Archive for the ‘Kingdom Teaching’ Category

Having been with the Master

Posted: August 20, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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“…..They realized that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

There is a sense of truth that we are know by those whom we associate with as well we are known by the Church we attend. But Kingdom reality is that all who call on the Name of Jesus Christ should radiate to the world that they have been with Jesus.

How do people see you?

Let us all strive to be known as having been with Jesus – this can only be accomplished by spending time with Him in His Word and in prayer!!!!!!!

For when you have soaked in His presence all legalism is destroyed, sin no longer has power over you and you can live is total liberation regardless of what this world may throw at you.

” Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.” Jonathan Edwards

Today I shall live for no other reason or desire save that of Christ Jesus my Savior, my Lord, my King and my Master!!!!!

The burden of the seed planter

Posted: August 6, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. (Isaiah 6:8-13)

I have found that operating in the prophetic and having the gift of evangelism can at times be trying. Especially when you here a directive from the Lord, you feel the intensity of the Fathers passion and you share it to those whom the Lord desires to hear it and there is absolutely no response. I can imagine how the Lord felt when but Peter stepped out of the boat and the others remained in it. There are times when I can look out and see a huge web covering people and when I asked the Holy Ghost about it He said it was a “web of complacency” that was being feed by doubt and self absorption.

For the Father has awesome plans and gifts for all of His Children yet the majority as in over 90% of those who have called upon His Name receive them. Not because He has not desired them to have them rather that they are so busy with their own lives and their own agenda’s they have never asked Him what His desire was.

Many disciples today are like soldiers in the battle field with out ammunition for their weapons because they never took the time to enter the storehouse to get armored up. Like a child with a new B.B. gun they are more interested in playing with it rather than taking the time to fill it, read the directions and use it as it was purposed to be used.

Every week I see countless people who claim the name of Christ walking with down cast spirits, always defeated and never experiencing true joy. I have begun to understand how the Lord felt as He stood looking over Jerusalem weeping. And to really to the full revelation of “Many are called, but few are chosen”. Again it is not because the Lord only desires a few to experience His Kingdom in its fullness for He would all of His Children – it is because few take the time to ask, seek and knock.

O, they might say a quick prayer, they might look for a few minutes and they may tap the doors of Heaven once or twice but they lack the patience and the desire to keep asking, til the Father answers, to keep seeking that He may show them and to keep knocking that the awesome things He has for them may be revealed.

No, the majority of Christians today are birthed into a generation who has become accustomed to instant gratification and desire a “Fast-Food” type religion. They can not begin to grip the understanding of “Wait upon the Lord” or to those who endure,m they shall be counted as those who are the over-comers.

The Churches are filled with illusionist, who paint a picture of Christianity that has no call for sacrifice, no room for the word obedience and no place for faithful labor – they paint a false picture of the Kingdom as being filled with all our dreams being meet by a big sugar daddy in the sky.

The sad thing is that in our day everyone wants a place of position being worshiped by others – mere man pleasers, they believe they are owed the reward’s and demand a fire filled revival all to the glory of their name but none are willing to pay the cost. The saddest part of this is that in the end they shall be like the many who did not enter into the promised land, for they desired not to wait upon the Lord.

As it was then, so is today in that the Father is seeking a Joshua mentality, those who will walk in faith regardless of what they see in the natural, for they have surrendered their eyes, ears and dreams unto the Lord and are walking with supernatural vision seeing what shall be, for indeed they know that God the Father has the best in-store for those who desire nothing but His Will.

In the end of my questioning the Lord as to why so few want to take part in the Harvest, He simply said to remain being faithful in planting the seed, Holy Ghost will go forth and water it and in the end each ones is left with their own Will choose. Even if but one seed takes root, is watered and nourished till it grows and produces fruit it have been been worth it.

I thought, Wow if the Father is not worried about numbers why are so many leaders in the Church today concerned with numbers. Holy Ghost responded quickly with “They have their agenda, the Father has His desire”.

None the less I will continue to sow His Word, I will continue to labor in the Harvest and I will continue to weep for those who hear but do not respond. I and many others are not laboring in vain but merely keep on walking in obedience to His call knowing that is but His commissioned call to do so.

The Lord is indeed calling forth a radical generation – men and women who shall deny themselves, the things of this world and follow after Him. even if it leads them to death and all to the Glory of His Name. Their names shall be of no mentioned popularity among the popular crowds, yet their testimonies shall ignite the Fires that shall burn across the Greatest Harvest known to mankind – The Great & final Harvest.

Nature itself is crying out for the Lord’s return – Heaven is thundering in anticipation of the Champion of champions breaking forth from the Throne room to come and claim that which His rightfully His, His Bride!!!!

Are you radical enough to say no to the status quo of Christianity that is being practiced throughout the land today? Purposeless, powerless, passionless, and spiritless religion that has imprisoned the masses but for the glory of men and the prince of darkness?

Jesus never gave the disciples a choice of following Him or someone else in order to be His disciple. He straight forwardly said “Follow Me” and they followed.

Today He is asking the same question, the same way “Follow Me”. Are you willing to forsake everything and follow the Master?

If you said yes get ready to experience the Kingdom like never before – Ask Holy Ghost to take you through the Word of God and Show you the Fathers desire for you, the way to live, think and believe that you to may be numbered amongst the chosen one. Ask Him to birth in you a passion for prayer and a passion for worship that you may be led by the heart beat of the Father.

The reward is eternal – an eternity of being in the presence of the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Master, Jesus Christ.

Yes my friends, today is the day that you can step in the ranks of the Army of God, led by the Champions of champions,, Jesus, the Only begotten Son of the Living God. Take that step brother & sister – that you can mark this day on your calendar as the the day that you become a radical disciple of Jesus Christ – asking, seeking and knocking that you may find your self positioned to be all that the Father intended you to be.

Its time to stop reading about feats of the disciples in the Bible and start living our own – its time to become as radical as the disciples in the Book of Acts – to begin walking in the power & authority that Christ has been giving for us – its time to release the Glory of the Lord til it covers the earth!!!!!

Written by Russ Welch

A word of caution for those seeking the Perfect Church!

Posted: July 22, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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By Russ Welch

One of the most troubling things for me today is to see those who are seeking the perfect Church. For they often fall prey to false doctrines in regard to the Bride of Christ and become ensnared with a -rebellious and strife-full spirit. Trust me when I speak of this for I have personally been down that road to the extent that I felt all traditional Churches were of devil and the only true Church was that of the house Church, Yet in the journey down that rabbit trail I found that either they were mini models of the big Church or a group of people who had become separatist, had an elitist mentality (they were right everyone else was wrong) did not evangelize, sat around complaining about the “traditional Church”,and or they simply refuse to fellowship with anyone especially those who attend a Church in a building. (I am not implying all House Churches are of this nature – I did attend some that were filled with love)

I thank and praise the Father for the eye opening wisdom which Holy Ghost poured into my life, the discipline of the Father through rebuke & correction via both His Word and His servants as well as His mercy making room to repent for my calling what is of the Lord (no matter how imperfect) unholy.

Truth be told, neither the traditional nor house Church will be found to be the perfect Church. Each has its error as each in some way or another is still in the hands of humans.

A never ending search
If we are truthful, we will admit that we live in a day that finds many in search of the “perfect” church. Many are simply seeking a place to have their hearts warmed and ears tickled. As well there are those who diligently seek that one denomination or church body that is in total harmony. Where everything runs as it should. Where everyone is so holy the halos are almost visible. A place where every point of doctrine is identical with what we personally believe. Where every part of the worship service is exactly the way we like it. A group where each and everything within that church is exactly what we think it should be. When something doesn’t go exactly as we think it should. When we find a few minor points of doctrine that we disagree with what we believe. When we don’t find the perfection we seek. We move on to another church, thinking it might be “the” one.” Yet what is the end of our search? We never find what we’re looking for. Because the “perfect” church doesn’t exist and it never will – at least, not until the Lord returns.

I constantly run across people who are seeking a Church in which they have to submit to no one, that the only voice and only teacher they need is Holy Ghost, they reject all authority. And so many, like I myself was misled, proclaim they have read the Word, which has brought them to current revelation. In all reality we find a vast amount of what they are speaking is just contrary to the teaching of Christ and His apostles. Take the position of “One only needs the Holy Spirit as a teacher” – can we ignore the scriptures? For in them we find one of the gifts given to the Church by the Father is that of “Teacher”. As well it is clearly stated in scripture that we are all called to submit one unto the other.

If one were to truly listen to Holy Ghost, He would show them that there are solid Biblical fellowships out there, both that meet in (Oh no) “BUILDINGS” hold onto your stones, as well as those who meet in homes. I thank the Lord for His guidance in opening my eyes to this truth and bringing me to the place where I see such fellowships, and have been connected to such fellowships that are truly thriving in the love of God, operating in the liberty of the Spirit without fear of one taking over the other, for they trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit and are able to trust Him as they submit one to another, even though they too are not perfect yet they seek to honor the Prefect One.

We have many groups and individuals who fell prey to the whispers of Hell because of being hurt unjustly in the Church or having a heart of bitterness and resentment rooted in pride that caused them to become isolated. This does not mean that they are bad people, they are still of the Bride and must be loved, ministered to that the Lord may heal their hearts and restore them to the fellowship with other believers.

We also have a rebellious group, who fell for false doctrine and have become wolves of the faith, seeking but to gather like-minded individuals to their groups and cause dissension in the fellowships causing great harm especially to young believers and they come under the guise of desiring total unity when in reality they seek to destroy any and all unity. Though they speak of having “no leaders”, they are inwardly hungry to lead and as such seek but to steal other believers from Churches and fellowships to attain they status of “True leadership”. They will prey on the wounded and broken hearts and the young immature believers.

Two very dangerous and often stumbling positions in a wounded believer and a young Christians life is that of:

A. Pride
Such as thinking they know it all and need not have anyone correct them in regard to the Word. (This list could be a blog in itself – so I will keep it short here)

B. Erroneous doctrines & false teachers
That of running into those who totally lack spiritual wisdom and spiritual maturity in regard to the Lord’s Bride, – especially in regard too who the Bride is made of and where He calls His Bride to to meet.

Now either and or both of these dangerous positions can lead a believer to the point of spiritual depravity in that they become disconnected, become open to the enemies ability to bring in false doctrines, confusion, disappointments and ultimately empty their vessels of Spiritual fuel, till they fall to the place that they simply burnout and turn away from not only from the Bride, but from the Lord all together.

We must put away false and divisive doctrines!
We must put away separatist doctrines that bring division and stop looking for the perfect “Church” and start loving, praying for, and sharing the gifts God has placed in our lives with those for whom He has connected us – in other words get off our high horses called pride and spiritual arrogance and seats of judgment and enter in to the fields of labor, for the harvest is ripe!!!

We need to be very cautious that every book we read we do not take for the gospel or that every person who calls themselves a disciple of Jesus is truly that, for we have the warnings of those vicious wolves spoken of by our Lord and His apostles. This is why the Father sent Holy Ghost, that He would lead us into all spiritual truth and yes He does speak through other believers as well as the Word so don’t waste your time waiting for the cloud to cover you and a thundering voice to call out to you, or a bush to burst into flames as you walk by, calling out your name, or for that Angel to appear with a flaming sword and a scroll from Heaven. (Although the Lord could do such, if He so chooses after all He is God)

We must be as the “Bereans.”
We read in Acts 17:11, of how the Bereans were commended because they listened to everything that Paul said, and then went home and checked the Scriptures (our Old Testament) to see whether what Paul said was true. Learn to do the same thing. Make sure you have your Bible with you, and read along with what the Pastor or teacher is reading, even if you’re using a different translation. Take some notes, and then go home and check the scriptures to see what God says about what the preacher said.

Is the Church perfect? By no means, though Praise God we shall be when the Master returns – Does the Lord still send His servant to sound the horns of repentance – Does He assign messengers to bring correction? Yes He Does – The key is in the scriptures for when we look to the prophets in the Bible -There was a quality of authority like that which Jeremiah and Isaiah had and many such prophets like them, in that they prophesied to God’s people from the lowly position of humbled repentance.

To sum it all up, if you’re looking for a home church, whether it be a House Church or a traditional Church in a “building” pray and ask the Lord to direct you to the congregation where HE wants you to be, where you can serve Him best, and where you can be fed. And then begin to visit churches. Don’t get hung up on a denomination. Remember, the “church” that Jesus spoke about is the Body of Christ – made up of every born again believer in the world. The congregations where we attend are just that – congregations. And it doesn’t matter what is written over the front door. Instead, what matters is what is written on the hearts of the members and what is being taught from the pulpit and in the Sunday school classes.

We are living our lives as the very image of Christ Jesus to the world – let us do such and starting showing His character in all we do, putting down the stones hatred and lifting up hands of prayer, one for another and establishing His Kingdom here on earth!!

However if My people who are called by MY Name……

Posted: July 12, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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By Russ Welch

“Bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with hand-cut stones. Fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.” (Isaiah 9:10)

Like that of ancient Israel, God has been sending signs to America. And although many are trying to erase America’s true history in regard to the foundation upon which it was built or even the fact that before America was, it was dedicated by Christians as the New Zion even as Israel was dedicated to be a Nation unto the Lord.

Today we see people believing both in the Church and out of the Church that the cure to America’s woes are based upon an economic turn around yet that is a mere symptom of the real crisis at hand, for it goes far deeper to the very soul of this Nation and it’s continue progression away from God.

We can liken Sept 11, 2001 to ancient Israel when the hedge was breached instead of realizing that it was a Spiritual sign they looked at it as a sign that they needed to strengthen their nation defense. Now for a few brief moments America turned to God yet in its pride it sad we can become stronger, we can build a better defense system so that this will not happen again. The Churches for a brief moment were filled with people bowing low and crying out to the Lord. Now today we have people bowing low and worshipping mammon once again and seeking a human to solve their problems.

Look at the commentary of John D Watt’s on Isaiah 9:10:
“There is no way for the people to ignore the obvious disaster. Yet they choose not to recognize the deeper meaning…they do not respond to God. They only respond (inadequately) to the threating situation.”

And the Church remains silent on the matter. For much of the Church is sold out to the worlds systems (I said most not all) and has entered into the political arena spouting off who they believe will be better for the nation. Totally blind that the only hope for this nation lays in the hands of one man, and that man is Jesus Christ.

They have not even looked at the depth of sin in their own ranks; they have ignored the signs of God because they know Him not. Many will say God had nothing to do with 9 11 or that that was the Old Testament God, not the New Testament God of grace. Sorry but the Word is clear – the Lord God is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.

Did God cause 9 11? No He did not He merely lifted His hand of protection over this nation. Ironically the very descendants of those who attacked ancient Israel are they who attacked America on 9 11 – the Assyrians. And although the Assyrian language is dead – the remnants of its language is closely tied to that of Arabic.

The hope of America is dwindling day by day. At some point the Lord will lift His hands of protection all together, unless as He states in His Word “However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear [their prayer] from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.” (2 Chron 7:14)

Now God is not only the God of Mercy, He is as well the God of justice and He can’t not allow America to continue on her path and still bless her. Even as He judged Israel as we read in the book of Judges for her open rejection of Him and their vile display of sin, so must He justly deal with America:

And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.Wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for calamity, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed. (Judges 2:14-15)

We are blind if we do not see America being sold right from out under our feet – look at the debt we owe to China, what will happen when they decide call in their notes. Look at our ports and see who the companies that run them are from – China.

Our government is selling our rights and our religious freedoms and we remain silent – yet our silence should not be broken by merely changing the people in Washington – our silence must be broken by a crying out to God and possible a changing of the leadership in His house who like the politicians of this world are steeped in political games.

Thus the problem of America is bigger than what a mere political campaign can solve – it is a Spiritual sickness that not even an outward reformation will solve – it must be an inward transformation of His people turning back to Him and Him alone.

For if His people in America do not turn back to Him in humble repentance– we can be assured that even as He prophesied over ancient Israel, so Has He prophesied unto America:

O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (Isaiah 10:5-6)

We must make a radical cry to Heaven – we must radically change our lives from that of serving the world with our actions and merely attempting to appease God with our lip service – we must radically serve Him and His Kingdom as true disciples armed with His Word, hardened with calloused knees having spent hours in prayer. With purified hearts and clean hands

One Hope, One God – Awake, awake oh sleeper for Your Husband stands at the door!!!

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Posted: July 1, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the highest position. Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.

Therefore, put to death whatever is worldly in you: your sexual sin, perversion, passion, lust, and greed (which is the same thing as worshiping wealth). It is because of these sins that God’s anger comes on those who refuse to obey him.[a] You used to live that kind of sinful life. Also get rid of your anger, hot tempers, hatred, cursing, obscene language, and all similar sins. Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live, and you’ve become a new person. This new person is continually renewed in knowledge to be like its Creator. Where this happens, there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, uncivilized person, slave, or free person. Instead, Christ is everything and in everything.

As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Above all, be loving. This ties everything together perfectly. Also, let Christ’s peace control you. God has called you into this peace by bringing you into one body. Be thankful. Let Christ’s word with all its wisdom and richness live in you. Use psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and instruct yourselves about God’s kindness.[b] Sing to God in your hearts. Everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:1-18)

The Father has made His desire in regard to the life He desires His Children to live in Paul has written here – It could be made no clearer and it is a a Heaven sent recipe to living a Holy Life in Christ inspired through Holy Ghost. To be radical disciples we need the radical transformation of our hearts and minds that we may live such a radically selfless & Kingdom purposed life unto our King.

” Obedience is not a dirty word – it is a key to Kingdom living”

Posted: June 28, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Parents, teaching, wilderness
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This is by far my longest post – yet I find it one of the most important post – as obedience is one of the major foundational stones laid in a young disciples life that they will balance their walk on for years to come.

” Obedience is not a dirty word – it is a key to Kingdom living”

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)

And again Jesus says;
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (John 14:23)

And again…..
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10)

We see this message repeated by the one who was next to the Lord throughout His earthly ministry and even referred to himself as the one whom the Lord loved; We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. (1 John 2:3) This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, (1 John 5:3) And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (2 John 1:6)

We read these passages in the Word yet if we preach in a way that resembles these teachings we are called legalistic. While at the same time we have a generation that longs for the presence of the Father. But we must ask the question is His presence not present possible because we have rejected His teachings and sought our own. For the Master and His students make clear what ushers in the presence of the Father yet we reject it as “too religious”.

But there are so many promises connected to this teaching by our Lord in John 14, just look at verse 26: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

What an awesome promise – “He will teach you all things” — Necessary for you to know. Here is a clear promise to the apostles, and their successors in the faith, that the Holy Ghost will teach them all that truth which is needful for their salvation.

One thing I find funny and sad at the same time is that one can quote a scripture and just a scripture and people will ask you to defend your stance – O, you’re a Calvinist or a non-Calvinist, you’re a Lutheran or a Baptist and the list goes on. I find it funny because I see God’s truth woven within each Christian denomination while at the same time it saddens me because I see men twisting His truth’s to suite their understanding rather than aligning their understanding up to His truths.

We live in a day when denominational teachings often attempt to dislodge (though prayerfully unknowingly) the very core teachings that Christ has given us especially when they (Denominational teachings) bring disunity rather than a witness to the power of God’s truth. Yes the sinner who refuses to bow His knee to Christ will always be at odds with the Truth. What I am talking about is how men can take the very power of Gods Holy Word and dirty it with an infusion of worldly wisdom and call that which is Holy unholy and that which is unholy, holy.

But for the appreciation of time to my readers and listeners I will stay on topic here in this message and not run down any rabbit trails today. Now the message here is foundational especially for those who consider themselves radical disciples who have made that 100% commitment required by radical King who commands radical allegiance tied directly to radical obedience and radical sacrifice.

If we were to lightly study the past few decades we would come to see how the onslaught of false gospel ordinances that have been infused into the Church, which has left a spiritual battle field filled with the carcasses of innocent lives lost- a horrific scene of a battle field that is filled with land mines and smoke clouds of false doctrines, false signs, wonders & miracles.

These deceptive doctrines and religious practices have birthed a generation which is content on eating their own young and torturing their wounded. In many ways the enemy has succeeded in wounding and slowing down a supernatural army that could conquer the world of darkness, pushing it leaders and Satan himself right back to the very gates of Hell. Instead we find an army that has pockets of resister, those who refuse to give up and will not bow to any other save their King alone. They can not be bought, they can not be held in prison, they will die fighting for the Kingdom and it’s truth. But for the most part we have an army of spiritual warriors that are untrained, unprepared and have total lack any commitment to the King at all, most not even realizing they are serving an imposter King, they know not the True Christ. They want to comforts and rewards of service without having to serve themselves.

The spiritual warfare we are dealing with today is no different than what the King & apostles warned us of the Word in regard to this warfare. In the natural the strategies of the enemy can be compared that style of warfare which started in Vietnam and is even more prevalent in today’s war against terrorist, we have an enemy who has learned to blend in with civilians so keenly that even some of the best at discerning can be fooled, if it were possible.

We’ve seen these pawns of the enemy everywhere from Evangelistic TV shows to those leading modern day movements, even revivals. Blindly many have missed one of the biggest weapons the enemy has brought and placed right in the middle of the camp – a “Trojan Horse” if you will – a watered down version of the gospel. Like a “Trojan horse” it comes into the camp in the form of a gift, a blessing yet in the end, when it is opened up and the vile and unholy message is released it brings forth not life, but death and destruction and spreads like a cancerous plague. Take for example the Word judgment, the enemy has created a doctrine that says any and all judgment is wrong even though we find this is not actually what was taught by Jesus. For we are called in the Word to judge the fruit and to ask Holy Ghost to guide that we may discern between those who are false teachers and those who are not.

Is Obedience better than sacrifice?

This is the vision which Isaiah, son of Amoz, saw about Judah and Jerusalem at the time of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
The LORD Accuses Israel of Sin
Listen, heaven, and pay attention, earth!

The LORD has spoken, “I raised my children and helped them grow, but they have rebelled against me. Oxen know their owners, and donkeys know where their masters feed them. But Israel doesn’t know its owner. My people don’t understand who feeds them. “How horrible it will be for a nation that sins.

Its people are loaded down with guilt. They are descendants of evildoers and destructive children. They have abandoned the LORD.
They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have turned their backs on him. “Why do you still want to be beaten? Why do you continue to rebel? Your whole head is infected. Your whole heart is failing.

From the bottom of your feet to the top of your head
there is no healthy spot left on your body—only bruises, sores, and fresh wounds. They haven’t been cleansed, bandaged, or soothed with oil.“Your country is devastated. Your cities are burned down. Your fields are destroyed right before your eyes by foreigners. Your fields are devastated and taken over by foreigners. My people Zion are left like a hut in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a city under attack.”

If the LORD of Armies hadn’t left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Israel’s Corrupt Religion
Listen to the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom!Pay attention to the teachings from our God, you people of Gomorrah!The LORD asks, “What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me? I’ve had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from your fattened calves.I’m not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats. (Isaiah 1:1-11)

Isaiah was what we would call today an intellectual. He was not royalty, but he held favor with several kings, until the time he started making everyone uncomfortable with his prophecies and forewarning s about the coming of God and the nation of Israel.

Today we find the same conditions in the Church – there are those who are the favorite of denominations as long as they speak good things, but when they get down to talking about giving things up and living our lives as obedient children unto the Lord, well now they are just crossing the line and we will replace them with another who speaks only good things – we want to hear the bless me Lord, not the surrender all unto the Lord comments.

Often times we mix the words obedience and sacrifice up thinking our sacrificial actions prove our obedience. We think we are justified in our actions because we give up certain things for God. Just because we make one or two sacrifices for God, we somehow think that those sacrifices atone for our other sins. But God tells us in these verses, what good are sacrifices to Him? Do the sacrifices that we make really mean anything to God? After all, he has everything we have because he created it all in the first place. Granted, the sacrifices that we make signify a commitment to the word of God and represent our appreciation for what he has done for us, but that is not a sure way to gain favor in the sight of God. There are people who everyday sacrifice and give of their time and make allowances for God, but they do it with a begrudging spirit. They do it as if it is something that they don’t really want to do, or something that they think will get them a little closer to God in the end.

To sacrifice means to give up. In order to sacrifice, you must relieve yourself of something, be it money, possessions, or maybe even a part of yourself. But when you make a sacrifice to God, you are just returning to Him what was His in the first place. And not to say that sacrifices are not important, because they are. However, sacrifices only represent that you acknowledge God, not that you are necessarily following what God is telling you to do.

But obedience is another thing all together. Until a little over a year ago, I did not like the statement “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” And mostly it was because I did not fully understand the concept. I did not truly understand what the difference was. I thought that if you sacrificed what you had for the good of the Lord, then you were fulfilling your commitment to God and fulfilling His commandments. It seems that while I was not entirely wrong, I was not entirely wrong.

I think part of the problem comes in with our interpretation of the word obey. We seem to have a lot of problems with that word. In the New International Version’s translation of the Bible, the word obey is mentioned 165 times, and this does not count all of the variations of the word. It would appear that since this word does appear so often in scripture that is something that is important to God.

When most people think of the word obey, they think of something close to slavery, something negative and something evil. Somehow, to obey someone or something is wrong, a barbaric notion whose time has come and passed.

According to Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, the definition of obey is as follows: 1. To give ear to; to execute the commands of; to yield submission to; to comply with the orders of; 2. To submit to the authority of; to be ruled by; 3. To yield to the impulse, power, or operation of; as, a ship obeys her helm.

So we see, that obey has meaning meanings, several of which we have problems with. According to the definition I just read, a synonym of obey is submit. And we all have a problem with the whole act of submission. Somehow the notion of submission is something that we just can’t accept. Sure, racially and historically speaking, there is reason to get uncomfortable with the act of submission and that’s fine. But when we inject gender issues into the word of God, then we have problems.

It has always amazed me why we actually have such a problem with these words. I do not know of one woman who has gotten married in recent years who has allowed the word obey to be used in her wedding vows, they believe it is too chauvinistic. Which is amazing to me in how we give so much power to one little word. Never mind the fact that biblically wives are to submit and obey their husbands, and never mind the fact that if a woman married a power hungry fool, he will be that fool with or without the word obey in the wedding vows. What gets me is how we say we are willing to follow the word of God, as long as it does not upset our comfort level. But the word of God is the word of God, and we must be consistent in that. The act of submission is not something we can get away from.

Another problem with the word obey and the act of obeying someone is that is has to deal with power. We often don’t like to admit that there is someone or something else that has power over us, that has the ability to control our lives. Sure, we can say all we want that God is an all-powerful and all-knowing being, but there is a part of us that wants us to believe that we have the ultimate power and control over our own lives. That we, somehow, control our destinies.

Now, I am a big believer in free will, and believe that God has given us the free will so that we may come to Him on our own without force and provocation, but with that free will, I also acknowledge that my life is in God’s hands. That my wife and son’s life is in the hands of God. That God’s will, no matter what I say, think or pray, supersedes that of my own. That I acknowledge that God has the power, and that I am but a mere servant of that power.

Many professing Christians play children’s games with each other, hugging the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ to ourselves, going to church and listening to the Pastor each week, without getting out of our comfort zones, without putting behind us the fear of the hardship that we shall suffer as a result of doing something to alleviate the suffering of someone else, of thinking of others above ourselves; we are not hallowing the name of God. We are not taking the Sacrifice seriously enough, we are offering an animal to God that is not unblemished.

Someone once stated to me that it was too difficult to be a disciple, with his work load and responsibilities of bringing up a family, he just didn’t have the time. What he was actually saying was that God was not important enough in his life, he could give God the sacrifice of an imperfect animal, God wouldn’t notice, God would accept what he was giving; namely his tithes and his work in the organization in the church.

Friends, please realize that we are not playing a game of football here; worshiping and being obedient is a serious business. Once we admit that Jesus is the Christ we have come into Covenant with the Living God. He will honor his side of the agreement as laid out in His word, but if we treat His rules lightly, playing a dirty game, the Holy Spirit will continually blow the whistle against us as we mock God and count the greatest gift that we can obtain as of no worth. On that day, God’s mighty day of judgment, He who has honored the Covenant with each of us will judge whether we have been honorable.

In World Cup soccer terms, it is a great honor to be chosen to represent your country to compete against other countries. If on the field of play, you continually break the rules of the game, fouling and injuring others, you will eventually receive a red card and might even be sent home in disgrace, dishonoring the country that you represented.

Disobeying God’s rules, which are unchanged from the beginning of time, will cause you or I to suffer the second death, we will burn forever.

We can read throughout scripture many complex issues that we must lean onto Holy Ghost for understanding – The Word also clarifies issues for us and when something is of great importance it will show up throughout out the Word. In the case of obedience it does just that. I will leave this message with a number of verses that relate too and speak of obedience.

Our walk is to be filled with fruit and one of the ways to ensure that we are producing the fruit of the Kingdom is to be obedient unto His teachings, that we remain obedient to His commands –Of course being obedient and or following all of His commands shall not save us but they will help keep us on that narrow path.

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: (Romans 1:5)

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19)

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
(Romans 16:26)

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. (1 Corinthians 14:34)

And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. (2 Corinthians 7:15)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5)

And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
(2 Corinthians 10:6)

Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. (Philemon 1:21)

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; (Hebrews 5:8)

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. (Exodus 24:7)

And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. (Numbers 27:20)

When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (Deuteronomy 4:30)

As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 8:20)

Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me. (2 Samuel 22:45)

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
(Proverbs 25:12)

If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (Isaiah 1:19)

Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
(Isaiah 42:24)

And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7)

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, (Romans 15:18)

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. (2 Corinthians 2:9)

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; (Ephesians 6:5)

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)

To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:5)

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; (Titus 2:9)

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
(1 Peter 1:14)

Discipleship is NOT Sexy

Posted: June 27, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Discipleship is NOT Sexy

It has been a long time since I have written anything. I have spent most of my days developing new friendships and trying to explain to them their need for Jesus. I wish I could tell you a bunch of stories of lives that have changed as a result. I wish I could tell you that hundreds have repented and are now serving the Lord faithfully. Instead, I’m pretty sad as very few of my new friends are ready to ditch their lives to follow Jesus. Some are not convinced they need to repent. Others are not convinced He is worth it.

The good news is that I regularly see God do supernatural things (too many stories to write out). I expected these miracles to result in conversions, but now I understand what Jesus meant when He said, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31).

Jesus never promised revival; in fact, He told us to expect the opposite (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Even when people saw the supernatural, it usually didn’t lead to repentance (Luke 10:13). What Jesus did promise was that we would have His presence with us as we made disciples (Matthew 28:20). This I have definitely witnessed. Supernatural answers to prayer never get old.

Like most speakers/pastors, I like to share about conversions and victories! But by only sharing those stories, it may make people think that something is wrong if they don’t see a lot of fruit in their efforts. Maybe this post is a strange word of encouragement for those who have been sharing Jesus and not seeing much result. We may not often see repentance, but we do experience God being with us; and we do enjoy the peace knowing we tried. And that makes it all worth it.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

By Francis Chan

Walking Dead men

Posted: June 22, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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Walking dead men
By Russ Welch

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
(2 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV)

Is this Word not true? Are we not surrounded by a prideful people?

O’ how we must pray like King David, that Holy Ghost search our hearts daily and let us not be found with pride!! Yes my friends we are in the days when one mentions obedience & sacrifice people scream legalism. When the truth is preached that we must deny ourselves and follow Christ they cry out religious radical. But As I read the Word I see that the Father knew well in advance that we, in this day would be witness to those who loved their lives more than that of the Lord & His Will. Yet it is these very people who cry out for revival and for the presence of the Lord and all they get is an emotional high and rooms filled with real religious spirit’s!!

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV)

God is seeking radical servants who are willing to lay down their lives and rise up with renewed hearts willing to live out the radical call of discipleship that our Lord Jesus Christ call’s us too.

I am so tied of stumbling in my own walk. I have fought with my own strength and will power for to long. I can not take one step in Holy righteousness in my own ability. No I must die to my own abilities that He may live with His ability flowing through me that His name may be glorified.

I have come to fully realize that the only way to fully walk on the narrow road is to die to myself, that Christ may live in me via His Holy Spirit. I know that I like the disciples in the New Testament must be as a walking dead man- fully dead to the desires of the flesh and carnal thinking and fully reborn and led of the Spirit of the Living God.

To be a true disciple of Christ, we must be willing to get up from the life which we lived before He called us and leave it all behind walking in the newness of a transformed life from this day forward.

How many times I have heard people say “Well that was for them” or “You cant really believe that Jesus is calling us to sell and forsake all”. I know I use to say these very word and I praise God for His Holy Ghost bringing the Fire of God’s discipline upon my life to show me how wrong I was. I know some will disagree with the statement I just made and so be it – For what is more important to me is that the scriptures testify to it.

No my friends be not fooled, the casual, the lukewarm and half hearted person will never enter heavens gates. I would encourage you to study the word endure throughout the New Testament. No I am not talking about salvation by works – I am talking about lives that produce fruit worthy of repentance, lives that produce fruit for His Kingdom. We must realize that it is no small call that this God of the universe calls us to. For He left nothing undone for our way to Him to be clear. Let also be mindful that He also made sure that there was no other way for anyone to sneak into His Kingdom for there shall be no trespassers in the Kingdom of our God.

Again I challenge you to study these statements made by our Lord: “To those who endure, to those who obey my commands, to those who truly love Me” and you may just be shocked to realize the gospel you have heard, the gospel you have been taught really isn’t the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven rather it is the gospel made up by foolish, weak men with calloused hearts.

For not only is our Lord a Radical Lord who has made radical commands to live a radical lifestyle, He calls forth His disciples to be as radical as He is!

Let us all be as walking dead men, that the world may see the true Messiah living through our reborn, sacrificed and sanctified lives!

For indeed our God is an Awesome and Mighty God.

Is God going Broke!

Posted: June 21, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, wilderness
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By Russ Welch

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matt 6:19-21)

It is interesting as I was studying Matt 6 this morning, I was led to vs 19-21. This message is something the Lord has been speaking to me for the past 18 months in regard to our hearts and minds set on heavenly things and not on worldly. As I was studying I crossed over into some of my study notes from a year ago, where I had put AW Pinks commentary on these verses:

“We are now to enter the fifth division of our Lord’s sermon, and as we do it is well to remind ourselves afresh of His first and primary design in this important address, namely to correct and refute the erroneous views of His hearers. The Jews held false beliefs concerning the person of the Messiah, the character of His mission, and the nature of the kingdom He would establish. As unregenerate men their views were carnal and mundane, self-centered and confined to things temporal.” ~AW Pink

As I read this I thought of my trip to Keystone Heights Florida yesterday to do a termite job – This town at one time was beautiful with lakes all around it. Yet today many of those lakes have shrunk to mere ponds, some even have dried up. As I drove out-of-town I started counting the Churches, and saw that there are 12 + churches for a town whose population is only a little over 1500. Three of the Churches were big enough to house 1000 plus.

The word drought and temporal kept running through my spirit last night. And this morning as I awoke and the Spirit led me back to Matthew chapter 6 I saw it all laid out. So many today who call upon the name of the Lord have yet to allow their carnal ways of thinking be put to death.

Keystone Heights has a population of less than 2000, so why do they need so many Churches and not only that what a waste of money, the Lord’s money they have splurged that they could show the world they have the biggest and best. Temporal the Lord says, for these to shall burn. All are vanity of the worst case, mere stubble and hay.

We are living in a day when the hearts of men are fixed upon the things of this world rather than the things of heaven and we are seeing these things begin to be exposed. We see record amounts of Churches being sold do to foreclosures on their buildings. In Florida alone since 2010 there have been more than 270 Churches lost to financial loss.

Is God’s treasure chest on the decline? Is our Father in Heaven running out of money?

I do not think so. I can remember the one thing that Holy Ghost ingrained in me when we started the nursing home ministry Mighty Arm Ministries in 2005 and the ministry school in 2006, walk into the Fathers blessing. It was so powerful I told our board that we would never borrow or finance and part of the ministry and then ask the Father to bless it. No, we would walk into the blessings of the Lord, that which He had ordained.

It brings to mind what Solomon wrote in proverbs not just once rather 3 times:

The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. (Prov 12:15)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Prov 14:12)

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Prov 16:25)

I said it several years ago and I say it again – We are in a season where the Spirit is pulling back the covers and revealing & exposing the naked things, the things hidden in secret which are not of the Fathers Will. Those places where the harlots have remained hidden in their whoredom, the untestable and blasphemies which are done in His House.We can see the Lord blowing a wind of holiness across the land which is blowing away the dust that has covered up and hidden His true purpose for His Bride in this and all other nations.

I could go on about what the Lord has shown me in regard to the spiritual drought, the illness that plagues His Church in this nation yet today I want to call upon our individual hearts. For these 2 verses are in regard to the Lord’s direct teaching to us firstly as individuals.

What captivates your heart today friend? Is it the treasures of heaven or the things of this world. What motivates you to work? Do you work simply to provide for your family, to pay for your house, cars and other luxuries of this world? Or are you driven to not only put food onto your table but to help put food on the tables of others as well?

I was speaking with a brother the other night in regard to the “Prosperity gospel” And I truly believe God does desire to prosper us, just not so we can attain the American dream, surrounding ourselves with the pleasures of this world. I pray that the Father would bless me with a Million dollars and the heart to go with it. For the carnal mind would confess it could never live in a one room home rather it desires pleasure and excess so give me a million dollar home. Me, I would rather have enough money to build a million homes for the homeless and the heart that is comfortable to live wherever the Lord calls me, even to a one room living space.

You will notice that the Lord end this message in verse 21 with:

“for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

So where is your heart today friend? Anchored to the things of this world or do you desire Jesus and Jesus alone?

For of you desire the things of this world, you have already received your reward which shall ultimately burn up. But O praise God for those who desire the Master and He alone, for none shall enter Heaven with out the Son and He desires that we come empty-handed with our hearts sworn to anyone or anything else save Him. For Jesus is the treasure that shall last for all eternity and if your hearts are fixed on anything else you will never be able to experience this treasure in Spiritual truth!

I can assure you that our Father in Heaven has not gone broke rather that much of the American Church has chosen the things of this world over the treasures of Heaven which have rendered many of them Spiritually bankrupt!!

I end this with one of my favorite songs which really brings home the message today:

Turn Your Eye’s Upon Jesus….

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Admitting we are unable open’s the door to God’s ability!!!

Posted: June 21, 2012 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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“Then he replied, “This is the word the Lord spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t succeed by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Armies. (Zech 4:6) There are so many messages just in this verse alone!

TO THE INDIVIDUAL:One can not over come sin nor even the temptation thereof by the sheer will of their determination. True victory only comes when we reach the place where we admit to our in ability (our weakness) and surrender to God’s total ability.

TO THE CHURCH:It’s not about your numbers, it’s not about the amount you receive in tithes and offerings, it not about the pastor being a great speaker, Nor your worship team being better than any other – It by His Spirit and His Spirit alone – for many are the houses that claim His Name yet few are they who have surrendered to His Spirit and His Will that He should come, and not just visit them, but make His abode!!

TO THE NATION: It doesn’t matter who is the head in the White House, it doesn’t matter how large ones military is. It matters not who rules the senate nor the house – a Nations strength lies within its total reliance upon the Lord and His Spirit. When a nation boast of its ability outside of the Lord, He shall pull back His hand of protection and let them see just how far “their strength” will take them!!!!

Many are they who in reference to this verse refer to it’s speaking of doing the work of God, and doing so follows a correct spiritual principle. When God does something, it is not done through physical strength. It is interesting that might literally means “arms,” and power refers to physical activity. The work of God is not going to be done through feats of arms, military victories, or anything that requires physical fighting or contention. Nor can it be accomplished by any amount of physical activity.

Yet we must come to the spiritual revelation of what this verse is saying for it matters not to the amount of work and effort that men put into it, they are not what will get God’s work done properly. They will be helpful, certainly, because God works though men, and men must exert themselves in order to do God’s will. Nevertheless, He says clearly here that all the credit goes to His Spirit. God Himself is at work! Our job is to submit, to do the things that must be done. We must do what the Spirit directs us to do, but God will receive the credit, not us. We could do none of these works by our own means.

For when we grasp all that Holy Ghost desires to teach us here, we shall see that God gives the ability. He gives the inspiration, the strength, and the endurance. He opens the doors. He supplies the manpower, the money, and the other resources to go through those doors. He supplies favor so that the doors can be opened. We merely walk through them.

One could very well say that God’s work is an act of grace. Then again one might conclude that it is a kind of oxymoron to say that work is done by grace, since we think of work and grace as two extremes, but they are not!

What comes first?

The grace comes first: God grants favor and gives gifts, then the work is done.

So where is the glory?

It appears in the grace. The effort comes afterward and accomplishes God’s will.

For by His great mercy are we saved and upon salvation Holy Ghost deposits grace into our lives, empowered with the revelation that we can overcome by our abilities but that through the empowerment of God’s abundant grace through the work of His Spirit shall we walk the narrow road victoriously.

For indeed, our God is a Mighty and Awesome God!!!

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