December 6, 2007

• How to receive from God Part 2 by Pastor Leon Forte’

  Do you know the problem about sitting under great Bible teachers like Pastor Don and Pastor Forte’? There is so much you want to share NOW, but you know that if you put it out in a huge “sound bite” it is too much all at once, so I end up with a backlog of great teachings to share with you. I am going to complete the first teaching, but my fingers are also itching to type last night’s teaching. GOD IS SOOOOOO GOOD!

  If you did not read Part 1 I suggest doing that.

  The Word we looked at was Matthew 9:18-22 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.

  The woman with the issue of blood had to build herself up, to be ready to do what no one else will do. Take your situation to God. Because she was alone with her situation which isolated her in her day (remember, having a flow of blood meant she couldn’t go to the Temple or be around people. If she had been detected she would have been stoned to death for touching her would have made people ceremonially impure), she had to be ready if no one else will.

  Pastor Forte’ told us that what we have to do is to discern the FACTS from the TRUTH.

  The FACTS may be that you have cancer in your lungs.
  The TRUTH is that by His stripes we are healed.

  We have a CHOICE – do we line up with the FACTS or the TRUTH? If we line up with the TRUTH we are ahead of the game.

  Pastor Forte’ shared with us that he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. A normal heart beats about 60 times a minute, and his heart was beating 27 times a minute. He had the choice of believing the facts about congestive heart failure or agreeing with the truth. What he did is that he looked over all the prophetic words that had been spoken over him – all guaranteed him long life and a ministry. The heart failure would have cut those prophesies short.

  1 Timothy 1:19  having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,

  He was not going to be shipwrecked, he repeated all that God spoke over him. God told him that he would see his children and grandchildren, seeing three generations. Pastor Forte’ told us that he ran 3 miles a day, and during that time had had two silent heart attacks. Yes, the facts were in place, but he chose to deal with the TRUTH. His daughter came to him and asked him, “How am I to pray for you.” She did not want to lose him to the facts, so God used his daughter to give him a grip on the truth. He prayed the TRUTH and now his heart beats 63 times a minute. It was not a sickness unto death.

  Pastor Forte’ then told us that the Church has congestive heart failure and needs to seek God’s TRUTH.

  What the woman with the issue of blood did was to not wait for someone else’s’ help. She PLANNED HER WORK AND WORKED HER PLAN. Some things you have to do SOLO. Do what the Holy Ghost tells you. The woman did what the Holy Ghost told her, she trusted God with all and did not lean on her own understanding. 

  So often we lean on our own intellect and learning. We are the way we are because of why we are. Trust our instinct and let it guide us.

  The hyperfaith movement told us to not trust our instincts and emotions. This is an over reaction. Why would God give us something and then tell us not to use it? We need to discern when to trust our instincts and when not to trust them.

  We also need to know that we all have gifts, we all have something to bring to the table. A pastor may not be a prophet, a teacher may not do the role of a pastor. He told us that we are not to try and become a stew – where everything is boiled out and becomes the same. Rather we are more like a Holy Ghost tossed salad – the broccoli, onions, raisins, carrots, all distinct. God puts the sauce on that He likes and eats it His way. We chuckled when Pastor Forte’ told us that there are some nuts sprinkled in this Holy Ghost salad. God likes nuts.

  The woman with the issue of blood did not seek someone else’s approval for her plan. If you seek another’s approval maybe Sister Jealous will try and talk you out of God’s plan for your life. Brother Envy will tell you there is no scripture for your plan.

  We also have to KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. It is time to get to the place to worship  and touch the Hem of His garment? Do not listen to others who tell you not do this plan. The woman went through the crowd, pushing past those in her way to reach out and touch His hem.

  Jesus, our ULTIMATE HIGH PRIEST, was not wearing ceremonial gowns with bells sewn on the bottom. Pastor Forte’ said, Jesus was not wearing bell bottoms. Some teach that he was wearing a tallit. We try to get caught up in religious traditions to explain what the woman touched, but we miss the simplicity. SHE reached out and touched the hem of His garment. To touch the hem of his garment she had to be down in the worship position. She could not stand and touch His hem. When she did reach out and touch His hem, Jesus felt it. In another Gospel the disciples point out that Jesus is in the middle of a crowd of people so naturally he would be touched, but Jesus knew that anointing had flowed out of Him.

  The woman SAID, and then she DID. And she was MADE WELL FROM THAT HOUR. IMMEDIATELY the blood dried up.

  Pastor Forte’ told us that you have got to know BEFORE you get there.

  We need to get to the house of God and touch His hem. God did not make it that hard to get saved, He did not make it hard to get healed.

  Pastor Forte’ has a wonderful sense of humor, and so many of his deeper teachings are taught through laughter. He had us imagine if Mary and Joseph would have come to a church today with the story. “I am pregnant. Joseph did not make me pregnant. The Holy Ghost made me pregnant.” Pastor Forte’ told us that the brothers would take Joseph aside and get into his face to get him to confess to the truth of what he did to Mary. That Mary would be taken by the ladies and told that she would have to repent, and she would be treated differently because of her presenting “sin.” Her Kid would not be allowed to play or date other kids because of her ill repute.

  God takes us with the messes we have made. God will help me with Grace and Mercy. We have to admit where we are, the emptiness is not that you are losing, it is that you are in transition. So often the church beats up a person for one mistake. Love does not beat you up for one time. When God empties us out of the old, He has to, for He can’t put fresh water in a full cup. You have to empty out the cup so that the fresh water will fill up the cup.

  God wants us totally dependent on Him. When we are desperate, we then come in the House of God, ready for Him to pour into us.

  Jesus is not limited. When Jesus was walking toward the ruler’s house, the woman touched Him, and He realized that something had gone out from Him. There is enough of Jesus for everybody, after the woman with the issue of blood was healed, Jesus still went on to the ruler’s house and raised up his daughter.

  Pastor Forte’ told us that regardless of their economic conditions, that both the ruler and the woman were desperate. There was an emptiness and they needed God. God acted in their lives when they were in the worship position.

  Pastor Forte’ told us that we cannot care what anyone else thinks, we have to worship God. How bad do you want God? God wants to redefine your situation.

  God also wants to redefine the reputation of our region. We live in a beautiful area – the reservoir, trees, and natural land makes this a place of serenity, of peace. But our area is not known for peace, it is known by a famous rock concert that was performed here years ago, for the rock and roll concert. Yet, Pastor Forte’ told us that none were killed during Woodstock, and perhaps some of those who attended the concert saw something no one else saw.

  The next generation saw something. God wants to change how you see yourself. There are lies that we are believing that need to change. We even perceive God through the lies we are believing and do not get an accurate picture of God.

  Pastor Forte’ told us that anytime he needed something from God, God withheld it. This kept happening until Pastor Forte’ stopped needing THINGS and began needing HIM, then God gave Pastor Forte’ what he needed in abundance.

  We need to see God in our life. See Him in the usher of the church, in the person parking cars, in your home, in your pastor, in the person who checks your groceries.

  God has fashioned our days for us, and that also includes permitting the troubles that we are facing. Someone may be testing you. Others may be watching how you face the tests that God is giving you. As you go through the test, then you have a testimony of how God got you through. And this experience and how you got through will bring glory to God.

  So many of us, when troubles come, end up rebuking the devil when the devil is not in it. We need to be desperate and reach out to God. Pastor Forte then asked people who were desperate to stand up. What followed was an incredible session of personal prophesy for everyone who stood up. Pastor Forte’ spoke words over people, and all were blessed. I was going to type many, but I know it was ALL. His words were true and accurate for the people’s lives, confirmed much of what Pastor Don had already told people, and you could see the power of God touching lives. As people apply what was prophesied over them, their lives will be dramatically different in 2008.

  I am not going to share individual prophesies, for those are personal, but occasionally within the prophesy was a bit of Bible teaching and I want to share a few tidbits that spoke to me.

  Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt that had never been ridden before, and with that colt, you know the mama came too.

  When David was hiding in the wilderness, three types of people came to David, everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him (1 Samuel 22). How did David transform these people into the mighty men of valor? What did David do? He did NOTHING. These men watched David. They watched him worship God, watched him praise God. The men saw that God provided for David and for them, and they began to imitate David. That was when they became mighty men of valor.

  Whatever HE tells you, just do it!!!!

  God’s commandment is His enablement.

  After the prophesy, Pastor Forte’ concluded by telling us that God is waiting for us to get into the worship position. He has something for us, and he wants to provide for us, for His glory.

  It was an awesome teaching, and I can’t wait to share what Pastor Forte’ taught on last night. Praying your day is blessed!

  Heather

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