verse 27 talks about Judgment – we will all be judged, we will all be evaluated. All the unsettled business will be dealt with. That is why it is so important for us to take it to the cross today – so that we can confess our sins, and be forgiven.

David in Psalm 51 asks God to wash him, cleanse him and purge him. This is the work of Yom Kippur, and for us the most dangerous part of the prayer is to ask God to purge us of things He does not want us to be, do or have. We lay ourselves on the altar and ask God to cut out of us what is displeasing to Him.

This purging is usually not so much the externals (although sometimes it is), but it is more the inner stuff in our lives: our motives, attitudes, the way we think, conditions that keep us from the fullness of God in our lives, what we say. Out of our heart the mouth speaks. We ask God to cleanse us from all uncleanness in our spirits.

We want to do this BEFORE we die, before the judgment mentioned in Hebrews. So many of us have a false image of what happens when we die. We think we go to Heaven, sit on a cloud, eat angel food cake, get fitted for halos, but that is a wrong image.

Pastor Scales spoke about entering Heaven like finishing an Olympic triathalon race. He said that we are all running the race God has set before us. We are to fight the good fight of faith, and finish the course. The race is not a race against another person – we all have our own course. The course itself is the competition. All the trials and tribulations that we face in our life, the temptations, the distractions, the day-to-day stuff on our course in the race, is our competition and at the end of the race we will win a crown. It could be a gold, silver or bronze. We are all to try and win the gold crowns. Jesus is there as our cheering section, encouraging us to continue on our race, to push harder, to finish and not grow weary mid race. He wants us all to win. The sad thing though is that many will not finish the race, many do not do their best, many waste so many years and advance very little. We will be judged and then cast our crowns.

So many of us have never run a triathalon – we have never started, we would prefer to lounge around watching it on our big-screen tv’s, drinking our soda, and eating snacks. But in God’s kingdom we are not spectators. God wants us to run our race, he sends those of the five-fold ministry to encourage us. He gives us saints to encourage us, and spiritual gifts to help us. There is a great cloud of witnesses around us, hymns and His Word to prod us forward. Our coach is Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith, and He cheers us on.

If we obey God we can all win the gold. God equips us for the race that we are to run.

The Judgment referred to in the Hebrews passage above is a judgment for believers – and God wants us to all gain the gold. It is sad when athletes who could make Gold fail because they did not try hard enough.  If we fall short in any area we are to confess and ask for forgiveness and keep on pressing forward. Pastor Scales said that we should have a daily Yom Kippur – cleanse ourselves in the morning through prayer, cleanse ourselves in the evening through prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit how we should pray tonight. Ask the Holy Spirit where we missed the mark in our day-to-day life – were our attitudes bad? did we fail to do what we were instructed to do? were we prideful? arrogant? puffed up? angry? speak out of turn? We need to ask the Holy Spirit to shed light on our sins, and pray as David did, Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.

Know that when the Holy Spirit answers this prayer, it will not be to condemnation, but evaluation. The Judgment that we are referring to here is for believers, but there will be another judgment that is very sad.

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And everyone not found written in the book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is called the Great White Throne Judgment, and it is a tragic scene, a judgment not of rewards and commendation, but more like the judgment that we see today in our criminal courts. The evidence has been given, the jury deliberated, there is no plea bargaining, no deals, just judgment. There are books of works opened, and there is no smiling. Those who are not written in the book of life are cast for eternity into the lake of fire. You can’t hide from this judgment, and you can’t go back and make a different life choice.

God gave us all a deal – salvation through Jesus Christ. He gave us a plea before we even get to the throne. Our plea bargain is the Blood of Jesus – take the deal!

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. God our Father is our judge, Jesus is our defense lawyer, and the Holy Spirit is the jury. The accuser of the brethren is there to try and condemn us, but we are covered by the blood of the lamb. The blood says righteous, justified, forgiven.

We then started to pray, asking the Spirit of God to fall down on us, to search us, mold us, break us, so that we can be made anew. We want to go through the refining fires and become like Jesus, not go to the eternal lake of fire.

Tomorrow Pastor Scales is going to continue his talk explaining benchmarks for the evaluation of what God sees in our judgment. We are so blessed to have this man of God come and teach us.

I know that he is right, time is short as Pastor Don teaches, and we really can’t fool around anymore. God needs us working – there is such a harvest that He wants us to have, and the workers are few. Let’s spend time cleansing ourselves so that we can be ready to work in His field where He wants us to work.

Have a blessed day,

Heather

FINALLY Exodus 1, bet that was how the Israelites felt too when they could say, “Finally the Exodus”. They had gone to Egypt (Genesis) to flee famine. Joseph provided for them, and God multiplied them so that the tiny band of 70 Israelites now numbered more than a million. The Egyptians were beginning to get nervous, for they had turned the Israelites into slaves, and who knew if the slaves would revolt or not. So they started making provisions to decrease the numbers of the Israelites. The funny thing about reacting out of fear is that so often that only makes the situation worse. We will see that that is the end result of the Egyptians’ attempt at population control.

Exodus begins with a listing of the sons -and the fact is noted that they came with their household into Egypt. Remember – Joseph had them mention that they were shepherds (something the Egyptians did not like to associate with), so that kept them set apart from the culture, and thus they did not become like the Egyptians, talk like the Egyptians or “Walk like the Egyptians” (sorry, couldn’t resist that Steve Martin song), or become part of their religion.

Verse 5 All those who were the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already).

Joseph dies all his brothers and all that generation. verse 7 But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty, and the land was filled with them.

There was a new king over Egypt (one who did not remember Joseph and what he did to save Egypt from the famine),  verse 9 And he said to his people, “Look the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we, come let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and go up out of the land.”

There is some thought that this king was not a native Egyptian, but I am not 100% certain about that. What makes me think that he might not be an Egyptian is Isaiah 52:4b Then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause them being the Israelites. What I do know is that the Israelites were treated as slaves, and it would have been a good military strategy of any enemy of Egypt to have the slaves join them and revolt against their masters. That is some inkling of how the Israelites were treated, slaves that are treated well, that are like part of the family, that have respect and kind treatment are less likely to revolt. Slaves that are mistreated could be viewed with suspicion when they outnumber their masters. Sometimes those in power then afflict the slaves to keep them in subjection, but each person has that point where they draw the line and say – this far and no further.

 The other thought that came to my mind is that sometimes kind treatment can be just as enslaving. You can get a person so complacent with kindness, that they do not seek to move on. An example could be a child who is spoiled to the point where they see no need to do anything for themselves. Satan spoils us sometimes with kindness and good things, that keep us blind from the fact that we might not be doing what God wants us to do. You can kill a person with kindness as much as with mistreatment. Guess we need to find that perfect balance.

The king’s first attempt to subdue the Egyptians and reduce their numbers was: verse 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.(Ramses)

What is interesting is that so often when people are afflicted, the results are not what the abusers want. Look at the spread of Early Christianity – the affliction of the Christians spread the Word of God further than kind treatment would have done. Some of those who are in other countries where they are persecuted for being Christians have a stronger faith, for their faith is tested and flourishes in the fires of persecution.

Verse 12-14 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.

One other thing to consider is that the Egyptian king would have been influenced by satan, who wanted nothing more than to wipe out the tribe of Israel – because satan knows that Jesus would come from that line. If Pharaoh’s plan worked out, then there would have been no line of descent from Abraham to Jesus.

Sometimes when times are tough and we face rigors in our lives, it may seem that our oppressor is winning, but we will see that that rigorous service caused the Israelites to be in good shape for the long trek that they had ahead of them. Another example of what satan means for harm, God turns to good.

Verse 16 makes me so sad to see the depths that Pharaoh was willing to take to try and stop the multiplying of the Egyptians, “Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah: and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”

A few name, PITHOM – City of Justice
                    RAMESES – Child of the Sun
                    SHIPRAH – Justice, Fair
                    PUAH – Splendid, brilliant

The word rigor means with pain, harshness, severity and cruelty.

The fact that it was two midwives named might mean the same thing as out of the mouth of two witnesses. And we see that what they did was to act with absolute justice (preserve life) and their plan was considered splendid and brilliant by God, who blessed them very much for their resistance to Pharaoh’s orders.

This is an important message that comes next. We are to obey those who are over us, our rulers/president, congress, lawgivers, pastors, and wives are to obey their husbands, children their parents. But if someone gives an ungodly command, we are NOT under obligation to obey it. We are to do what God wants us to do. But, if we choose to rebel, we must be absolutely certain that it really is a God thing, not our own flesh coming up with an excuse not to obey.

Verse 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.

Praise God for that rebellion of theirs. God protected his people through the courage of the midwives.

The king calls the midwives to him and asks why they haven’t done what he has commanded. They might have lied (we are not to lie) I suspect that if they had told the truth somehow God would have preserved them.

Verse 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are lively, and give birth before the midwives come to them.”

This may be true, for the Egyptian women lived a life of luxury, and hard work probably made childbirth easier for the Israelites. Could be possible that what the midwives said here was true, but I suspect that they honestly would not take the children’s lives.

Verse 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and grew very mighty.

In that we can see that God was really pleased with the midwives’ bravery.

Verse 21 And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.

God gave them children, family and households. He prospered them because they blessed the Israelites by preserving lives.

Verse 22 So Pharaoh commanded all his people saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”

The joke is going to be on Pharaoh, for his worst enemy will be put on the river and ultimately raised by Pharaoh’s household.

I am so saddened by the thought of how many children died in this way. To think that Pharaoh would think so lightly of life as to think he could take it so liberally. Much the same as the rulers who legislate abortion take life lightly today.

I am so glad that for every evil plan of satan, God has a greater plan that just serves to bring satan to his ultimate end, the lake of fire.

Hope you have a great Monday. I am looking forward to my bed, the kids kept us up so late, but it was a good weekend, and they had a lot of fun.

Heather

Thank you for your prayers. It was a fun evening. The mom who was going to have the girls do a bit of work on their silver project decided to make this a fun night, so we didn’t do the work. We have a whole year to complete it, so it is not such a bad thing. The girls spent a block of time playing tag, we ate tons of food, they also spent a block of time choreographing a dance. We sat back and watched and enjoyed. Some of us made friendship bracelets, and the moms and I talked. The girls watched Madagascar, then went downstairs for a bit, at 2 in the morning I went down and found them in the middle of a game, telling them it is late. They finally came upstairs wanting another movie which we vetoed, and finally settled down. They are now sleeping, so I thought I would take advantage of that for a bit of Bible study and Xanga (we are in a library).

God did answer my prayer and an opening came. My relationship with these women is friendship evangelism  for I see them quite often. We started talking about the Dali Lama who came in our area speaking of peace. One mom was very impressed with his Nobel Prize,  but I pointed out that for me, I couldn’t be impressed having come from a New Age background, that just didn’t work for me. She said that I had a much more interesting life before I became a Christian. I disagreed. They both know my past and testimony so I pointed out that in all my New Age experience and the 20 years of therapy that there was a lot that never got resolved. But in four years of being a Christian, God has done more than all the past to heal me and bring me joy. I then told them that I used to not like God very much, hated Him in fact, even when I was forced to attend Mass with my kids. It took Pastor Don years to help me find Jesus. But what I have now is better than any organized religion, I have a relationship with God. That was my seed for last night. Pray that it grows. And know that it was one of the moms who brought up the subject, not me.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Heather

Was hoping that I would have time to write a new blog, but probably won’t. This afternoon is our Women’s Luncheon at church, and then in the Evening my Girl Scout troop is having a sleepover (should call it an awake over), and I will be there. They are working a bit on their silver projects, and then we experiment with our hair, do nails, a few arts and crafts, watch movies, eat Chineese food, and popcorn and snacks and hopefully do a lot of talking over these activities. Sometimes unstructured events like this are great ways to hear their concerns and put in a few good ideas during the fun times. Pray that this is a fun and productive night.

Heather

Living Word Chapel will be having La Fayette Scales speaking and prophesying on Monday and Tuesday of next week – 7:00 - you are very welcome to come and hear him. I have heard him teach before, and he is very enlightened.

Today was one of those hodgepodge Bible studies. Pastor Don is very approachable with questions and will gladly answer any we put to him. One of our members had picked up a Bible at a yardsale – it was small and easy to carry, she then found a Jehovah Witness flyer inside, and started glancing at the Bible and felt uneasy. Pastor Don told us that there is a way to test if a Bible is a good translation or not.

1 John 4:1-4 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.

This is a big test to see if teaching is false, do the people teach that Jesus Christ is God, that He was in the flesh, God/Man. Jehovah Witnesses do not believe this, neither do the Mormons. Christ was not Jesus’ last name – He was Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus son of Joseph. He was fully human and fully God when He walked on the earth. Christ means anointed. Jesus is and was God, who willingly chose to accept a human body, die for our sins, and was raised from the dead. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

1 John 4:6 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. Those who are of God can hear the truth about Jesus, that He is Son of God, that He was God in the flesh, they can hear the spirit of truth. Those who refuse to believe this, are operating under a spirit of error, a spirit of antichrist.

People have the right to choose what they believe. They are given the choice to believe the truth about Jesus or not – if they choose not to believe that, they will face eternal consequences for believing the lies. That being said, Pastor Don also pointed out that God is bigger than our theology or doctrine. That there will be people in Heaven that we wouldn’t think belong there. God is sovereign, and he will perfectly judge people.

Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.

Pastor Don then showed us a few passages in the JW Bible that are VERY DIFFERENT from other Bibles. In fact, theirs is the only one who translates the passages the way that they do, all other Bibles translate the passages correctly. He also told us that one of the translators of the JW Bible, on tape, has disavowed the translation, and wanted them to take his name off as a translator.

One of the best clues is John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In the JW Bible they say (and I don’t want to put the passages on my blog), that the “word was a god”. Notice the lower case god – as if Jesus was one of many gods, and they also teach later that he is not son of God, but created being.

Then Pastor Don read their version of  Philippians 2:5-11 where they mention torture spike, and the passage is so confusing in that translation and they do everything possible to not claim the divinity of Jesus Christ. What they are trying to do is take away the important symbols of Christianity.

The Bible translation that they present is done so that their tenants can be presented, but it alters the meaning of the Bible. They will be answerable to God for that spirit of antichrist that they are presenting.

Churches and institutions like that operate under a principle of self-preservation. They base their theology and interpretation and survival by taking the Word of God, and choosing the passages that highlight their basic tenants, and ignore those or change those who do not support them.

It is also important to realize that all of the denominations have areas that are not exactly Biblical – we all get things wrong somewhere. (But Christian churches all accept the Divinity of Jesus Christ, and His death for our sins and His and resurrection).  Pastor Don pointed out that when Paul would go into a town like Galatia, he would raise up pastors from that area. There are denominations who don’t do that today, they appoint pastors and leaders and send them to churches in whatever area they want to appoint them. Why would they do that? It helps to control the churches, but is is not biblical. Paul picked pastors from the area where they lived.

(Pastor Don’s father was a Baptist preacher) Baptist churches can vote out their pastor through deacons, and the congregation (who receive the hand of fellowship) vote in pastors. The problem with that is that a person who is right on the outside, does right things, lives a good life, may not really be born again on the inside, yet they can decide who will be pastor. Democracy was not God’s plan for the church.

Churches may have meetings to plan things, but God does not keep our schedules. When people make decisions out of God’s timing, they are making decisions based on their human experience, personality, or desires. They end up relying on the flesh to determine who should be a pastor, or what the church does. Many times the flesh makes decisions that are in error.

God has a benevolent dictatorship. We can voice our opinions to God, and God will listen, but will do what is right for us. God is most powerful, most intelligent, most understanding, most experienced, and wisest – he designed us to have the spirit of man operate under the leading of the Holy Spirit. Then we are better able to function within His will.

Ephesians 2:1-2 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.

We are sons of disobedience if we are not yielded to God. Satan is an “unbenevolent” dictator. He wants to take us down. He does not right now spend much time in hell, but is 100% present on the earth in a way that we don’t see with our senses. He is in the first heaven right up to the edge of the stratosphere. He was cast down to the earth and Adam’s disobedience gave him the ability to rule and reign on the earth until the time when God will put an end to him. You may think that him being in the air is no big thing, but think about this, we walk upright and our bodies walk through the air. We have the airwaves, tv, radio, internet.

Ephesians 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

While this was a description of the Ephesians and their lifestyle, it is also a description of each of us. We all are in some ways in rebelion. We have battles in our head, battles in the flesh, and a rebellious spirit. We often procrastinate doing what we are supposed to do, giving way to our own desires instead of obeying God.

The truth is that we can’t get better as human beings until we get broken and realize that we need a savior.

A democracy inside of our mind is what will lead us to distress, only when we have a benevolent dictator (The Holy Spirit/Jesus/God) in our minds can we make right decisions.

When we allow all the thoughts in our head debate, satan adds his thoughts to ours, and his vote to the assembly in our heads, and that can lead to confusion.

Pastor Don gave an example of how we might have to confront a person about a situation, and we don’t like confrontation, so we avoid the confrontation, come up with reasons not do do so, and stew in the situation. Eventually things come to a point where two or three days later you approach the person and then realize that you should have done this a long time ago.

We need to seek God for all of our decisions, major and minor – and that will save a lot of confusion and false teaching.

Ephesians 2:14-15 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two thus making peace.

When our Spirit man is in charge, the rest is inconsequential. So often we get distressed when circumstances are tough. In the clamor of life everyone is voting in our head, and we get so busy that we don’t have time to hear God.

We end up bombarded by demons that cause us to spend our time striving, overloaded, under pressure, worried, with too many things to do.

Pastor Don pointed out that with Rosh Hosannah, it is a contemplative time. We need to take this season to make sure that this year God shows us which seeds He wants us to plant, and make sure what harvest God wants us to produce. So often other people plant your seeds for you, and these are not the ones God wants you to spend your time on.

Pastor Don said that the Body of Christ needs to spend some time loving themselves. We need to be able to say, “I love me,” (not in a self-serving, selfish way, but in taking care of ourselves, our health or homes, or minds – so that we become effective in God’s kingdom). God is not served if we are running ourselves ragged, doing what God doesn’t want us to do. God has prepared a field for us to work, and if we take some time for ourselves to listen to God, we will do what He wants us to do. (Heather’s note: if we are working within God’s will, he will prosper what we do, and we will not be grinding our wheels going nowhere).

This is sort of a wonderful positive circle – when we love ourselves, we are more able to love God. When God loves us, we become more able to love ourselves. (Heather’s note: Remember, Jesus gave two commandments, one was to Love God with all of our hearts, souls, minds. And the other was to love our neighbor as OURSELVES. Well, that implies loving ourself too.)

We then read the following passage: Ephesians 2:4-13 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created n Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands–that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Pastor Don closed by saying that we need peace in our minds so that the Word of God can help us to find out what good stuff He has for us. God wants to bless us, and blessing comes from obedience.

We actually closed Bible study a bit early, and that gave time for a few good testimonies. God sure is working wonderfully in the lives of people in our church!

Have a blessed weekend.

Heather

We stopped yesterday because there was so much information to share. If you haven’t read it, you may want to read yesterday’s post for the start of this Bible study.

We ended with the question: DO WE BELIEVE GOD?

The problem with prosperity is that if we don’t believe it we can’t apply prosperity to ourselves or attain it. (Remember – prosperity isn’t only financial prosperity, but spiritual, physical, health, intellectual, relationships, etc.)

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We have to speak prosperity, hear prosperity, speak the Word of God about prosperity, and then we can begin to grow the faith for prosperity.

If you have spent 20 years denying prosperity, speaking words over yourself that you will never get this, never get that, never do that, and the people around you (your family and friends) reinforce these messages, you build quite a quantity of negative thinking about prosperity. You will need to build 20 years of faith for prosperity to negate the negative, and you can do that quantity in one split second. God can immediately take away the negative, or you can begin to work and gradually take away the negative.

Pastor Don gave a funny illustration of what we usually do when we begin to speak God’s truth over ourselves. We have 165 chairs in our sanctuary. Pastor Don said to pretend that each of these chairs is a negative, anti-prosperity message. Pastor Don picked up one chair and left the sanctuary speaking, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me, I am the head and not the foot, I am a new creation in Christ Jesus, etc. But, instead of putting down the chair and coming back into the sanctuary empty handed to take out another chair, he turned around and started speaking negative messages, puts the chair back down in the sanctuary. Realizes that he had done that, picks up the chair, walks out – walks back in with the chair and puts it down. He asked us, how many chairs are in the sanctuary – 165. Has anything changed, no. It takes a deliberate setting down of the chair and walking away, filling ourselves with more Word of God so that we don’t pick up that chair again. Now God can remove all chairs instantaneously if He chooses, or He can let us build up our faith by removing one at a time.

Pastor Don said, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT.

Mark 11:22-24 Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

We also have to realize that what we think (say in our head) also affects us, not just what we say in our mouth. We have to get the revelation that what the flesh thinks is truth can be counterproductive to us. For example if someone feels in the flesh that they are ugly and no one would want them, they have to get the revelation that there are people both uglier and prettier than them, and that there is someone for them. Whatever we are calling “truth” has to be tested by the Spirit and the Word of God.  If we realize that the “truth” really is a negative lie, we must stop thinking or saying it. (Heather’s note – there is a principle of substitution – where we substitute a negative thought with a positive thought – like a scripture. And since we can’t think two thoughts at one time, the positive thought takes the space where the negative thought was – we have to keep doing that to keep the negative out).

The power of life and death is in our tongues. We can speak words that can kill what the Holy Spirit is engineering to bring us out of our situation.

Pastor Don carried a Bible Promise book when he first learned this truth, and he kept saying only what the Bible promised.

We are to be happy where we are – happy that we have a place to live, but realizing that God wants us to own our own apartment, land, house, houses, etc. We are to prosper 30, 60, 100 fold.

It is a process to gain this prosperity. It may come one bit at a time. Pastor Don talked about a monkey who was given a jar full of peanuts. The jar had an opening that was just big enough to permit the monkey to reach in and grab one peanut and remove that peanut. Most monkeys reached in and grabbed a handful and could not get the jar off. They did not let go of the peanuts, and monkeys died of hunger because they would not let go of the peanuts. Some monkeys realized that they could reach in and take one peanut, eat that, reach in and get another. Those monkeys prospered, but it was bit at a time.

We need to work against our natural personality, make up and attitude. It takes work, and God’s grace to help us to change our thinking.

Pastor Don than gave us many Bible verses:

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Was God a fool? We were made in God’s image – is the image of God suffering (no), poverty (no) sickness (no), destruction (no). We were given DOMINION over ALL (not some, not a few but ALL), the earth. Does all the earth mean all the earth? Does all the earth mean finances, health, relationships, diet, ALL. We were created from the dust and the earth is dirt – so we were given dominion over ourselves too. Part of having dominion is also taking care of what we were given.

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Fruitful is not a poverty word (fruitful in mind, body, spirit, relationships, etc.)

Psalm 50:10-15 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God  thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.

God desires our praise and worship. He wants that we should glorify Him. If we are suffering (unless we are suffering for the spread of the Gospel) that suffering does not glorify God. If poverty causes holiness, why are so many people who are poor not living holy lives? God wants to deliver us from our poverty (in whatever form it is) so that we are free to give Him praise, and so other unbelievers can see the blessings that God has provided and desire God for themselves.

Galatians 3:13 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.”)

If you want to read what the curses of the Law are, read Deuteronomy 28-32. God blesses those who obey Him, and curses those who do not obey Him with lack of prosperity in all areas of their life.

Christ redeemed us from the curse – so we are able to receive God’s blessing – which He gives without measure.

Galatians 3:14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

(Heather’s note – we just finished Genesis so this should be familiar to you). Was Abraham poor? NO - He had offspring as many as the stars in the sky/sand on the sea, he had possessions, land, relationship with God, family. Abraham lacked nothing because HE BELIEVED God, and God counted that for righteousness. We are spiritual children of Abraham, and thus we have received Abraham’s inheritance – we too receive God’s blessing.

So many people do not want to believe the prosperity message that God has promised us, they never exercise their faith for this. Many believe that they are ok because they are getting along, but they think they are getting along because of what they are doing or not doing, because of luck, works or just a get-by mentality. They do not believe in divine provision, in supernatural provision. The truth is that God can and does provide far more than we are able to believe in our natural minds. It suits satan’s purpose to keep us in poverty mentality, not fully claiming what God has promised us. That way we are not as effective for God’s kingdom.

Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

1 Timothy 4:7-9 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE FOR ALL THINGS! Not some things, not a few things, not an occasional thing, but ALL things. And notice that it is HAVING PROMISE OF THE LIFE THAT NOW IS AND OF THAT WHICH IS TO COME. Where are we NOW? Here on earth – this is a promise for here and now, as well as for our future Heavenly Kingdom.

1 Timothy 4:14-16 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

People around us are watching us (the good, the bad, and the ugly). When people see us prosper and see us progress in our faith, they sit up and take notice. When we do this we not only save ourselves, but it affects those around us. When God gets the glory for the good in our lives it makes people hungry for God.

Luke 6:36-38 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

(Heather’s note, some TV prosperity preachers assume this refers only to finances, but that is wrong, it also refers to forgiveness, judgment, love, mercy, grace, peace, joy, etc.). But one of the important messages, according to Pastor Don is that you need to be merciful to prosper. In the King James version of this passage it says: “shall men put in your bosom.” We gain our prosperity often through men, and so many times we then think that it didn’t come from God, but God can use men to prosper us.  We also need to remember that when God prospers us it is not for our own selfish interests, but so that we can share our prosperity with others.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

God always gives ability, power, opportunity, and blessings. But notice, as we give, God returns the gift, but that gift from God is so that we will have all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. Our prosperity is to be shared with others. Notice that little word “all”, all is not some, all means ALL.

Malachi 3:10-12 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the LORD of hosts; and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the LORD of hosts.

The tithe will work if you believe for it. Sometimes when times are troubled, the first thing people want to give up is their tithe. And that is the worst thing that they can do if they want God to prosper them.  We cannot out give God.

Galatians 6:6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

There is good precedent to take care of those who feed us spiritually, our pastors.

Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Reaping and sowing – taking care of those who teach us, taking care of those in our congregations. We are not to weary of doing good. Notice also due season (God knows when it is our due season). (Heather’s note, previous Bible study, Pastor Don pointed out that often we stop praying, claiming God’s word – we do it for a bit, look around and don’t see anything, and even though God might have started the process in the heavenlies, we speak a negative word, stop speaking the positive. God then stops the process, or starts the process to grant what we have negatively spoken).

1 Timothy 5:17-18 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

(Pastor Don gave an aside, 1 Timothy 5:19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. He pointed out that many church splits and problems come from someone spreading gossip, innuendo, or hints. That if there is a problem with an elder you need the two or three witnesses, or else you are acting on something that may not be truth.)

It got to be late, so Pastor Don threw out the last few verses with little commentary.

Psalm 15:4-5 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Romans 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach).

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

Proverbs 6:2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth.

Isaiah 1:19-20 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. Whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

Note: Whatever.

(Heather’s note: our Bible study starts at 7 with praise and worship, then about 7:30 or so prayer, and somewhere around 8 or later we begin Bible study which goes on until anywhere from 9 to 10 – this one let us out about 9:45 and we could have kept on going).

Earlier in the night one of our members brought up the following verse and Pastor Don talked about it, but then teased her that she took his “fire from him” for this was the verse he wanted to close with, so I put the verse where Pastor Don originally intended and included the explanation.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. Jesus had no place to lay His head, but He wasn’t on social services, the people who followed him had resources and the people supported him like we would an itinerate preacher. He went to the cross for us, so that we would prosper in this life. When Jesus defeated satan, satan no longer had the power of death over us (death of our dreams, our finances, our spiritual lives, or relationships, etc.) Jesus WON.

Pastor Don reminded us to mind our tongues. We must not say anything negative about anything to even one person. Pastor Don pointed out that if he would go home and complain about something or someone from the church just to his wife, he would unleash things in the heavenlies that would have direct impact on his life and on our church. We must be constantly aware of what we are saying and thinking and believing.

God wants us to prosper in health, mind, body, soul. All aspects of life. The only way that we suffer for God is to suffer because of the gospel, for example if the antichrist decides to starve all Christians by forcing them to take the mark, and we refuse to take the mark.

We then spent time praising God and praying.

Hope you are blessed by this teaching. It is a hard one. Pastor Don does not mince words, but it is a good teaching, and if we get it, it can turn our lives around.

Praying for amazing prosperity in all areas of your life.

Have a blessed night!

Heather

This is a continuation of last week’s Wednesday Bible Study.

REMEMBER!!!!!WHEN WE MENTION PROSPERITY WE ARE NOT TALKING JUST ABOUT MONEY, BUT ABOUT MENTAL, PHYSICAL, HEALTH, SPIRITUAL, ALL PROSPERITY. IF YOU JUST FOCUS ON MONEY, YOU LOSE A LOT OF THE MESSAGE.

Many in the church have a problem with health and healing. The Body of Christ can be prideful and arrogant.

We act like little kids even when we are grown up. Even a seventy year old person can act like a teenager, they can be arrested adolescents, fixated at a younger age. So often we can see this tendency in others, but not recognize the same tendency within us. We can have arrested development in some area of our lives because of the ways our parents have treated us, how people in school treated us, a chip on the shoulder from a slight that happened when we were in grade school, and even our pastors’ teachings and behavior towards us. These attitudes are produced in us by our circumstances. Pastor Don said that parents should be licensed the way we have a driver’s licence for driving. They should be tested to see if they can provide love, security, confidence, etc. And he also pointed out that some pastors are onesided in their teaching – they have favorite passages that they work from but that doesn’t cover the whole Bible. They might teach on hope and then next week on hope, and the following week on hope, but never teach people about faith that allows the hope to be realized. If people only hope on hope, they will not arrive to the point that faith can bring them.

Some people have problems that never seem to be healed. Some are constantly facing the same problems from financial to emotional, and it keeps recurring. They take the fact that they keep having the problem and don’t think to try something different. (Heather’s note – Pastor Don wrote a song and one line says, “If you keep doing what you are doing, you’ll keep getting what you are getting). In the Body of Christ or without the Body of Christ, a person may experiment with a particular prayer or way of doing things. If they keep getting no results, if they keep trying for 20 years, they tend to take the stance that healing (or whatever) doesn’t occur in this day and age. They will think God can’t or won’t do it, but they don’t think that maybe, just maybe they need to change their approach. (Heather’s note from a previous Bible study. Some who live lives that are very spiritual, who try to live like Christ, are even more puzzled because they feel that they have been good, given of their time, tithed, and tried to follow God’s commands, confessed sins, etc, and they still have sickness – often feeling that the gifts of healing and other spiritual gifts are not for this day and age. They think that because THEY were not healed and THEY are so spiritual, that the gifts are no longer for today. If they can’t be healed, nobody can. But they may not realize that they have not done EVERYTHING God has said in that area, or they have not done all that they could do.)

If they are believing things in error, they will do the wrong approach and are unlikely to change the way things are in their life.

Pastor Don spoke about a woman who started driving when the only option was a stick shift where you used your left foot to handle the break and clutch, and the right foot the gas pedal. When she got an automatic shift, her brakes kept wearing out. The reason was she still used two feet to drive, and the pressure on the breaks, however light, wore out the break shoes. When this was pointed out to her, she said that she couldn’t change because she had done this for 20 years.

We treat healing and prosperity the same way this woman treated the car. We may not realize that something  needs changing, and continue to wear out the break pads, hurt the vehicle, the transmission, the motor because we do not take our foot off the break and relearn something. If we have habits of thinking, looking or responding to stimuli we can become locked into that response and assert that we can’t change or assume that was the way it is supposed to be. The person could think to themselves that they have two pedals and two feet, and that is the way it should be.

People can disregard the Whole Bible that way by just focusing on the verses that they like.
They can say:

1. “I don’t care about what the Bible says, this is what I believe.”
2. Pick out what they think supports the way they believe, misapply verses in the wrong setting to back up their error.
Pastor Don gave the example of 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 Love never fails. But whether there are prophesies they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. or Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers…”

They will take these gifts out of context and think to themselves that there are pastors and teachers (for we see those or they want to be a teacher or pastor), so those parts of the five fold ministry are ok. Then they feel that there are no more apostles since Jesus’ time, or the prophets since Jesus came. Their evangelists preach salvation and conversion, but not with signs and wonders. They believe that the prophetic gift died with the apostles (who can convict you and have you come under correction). An apostle has all the five gifts and demonstrates the power of God, and they can either set a person up with authority or take down their position . If we look at 1 Corinthians 13, people want to say that tongues have ceased with the apostles, but they won’t say knowledge passed away (they like knowledge). So how can they say 1/2 of what is mentioned in the verse is still in existence, but 1/2 is no longer working.

I asked, because this 1 Corinthians verse has been presented to me to show me that signs and wonders no longer occur, how to answer a person that states that. Pastor Don pointed out verse 10 – “But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” He asked me – are we perfect (no), do we know everything or do we only know part (only part), so since that hasn’t come, there is still a need for tongues and prophesy and knowledge.

3 People say, I like my interpretation of scripture best and will stay with it. (even if it doesn’t work).

4. Take what I understand and apply it to my situation, apply the Spirit of God and the Word. The Spirit and the Word MUST agree.

When we take what we understand and apply it, if our circumstances do not change, if we still face poverty (physical, mental, spiritual, relationship) or sickness or the healing doesn’t occur, we can’t say, “Healing doesn’t exist” or “These things died with the apostles.” We need to realize that something we are doing doesn’t line up with God’s Word which doesn’t lie.

If we have a problem with our car, we read the manual. If we are having a problem with our life, we also need to read the manual (Bible). Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God did heal but won’t heal anymore.

We talk about the Gifts of the Spirit not existing, then what do we do with Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Spirit, which is love. If faith works by love, and if there is no gift of the spirit or fruit of the Spirit, then there is no love, so faith can’t work.

Just because not all people get healed, or we don’t get healed the way we think we should, or on our timetable doesn’t negate healing.

Pastor Don pointed out that most of us could get into any car in the parking lot and drive any of the cars, but if we were given a desert racing car we might be challenged, or a bulldozer or a fork lift. We might be short on knowledge of how to drive the unusual vehicle. It is the same way with healing and prosperity – we may be short on the knowledge of what it takes to make it occur. But God will reward those who diligently seek him. And when we add faith to the manual (Bible) then things begin to change. The Word of God is perfect. The Bible contains the words of God and men, for it was the Holy Spirit working through men to write the words of the Bible. Some passages we get glimpses of the truth, but it takes the Holy Spirit to reveal the meaning of a passage.  For example, what does it really mean in Genesis 1:27 what is really meant by created in God’s image – we have an idea, but not the whole picture of what man looked like back then. But God’s Word is true and accurate, sharper than any two edged sword. (Heather’s note: I heard a teaching on the radio today that it would be very hard to go into a jungle where people lived in huts and explain the Eiffel Tower to them, that you could tell them it was grander than their greatest hut of their highest chief, but that would not give the the full image of the Eiffel Tower).

Pastor Don pointed out that he has been married to his wife for 37 years, and he knows her, but she still surprises him by things she says and does. When he thinks she is not acting in faith, she comes through strong in faith, blowing his mind. But God knows her completely. We only see through a mirror dimly.

We are imperfect in our perceptions. Pastor Don used the idea of trust to explain this. He said that we can fall out of trust for a person in a split second because of something they did, and we won’t trust them for a long time until they earn back our trust. We might say to themselves, “I thought I knew him.” But what really is happening is that we CAN’T TRUST OUR TRUST. It was our misplaced trust that put us in that position in the first place.

Many of us trust God until a trial comes our way. We don’t get our healing, the job, the relationship, etc. We think God let us down and stop trusting Him. God is trustworthy, we just don’t want to admit that there are areas we don’t understand. (Pastor Don apologized about this being a hard teaching. He knew that it was a teaching that many struggle with).

Sometimes when we are past a situation, we look at it and we can see things in retrospect that we didn’t see while we were in the midst of the situation. God didn’t change, just our attitude toward the situation changed. Sometimes God doesn’t respond the way we want Him to for our own protection, or because we are not in the right place to receive and use the thing wisely, or we aren’t ready for it. Often God will hold back prosperity until we are at a point where He can get the glory. This prosperity is not just about money, but it can also be other areas of prosperity. Sometimes money is not provided by God because he knows that at that point in our life it could turn into love of money.

God wants us to prosper and there are scriptures to back that up. (I will share them tomorrow) God wants us to be healed, and it is a sad truth that many of us oppose the promises of God.  Pastor Don stated that when we are constantly facing a particular problem there may be a variety of reasons why the problem continues. There are some of us that suffer from a victim complex – being used to being a victim and not knowing how to not be one, some of us actually enjoy being miserable and complaining so they sabotage things when they are going smoothly, there might be things in our mental processes that prevent us from doing what God wants, so that we can change. Some don’t want to put in the time and effort that it takes to go from point “A” to point “B” or they don’t want to do the prerequisites, to get the information and training. Some like to figure things out for themselves (but sometimes that takes a long time), and they miss God’s timing for a situation.

We have to ask ourselves; DO WE BELIEVE GOD WANTS US TO PROSPER?

It is late, so I am going to continue this tomorrow – there will be a great illustration of how we deal with things and tons of Bible verses to back up what has been said above.

This is a challenging teaching for me, but I have seen the truth of it in my walk. When I was a teenager I spent years planning my death. I plotted my suicide and after a foiled attempt was made to promise that I wouldn’t kill myself until my 18th birthday. I spent over a year counting the hours, minutes and seconds until my demise. A few months before my 18th birthday, due to some unconditional love coming my way, my thinking changed and I decided to live and not die. I was afraid that when I told my new friends my decision that they would be disappointed. It took a real step of faith to change from counting hours, minutes, and seconds until I died to deciding to live. I was so caught up in the death mentality, collecting poems, reading depressing novels, reading biographies of famous suicides, etc. It took a lot of time to change – in fact, it took Christ because I really didn’t ditch my suicide stash until after I got saved, and after a long time of talking with Pastor Don.

I am also beginning to see how my words affect situations. I can be negative at times, and am trying now to speak more God’s word instead of my impression of circumstances. It is challenging, but over time your thinking does change about circumstances. We are works in process. Sometimes it is good that there is knowledge like this to convict us. If we can just take one point, one Bible verse, one thought and run with it, we can begin to see the effects of that action, and then we grow from glory to glory.

I can’t wait to share more with you, but if I shared it all tonight it would be a VERY long article to read. I am praying that you have a blessed Friday.

I am so honored to know you, and so grateful to learn from your sites as well. What a great family we have here in Xangaland. I will try to get to your sites over the weekend.

Heather