You Can Conquer Your Fears

Fear Not For I have Made A Covenant With Thee With Many Promises

Everybody gets a dreaded phone call at some time or another. I'm talking about one of those phone calls from a doctor that grips you with the worst fear of bad news about the results of a medical test. It's common to everybody.  People are afraid of losing their job, or afraid of a terror attack. This is a spirit of fear. Fear can rise up and flex your muscles if you're not careful.

One of the most important promises G-d gives us to counter such fear is in Isaiah 41:10. It says, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your G-d. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will uphold you with My righteous hand."

There are more people bound by this spirit of fear than ever.  It stops you from reaching your potential. In the first chapter of Genesis fear is born.  G-d called to Adam after he sinned. Fear gripped Adam and he went and hid from G-d.

G-d doesn't want us to live in fear.  1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
These are some powerful words right here!

G-d has given us the spirit of peace.  This is an inference in the English language. G-d has given us a spirit of love, power and sound mind.  We must have faith to trust G-d.  But Satan comes to paralyze your faith. Fear will destroy you. It is of the devil. Perfect love cast out fear and faith brings you the victory you need.

The more you know and learn about G-d the less you will tolerate the devil.  You will begin to counter attack and stand up and use your weapons.  Tell the devil, "I've come in the power of the blood and the great commission and I cast you down."

The devil is a spirit. Demons are spirits. You have to keep the devil in the spirit realm. Pastor Nelson told us of his first experience teaching a Sunday School class and how fear gripped him. "The devil said, you can't do this."  Then he remembered what G-d said in His word, I'll uphold you and I have given you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions.  After that, he said he knew G-d was with him.

When fear grips you call upon the Lord and you will hear from Him.  G-d says to get fear out of you. Don't be dismayed, He says, I'll uphold you with the righteousness of my right hand. Get to know G-d and what He says about you and what His promises to you are. There are more people who need this truth than you realize.

G-d knows all about us. He is able and willing to help us.  Problems are common to man, and all of us have them.  Life has its struggles but G-d has promised to deliver us from all of them.  He's with us and He takes care of His own.  Whatever you face He is there.

G-d wants us to learn this from our trials.  Don't lose your joy.  If you'll keep your joy then you'll have a mighty, secret weapon.  Battles are won through praise. Look at Nahum 1:7, "The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who trust Him."

Man is born of woman full of trouble, but the Lord is our stronghold.  Isaiah 43:2 says,"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you."

Psalm 91 tells us that, "you shall not be afraid of the terror by night, because you have made the Lord your refuge no evil or plague shall come near your dwelling."

Don't be afraid of bad news or reports that come unexpected.  G-d is with you because you have set your love upon Him. My Pastor, Jerry Nelson went in for a routine visit to his doctor a couple of years ago. He thought it would all be routine but he wasn't expecting or prepared for what happened from that visit. He had a heart blockage.  A valve to his heart had stopped working. You have to understand something about Pastor Nelson, he ran several miles a day and he can out dance anybody when the Holy Spirit hits him. He was 60 years old at the time and could run up and down the isles of the church better than a 25 year old.

He said to the Lord that day, "G-d, I know you're a rewarder of those who seek you. And you said, with long life I will satisfy thee." He had already gotten through the water in life and suddenly he was in the fire." Pastor Nelson loves the Word because G-d speaks to him through it.  We all have to go through things we don't want to. But G-d promises that He won't let the flames kindle upon you. I saw Pastor Nelson jump up out of his seat with visiting pastor preaching on the seven Hebrew words of praise. He got to the 6th word and Pastor did a hike leg skip all the way across that altar! He was healed in the name of Jesus from that heart valve, as a matter of fact the valve reformed. Because Pastor stood on his promise to be satisfied with long life. We got to hold on to the promises G-d has made to us.

When things happen get alone somewhere and spend time with G-d.  You'll hear Him, and G-d said all you have to do is be a good steward. A good steward is taking care of the responsibility G-d has given you. Early on in Pastor Nelson's marriage his wife lost her job as a nurse and they had just had a little baby. His wife, Teresa told him, "Jerry we can't pay our bills."

He told her that day she was going to stay home with the baby. He said, "Don't you worry, cause G-d says, if I'll work and don't neglect paying Him He'll bless me"  Guess what, He did bless Pastor Nelson and he'll do the same thing for you. Pastor Nelson grew up poor but in his marriage after this incident he became a purchaser for Bridgestone, Firestone. He is a blessed man today because he was a good steward to the things G-d put him in charge of.

One time, Pastor Nelson booked a trip to Israel. Before they could go an airplane in Egypt was hijacked. Teresa said, "are we still going to Israel after this?"  Pastor Nelson said, "Yes, I am!  G-d brought me out of Viet Nam alive and I have no fear of hijacked planes."

You'll never conquer your problems if you don't stand up in the name of Jesus. Speak His promises and claim them. Here are the four principles of conquering fear:

1.  You Must Recognize Your Fear
Faith does not deny facts.  If you deny them you won't overcome them.  It must be identified and you must speak to it. We Pentecostals, we speak to things. My spirit is stronger than this problem. I'm more than a conqueror.

2.  You Must Know The Source Of Your Fear
Fear is an emotion. The soul of man is the physic. You got to know where it's coming from. It deals with your will power. You must learn how to deal with it. When fear comes into your spirit identify the source. We know that Jesus said, "Fear Not."  So, you know it's not of Him when it comes.  G-d is peace and so you know the source is from the devil.

We live in Christ, and whether you live or whether you die, you live unto the Lord.  Some fears come from parents.  The boogie bear or the devil's going to get you.  Some have told a child, you won't ever amount to anything. Some fears are born of lies cause the devil is a liar.

Some people jump out and scare a child. It causes them to have fear of things in life. Teach your children to not be afraid.  You face fear with a spirit of love. Tell your child they can achieve anything. Cast out fear and take authority over it, and refuse to have anything to do with it.. Put your arms around your child when they are feeling fear over something and tell them you have a covenant with G-d and they are blessed through that covenant.  G-d says when you're not with your child He is with them.

Analyze your fear and find its source.  You might say Oh, I have forgiven them for putting fear in me, but if you're still dealing with that fear then you haven't conquered anything.  You might look at Pastor Nelson and say, well of course he conquered it he was an officer in the military. No, actually, he was like that before he went in the military. The warrior in him was always there. My point is, recognize your fear and get rid of it.

3.  You Must Realize The Effects Of Fear
Fear is not helpful, it is destructive and it can ruin a family, a business or anything because it is the destroyer. It can keep you from getting a good job.  It will keep you from going somewhere you need to go. Oh, you say, I can't get to that place. Or, Oh, I could fly if I had someone like Pastor Nelson on the plane with me.

Fear can hold you back and keep you from a promotion in life.  Step back and say, wait a minute, I see your effects on me and you're trying to keep me from being all that I can be.  Look at 2 Timothy 1:7, it says, "For G-d has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

You can see here, fear is a spirit.  The devil is not going to lay down because you're reading the bible. He's going to come at you, but when you have G-d in you you'll come back at him.

4.  We Must Check The Reality Of Our Fear
Many times, fear isn't real at all like when you get scared before you get a doctor's report.  Don't get scared. Start praising G-d and praying and speaking faith into your situation. Here's what fear means:

F -alse
E -vidence
A -ppearing
R -eal


False evidence appearing real!


Sometimes fear is based on nothing.  Another preacher once told the legendary evangelist Lester Sumrall when he came home from the mission field years ago that he was 50 and finished.  He looked at that preacher and said, "That's a lie."  After he blasted the gospel around the globe he got a ship for the Joseph plan and fed the hungry in the world.  G-d told him,"you've not even started, go home and raise up some preachers, America is in trouble. Bring me a million souls." Lester Sumerall was Pastor Nelson's mentor and I'm thankful today that Pastor Nelson is my mentor.

Don't let no one's negative words put fear in you.  The devil is not a roaring lion, he only sounds like one. So many people are afraid, saying, I can't try anything new. I'm stuck in my situation forever. Rise up on the inside and speak the words of an overcomer.

Look at Phillipians 4:13, it says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Pastor Nelson was a buyer for Bridgestone, but one day he got passed over for that promotion and it hurt him. He knew he was more qualified then the one who got it. He ended up doing that fella's job for him. But G-d wasn't ready to give him that promotion because he had to go through another test first. Perseverance is a hard test and you may have to do somebody else's job for a while and not get the pay, but if you'll be obedient to G-d's word, you will get promoted, cause G-d's got a season for you.

Don't get filled with fear and say, I'll never get the promotion. If you think like this you won't get it. You got to sing when you're in the fire and the sooner you sing, the quicker you will be promoted.

Sometimes, a boy is afraid to ask a girl out.  He's afraid, but she is just waiting for you to rise up. Don't fear to try something.  Fear can break your home up. I'm afraid he's doing something he shouldn't be.

5.  How We Overcome The Spirit Of Fear
If you can ever get these truths you'll be alright.  In these verses in Phillipians you're keeping the first 4 commandments which is your relationship with G-d.  The last 6 commandments are your relationship with others.

Look at 1 John 4:18 again,"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

If you love G-d with everything then how can He condemn you? He won't. But if your heart condemns you then you're not giving your all to Him.  In the area that you have fear you're missing G-d in that chamber of yourself.  It's the father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom, His righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.

The Beginning Of Miracles

The Master of the House tasting the wine as Jesus' Season came to Fruition 

Miracles don't just happen. They are a result of a divine act of G-d.  We have a supernatural G-d who is the same yesterday and today. If you need a miracle then get Jesus involved in your circumstances. Pay close attention because I'm about to show you how to get Jesus to act with a miracle for you.

John 2:11 says, "This beginning of signs (miracles of Jesus') Jesus did in Ca na of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed Him."

You will see miracles and manifestation when you get Jesus involved in anything in your life. Miracles cause people to believe in G-d.  He is the resurrection and the life and Jesus begins to prove this at this wedding feast in Ca na, and it was the beginning of the many miracles He performed in ordinary people's lives.

We saw a miracle happen at our church just last week. We had a minister of song visiting at our church and he began to tell us his testimony. Twenty years ago he watched his 16 year old daughter get life in prison without parole.  He said he went and bought a case of liquor and as he began to drink he called a minister friend. The minister came over and began to talk to him and pray with him. He ended up giving his life to Christ that night. He said he doesn't know what happened to all the liquor, the Pastor did something with it.

He made a covenant with the Lord that night.  He said, "Lord, I'll give my life to you and serve you all my days if you'll just do two things for me. One, to allow my daughter to get out of prison and for me to sing with her just one more time." At that time he was singing in night clubs, but after that night he began to sing for the Lord.

His daughter was miraculously paroled several years ago, and as he stood singing for our church, she walked in and stepped up to the podium and sang with her daddy again. Amazing Grace! We could see why he wanted to sing with her just one more time. She had a beautiful voice.

Miracles are a result of faith and obedience to G-d.  So, in John 2:11 is where it all started with miracles of Jesus.  Jesus used miracles to get people's attention. Just like this miracle with the man and his daughter got our attention.  This thing of Jesus was big and the old prophets had prophesied that these things would come  through Jesus.

Lets look at Geneses 49:10, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between His feet, Until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people." This was Jacob's prophecy to his sons on his death bed of the coming Messiah, the King of Judah to the everlasting throne.  Micah prophesied of His coming.  Zachariah prophesied of His coming and that He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver.

These things were spoken with certainty before they came about. They were pictures and types of the day Jesus would come. The moment He would show the world who He was. Why did G-d choose this particular situation for the first miracle? A wedding that had run out of wine?

I think there's a prophetic purpose for this. Jesus' mother said, "They've run out of wine."  She knew who Jesus was. His mother knew His season had come. When G-d presents you with a situation where you need a miracle fall at your feet and cry out to Jesus, for your season has come. Jesus is still in the business of miracles.

Mary knew the season because Jesus had turned 30 years of age. She knew you couldn't be a priest until that age. You see, Jesus was a priest in the line of Melchizedek.  He had no history, no pedigree. He had no earthly father.  So Jesus came in that line with the father in heaven.

Now Abraham paid his tithe to Melchizedek and we are the seed of Jesus in that line and we are to pay our tithe to Jesus. A miracle will come to you if you'll just be obedient.

Mary knew it was Jesus' season.  They were an average family at the wedding.  The father was trying to pay for the wedding but he couldn't take care of the guests that day.  They had invited Mary and Jesus to the wedding. When Jesus shows up things change.

Jesus wanted to show us His purpose that day.  He wanted to show us change, a supernatural, miracle change. There's been a change in my life since Jesus showed up.  I talk different. I go to different places. I think different, and I act different.

It was a supernatural change that day when that wine hit that water.  He is saying to us that He can change our families, our circumstances, and our broken, darkened lives.  Some of you were alcoholics like our visitor last week had been. Some of you were drug addicts. Some of you were off track in life. But when you called on Jesus' name things changed.

Some are plagued by circumstances, like my Pastor was plagued by the Viet Nam war. He came home alive but was plagued with nightmares and recalls of men being killed in a bloody war. Jesus took it all away from Him when he cried out for Him with a broken spirit that Viet Nam had caused. Only G-d can do these things. When He shows up a supernatural change is going to happen. Some of you lost your parent as a child that left you empty. G-d is waiting to give you a miracle.

Jesus' first miracle was not in the church.  But it occurred in the secular because Jesus is not just a church Jesus.  We see people only acting Christian at church and not in the world. Jesus wants to be involved in your everyday life. He wants to be involved with your children. He wants to be involved in your marriage. Take Him to your wedding.

They were out of wine that day, which represents joy.  There are 20 million alcoholics in this country.  There is no joy in them.  They think this is all there is to life and alcohol eases their mind.  But Jesus said, " Anyone who thirsts come after me and you will never thirst again." He gives us wells of living waters. He gives us springs of living waters. He gives us rivers of living water. He will fill your emptiness whatever caused the emptiness.

Jesus' mother said, "Do something." But Jesus said, "Woman my time has not yet come."  But Mary knew it had.  She said, "Whatever He says just do it."  This thing was going to take some faith. She knew it was the beginning of miracles.

Watch this now.  Jesus then said, "fill those jars up with water." Here's the principle in this story and what Jesus wants to teach us.  If you'll obey Him with what you have, He will change what you have into what you need. If $5 is all you have for Jesus, then give it to Him and He will give you a miracle on what you have.

They put a demand on the anointing of Jesus.  He'll move on your behalf with a small thing just like a big thing. So never dream small again, even if what you have to give seems small to you.  G-d is the El Shadai.  I don't want to be just healed physically.  I want perfect soundness in my life, in my mind, and in my heart and in my family. If you'll sell out all you've got to Him, you'll get a big miracle.

Expect G-d to show up in your finances, in your need for your children, for your job, for your church.  Jesus gives exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we can expect. Jesus requires faith and obedience. Fill your jars with the water.

Look what happened in John 2:9-10, "When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who drew the water knew), the master of the feast called to the bridegroom.  He said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.  You have kept the good wine until now."

Jesus always saves the best for last.  I'll give you an example. When I was little in church I thought I saw the power of G-d but He has saved the best for the last for us. He is going to pour out the latter rain and His spirit in the same season. Get ready to see some miracles church in ordinary people's lives.

The young boy with the five loaves gave all that he had to Jesus that day, and Jesus turned them into a miracle and fed five thousand people.  I think all the people would have went home hungry that day if the lad had not given all of his lunch. G-d expects us to enter into our miracles. You may be holding onto to something that seems small to you but could be enough for Jesus to give a miracle for somebody. Obedience is an act that activates miracles.

Another miracle happened in our church last Saturday at our men's ministry meeting. Thirty men were present and 13 of them happen to be Vet Nam Veterans. They had the right Pastor there that day. These men were tough men and they had seen blood and battle. But they openly wept as Pastor Nelson witnessed to them and saw G-d love on him. The power of Jesus will make the strongest break down and weep.

Jesus will change what you need when you give Him all of what you've got!

Persevering Prayer

G-d has obligated himself to answer prayer. G-d ordained prayer. Prayer has no existence separate from man. Prayer puts G-d to work and it moves Him on your behalf. James 5:16.

We confess our sin so healing can flow. Here it comes now, the fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was a man subject to passions as we are. He prayed earnestly that it might not rain for the space of 3 years.  Then he prayed again for the rain to come, and the earth brought forth its fruit.

It looks like Elijah prayed only once and the rain came. But actually he prayed again and again and again. He kept praying until the answer came.  So, we must pray with a fervent spirit.  It has to be passionate from the human heart, and not from the human head.  It must be prayed by a righteous person.  Someone who has been made righteous from the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  You have a right standing with G-d if you're under the blood.

With the heart, man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto it.  Prayer must be from a person that is willing to pray and to keep praying until the answer comes. We are praying for answers. We are praying for a spiritual awakening.  There is a prayer movement throughout the world right now for America. America is in a spiritual crisis. We need to cry out to G-d.

The politicians, economist, or the court system cannot solve our problems.  You can't legislate prayer or holiness.  This requires a move of G-d through prayer.  We must keep praying until the answer comes.

G-d has ordained that man created in his own image should pray.  When we don't pray G-d will not intervene in human affairs.  Do you mean G-d is not going to do anything for me if I don't pray? That is exactly what I mean. It's what the scripture teaches us. We shape our futures by prayer.  It is the means by which we call upon G-d.  Prayer is an appeal to G-d to intervene in our affairs.

Prayer is faith resting in G-d.  Prayer is interacting with G-d.  Prayer is faith and obedience.  Praying is leaning on G-d.  The church must pray and we must return to our Judeo-Christian values that prayer was a foundation of.

G-d has called His church to pray.  Organizations and programs won't get the job done.  Preaching without prayer will not get the job done.  You see, G-d has obligated himself to answer our prayer. G-d has burned a scripture into my heart about prayer. And I'm going to pray it until I get a release from G-d. 11 Chronicles 7:14.

We are living in the dispensation of grace.  It's a time for grace when G-d reaches out together with us for the end time harvest.  But if the church does not pray the harvest will rot in the fields.  Jesus said, pray ye for the harvest that ye may send forth laborers.

G-d has limited himself. Can you imagine an unlimited G-d limiting himself?  He said, but if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, they will hear from heaven and I will heal their land.  If you want G-d to hear from you concerning your life you must pray. If you want G-d's blessings you must pray.

How far did you walk away from the cross before you came to the Lord and bent your knees and cried out to Him for His mercy in prayer?  You wouldn't be saved today if you hadn't prayed.  If you don't pray you are on dangerous ground, because prayer is a secret weapon.

Our nation wants to be politically correct but if we're going to see the hand of G-d move the church (blood washed Saints of G-d) then we must pray. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous. His ears are open to their prayers.

Jesus said, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.  He also said, I give unto thee the keys and whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.  Whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. How do you bind and loose?  You do it in the name of Jesus, Calvary's blood, by the word of G-d.  You do it through the vehicle of prayer.  G-d said, the fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much.

G-d has given us the keys of the Kingdom. He has put the keys to all that He has in the hands of the church.  If we want G-d to bless our nation and intervene into our affairs, guess what, it's going to cost you something. You'll have to pray.  That sweet hour of prayer that called me from the cares of this world.

G-d will call you if you'll allow Him to.  Enter into His courts with thanksgiving, and a praise because I know G-d sits on His throne and Jesus is there interceding for me.  I know that G-d can and does change things. I know He intervenes with the affairs of man because I've seen Him do it with prayer.

If you preach or teach, you must pray.  If you sing, you must pray.  If you witness, you must pray.  Before you do anything for the Lord you must pray. G-d expects you to pray for your family, to pray before you leave for work, to pray for the church body, and to pray for the sick.  So pray, pray, pray for all things. Pray without ceasing.



Let's look again at James 5:17. Elijah got tired sometimes just the way we do. He had feelings like us. He fought the same devil we do.  He was a prophet of G-d and had the fire of G-d in him. He was an old testament prophet that was G-d's man, but subject to like passions as we are. He had his share of problems like us.  If you don't believe it read 1 Kings.  Elijah received a promise from G-d that it was going to rain.  Now pay close attention here cause I've got a word from G-d for you.

Look at 1 Kings 18:1, "And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, present yourself to Ahab, and there was a severe famine in Samaria." Go show yourself to Ahab.  Do you see the promise here? If you go I'll send the rain.

The prophet mounts up Carmel and withstands the 450 false prophets of Baal.  Elijah calls down fire from heaven.  The false prophets couldn't call down the fire so they couldn't get the job done anymore than the Muslims can get the job done in the world we live in today.

The only people that can get the job done are the blood washed church of Christ that are sanctioned through Calvary. Jesus said, I am the way. I am the truth, and the light and no man comes to the father except through me.

We don't need to be politically correct in this nation. We need to be biblically correct.  We don't need new age stuff, for what has been will be again.  There's nothing new under the sun.  G-d has already established all things.  The word of G-d will get you to the right destination.  I don't want to go to hell because I followed someones opinion.  I follow the word of G-d.  He will turn it around for you.

Confucius, Buddha and Mohammad cannot get the job done.  You cannot pray to a dead god and get G-d to do anything. You better know which god you serve.  My G-d is the living G-d.  Jesus Christ is living, he said, I am the life and the light. He who believes in me though he were dead yet shall he live.  He's alive. He's alive! He lives in His church.  He saves and He sanctifies.  He fills the people with the Holy Ghost.  He heals and He blesses His people.

I don't care how many Johnny come lately preachers think there is a new way other than Jesus Christ. I'm going to preach the truth. Christ is the only one! The only way! His word is powerful, without error, penetrating to soul and sunder.  The word that is the lamp unto our feet.  David said, I will hide your word in my heart so I won't sin against you O'G-d.  Exodus 20:3, 5 is clear, "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not bow down to them nor serve them, for I am a jealous G-d and I will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me."

We've got people that hate G-d and His word.  They don't want the children of this nation to know His commandments.  They don't want us praying in the schools. G-d's jealousy over this burns against His spirit, and His wrath will be poured onto this nation as a result.

G-d is the creation of this earth, He gives the thrust of life, gives the gifts, and breathes life into us. G-d help us to pray without ceasing.  The perfect gifts don't come from Allah, they come from Jehovah who created everything.

You cannot break G-d's commandments and have these blessings.  The first two commandments G-d gave this nation has been broken.  People on Capital Hill who think they have master minds to run this nation are pea brains without inquiring of the Lord and seeking His knowledge. You cannot set up idols and run after the gods of this world in your heart and get answered prayers.

Elijah got fire from heaven because he was a righteous prophet.  We got big platforms in this nation with big preachers with influence that are false prophets with lies on their tongues instead of fire from G-d.  When you speak without the name of Jesus you are a false prophet.  When you fail to tell the people that the only way is  Calvary through the shed blood of the lamb then you are a false prophet.

G-d gave His only begotten Son so mankind can be redeemed and reconciled back to Him.  There's no other way. He who believes on Him shall not perish but will have everlasting life.

So, G-d gave the promise to Elijah.  On one side of the equation of the rain is the promise and on the other side there must be a believer.  A praying saint who has the righteousness of G-d through the blood of the lamb who will persevere in prayer until the answer comes.

Look at 1 Kings 18:41. Do you hear the abundance of rain?  Here's the problem in the church in this scripture.  They all are eating and drinking and being merry and still expect the rain to come.  If you want G-d's Holy rain, it's going to cost you something.  You'll have to be obedient to Him, and you'll have to pray.

Sin will lure you into darkness and you will get further and further from your answer.  So you make a decision to walk with G-d and obey Him and trust Him for the rain. Press on toward the mark of the high calling of G-d in Jesus Christ.

In 1 Kings 18:21, Elijah cast himself down upon the earth at Mt Carmel.  His face was between His knees.  It was the way the Israelites postured themselves to pray and still do today.  Elijah got up and went and looked and said, there is nothing.  G-d told him to go again 7 times.  Elijah prayed again a second time.  G-d said, go back again.  He came back and went again and again.

The sixth time he said, there's no rain.  But Elijah persevered in prayer. G-d said its going to rain. G-d is not a man that He shall lie or repent.  Shall He not make it good?  Elisha, the prayer boy said, Elijah you've already prayed six times.

Elijah bowed his head again and told Elisha to go look again.  Glory! When Elisha came back he said, I see a cloud the size of a man's hand.  Get on your mountain and start praying.  Elijah didn't get an answer on the first prayer.  He sent Elisha out seven times until the rain came.  He was praying G-d's promise in faith.  He persisted in prayer until the heavens burst open and gave faith its fruit.

I was high as a Georgia pine on  these scriptures of Elijah and I got it in my spirit and couldn't sleep. The spirit spoke and said, many times and in many seasons you have persevered in prayer in the secret prayer chamber.  I fasted, I studied the word of G-d, spoke His word, pleaded by the blood, and interceded for others.

In many of those seasons I have stood and prayed the prayer of faith and saw immediate manifestation or got discernment and a word from G-d manifested.  There have been other times when I knew I had prayed the prayer of faith and no immediate response.  When that happens you'll have to commit the prayer of faith with the prayer of perseverance.

There comes a time in everybody's prayer life when the manifestation does not come immediately.  A delay is not a denial. It may seem strange to you that after you've prayed the will of G-d you know that G-d has heard you.  It may seem strange that you still have to continue in prayer.  G-d has ordained persevering prayer thus so.  This is how G-d works many times.

Faith is the things hoped for.  Faith is the evidence of things not seen.  You don't have this kind of faith in the natural realm only in the spiritual realm.  This is faith you must have before the manifestation will come.  Never lose sight of what you've asked G-d for until the fulfillment of the promise arrives.

There are many obstacles that can hinder your faith.  You may have to fight a thousand devils.  You may have to petition G-d over and over.  He who prays 6 times over and fervently when he should have prayed 7 times deprives himself of the answer.  We must hold onto the promise until it comes.

Jesus prayed for a blind man and He said, how do you see?  The man answered, I see men walking about as trees.  He was blind, but now everything looks blurry and confusing.  Jesus laid His hands on the man again and asked him, what do you see now? The man answered, I see everything clearly now.

Lord, if you don't get it all the first time pray again. I'm a Pentecostal and I call it praying through, praying over and over until you get your breakthrough.  Praying until the glory world opens up and the things of G-d come. Thank G-d for the spiritual awakening that gave us Pentecostals in this nation through John Edwards and Azuza Street. Thank G-d for the power of the Holy Spirit.

We are Pentecostal Holiness because we have the Holiness of G-d and it was through the power of Jesus Christ. In Gethsemane Jesus prayed 3 times in succession.  The bible says He went away and prayed again saying the same words.  Jesus told his disciples to tarry into Jerusalem to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  They're all hold up in the upper room waiting for the descent of the Spirit.

They prayed and they tarried for 10 days. Elijah had to persevere in prayer like this.  David had to persevere in prayer and so did Jesus and the disciples.  If the disciples, Jesus and Elijah had to persevere in prayer may G-d help us to persevere in prayer until the answer comes.

The only way you can defeat an unseen enemy is by persevering prayer.  Stand firm on the promises of G-d. Faith refuses to yield. Faith continues to pray.  Faith waits for the answer.  Even though its a delay knowing that G-d has said it the victory is sure cause G-d decreed it.

Father, Help Us We Pray

Our nation has reached a critical time and Americans have a decision to make. Do we embrace biblical lawlessness or do we go back to our Judeo-Christian foundation?  We need to pray and pray like we've never prayed before in this nation.

11 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

We need to pray three prayers for this nation which are prayers that cause G-d to intervene in human affairs..

Repentance
Repentance is kneeling before G-d and asking forgiveness. It is for the purpose to be reborn again or to come back from a back-sliden state. After you have prayed the prayer of repentance the believer can now pray the second prayer in Jesus' name.

Petition
The prayer of petition is when we ask G-d for things that you can only get through the cross.

Prayer of Command
This is using G-d's word to set the captive free. He does heal the sick and He does set you free from bondage and he does heal your land.  G-d uses human instruments for His glory. He does not hear prayer from Mohammad, Confucius, Buddha or any other false G-d.

These days you can't make a statement like this in churches and get invited back, because some churches are worshiping demon spirits. False G-d's are on our white house lawn and on our courthouse steps too. Our government leaders are endorsing the Muslim religion in this nation and then we hear our president say we are no longer a Christian nation.  Let them say what they will because they do not worship the living G-d, they worship demons.

1 Corinthians 10:20, "The things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to G-d, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons."

So, don't tell me that I have to bow at my courthouse with Buddhist, Islamics and whatever else this nation wants to endorse. I don't bow to any other god except my savior Jesus Christ, the son of the living G-d.

G-d hears prayer that is offered through the name of Jesus Christ. He doesn't receive prayer from any one else.

Glen Beck has preached the Tea Party and getting back to righteousness in this nation. Where are the preachers that are supposed to be telling us what G-d wants for this nation? They are eerily silent.

The Democrats and the Republicans have sold this nation out.  We have violated G-d's laws.  G-d blesses us and we just go borrow more and more.  When you violate G-d's principles financially or otherwise, you will not prosper.  We need to vote out politicians that don't represent Christian principles.

We need to put a candidate in from the Tea Party. Listen to these people talk about our values and our Judeo-Christian history and the founding principles this nation began with and was blessed.  Our politicians today think you can just take wealth and redistribute it. That is not even biblical. People have to learn financial principles before they can hold on to money.  Father, help us we pray!

We need a change from the courthouse all the way to the white house.  The Christians need to pray. Wake up America! Wake up church! Decide to vote the bible.  We got tricked this time around in our national election. "I'm gonna bring change," was the propaganda.  Well, we got change alright.

As a minister of G-d's word, I'll not stand for a man to announce that this nation is no longer Christian, but that we endorse false gods now.  We have have one and half million men and women who have died in the armed forces in this nation that fought for us to have freedom from this kind of bondage. Freedom was not free for this nation, and what a slap in the face for all those who loved, fought and died for this Christian nation. Poloshi and all of them on Capital Hill can say what they want and worship any demon they want to but they can't force their evil gods onto me. Only 2% of this nation are gay, and we're going to let 2% become a standard for our morals and rule this nation?

Our politicians are law breakers and I'll prove it by G-d's word.  Abortion is against G-d's law, the 5th commandment.  They're confused and trying to confuse the nation too.  Our present administration supports abortion and they are in open rebellion to G-d.  Gay marriages are abominable to G-d and its purpose is to destroy what G-d put into eternal law upon His creation, the covenant marriage.

I'm going to preach the truth. I was called by G-d to preach the truth of His word, and I'm not here to be popular but to be obedient to the Lord. Preachers are afraid to preach the truth because they threaten to take away the church's tax exemption. Well, let them have it. But I've got a right to preach the Holy Bible and its contents without interference from the government. Our forefathers that wrote the constitution made sure of that.

Vote out those law breakers because their aim is to destroy Christ's church. Get the world up out of the church, and be set apart. Real freedom comes in living truth. We need to pray for Christian leaders to be bold for our Lord. There's a lot of people who say they're Christians, but they don't live it, or stand up for G-d's word.



How do you think G-d feels when He looks at His son, and sees His blooded body and then looks at the nation that has become a nation of idolatry. Yes, I'm radical because I believe the Bible, a book and it's principles that have been lost.

Politicians are not the ones that will raise this nation back up, but G-d is the only one that can. He will do it when the Christians raise their voices in unison up to Him and repent for putting people in office that have killed millions of babies a year, endorse sexual sin, forsake Israel, and put His people in bondage by stealing their money. When we cry out to Him and begin to walk in our blood covenant He will answer us!

This country was established by the people for the people and its foundation is living in biblical principles, not to put men to serve in our offices to destroy our foundation and try to force strange gods on us. We were bought with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ and for men and women who died to protect our freedom through Christ.

Romans 12:2 tells us, "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 G-d."  This is what our nation has omitted. We need to ask G-d to forgive us for our silence as we sit back and watch our leaders sell us out to the world and anti-christ spirit. Psalm 9:17 says, "For He crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause."

We are a nation of diversities, and nationalities but through Christ we are one blood and one spirit.  If you have a racial problem, then you need to get right with G-d, cause you're wrong.  The church needs to tear down walls that were built by the spirit of the world. Jesus loves all his children of the world, red, yellow, black and white, and there is no room for racism or anti-semitism in the Body of Christ.

We have embraced the gods of this world and the only G-d is Jehovah, the creator of the universe. The living G-d that breathed life into man.  1 Timothy 2:1-2 tells us to make supplication and prayers for all men and for kings and all who are in authority.  We need to intervene with prayer that our leaders will turn and embrace G-d's word concerning this nation.

Proverbs 14:33 tells us that we need to be a people who demonstrate righteousness, and pray that G-d will expose the wickedness in this nation. We have wicked people in high places in this nation, and they will lead this nation to hell.

Psalm 33:12 is a scripture with treasure in it.  It says, "Blessed is the nation whose G-d is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance." Are we the ones who have put our hope in Him or in this world? Do we know that He is the one that delivers us from famine and not politicians? Let us turn back to the one who has a great inheritance for us, when we hope in and call upon Him.

What hope has our politicians given this nation? G-d help us to pray! We are a Christian nation that has backsliden when we sit back and let wicked men remain in office.

Don't Lose Your Joy

I've noticed a lot of people have no joy, no worship, no praise on their lips. They're just plain dead!  Christians need to keep their joy. You can't think a praise. You've got to open your mouth and speak a praise or you'll dry up on the vine.

Christians who never openly praise have lost their joy, and with it have lost their victory.  It's like putting a frog in hot water. He would just leap out.  In cold water he will sit there till he dies.  There's power in a praise with a shout.  If the devil never takes your joy you will walk in victory. There's going to come a time when you'll have to open your mouth and give a praise. The devil isn't going to take my joy. He didn't give it to me and he can't take it.

David was man that had joy as we see in Psalm 43:4 "Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God."  King David got excited to go to the House of the Lord, and this verse got into my spirit. We should have excitement to come into the Lord's House. David wanted to go to church and he wanted to worship.

Some of you are like the frog and need to leap to the altar.  Don't be a spectator, get up and praise Him. You can get joy everyday with praising Him. David said, "Upon the heart I will praise thee O Lord."  He was a man that knew how to get G-d's attention.  He understood that praise is the gateway to G-d's presence.  Not only was he a man of praise but he sought G-d through prayer.

David's been cut off to the temple. He's in battle and yet he says, I was glad when they said lets go up into the Lord's house. I got wrapped up and tangled up in G-d and I made a decision that I was going to give Him some praise.

David cries out, Oh G-d judge me, let me plead my cause.  Do you so boldly ask G-d to judge you? Have you paid your tithe, have you not put any idols before Him? Have you been good to your spouse?  And David said, and by the way Lord, guard me from the enemy. He reminds G-d that He is his strength. He says, I got the army and I got the strong men, but O G-d you are my stronghold.

David had an elite army. They could take a stone and with their left hand put your eye out and you would never even see it coming. But they were just a hill of beans compared to G-d. But the enemy saw and said, Oh it is the army with the Jehovah Shanoma! We are in big trouble!

David knew it was better to trust G-d than in his own strength. His strength was not in his fighting but in His G-d. He knew his victory came from his faith, prayer and praise. Those three things are hard to beat. Your mouth saying glory can get into someone's spirit. David had a more excellent sacrifice.  Let us offer the sacrifice of praise continually. That is the fruit of our lips when we give thanks and praise.

David had come to the House of the Lord and he knew what G-d had done for him. Look at Psalm 43:3 and 4 again, G-d, my exceeding joy.  Joy does not mean absent circumstances, but a healthy relationship with the Lord.  David knows this!  He said, I need some word in me today. I got to get to the temple. I need someone to preach to me.  And after I've got some word, then will I go into the altar of my G-d and upon the harp I will praise thee.

Joy begins with prayer and knowledge at the altar.  If you know Jesus you're supposed to be full of joy.  It's Christ that causes you to triumph. He died for us on the cross for us to have this.  So, no matter how big the battle shout for joy in the midst of it.  Go to a ball game, or a concert and see the people shouting. Then they come into the church and sit like a knot on a log.

Christ brought me out of darkness, I got something to shout about and to praise for.  Its the tension that builds and builds for the pure love of Him that erupts in me. In His presence is the fullness of joy.  I've stood in adversity and praised my way through it cause He's my rock, my peace, my joy, my comforter. That's the foundation I stand on in the midnight hour.  When everyone else misunderstands you, He's your best friend and sticks by you closer than a brother.  He judges me through the blood and not by man's scales.  He fights my battles for me. He's my Jehovah Shanoma!

The devil wants to keep you from the House of the Lord. He hates the anointed word cause it will give you victory.  The only way the Holy Ghost will fall on you is with a praise in your mouth. He will show up in the middle of your mess and you'll have joy.  If the devil can't get your joy, he can't defeat you.  He will attack your spouse, and your children but he can't get you in your joy. You want to break the devil's back get up and give him a dance and praise to your G-d and see him leave as quick as he came.

You can get joy just reading the word. Some of you never open the bible. It will choke the devil. Look at Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord G-d of hosts.

Isaiah called the word a spiritual bucket. Isaiah 12:3, "Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation and you will say praise the Lord." The word is full of life, and Jesus said I came to give you life more abundantly. Take your bucket and draw some things up in Him. Psalm 16:11.

Do I have to get some electric shockers out for some people to get you out of the pews and up and praising Him?  When I think of His love for me and what He did for me, I can't stay in the pew. Look at 1 Thess 5:18 says, "In all things give thanks, for this is the will of G-d in Christ Jesus for you."

In everything you're going through praise Him. That's why He tells us to cast all your cares on Him. You'll spring back when you give it all to Him. Go ahead and get the pressure off with a praise and put the devil under your feet. Job 5:22. Don't get afraid when your heart don't beat right, or your wife walks out. Get up on your feet and start praising and things will smooth out. Don't lose your joy by looking at the troubles in the world today. I didn't say this, G-d did.

Job knew what problems are and G-d said, Just laugh!  G-d didn't want Job to lose his joy.  The devil said, You've got a hedge around him but if you'll let the hedge down he'll curse you. I like what Job said, though you slay me I will still trust you. But you got to keep praising him too. Job 3:25 shows Job let fear get the best of him. Job cooperated with the devil. We are all guilty of that.

Let us think on good things and speak them. When Job prayed he got a revelation. Job 6:24-25. He also learned a secret in Job 5:22 and he says, "You shall laugh at destruction and famine."

There is no Holy Ghost speaking demons!  You can bypass the whole crowd with the Holy Spirit.  We Pentecostals have life and we've got fire. So, there ought to be some joy and some hallelujahs in worshipping Him.  Laugh at the devil and his demons. They're trying to get you to give up on G-d.  Isaiah told Hezekiah, "you're gonna die."  Isaiah was the man that telescoped through time and saw Christ. But Hezekiah said, no I'm not going to die. G-d told Isaiah to go back and tell him, "I've added 15 years to your life." So when the doctor tells you you're gonna die, rejoice in your G-d.

How To Get A Miracle In Four Words Or Less

When The Master Of Prayer Speaks

Prayer has so many dimensions.. The power of prayer has gotten in my spirit and as I began to apply many prayer principles in my prayer life I tapped into more depth of the spiritual prayer world. It seems like as I get through understanding one dimension of prayer the Holy Spirit through the scripture gives me discernment about another dimension.but today I'm going to talk about prayer and miracles.

You don't have to go into long drawn out prayers to get a miracle. We're going to look at Jesus' prayer life in this article and see how decisive he was in his speech when performing miracles.  I believe in prayer and I believe in preaching by the Holy Spirit.  Some people have a religious faith and not a spirit of faith.  But the Lord is the same today and, yesterday and forever.  When He finds faith, a miracle always happens. Jesus knew who He was. We must know today who we are also in Him, and what power Jesus gave us by the works of the cross.

The Holy Spirit will give you boldness to preach and to ask for miracles.  In Acts notice the order of how the disciples prayed and then they preached.  They prayed before they preached with great power.  G-d's word is living, powerful and miracles happen when the word of G-d is preached.

Deliverance comes when people embrace and act upon the Word of G-d. G-d's word never returns to him void.  G-d does not get involved with human affairs, even as powerful as his word is, without prayer.  When someone bends their knees and bows their head and cries out to G-d that's when He intervenes.

G-d's word is a living word. Look at John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  Jesus is the living Word and He identifies himself with G-d's Holy Word.

Look at Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word of G-d 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."

G-d spoke through the Prophet in Isaiah 55:11 saying, "So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."

G-d's word as we see here is a penetrating word. You may be wondering just how powerful is the word of G-d? Jesus is the Word and when He spoke the word miracles followed.

Guess what, G-d has a miracle for you too.  As a matter of fact, you can get a miracle with just four words.  Jesus was in the temple and the Pharisees ask Him about healing on the Sabbath.  Look at Matthew 12:10, it says, "And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him saying, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?', that they might accuse Him."

Now look at verse 13, and Jesus said to the man with a lame hand, "STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND." The man stretched out his hand as far as he could and when he did power came from heaven and healed him. Jesus restored his hand and he was whole.  There are infirmities among us that Jesus wants to heal today.  Somebody can get healed with these four words spoken today.

Notice Jesus didn't pray and say, Father do this. Jesus gave the command of faith and this man was instantly healed.  Jesus had spent time in prayer with G-d the Father before He performed this miracle. In the natural you can't do this, but when you speak the Word it brings a supernatural miracle from G-d.

Jesus put himself in agreement with G-d and released His faith.  The man moved his hand as far as he could when Jesus spoke suddenly G-d moved in his behalf and he stretched his hand out all the way.

G-d expects his people to act upon His word. Jesus is the Word.  The Word that became living.  When we agree with the Word and line up our thoughts and act on the Word and loose our faith, G-d performs miracles.  You can get a miracle from G-d with these four words.

You can also get a miracle with just three words from G-d.  Lazarus was dead, so Jesus went to Bethany and came to Martha as we see in Matthew 11:21. Martha had evidently seen Jesus praying to the Father. She said, "If you'll just ask the Father, he will give it to you."

But Jesus, the man of faith had already talked to the Father.  Jesus knew how to give a command.  This is what I want you to see.  But I know that what I ask of the Father he will give to me.  Jesus said, "Thy brother will rise again."

Martha said, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."  Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection and he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet he shall live."  Do you know what I'm talking about here?  With G-d all things are possible.  You can get a miracle with just three words from G-d.

Martha's faith went from today's faith to tomorrow's faith.  Faith is a now thing and Jesus was trying to activate her faith.  Look at John 11:25, Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection and the life."  Jesus said, I am here right now and I can take care of your need right now.  He is telling us that if we can only believe, we shall see the glory of G-d.

Jesus, the man of action walks up to the tomb and he says, take the stone away. You have got to enter into your miracle.  You've got to do what you can do based on the Word of G-d.  Expect G-d to do what only G-d can do.

And they rolled the stone away.  Jesus stepped up to that tomb and he did what only G-d can do. He cried with a loud voice, "LAZARUS, COME FORTH."  And Lazarus, who had been dead for four days came forth and he lived again. You can get a miracle with just these three words from G-d!

You can get a miracle with only two words too. While Jesus was on this earth he met death on several occasions.  The grim reaper came, but Jesus met him and defeated him.  He raised Lazarus from the dead, then he met a widow and her only son was dead.  So Jesus is coming down the road in one direction and in a different direction comes a funeral procession.  The people are crying and morning and broken.  This widow, she has already lost her husband and now her only son has died. He's dead.

And so, here comes Jesus Christ, the Son of the living G-d.  The people start shouting and rejoicing.  I can just see the multitude around Jesus. The blind have received their sight. The deaf have received their hearing. The lame are walking and people are shouting in many voices as they see Him coming. Miracles always happen when Jesus passes by.

All of a sudden these two processions meet.  The widowed mother is weeping as she walks toward the grave for her son.  Jesus, in his compassion, reached over as he passed by and touched the dead boy's coffin and resurrection power flowed into that body.  Jesus raised this young man from the dead.

Not only did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, and not only did he raise the widows son but he did something else.  The respected Synagogue leader came to Jesus and fell at his feet and said, "Lord, please can you come to my house? My 12 year old daughter is dying.  But notice what happened. Remember, doubt is a killer to faith. In Luke 8:49, Jesus said, "Believe only, and she shall be made whole."

When he came into the house, we see in verse 52, he suffered no man to go in except Peter, James, John and the father of the maiden girl. All wept over the girl.  But Jesus said, "Weep not, she is not dead, she is only sleeping."  They laughed him to scorn, knowing full well that the girl was dead. Miracles do not happen in the atmosphere of doubt and unbelief. This is why Jesus didn't let all the people go in because they were a bunch doubters.

Jesus spake two words, "MAID ARISE." And her spirit arose again. Jesus said, "give her something to eat." He went from the supernatural back to the natural. Miracles are the cooperation of man.

You can get a miracle with just one word!

Jesus was a man of prayer. He left his disciples and went up unto the mountains alone to pray.  While he was praying, the disciples were in the midst of a storm in the Sea of Galilee.  That boat they were in was being tossed to and fro like a little tooth pick.  Jesus saw them and He went unto them walking on the water.

Look at Matthew 14:25. It was in the fourth watch of the night which is 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. and Jesus walked out to them on the water. The disciples cried out, "It's a spirit."  But Jesus spake unto them and said, "Be of good cheer, it is I." Can you imagine that?  Be not afraid, he told them. Peter spoke up and said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me to come to thee on the water."

You can get a miracle with just one word. In Matthew 14:29 Jesus said, "COME".  No wonder the disciples said, "never has a man spake as this one."  Peter stepped out on the water, and he began walking toward Jesus.  Peter put one foot on the sea and the other on the C, and the other on the O and the other on the M and the other on the E.

Peter was walking on the Word and he had his eyes on Jesus. Does that grip your heart? It does mine!  Peter's walking according to the Word of G-d and it created a miracle for him.  Notice this in Matthew 14:30. But when Peter saw the winds boisterous he was afraid and begin to sink and cried out to Jesus, "Lord, save me."

Immediately, Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught Peter.  Jesus said, "Why didst thou doubt Peter?"  You can't take your eyes off the Master after you speak the Word, no matter what kind of fear grips you.  I believe this is what causes healing to fail in cancer patients. They take their eyes off the Master healer and put in on a doctor's report.

You can get a miracle with just one word spoken with faith.  No matter what it looks like in the natural and when we get our miracle we have walked in the power of the supernatural. You have transcended the natural into the supernatural power of G-d that manifests and altars matter. You have moved a mountain just as Jesus says we can.

Donna is a prayer leader and operates a prayer line with prayer sites for America, Israel, the Body of Christ, Family, Missionaries and Military.
http://believersministryprayerwarriors.ning.com/

What It Means To Live A Spirit Filled Life

What A Real Spirit Filled Person Looks Like


There are certain qualities evident in your life when you live a Spirit filled life. Speaking in tongues every Sunday does not mean you live a Spirit filled life. This article is going to cover the four qualities you will see in a person who walks in the spirit life.

Let's look at Romans 8:5, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." And Romans 8:14 tells us, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of G-d, these are sons of G-d."

There are people who are carnally minded in the church and there are spiritually minded Christians in the church as well.  If you are a carnal Christian you're on dangerous ground and in danger of backsliding. Carnal means death and a spiritual life gives life and peace.  I'm talking about that peace we have in a turbulent world and it comes from the Spirit of G-d in us.

The Spirit filled life does not mean because you speak in tongues you are righteous and filled with the Spirit. Speaking in tongues is only an initial evidence. It's one thing to have an initial infilling and quite another to walk in the anointing.

The Apostle Paul baptized people in the Holy Spirit as we see in Ephesians 5:15, but you have to be continually filled to walk in it. You have a chose as a Christian, you can become stagnate or you can keep pressing on to the mark.  You can be led by the Spirit or led by man, the natural.

People who are led by the Spirit are led by G-d.  Galations 5:17 says, "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."  There's a war going on for your flesh and your Spirit. There are two forces going on in Christians. You have a witness to your Spirit. Then you have a force that tries to control the flesh. The force that you feed will be the one to win.

You can not do as you please and feed the flesh and think that you will have the Spirit. So, let's look closer at what it means to live this Spirit filled life.

1. Holiness

Pentecost is suppose to lead you to holiness. We were Holiness before we were Pentecostals. All that changed after the great awakening of Azuza Street.  Before you get this infilling, you will have to walk righteous.  If you don't live a moral and righteous life you are not filled.  I knew an adulterous preacher that boldly claimed he was still filled and anointed. Well, according to the word adultery is a road to a devil's hell and not to holiness. The bible says an adulterer's fate is a lake of fire.  So, always measure holiness by a life of holiness and not words that are contrary to G-d's word.

If you want a righteous life that is blessed live like Hebrews 12:14 tells you. "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." You can't go around with bitterness, gossiping and causing trouble and have a holy life. This verse tells us that without holiness we will not see the Lord. Selah!

You see, I like to get into the trenches and live out the word.  You can tell me anything but show me where the rubber meets the road. I'm a conceptional person and like to see how things work out logically. So, when you see the preacher committing adultery, there should be a red flag pop up in your spirit and say, hey something is not lining up with the word here. If you go around hurting people in your church and then get up on Sunday morning and speak in tongues, a red flag is going to go up to people with spiritual discernment.

You may have had an initial filling but somewhere along your walk the anointing left you. 1 Peter 1:22 says, "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart." So when you see a brother or sister hurt another in the body by gossip, false statements, bitterness or jealousy then you can be sure they are not filled with the Spirit.

The devil can counterfeit many things and he can counterfeit tongues but he can't counterfeit holiness.  You may have had an experience with being filled at one time, but are running on empty now. Not living holy can take it from you. Romans 6:22 says, "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of G-d, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting."

11 Corinthians 7:1 says, "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of G-d." Another scripture on this is Ephesians 4:24.

Holiness always precedes power.  The old man has to be crucified and yield to righteousness unto G-d. People have got to see a change in you and your life must show that you are set apart from the world.

2.  The Fruit Of The Spirit

As you grow in G-d you'll begin to bear fruit.  Your heart will have compassion and love and you will serve others and be a light in their life. You will become more like Christ.  You will begin to see the impurities in yourself. At times I would shake my head and go, "Lord, the closer I get to you the more impurities I see in me!" I see a lot of people who say, no I'm not a great Christian but I am a good person. But you have impurities in your heart because you can't have a pure heart without the Lord cleaning you up and a mind renewal by the Spirit. There will be no fruit, for Ephesians 5:8 tells us, "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth and finding out what is acceptable to the Lord."

You must have a life of fruitfulness according to the scripture, not according to your carnal mind. Let's look at how your mind thinks and see how carnal or holy you are.

*Whose desires do you seek, yours or G-d's?

*What do you think about when you wake up and throughout the day? Is your mind more centered on you or G-d and others?

*What do you think about on your job everyday, yourself or how you can help a co-worker, and do you treat your job as hands working as unto the Lord?

*What do you meditate on most of the time? Are you meditating on scripture, praying, or what you can do for another, or is your mind filled on self each day and the things of this world?

* What are you thinking on as you lay down in the bed at night?

There are some things that are not sin but are not good for you.  They can become sin if they become your priority.  Keep your priorities in your spiritual life and home and family straight.

Don't cut yourself off from G-d because His word offends you. Don't get angry at the preacher because the word of G-d he delivers to you upsets your worldly way of thinking. The word was offensive to many when Jesus spoke it. If you produce fruit and walk a holy life you are going to offend people who are not righteous. Look at Jesus, he offended many. Mat 13:57. People like to justify their sin in the carnal mind. Hosea 5:15 says, "I will return again to My place till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."

Well, I didn't write the word that offends you, G-d did. If you will get Holy G-d will speak more truth to you and you won't have do so much justifying of yourself. 1 John 1:7. G-d will offend us until we see the truth, so don't get angry, the man of G-d is only speaking what G-d is trying to tell you. Pray as King David did, Search me O'G-d and see if there is anything unpleasing in me and purify me.

So do you really want to please yourself or G-d? Galations 5:22 tells us what G-d wants, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. He doesn't want idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contention, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, dissentions, heresies or fornications and uncleaness in his church! Galations 5:20.

3. Gifts Of The Spirit

We use to think speaking in tongues was the goal but my friends, walking a holy life is the goal. That's the mark we must reach. Look at Romans 15:19 and 1 Corinthians 2:4. Demonstration of the Spirit is what you got to have to bless others. Let's look at how the gifts of the Spirit are catagorized.

1. Inspiration Gifts
    tongues, interpretation, prophecy
2. Revelation Gifts
    wisdom, knowledge, discerning of spirits
3. Power Gifts
    healing, miracles, faith

Jesus came up out of the water praying when the Holy Spirit filled him. The gifts are precious to the body. Signs and wonders should follow you. You should see demonstration of the gifts.

4.  A Servant's Heart
If you do not have a heart to serve others then you need to pray for G-d to give you this heart. There are two ministries in a church. One is the righteous servants. Then there are some Ben Lucifer's prowling about the church, and they are the sleeping, angry, fighting, complaining, and some have just plain gone missing. Which heart are you?

The holy and righteous in the church are watching, waiting, praying and looking for the return of Jesus and who wants to be used in Christ's Kingdom. Mark 10:44 tells us how to be used in a mighty way, "And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave to all."

Have you hidden your talents under a bushel? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart to show you what's in it that is unpleasing to the Lord, and keeping you from a holy life?