Psalm 149:1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints. 

That word “Praise” is HALLELUJAH.  When Pastor Scales said Praise the Lord, we shouted Hallelujah!

Hallel – Jah – Jah is God. Praise God. We serve a great God. 

Hallel means to act without any restraint in our praising of God. 

Praise the Lord is not a suggestion, it is a command.  We are to cast off all restraint and revel in the King.

Pastor Scales told us that we have no problem cheering for the Mets, the Yankees, the Giants, or any other sports team, so why can’t we cheer and yell and praise God? Cast off all restraint. Don’t worry what your fellow worshippers think.  What we are doing is throwing our praises to Him.

Psalm 149:1-4 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

The Saints are joyful in Glory. Glory is the sum total of the Church, the weight of God.  BE JOYFUL. Being in God’s presence is joy.  We are not to praise Jesus looking like we ate sour lemons. 

Psalm 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds.

Sometimes Pastor Scales wakes up in the middle of the night praising God, shouting Hallelujah and giving glory to God. He said that as we spend more time with God, we will end up praising Him even when we are sleeping. Sometimes after a sweet night of sleep you wake up with a song in your heart. It is probably because you were praising God in your sleep. Pastor Scales told us to praise God in the night. He suggested, to our laughter, that sometimes when we wake up and shout Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, and see what our spouse does.

The temple (building and our person) should be filled with jubilant praise, demonstrative praise. It is ok in the Church to praise loudly.

Two things happen when we praise God.

Psalm 149:6-9  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment—this honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!

Psalm 149:1-5 is JUBILANT PRAISE

Psalm 149:6-9 is MILITANT PRAISE

PRAISE is one tool that does two things, multitasking. Praise can exalt, lift and magnify, and it can also be the agent of judgment. When you praise God the enemy falls down.

Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. 

Praise is strength and power to silence the enemy.

Matthew 21:16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”  And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”

You praise out of your mouth. Praise is most effective when it is spoken out loud. We sometimes give the enemy too big a voice when we start saying out loud what is wrong with our life. Instead, praise God.

Paul tells Timothy to endure hardship like a good soldier. 2 Timothy 2:3-4 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Pastor Scales called men in the congregation who served in the military to stand up. He then gave them some drill commands. The men obeyed without question, doing what Pastor Scales told them to do. He said that as soldiers of Christ, we too must obey Him without question, completely. The welfare of the whole Kingdom rests on our obedience. A soldier acting in their own accord can cause damage to the whole unit.

We want to be good soldiers.

ENDURANCE – 2 Timothy 2:3-4 (see above) Stand no matter what
EXUBERANCE – strength and stamina. Before you go into battle or a competition, you prepare yourself. You won’t be able to stand fast if you have not built up your muscles. To endure you must build yourself up. Pray before you worship. Fast before the battle. No matter what hits us, our exuberance will help us to bounce back.
COMPLIANCE. To be obedient.

The Church is not taking the territory that it should be taking because we are not compliant. We must learn to take orders.  Often when we are asked to do something we say, “I’ve got to pray about it.”  or we say, “I am not feeling led to do this.”  If the orders are not immoral or illegal, these excuses are our polite way of not obeying. Sometimes the things we are asked to do seem illogical, but God has a purpose.

Pastor Scales told us that one time during praise and worship, the church was asked to line up, march in a line and march around their parking lot in formation. They marched, and then at a certain point the church was asked to give a loud shout.  Later God told Pastor Scales that was the AIR WARFARE, now they were going to do the GROUND WARFARE.

Pastor Scales asked the church to meet at 8:00 on a Saturday in the parking lot. They then went to each of the households in the area where their church was located. When they knocked on the doors they asked if there was any need that could be prayed about. Many people commented that they noticed what happened in the parking lot the previous week.  That Sunday there was the biggest altar call the church had. All because of obedience to God.

Pastor Scales then told us that God has given us WEAPONS for our warfare. He covered these in detail but the acronym and it’s meanings is as follows:

W – Word of God
E – Effective prayer
A – Armor of God
P – Praise
O – Offerings
N – Name of Jesus
S – Spirit of God

WORD OF GOD:  It is in the Temple that the Word of God is released. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness He spoke scriptures to satan – saying “It is written.”  At one point satan came back saying, “it is written” but he twisted the scriptures.  The devil can quote scriptures, but will twist the meaning. That is why we need to have the Word of God in us. Sometimes when we are in a battle we may not have a Bible with us, so we need to have the Word of God in our hearts so that His words come out of our mouth. We want the Word to come out of our mouths rapid fire, like bullets. The enemy hates the Word of God. 

EFFECTIVE PRAYER: James 5:16B …The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Pastor Scales told us that worship and prayer go together – he said it is the harp and bowl. The angels in Revelation poured out the bowls containing the prayers of the saints. We need to keep prayed up, and pray. We should be overflowing in prayer even before we face a battle. Prayer is not something that we just pull out in the midst of the battle when the devil is trying to take you out. It is something that we should be flowing in all the time. Pastor Schambach once said that when the devil slaps him in the face he slaps the devil back. We do not want the devil to be speaking louder than the Church. The devil is a defeated foe.

ARMOR OF GOD: Ephesians 6:12-18  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— We need to keep on the whole Armor of God when we fight our battles. We need the Helmet to keep our thoughts straight and be grounded in Him.  We need the breastplate of Righteousness in Christ Jesus. We need our waist girded with Truth – everything we deal with must match up with the Truth. We need our Feet shod with the Shoes of peace – walking in peace, and ready to maintain peace. We need the shield of faith, so that the fiery darts do not come at us, and we need the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.

PRAISE OF GOD: We saw in Psalm 149 how important praise is. When we are in tight situations we need to praise our way out of them. Pastor Scales spoke about how he was called to the Intensive Care ward of his local hospital because a woman had given birth to a child, but was dying of infection. Her body systems were shutting down. Pastor Scales was called. Instead of praying or laying hands on her, God told him to praise Him. So Pastor Scales was loudly praising God.  He kept worshipping God. He was so loud the nurse came in and he said, he was a pastor and was praising God. The atmosphere in the room changed with the praise of God, then God told him to rebuke the disease. He loudly rebuked the disease – causing the nurse to stick her head in again. Then Pastor Scales went home and slept. The next day he received a call from the hospital that the woman was in a regular ward, eating her breakfast. She had recovered because of the praising of God.

OFFERINGS: Most people groan when they hear a teaching on offerings for they assume it is the pastor trying to get more money. But in reality offerings are a weapon of warfare.  Malachi:3:8-11 “ Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’  In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. 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;  Notice that it says that God will REBUKE THE DEVOURER. Offerings are a weapon for rebuking he enemy. How?  The devil picks a fight and we can’t win a fight against the devil on our own, he can use our weapons against us. But when we worship God with the offerings He stands between us and the enemy, and He fights our battles for us. The enemy can’t get near us. God will say to the enemy “No, get back, you’ll not have Him.”  With the offering we don’t have to do anything, God takes care of it for us. No matter what is going on in the world, we will prosper for we are giving in to the House of God. It is a simple principle of seedtime and harvest. A farmer knows that the size of his crop is determined by how much seed he sows. Does he sow a little and receive a small harvest or a lot and receive a huge harvest? 

Now where do we tithe?  We tithe to the Temple. God knew the importance of this and he had everyone pay a Temple Tax – of half a shekel. This was an amount that even the poorest could pay. A tithe is a financial transaction. When we tithe, we tithe to the house of God. A tithe is not using your money to buy religious books or tapes. If you are paying a mortgage you do not take your mortgage money and use it to pay for using a wash machine in a laundromat – your bank will not accept that use of money as your mortgage payment. If you are making a car payment, you don’t go to Walmart and use it to purchase food. Why should your tithe go to some poor person on the street, or to a store to purchase books, etc. You can give ALMS to a poor person on the street, but not a tithe.  You can make offerings to other ministries, but your tithe goes to the house of God that is feeding you spiritually. God declares war against the enemy when we tithe. In these last days things are going to get tight, and we will be under a covenant with God. While we are doing well, those who are not under the covenant will wonder why we have fish and bread when they have none. In the church, when we cannot buy or sell because we don’t have the mark, one person may have an egg, another Jiffy Mix, another a ham hock, another some beans and together we make a huge meal that can feed all in the church. We need to trust God in the tithes and offerings.

NAME OF JESUS: Mark 16:15-18 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Pastor Scales told us that once when he was traveling by plane, they hit turbulence. When the plane was taking a big dive down he did not hear one person shout out buddha, allah, krishna, or any other deity. He did hear a lot of people saying, “Jesus.”  It is only through Jesus that we can be saved. We need to SAY THE NAME. Pastor Scales told us that we need to not be so seeker sensitive in our churches, but rather sing praise and worship songs that mention the name of Jesus. Some churches are not saying, “Jesus” because that name offends seekers. When we say the name we get the attention of Heaven, we get the attention of the Earth, and we get the attention beneath the earth.

SPIRIT OF GOD: 1 John 4:4 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. The Holy Spirit within us is greater than anything that goes against us in the earth. 

In praise we respond to God with thanksgiving, thanking Him for His goodness. Praise is a response to the greatness of God. Worship is a response to the Holiness of God, to the Spirit of God.

We then stood and praised and thanked God, worshipping Him.  Some who were dealing with battles in their lives went forward for prayer and release.

Don’t ever feel that the enemy is greater than the weapons God has provided for us.

Praying your day is blessed.

Heather

Pastor Lafayette Scales spoke more about the church at Good Ground Church in Cohoes, New York last night. He reviewed much of what was said in the previous post. Then he continued to explore more about the Church.

Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

We are a holy temple unto the Lord, the dwelling place of God.  Not only is the Church as a whole the dwelling place of God, but individually we are the dwelling place of God, His holy Temple.

God always desired a dwelling place which is why He created Eden, God’s Garden so he could commune, dine and walk with us daily. In Genesis 3, because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience they were removed from the Garden of Eden, and God placed a door on the Eastern side guarded by an angel so that no one could re-enter the Garden. It seems that Eden disappeared, but 1400 BC God gave Moses a plan for building a house for God to dwell – a Tabernacle. The door of the Tabernacle was on the Eastern side.  There were three chambers to the tabernacle.

First man had to go into the outer court where the brazen alter was. Man had to give God something, a sacrifice. He could do nothing without giving a sacrifice. Leviticus 1 speaks of the sacrifices – and there were no exceptions. If a person was poor they could give a turtle dove or pigeon, if they were richer they could give a sheep, goat, or cow. They could only come unto God through the blood of the sacrifice.

After the sacrifice, in the outer court was the laver – where the priests washed their hands and feet and utensils. We cannot enter closer to God without being washed. This is similar to the water baptism that we receive when we come to Christ.

The Altar of Sacrifice and the Laver were out in natural light, but then the priest would enter the inner court – the Holy.  There were three items in the Holy.  The first thing on the left side was a lampstand.  The priests had to fill the lamps with oil and trim the wicks. The light filled the place – the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. We have the light of the Holy Spirit on the inside of us, lighting our paths. On the right side was the table of shewbread, the Bread of His face. The priests replaced the bread every week, and consumed the old bread.  Man cannot live by bread alone, and must continually refill himself with the Word of God which is what the bread represents.

Near the curtain that divides the Holy from the Holy of Holies (the inner chamber) is the Golden Altar of Incense. The coals on the altar were for burning the incense, not flesh. The closer we get to God the less of the flesh there is.

On this altar sweet spices were burned. Stacte, Onycha, Galbanum and Frankincense.  These spices, when crushed together produced a sweet aroma. 
Stacte was a gum resin from a tree that always oozed sap. Onycha was from a crushed shell from a shellfish, and it produced a sweet fragrance. This shellfish was found in the depths of the sea. Our worship can not go any higher than the depth of our worship. Galbanum came from a tree branch that had to be straightened, dried, and then the stripped off bark was crushed. We need brokenness to add fragrance to our worship, to press in.

These spices were bitter to taste, but when the fire of God’s altar touched them they became a sweet fragrance.

Frankincense symbolizes Jesus Christ. In its original state it is like a white rock that is crushed and beaten. On Jesus’ birthday the wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh.  The truth is that our worship despite it’s spontaneity, depth, and drive is nothing without Jesus. It takes Jesus to make a sweet incense for God. 

Once a year the High Priest was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice for the sins of the nation. In this chamber of the Tabernacle resided the Ark of the Covenant, and Glory of God was present.  The Glory was found between the wings of the cherubim. It was at this altar that we receive the grace of God and forgiveness for our sins. Only mankind receives the grace of God. Angels, when they fall, do not receive the Grace of God, they are permanently fallen. There is no redemption for the fallen angels, lucifer will not be forgiven for his sin of pride and disobedience. Those angels that sided with the devil will not be saved. Angels wonder how God puts up with man in spite of his sin. God restores mankind. This is the mystery of God in Christ Jesus. Inside the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies resides the tablets of the Law, Aaron’s budded rod, and a golden pot of manna. The law is the truth and the life.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to God except through Jesus. God wanted a dwelling place among man, and Jesus was that.

Around 900 AD David dies and his son Solomon builds a temple. Solomon’s temple was bigger than Moses’ Tabernacle. Solomon’s temple had a court of the gentiles and a court of the women. The altar was enlarged. The more you seek God, the more the altar enlarges. 

722 BC the Assyrians took Israel Captive. in 586 BC the temple was destroyed.  

520 AD Zerubbabel, Haggai, and Zechariah organize the people to build a Temple. When the work was almost, but not completely finished, the people stopped working for 16 years, and spent the time building their own houses. The prophets came to the people and said that it was sad that God did not have His house built. The people spent a few month’s work and the Temple was finally finished. When the Temple was being dedicated, the ones that had remembered what Solomon’s Temple looked like mourned, and Haggai told them that the glory of the latter temple would be greater than the former. Haggai 2:9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

This is not only a statement for the current temple that the people were dedicating, but for the end times temple in the latter days. 

Herod will expand the temple, and that is the temple that John the Baptist and Jesus worshipped at. The Word Made Flesh worshipped at Herod’s Temple.  The Word Made Flesh was the Tabernacle of God, Jesus, Immanuel, God with us.

Before Jesus ascended into Heaven he told 500 who saw him to tarry in Jerusalem. Of those 500 only 120 made it to the Upper Room, the rest did not obey Jesus. Pastor Scales told the pastors in attendance not to despair when they tell their people something and the people do not obey – Jesus only had 27% of the 500 do what He told them to do.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 

Our bodies are the Temple of God. God dwells in us and we are in the dwelling place of God. When we have God we have vision. 

People would have put Paul down, but God saw something in Paul, and with the Holy Spirit dwelling in Paul, Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians 1 & 2 Timothy, and the other epistles were written.

When we come together we are the Temple of God.

1 Peter 2:4-5 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are chosen by God and precious. We are LIVING STONES. As the House of God we want to be living stones.

Pastor Scales told us something so incredible about living stones. He was visiting Israel and went into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. He saw workmen on ladders knocking on stones. Curious, he asked what they were doing. The workmen told Pastor Scales that they were looking for lively stones and dead stones. He asked, “What’s the difference.”  The workmen told him that some stones, while they look solid on the outside, haven’t gone through the formative process, and they will break or crumble under weather conditions. If they decay enough the building could collapse, those are the dead stones. Dead stones clunk. When a lively stone is hit it sings!!!!!! 

When you are going through stuff, sing, don’t be a clunker. If we aren’t joyful and praising no matter the outward circumstances, God will keep permitting the same circumstances to repeat (so that we go through the necessary formative process). If a tough situation comes up and we say, “I’m mad at you God.”  Back to the formative fields.  If tough stuff happens and we whine, “Why did this happen to me?”  Back to the formative fields. When we mature and see the big picture, focusing on God and rejoicing no matter the external circumstances then we are living stones. 

Sing when it hurts. Keep worshipping in the battle. Worship all the time. When the public sees us worshipping in tough times, we touch lives. Remember, we are the Temple of God.

Pastor Scales then spoke about worshipping and it’s purpose.  I will continue my notes tomorrow.

Praying your evening is blessed. Remember to be a LIVING STONE!!!

Heather

What a blessed night we had last night. We were brought into worship by the Psalmist Chris Bethel, and then taught by Pastor Lafayette Scales. The combination of the two working in tandem was powerful and all were blessed. If you can get the CD of this service I highly recommend it. Powerful praise music and prayer by Pastor Scales combined to bring us deeper still into the Lord. Then an anointed teaching on the Church Family, followed by a healing prayer for people who have been betrayed. Chains fell off of many tonight and they will not be picked up again. 

Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 

The only legal, legitimate governing agency that is an extension of God on the earth is the Church. God gave us the Keys of the Kingdom. The Church is His Body, a living organization of people in unity. Jesus is the Head and we are His body. 

We are works in progress.

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;

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 

Pastor Scales reminded us that we are to work out OUR OWN salvation, not another’s.  It is far easier for us to try and work out someone else’s salvation, giving them pointers on how they can improve their walk with the Lord, than to focus on working on our own salvation.

Ephesians 2:19Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God

We are the household of God.

We can choose our friends, but we are stuck with relatives. We are stuck with each other through eternity. Whether we like it or not, we are stuck with the Body of Christ.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We are being conformed. 

Romans 4 speaks of Abraham and his seed – hundreds of thousands of people are in our church family. We are in the household of God. A household is a dwelling place where family dwells. In a family we learn stability, security, how to become homogeneous , how to get along with one another, how to forgive, how to form a community. Not everyone does things the same way and that can create tension in the family. 

Rodney King said, “Can’t we all get along?”

In a family people will get on each other’s nerves, rub each other the wrong way, and the family is how we learn to get along with each other.

Pastor Scales spoke about family vacations where he took his three kids and wife in the car. Inevitably there would be questions about when would we get there, and as time went by they would start complaining – “He’s looking at me.”  She’s touching me” …. Pastor Scales would pull over to a rest stop and tell the kids that they needed to get along for it was a long trip and he did not want to hear the bickering.  We too need to get along.

We then looked at the first church family – Jesus and his twelve disciples.

Mark 3:13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him.

Jesus picked His disciples, the ones He wanted. 

Mark 3:14 Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach,

Notice the order of ordination. The FIRST LEVEL OF ORDINATION – is to be with HIM. Before you go ye, He says, “Come unto Me.”  Regarding preaching, we don’t have anything to say unless we have spent time with Him. If we don’t spend time with Him we end up just echoing what other men have said. 

John has a voice. He sent the out to preach and 

Mark 3:15 and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 

Jesus picked 12 disciples. I wish you could hear Pastor Scales’ delivery of the description of the disciples. The whole packed church was laughing so hard at his characterizations of the disciples. I love how Pastor Scales can deliver a message with humor, so much is taught this way. 

Mark 3:16 Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; 

Simon means a reed shaken in the wind, and Peter is the Rock. 

Mark 3:17-19 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

There are four places where the disciples are listed  

Mark 3:16-19 (the above passage)

Matthew 10:2-4 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James theson of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

Luke 6:14-16 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

Acts 1:13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 

Judas Iscariot is not in the list in Acts.

Pastor Scales pointed out that the disciples are always listed in three groups of four. The leaders of the groups are the same, but the other disciples may be listed in various orders.

PETER (the leader) – James, John, Andrew

PHILIP (the leader) – Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas

JAMES the son of Alphaeus (the leader) – Thaddeus (also known as Alphaeus, Lebbaeus, Judas Son of James), Simon the Cananite (also known as Simon the Zealot) and Judas Iscariot

Peter, Philip, and James are always the leaders  of the groups, but the groups represent different levels of relationship in a church or with Jesus. That is not to say one is lower or higher, just different.

Pastor Scales proceeded to have us laughing as we looked at some of the diverse characteristics of the various members of this family of Jesus – and he pointed out that we have room for all these people in the family of the Church.

PETER – had a foot shaped mouth. He never had an answer right but he was always the first person to speak up. He had it so wrong so often that the one time he got it right, Jesus said you did not know that in your flesh, you had to have it revealed to you by the Holy Ghost.

Can our family have a few Peters?

JAMES AND JOHN were called the Sons of Thunder – they were often suggesting that Jesus bring fire down on the people. They were sort of the Hell’s Angels Disciples. Probably would have tattoos today. They were the bad boys. If anyone would have disagreed with them, they would have suggested to burn them up. They were not full of grace, mercy, and long-suffering, at least until Jesus reshaped them.  The Sons of Thunder would have evangelized by saying get saved today or burn in hell.

JOHN was the apostle of love. When he writes of himself he writes in the third person – never I John, but rather “The one the Lord loved.” He had a positive self image. When Jesus told the disciples that someone was going to betray him, all the disciples asked “Is it I?” except John who said, “Lord tell me who it is.”  

Can we handle a James and John in our family?

ANDREW – was good for the little things. He could find stuff. Pastor Scales compared him to David’s mighty men who, when David wanted a drink from a certain well on the opposite side of the enemy camp, his men strapped swords on and went out and made it happen, getting David his water. Andrew was an if you need it, he can find it. He knows what is hidden in a garage, where to find the best deal at Odd Lot, Lowe’s, etc. When Jesus wanted to feed the crowd it was Andrew who found the boy with the lunch, five loaves of bread and two fish. 

Can we handle an Andrew in our family?

PHILIP was the bean cruncher. He would go to the calculator before consulting the Lord. When Jesus was going to feed the 5000 with the five loaves and two fish, he pointed out that even 200 denari would not be enough to feed the group. He is the one that, if God gave you a vision, would tell you why it won’t work, reminding you of the high cost of the vision.  How we can’t afford to do that God-given vision.

Can we handle a  Philip in our family?

BARTHOLOMEW  - he was the guileless one with no hidden agenda. There are some in the church that are happy to worship, sing songs, eat chicken, and tell you exactly what they think. They are not the ones who say, “I will stick with you forever,”  and then leave the moment they are not pleased with something you do.  Pastor Scales said that one of his members came up to him and said, “I don’t like you, but God wants me to come to this church.”  With the guileless ones you know exactly where you stand.

Can we handle a Bartholomew in our family?

MATTHEW – sold out to the system, working for the man.  He was collecting taxes from his own people, extorting money from them. When Jesus wanted Matthew, Pastor Scales speculated that the other disciples would have said, “Wait a minute, don’t you know who he is? He’s working for the man. He probably votes Republican. Wears a shirt and tie.”  The other disciples were fishermen, blue collar workers. Matthew would have been wearing a suit and winged tipped shoes. 

Can we handle a Matthew in our family?

THOMAS – we know him for doubting. They are the kind that say, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”  Jesus died, was buried, rose, and was seen by the women, and the 10 disciples, but Thomas was not at the meeting. He is the one that said that He needed to touch Jesus’ side and stick his fingers in the nail holes to believe that Jesus really was risen. Pastor Scales said, Some make it happen, some watch it happen, and some wonder what happened.  Thomas represents the skeptics and doubters.

Can we handle a Thomas in our family?

JAMES SON Of ALPHAEUS -which means the less – this is the short people, they grow so far and stop growing. There is a syndrome called the short man’s complex, where those who feel short assert their personality, become exhibitionists, and assert themselves to compensate for their perceived lack. 

Can we handle a James, son of Alphaeus in our family?

THADDAEUS, AKA LEBBAEUS, JUDAS SON OF JAMES, AND SIMON THE ZEALOT – this man has a few AKA’s (Also known as).  He was a zealot, a zealous Jew who carried a sword, and tried to kill Roman soldiers whenever he could. He would have been sort of the Black Panther of the Jews. He would not have approved of Matthew being in the ranks.  Pastor Scales speculated that maybe Simon provided the sword when Jesus told his disciples to find a weapon. Peter could not cut the neck of the servant, missed and cut off his ear.  Simon the zealot would not have missed.

Can we handle a Thaddaeus, aka Lebbaeus, aka Judas son of James, aka Simon the Zealot in our family?

JUDAS ISCARIOT – who betrayed Jesus. In a family there are those who betray us. They smile to your face but are plotting to take your place. 

Can we handle a Judas Iscariot in our family?

Pastor Scales then went on to speak about betrayal. He said that there is no pain like the pain of betrayal. That when someone that you expect to be loyal, steadfast, and faithful stabs you in the back it hurts. If an enemy attacks you, you expect that, but not betrayal at the hands of a friend, loved one, or family member.  

Jesus was a member of this family of disciples. Judas had supped with Jesus, laughed with him, traveled with him, and then betrayed him with a sign of affection, a kiss.  

All of us have been betrayed at some point in our lives. The person who is the betrayer is trying to get to your heart. The enemy wants this to happen, wants you so wounded that you never trust people anymore.  He shoots arrows at your heart. 

When you receive the pain of betrayal your hearts close down for survival and you vow never to trust again. Some never recover from betrayal, they are the ones who isolate themselves, and never join a small group in the church or get close to anyone in the church. They want to attend the services, but not get involved. 

Judas was paid to betray Jesus.  Jesus was such a part of this household that he did not stand out from the others. Unlike the Medieval paintings where Jesus has a lighted halo around his head, he did not have such a thing when he was on earth. If he had had a lighted halo on his head, he would have stood out even at night and the soldiers would not need Judas to point him out. Judas kissed Jesus, and then Jesus hung on the cross. While on the Cross, Jesus did not let the pain of the betrayal touch his heart – had it hurt him in the heart, we would not be sitting here saved today. Instead, Jesus forgave those who hurt him.  

Pastor Scales loves our church because there is such a diversity of members.  He told us that our church is a little taste of what Heaven will be like, many people with such diverse talents and lifestyles and cultures.  Not all churches are like ours.

He then had us laughing when he mentioned that he likes most kinds of music but at one point country western used to irk him.  He kept being invited to a church to teach, and finally God told him to go and teach there. When he walked in he said it was as if Elvis was reincarnated – the pastor had the hairdo, the belt buckle, the jeans, etc, and the church was definitely country western. He know knows where Elvis is hiding, a small church.  When they sang praise and worship music it was country western. Pastor Scales said something to God about this and God told him in his spirit, “You need to like all kinds of worship music, and if you refuse to learn to like country western, I am going to place you in the country western section of Heaven.”  Pastor Scales told us that now he appreciates all styles of music, and he saw that he could not close his heart on worship no matter the style of it, when he saw these people in this church worshipping, he knew that they were seeking and loving God.  That is what matters.

We are the family of God.  He told us to never be afraid to invite people to our church – every family has a few weird members.

We are coming into the season of the Feast of Tabernacles, and we need to remember to Tabernacle with our family members, not only at church, but outside the walls of the church.  The Feast of Tabernacles involves building a Sukkot at church, but also one at home – taking church into your neighborhood.  

He suggested that we invite church members over to our house for meals, take walks together, meet at a cafe for coffee, bowl together, play tennis, golf, etc. Show that our fellowship does not happen only within the four walls of the church.  Those who are not believers will observe how we get together and act in love, and want that kind of relationship in their lives. It is a good way to draw people to the church.

We then were asked to come forward if we had been betrayed in our past and were still hurting from the betrayal. Members of the congregation who did not step forward laid their hands on the people who had step forward and prayed over them – while Pastor Scales prayed and Chris Bethel played anointed music over us.  The prayers consisted of asking God to come into our hearts and heal us of the hurt of betrayal.  We were asked to touch our hearts and take that betrayal and give it up to Jesus, and let Jesus heal us.  Then we were told not to take back that betrayal or close our hearts.  

We sang and shofars were blown. An awesome feast of fried chicken, greens, and many side dishes and desserts were served. I especially want to thank the kitchen crew who worked so hard to make sure all were fed – there were over 200 in attendance.  Also, our own praise and worship teams and dancers, the youth and adults added to the atmosphere of worship and praise that pervaded the church last night. I am so grateful for all who help so much to make evenings like this possible.

Praying God blesses you and that if you have been betrayed in your past that you give it to Jesus for healing. Don’t let your heart be closed to the love that is available to you in the family of God.

God bless you.
Heather 

Anthony said that he was going to cover three aspects of acceptance

1. We tend to accept only those truths that get through our filters

2. There can be victory by adversity

3. The benefits and power of adoption

FILTERS

Filters block particles. Are we blocking out the truth?  Before we get saved we tend to fight against the truth. 

At one point Anthony was wondering if Jesus was the Son of Man or the Son of God. Today He knows that Jesus is the Lord and Savior.

There were filters that blocked other truths, such as the truth about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Anthony had seen the abuse of these gifts and how they were not being used according to the Word of God.  He had seen false prophets and teachers. This caused him to put up filters to reject the truth about the gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Anthony chose to believe what God had to say about Spiritual gifts, not the teaching of denominations. He learned that the Holy Spirit gave gifts, and if He wants to give them to us, we need to accept them. 

We need to know the basics. Faith means to take the step from.

Anthony said that he found he was holding on to resentment, and that in his eyes was ugly, the man in the mirror that he was seeing.

We tend to hide behind masks and should not go it alone, for we need accountability.

When it is not of Christ it can lead to arguing. We can have resentment, blame another. It takes two people to argue.

In an argument there are three sides:  yours, mine, and the truth.

We should not allow people to push our buttons.  That is easy to say but hard to do.

It is not an accident that we are to EXERCISE our faith, it takes time to build our faith muscles.

One revelation of truth can change our lives.  We can count it all joy and we can have victory by adversity.

Philippians 1:12-26 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,  that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Paul was in prison. He chose to accept this for he know that he was doing this for Christ. If Paul died he would go straight to heaven. But God still had work for Paul so he ws not done yet. With whatever we are doing we need to practice the presence of God.

Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:

People were trying to get Paul into trouble.  There was rampant paganism, stiff-necked people, agnosticism, and this was creeping into the Church. Paul was dealing with this, and we too are facing this in the church today.

Paul writes to Timothy in First and Second Timothy to help Timothy deal with these elements trying to creep into the Church. Timothy was a young pastor. The elders he was pastoring were wondering who was Timothy to be leading them. Paul counseled Timothy to stay strong.  Everything works together for good.  As you grow, satan will not like it.

Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?”  So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”  So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”  And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” 
So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

Paul, in Philippians 3 speaks of obedience and suffering, but what he realizes is that everything is for the glory of God.

BEAUTY AND POWER OF ADOPTION

Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 

Predestined means foreordained, established, prearranged. God knows what we are going to do, but He has good plans for us. We choose to follow them or not.

Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

We conform to the power of His Will. There is a bigger picture to the little piece that we see. 

Romans 8:14-18 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

There is a big difference between adoption and foster care. We are adopted into the family of God. God has given us His Name.

Romans 8:23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 

The redemption of our body – a new creation.

Ephesians 1 is the first stage 

Ephesians 8:14 is the second stage

Ephesians 8:23 is the third stage

We go from glory to glory. Accept the truth of God’s word, staying strong in adversity, then accept what God is doing through us in Christ.

We need to get to the point where, when we realize God is training us that we go through the situations following God’s direction, not trying to change the circumstance from happening, protect or exit from it, but rather determine to learn what it is that God is showing us through this situation.

This teaching gave me some things to think about, I hope it blesses you as well.  I love that our church has so many people that share the Word of God and add depth of meaning to the scriptures. Praying your day is blessed.

Heather

1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Judging without being judgmental – there is a fine line to walk in this.

Perception: mental grasp of qualities by means of one’s senses verses Discernment.

If our discernment is not in the spiritual we do it in our flesh. But we make mistakes in our flesh and our fleshly perceptions are inaccurate.  

Our perceptions are colored by our past, our experiences, etc. We can’t go by perception in the ministry. 

In the flesh the person may think they perceive what the problem is but they may have it entirely wrong.

Discernment – spiritual grasp of the qualities by means of our spiritual senses. 

There is a struggle between the Spirit and the flesh. Our physical senses, sight, touch, smell, taste, hearing and their perceptions are tainted by past experiences.

Philippians 1:9-10  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

Discernment – sincere and without offense. We are to judge without being judgmental.

There are two kinds of people:  1) those saved  2) those not saved. 

We judge an unbeliever who has not signed up to live their lives by the Bible differently from a believer.  One thing we know is that the unbeliever needs  a Savior.

May our love abound.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Not one place in this description of love is there a word that describes how you feel – love is not feelings, it is a choice. It is an action on our part. What does it mean to love? We are to love both the believer and the stranger.  When we speak in love to people, we are not to be puffed up, rude, or provoking even if we are 100% right about our opinion. And we need to speak from a heart of love for if we are pretending to be loving the people can detect that falseness by a look on our faces.  When you are ministering to people there is a fine line between judging and being judgmental.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

The Word of God helps us discern between SOUL and SPIRIT – they  are different.

The soul is the mind, will, emotions – and the soul is where we come with our fleshly perceptions.

The spirit man is where we gain discernment.

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Our senses need to be exercised to discern good and evil.  What are our spiritual senses – The Word, Prayer, and Correct fruit.  We need to be fruit testers.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

When we are peeved by a person we need to pray:  SHOW ME THEM THROUGH YOUR EYES.  Pray about the person who peeves you. God will help you to understand why the person is acting the way they are, and He will give us Godly compassion for them.  

God can give us an accurate perception about a person and that accurate perception will grow as we pray for the person. Pray and ask for discernment.  When we get what we think is the answer, make sure it lines up with the Word of God for the Spirit and the Word must agree.

To judge without being judgmental we need to judge in love. There is a difference in how we are judging believers and unbelievers.

Judging unbelievers with grace : Colossians 4:1-6 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

We need to pray that God will open a door. We need to walk in wisdom, and have our speech be with grace, seasoned with salt. When we are speaking with unbelievers, we need to ask God how to impart the right answer to their questions.  There is a fine line between judging without being judgmental. 

Colossians 3:12-17 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, doall in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

This message is for dealing with either believers or unbelievers. We must put on love.  When we correct a brother or sister in Christ we must do it in love, not to make the person feel condemned, or come at them with an attitude. What you have to say will be more readily received if it is done in love.

Philippians 2:9-11 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, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God puts the name of Jesus above all names.  

Colossians 4:3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 

Pray for the right words to minister to others in love.

Acts 9:31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.

The churches were at peace. That is the ideal church condition.  Who is the church?  We are. Each one of us is a church. When we believe in the Word and walk according to the Word of God, our bodies are Temples of God.  (no that does not mean we forsake the assembling of the bretheren) but we must walk realizing that we are temples of the Living God.

Four signs for the Church 

1. PEACE – if there is no peace there is no church. John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him. Jesus gives us the peace, we don’t need more than that, we need HIS PEACE. That peace is in our hearts. When we walk with Christ then we have peace. Peace in the believer is what sets the Church apart, no matter the problem the Church cannot be shaken if we walk in the peace of Christ. This does not mean that our church will have no problems, but it does mean that our problems will not shake the foundations of the Church. 

There are more people found without peace, and that shows up in our lives and our families. We can detect those who do not have peace for they have no joy and their faces show their lack of peace. Jesus gave us HIS PEACE.  There is a difference between the peace of the Old Testament and the peace of the New Testament.  Old Testament peace (Shalom) had more to do with physical things, they could lose their peace, for if something was taken away they lost their peace.  It was dependent on things. When Elijah came to the widow she gave him the cake and had oil and flour provided.  In the New Testament we receive Jesus’ peace – MY PEACE.  In the New Testament, we are a Child of God. When we trust in the Lord we will not be shaken in the midst of our problem. No matter how many things come against us, we have peace in Christ Jesus. 

A tsunami can come and destroy all things, but no matter the intensity of the problem we still have peace IN CHRIST. 

In peace shall I rest. The church needs peace and we are the church. 

We want to make peace and not quench or destroy another’s peace. Don’t do things to destroy your pastor’s, your wife’s, your husbands, other believer’s peace. We are part of one body, and we want that body to exhibit the peace of Christ. There is even peace in death because of the hope we have in Christ Jesus.

Joy is even more than an abundance of wine and grain. We find joy in being a Child of God. Physical wine can fail but spiritual wine never fails. 

God wants peace for us.  

2. EDIFIED – We need to be a spiritually growing church. The church should grow spiritually, not just be a place where people come, sit through a service, go home and do the same things. We should be continually growing spiritually. Our life and faith should grow in Christ. 

3. FEAR OF THE LORD

4. COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The church needs all four of these for spiritual growth

1. LOVE: 1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

When God speaks His words grow in our hearts, and as we grow in Him we should have love. If there is love the Church will grow. Since our bodies are temples of the Lord, since we are the Church – we too need love inside of us. Love for Jesus and love for others. 

2. TONGUES:  1 Corinthians 14:5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Tongues with interpretation edifies the church. We grow in the Lord when we pray in the Spirit. We see new visions, burdens are removed and we are filled with joy.  

We need love, speaking and tongues.  When we are speaking in tongues it is not to other men, but rather speaking to God.

An Indonesian church of 60,000 spoke in tongues, and when newcomers came into that church all got healed. Speaking in tongues can help reveal what is wrong inside of you and forces against you are not destroyed.

You receive deliverance through speaking in tongues. Pastor Samachen’s wife told him that even when he is asleep he is speaking in tongues.

Speak in tongues when you are claiming new territory, that wherever you set your feet is the Lord’s and is blessed.  No enemy force can touch you. 

Speaking in tongues can help you enter a place and clearly see what the atmosphere is like. Are people receiving the Lord in their hearts?  

Don’t trust what the situation tells you, trust what Jesus tells you. 

3. PROPHESY: 1 Corinthians 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

The Church grows when it listens to God’s voice.  Biblical words of prophesy lift you up.

4. GOOD CONVERSATION – Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  

No bad talking should be in evidence in the church, either in the public or private lives of the people.  When you are on the phone or in person or by email or text messages, only good conversation – speaking peace, spirituality, love, tongues, prophesy. Do not say bad things, but say things that edify and bless people.

Jesus is with us and God blesses us. When we come to church come prepared, be speaking in tongues and speaking God’s Word, talking about Jesus, so that when you walk into the church you are already prepared to worship Jesus.

We were blessed to have Pastor Samachen visit our church and teach on Sunday 7/25/2010. The AM and PM services were on different subjects. Pastor Samachen and Pastor Abraham both minister in India in areas where you risk your life to share Jesus.  He is a prophet and also travels around the United States to minister. If he ever comes to your church, I highly recommend attending the service for you will be blessed.

Authority and life belongs to Jesus. Jesus reigns over all we have and we are blessed.

Job 8:7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.

Your beginning is small but your end is very big. The Lord is with us and we are very blessed. Even if you begin later in life you are blessed. God can bless us whether we are old our young.  As we grow in the Lord we will be more and more blessed.

Are we serving a God who is able to change our conditions?  God can change your past. He can change your physical conditions, financial conditions, spiritual conditions, church conditions and family life. He can change the entire condition of your life. When God changes a condition, we rejoice. Have complete faith in Jesus. JESUS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR ANY PROBLEM.  

If we focus on our circumstances or situation they grow worse, but when we meet Jesus our conditions change. We do not want to do anything without Jesus. The love of Jesus is MORE THAN ENOUGH for our circumstances. 

We can come to Him in a state of brokenness and Jesus can repair all.

In the book of Job, initially Job was prosperous then things changed. He lost his prosperity, animals, children and his wife told him to curse God and die.

Job 42:12 Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.

God prospered Job more in his latter days. God will bless us. God can reverse generational curses and conditions of our life.

Job 14:7 For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease.

The tree has hope.  Pastor Samachen asked us, who is a tree?  We are trees – tress of righteousness. A perfect believer is a tree and trees have hope.

Psalm 1:3 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. 

God plants the trees. All of us are a tree, and God plants us.  Jesus planted trees by the banks of a river. The owner has the right over the tree. If God planted me, my owner is Jesus.  Our Lord is Jesus. 

The owner provides protection for his trees. Making sure no one attacks the tree.  He fertilizes it, prunes it, cultivates it.

The tree has a specialty – and whatever we need, God will give us. Jesus is able to provide. The tree has its own home. 

We have hope. Jesus is ok with us. A tree that is cut down has no future, the fruit dries up, its roots dry up.  When water meets the roots the tree sprouts. When the water of the Holy Spirit hits the roots the tree, although seemingly dead, will come to life.  It does not matter the former condition of the tree when it was cut down. The tree will sprout and grow. God has prepared things for his tree.

The name Joseph means fruitful tree. Joseph was able to prosper and bear fruit no matter what condition he was placed, from slave to prisoner to Pharaoh’s court.  Joseph’s family was against him, never imagining that he would be a governor and preserve their lives.

When we look at our background, we see no fruit based on the past. When we stand with Jesus God will make sure we bear His fruit.

Jacob was Joseph’s father. Jacob tricked his brother Esau into giving up his birthright. Joseph’s brothers sinned. He had a shameful past and there was sin in his ancestors, but Joseph lived like a righteous person. His background did not influence his actions.

It is not our past that is important, but rather, WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.  How do we relate to Jesus? God speaks with us based on our relationship with Jesus. Love Jesus more than anything else. Jesus can change the conditions of our life. Give glory to God.

Pastor Samachen spoke of a man that went to Kuwait and stayed with a business man. He became wealthy, but ended up losing everything due to drink and a sinful life. Jesus revealed Himself to this man. The man confessed his sins, repented, but the man had accumulated a huge debt. Pastor Samachen prayed with the man and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The man’s face changed completely and his situation turned around.  The man’s wife was healed of a kidney problem, for Jesus is a healer.

A word of prophesy can change things, Jesus can change our situation around. 

God intervened in the man’s life to relieve his huge debt. A ruler family came, a family who believed in the Word of God. The ruler prayed with Pastor Samachen and spoke that he needed an able person to do business. The man with the debt was given the job to work with the ruler’s business, and the ruler completely paid off all the man’s debts.  Jesus had changed his situation.

A pastor or a prophet cannot change a situation, but if you obey Jesus, your situation can change.

What is your situation?  Is it family, children, sickness, health, business?  Everything is possible with Jesus. Everything is impossible for us, but possible for Jesus.

1. Christ can change your situation.  Your latter days will be better than your former days. If you are a tree, the tree has hope. If cut down, the tree can sprout back. Set aside all negative things and thoughts. God can turn our situation around.

God gives four kinds of blessings.  1. DIVINE WISDOM, knowledge that you are blessed.  2. WEALTH  3. HONOR  4. LIFE

This year can be a year of change, and we need to never forget God. Some have wealth without knowledge. Some have wisdom without wealth. But we need wisdom, wealth, honor, and life in God, and then things turn around. We will know more how to deal with the blessings when we have wisdom. Whoever lives by the Word cannot be destroyed.  The wisdom of the enemy cannot compete with the wisdom of the Word.

The enemy’s wisdom is not greater than God’s. The Word is God and it has power. It is the Word that gives us life. Fill yourselves up with the Word and satan will have no place in you, for with the Word you have joy, happiness, peace. 

No matter what people say about you, smile. What Jesus says is important. 

INCREASE YOUR VISION. Joseph remembered his vision, and God brought it to pass. He became Prime Minister and governed the people. The money did not give the vision. The relationship with God is what caused the vision to come to pass.

Pastor Samachen ministered to a suicidal man who had no peace. The man accepted Jesus and came to church on Sunday. The man had no money for transportation, but Pastor Samachen helped him with money for transportation. The man received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and water baptism. The man did not have a home, telephone, transportation, or income. But the man knew that Jesus was more than enough for him. The man came to church every Sunday and his condition changed.  The man had joy and peace. God changed his condition.

Psalm 63:6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.

2. Conditional – the FORMER AND LATTER. Any person on earth in a “former” condition, can be raised up so their latter condition is better than the former. PROBLEMS DO NOT NEED TO SUBDUE US, THEY RAISE US UP. God exalts you. Jesus is with you and God can change your situation.

Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The earth was without form and void. God changes the situation.  The Spirit of God hovered over the earth and the earth was changed. 

The Spirit of God comes on your situation and it changes.

Pastor Samachen has two sons who are both prophets, the older is 16, the younger is 12. Pastor Samachen had a pain in his knee.  His younger son came in and sat on Pastor Samachen’s bed to as for 10 rupees.  He also laid his hands on Pastor Samachen’s knees and prayed.  The son was weeping and praying, “Jesus, please heal my dad now.”  God changed Pastor Samachen’s pain, and healed the knee. Insted of giving his son 10 rupees, Pastor Samachen gave him 100.  The boy went out and bought what he needed, returning 90 rupees to his father. 

Jesus is the one who heals and delivers. God can change your situation. 

In America there is major unemployment and economic problems. The problems and crises are there, but God can bring about change in America. Only God can cause things to change.  Groups of people praying to God can turn things around and God can perform a miracle. We can see the mighty works of God.

2009-2011 is a period of sluggishness in spiritual work, but if the people light spiritual fires they can stop being stagnant. Worldwide revival can occur in the midst of stagnation, but it has to start in our own houses. The broken conditions of lives can change, even when it seems hopeless.

God changed the conditions of Sarah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth. No problem is too hard for God. Cancer, migraines, any problem can be changed by God. God can reverse a life of emptiness.

Psalm 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 

There is a night-like experience, be it financial, sickness, or any other condition, but morning will come. It is not delayed. God can change spiritual darkness into light. 

Psalm 30:11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

Our mourning can be changed to happiness. First we are wearing sackcloth, but Jesus will remove those and give us robes of righteousness.  He can completely change our situation. Jesus is going to fulfill it through the Word in your life, changing your life completely. Do not doubt.

God will do a miracle for you.

Esther 3:15 The couriers went out, hastened by the king’s command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed.

When the decree about destroying all Jews went out, the city was in confusion and turmoil. It was a deplorable condition.

Esther 8:15 So Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, with a great crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

God turned the situation around and saved the Jews. The nation rejoiced and was glad. God gave deliverance.

God can completely change a situation. God changes lives. God can do a miracle.

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I pray that your day is blessed. Open yourselves up to the Word of God and see the wonderful miracles He does in your life.  Heather