God Of The Mountain And God Of The Valley

Our God Comes For Our Sake And Will Not Be Silent

God Of The Valley

God has not promised that you will never go through battles. What he promises is that he will go through them with you.  We go through all kinds of different circumstances and things are always changing for us, but God never changes, nor does his word.

In a story told in l Kings 20:4-8, you are going to see how God wins ours battles and how the devil tries to defeat you in your valleys. This is the story of Ben-Hadad, King of Aram.  He sends word to Ahab, King of Israel, that he is coming to take all his silver and gold.  King Ahab relents and sends word back saying, "Just as you say, my lord the king.  I and all I have are yours."

King Ben-Hadad sends another message to Ahab saying, "oh but I will take all that you have, your gold and silver, your wives and your children. I will seize everything you value and carry it away."

Ben-Hadad is a picture of the devil who comes to steal, kill and destroy.  The devil is never satisfied with taking only one thing from you, but he wants it all, your spouse, your money,  and your children. We become Ahabs when we agree to let the devil have anything. Like many of us, Ahab didn't stand up and say no, you won't take anything I have. Rather, he consented to giving the devil some of what he wanted.

Don't ever think that the devil will stop at one thing.  If he can't get one child he will go for another one of your children. Start praying for a hedge around all of your children and marriage and your finances. This story shows the relentlessness of the devil here that got Ahab trapped in his web.

Anything that brings joy and happiness is what the devil is after.  The devil says, "Ah, and after I get through with your marriage and children and take your money too, there will be nothing left. Where will your God be then?"

Don't believe those lies.  We serve the El Shadai.  You will come out at the top if you will walk with him and get his word in your spirit.  It's always the devil's work when things go wrong in your marriage, with your children and when your finances fail. This is the nature of the devil, so you can't flirt with sin and the or get distracted with worldly pleasure he's going to move in your home.  

So go on and tell the devil that you are blessed and he can't have your children, your marriage or your job or home.  Sit your children down and tell them who they are in the Lord, because they will be out of your house one day and they will need these truths in them.

When the devil gets through with any situation there's nothing left when we consent to give him a portion of anything we have. He leaves our situation with our children and our spouses full of contention if we back down like Ahab did.

This story of Ahab was not put in the bible to entertain us, but to teach us something about not allowing the enemy to take from us and to give us a picture of how the devil operates.  It is to teach you how to get armored up for the battle to win the war against the devil.

What I like about King David is that he never gave the devil an inch to take anything from him. He never backed down like Ahab did.

Now a battle ensued with Ahab and Ben-hadad.  It took place on a mountain. You can have mountain top experiences.  You're on top of world and nothing can defeat you.  But it is in the valley where the devil will try to position you for the kill.  The army if Ben-hadad gathered together and said, "We know why they defeated us, because they serve the God of the mountain.  So, let's get them in the valley where their God is no longer with them."  You see the devil knows that it is in trials and fire that our faith falters when things are not going well.

Some Christians can only serve God when things are going right and as soon as a trial comes they cave in like Ahab. The enemy wants you to think God will only be there for you when things are good. But God's presence in very real in our valleys and that is the time when we have to stand our ground of who we are in him and submit to his power and will to deliver us. God will give us a word if we will tune our ear to him.

God has a word for us in every situation you find yourself.  Sometimes he gives you that word through an anointed person. Tune that spiritual ear because when that word comes you got to act on it.

Here's the kind of word I'm talking about in l Kings 20. Aram decides to wait another year and attack again when the Israelites are no longer on top of the hills but are down in a valley where he thinks their God will not be with them.  Well, when he insulted God, that put the Israelites in a good position. 

So, the prophet came to Ahab and he told him, God is angry at how Ben-hadad, the Syrian king has insulted him. "God will deliver him and his armies into your hands, and they will know that he is the Lord wherever his people are."  He's the God of the mountain and he's the God of the valley too.

So, have a spiritual ear, for when your enemy attacks your God or insults him he will allow you to defeat that enemy. God allowed the Israelites to inflict a hundred thousand casualties on the people of Aramean in a single day. In the end Ben-hadad is begging for his life, "Oh please let me live."

Sometimes you can get a blessing when someone insults you and your God.  When the enemy touches the honor of God and his word, they are in trouble. God gets angry when he's insulted.  He gave Jesus the name above all names.  So when you wear that name you are blessed. There's not enough devils in hell to take your blessings when you're under the blood. Walk in the path of holiness and do all that Jesus commands us to do and no devil will have any power over you.

How many times has the devil trapped you in a valley?  The king said, "So lets catch them in the valley then we can overtake them."  That's pretty much what the devil says about us, "I'll get your children, your spouse  your finances and your health when you come into the valley weakened.

When he comes at you like that you say to him, I bear the name of Jesus.  I'm an heir and joint heir to the King of Kings, and the Lion of Judah. My God will deliver you into my hands, cause he's the God of the mountain and he's the God in my valleys.

Continues in a second article about how King David got a prophetic word to fight the enemy.

God Of The Mountain And God Of The Valley-Part ll

God will fight your battles for you, but you've got to get a word and get armored up spiritually.  Don't try to take on the devil in your own power.  When King David took up those five smooth stones he knew something. He had a word from God.  He probably said, oh yes, now I'll just go ahead and give the Lord a praise and a thank you, thank you.  It was David's worship that caused him to win his battles.

Giants lived in the Valley of Referum.  That valley is symbolic of our gigantic problems, and if you live long enough you'll come into the valley of giants, against something mightier and greater than you are.  Hide his word in your heart, so when these things come you'll be armored for the battle.

It takes prayer to win battles and some folks in the church don't want to pray the price.  You've got to get a listening ear to hear from God.  When you're facing a giant you need to hear an anointed word.  David bowed and prayed, "God I need to hear a word from you."

Let's take a look at what ll Samuel 5:19 says, "So David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines?  Will you hand them over to me?"  It's a doubtless thing to hear from God.  When you get a doubtless word from God you will have to act on that word. Stand up with everything inside of you and rise to do what God tells you to do.  See, you are the redeemed and God will win through you.

I want to show you something here about David and the five smooth stones.  Goliath walked back and forth and defied the God of Israel.  For forty days in a row he would come to the valley where all the men were in hiding and taunt them and their God.  Now, if you ever take the honor of God, you are in trouble.  And you are in a great position when your enemy does that.

These blasphemies coming from Goliath disturbed David while the Israelite army did nothing about this giant defiling his God.  David stood up and said, "God will deliver Goliath into my hand."  How did he know this? Well, lets go back to the decree God had given Moses concerning this. Leviticus 24:16 says,"anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death. He must be stoned to death."

While the Israelites were in hiding David got this word from God. He knew God's decree for the outcome of Goliath. He wasn't counting on his skill with a sling shot, but what God's word said to him.  Maybe you haven't gotten a word yet in your situation, but God is the God of mountain and the God of the valley and he is with you wherever you are.

David renamed that valley Bel Perizm, which means in Hebrew, breakthrough.  Stand up with some doubtless faith and God will master your breakthrough too.  Get a word, get alone and seek him with prayer and reading his word.  The Holy Spirit will reveal things to you. Isaiah 46:10 says, "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come."

Sometimes God's Kingdom is an upside down Kingdom that gets inverted.  He's already declared the end from the beginning.  All you have to do is walk by faith.  We say, show me and I will believe, but God says, believe me first and then I will show you.

The first shall be last and the last shall be first.  Let the poor say that I am rich, and the sick say that I am well.  You don't gain by giving, but by serving. The greatest servant will be the lowly servant to all.  This is an inverted truth and opposite of the way the world operates.

My point is that if the devil goes far enough like Goliath did, you will see God flip it upside down.  Your battle has already been won, just stick with the Lord.  I know the giant is big, the enemy is real coming at you, but rename your valley and watch God move. You can't get to the next mountain top until you learn to trust him in this battle and to praise him through it with faith.

If you'll keep the devil in his place you can whip him.  Keep him in the air, for he's the prince of the air and the lord of the flies, don't let him in your ground.  You have hope in your valleys, there is a way out and God's word assures us of that, so go ahead and master your breakthrough today.  No weapon formed against you will prosper, Thus Saith The Lord.

Remember l Kings 20:28, "The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, "This is what the Lord says: 'Because the Arameans think the Lord is a God of the hills and not a God of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord.'"

Article Link: The Law Of Confesssion
Manifestation in speaking God's word.
Sermon from Rev. Jerry Nelson, Westmoreland PHC
Wilson, North Carolina
Complete series: djbraman@gmail.com

Prayer Line: djbraman.blogspot.com
Devotionals: believersministrydailydevotionals.blogspot.com

Judging Verses Discerning

Early Church Pulpit Peter Preached From

Judging Verses Discerning

Donna Braman

We are living in a time where the false prophets are clearly seen.  You hear a lot of statements of beliefs without sound biblical doctrine to back it up, or you have people offering you many different views on what the truth is by taking scripture out of context.   What are we to do as Christians when false doctrine is presented to us?  How do we put truth in order without judging a person?  We're going to look at these issues and get some understanding of them.

People say you are judging when you correct the spirit of error. Truth and discernment can only come straight from the Holy Spirit. John 16:13-14 says, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, (the truth) and shall show it unto you."

Thank God for the Holy spirit that guides us into truth.  Are you judging people when you stand up and preach the truth? Of course not, you are speaking the truth God has given you from his word.   It is not directed at an individual but for all to hear and discern the truth.

There's a difference in judging a person than judging a person's truth. Let's look at the definition of this act.

1.  Kriro -Greek is the word judge and it is to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong. This is the context of judging that Jesus uses in Matthew.  This has nothing to do with judging the teaching of God's word.

2.  Discern - to perceive, to discover or to recognize a difference.
Are we scripturally right when we speak out and expose heresays of the word of God?  The bible has a lot to say about this and we're going to look at the scripture on this.  How many of you know that there are a lot of false teaching going on behind the pulpit? Do you believe everything you hear, or everything that is spoken with conviction and passion? It was a 10% lie that the devil told Eve that separated all mankind from God.  The devil is all about 90% truth and 10% lie, and I'm going to give you an example of that a little later in this article.

What the false teacher does not have is discernment of the Holy Spirit, nor does he rightfully have the truth of prophecy in him. The devil did not understand the prophecy and mystery of the blood, otherwise he would have never killed Jesus that won victory for us over sin and death. When the devil told Jesus that he would give him all the kingdoms on earth, Jesus had a discernment that Satan didn't have. Jesus knew that God owned all the kingdoms on earth and they were not Satan's to give. We see in Revelation who becomes the King that will reign over all the earth and that every knee shall bow to and every tongue confess that he is Lord.  So, it's clear that if you don't have Holy Spirit discernment of the word Satan is going to deceive you along with the world.

3. Diakriro - Greek
This is the definition of examining, judging whether something is right or wrong. John 7:24 says, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."  We have a right to compare someone's teaching to biblical truth. But the devil tries to get you all tangled up and convince you that you are judging someone's heart, another 10% lie.  It is a deception to try to shut you up so he can carry out his own false agenda.  Ministers have to pray over their sermons for the Holy Spirit to them revelation and discernment of rightly dividing the word line upon line and precept upon precept. I want the people I teach to be able to go to the scripture to confirm what I'm preaching to be scriptural truth.  There are false prophets and there are true prophets, read the word to see which one is the false one.

We, as Christians are not to support any false teaching or doctrine. Nor are we to sit silent and be a part of false teaching. The bible says to run from that.  If you have one person telling you that you have a second chance at redemption after the great white throne judgement and then another one telling you, that once you are condemned to eternal hell there's no coming back, then you've got to be able to judge righteously the false truth and the righteous truth. So, you've got yourself a problem here because you've got one speaking the truth of the word and another speaking a lie to you.  One has discernment and another has twisted the word into a lie.

What are we to do about the people that avert the truth?  We are to go to them in love and bring correction.  Paul the Apostle was tougher than that when he went to correct false teaching.  He said to outright rebuke them.  In 2 Timothy 2:15-18, Paul instructs Timothy, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus: who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

How do you prove yourself? By rightly dividing the word instead of twisting it.  It's not truth spoken that sets you free but knowing truth has comes freedom.  We actually have a responsibility to set a lie straight.  A good gauge to truth:  If it's new it isn't true, if it's true it's not new.  That Jesus was married and had a child is good example of a lie pulled out of the hat that's new. God gave us all the truth in the 66 books in the bible, the cannon has been completed, and there are no new discoveries like that Jesus was gay or married, or that the real truth lies in the absent book of Judas. These are the lies of the devil to keep you in the dark and to justify sin that God has condemned throughout the bible.

If anyone tries to convince you of tales of any new thing that has not been written about in the word he is a false prophet. We need to continually pray for discernment so we will be armed for the false prophets. This is what God tells us not to do in judging and speaking his word, "Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." (Romans 14:13)

The church is not taught to condemn the person in sin, but to condemn the sin itself.  We are not to judge each other, but when you see adultry  in the church, someone doing drugs and saying they are walking right with Christ, then we need to properly address that from the pulpit.  Galations 6:1 says, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." We are to restore them to right living again as we are instructed in 1 Corinthians 2:15.  But you make sure you are living right so the Holy Spirit can empower you to right someone.  The real question is do we have enough righteous or love in us for others in the church to do this mandate Jesus and the Apostle Paul calls us to do when one of our own stumbles. We are not to get on our phone gossip ministries and condemn them or judge their hearts but to go to them and restore them.  So when we allow sin and carnal mindedness to run rampant in the house of the Lord we too are in danger of being tempted by worldly living and views, and become unable to restore a cat back to the Lord.  The bible tells us to come out of this type of fellowship and be holy and separate from the world system.

4.  Anaknne - Greek, means to scrutinize, to investigate, to discern and to determine.  We have to study these things and not jump to a quick judgement attacking the person instead of their act or wrong words. We have a right to ask; is their behavior righteous or wrong and then compare it with the teaching of the scripture.

The example I will use on this subject concerns a well known television minister.  He gave the definition of what the difference is in an old bible prophet and a new testament prophet.  He said, "he's more fun than the old prophet and he doesn't judge sin as much." But I'm going to give you scripture that refutes his claim.

First of all, don't believe everything to be monitored by scripture by the net works. Most preachers that buy time on networks have signed liability contracts releasing the net work for untruths spoken. That ought to tell you something right there.

A preacher that doesn't show people their sin is not of the Lord.  John the Baptist did this and had the spirit of Elijah on him.  Jesus said, there is no greater preacher than John the Baptist. He spoke with power on his tongue and brought repentance to the people which brought their hearts back in line so they could receive Jesus. I'm looking for the spirit of Elijah to come into the pulpits of America, because the bible says it will come to pass in the end days, because we have lost the truth to the gospel.  We have sold Jesus out, and repentance is in order biblically for the end time church.  If a preacher doesn't preach the truth about sin, how can anybody get saved? There's no repentance without conviction, and there's no conviction without truth. If sin was preached, the altars would fill up, but feel good messages does nothing to save souls. We have forgotten the call to the great commission.

So lets go back to the preacher on national t.v. teaching the difference in the old and new prophets of the bible and judge his words. Let's go to 2 Timothy 4:2-4, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves, teachers, having itching ears.  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."  If we listen to things like this long enough sound doctrine disappears and the people's ears turn to fables of false teaching.  This is why biblical doctrine is important to know. Don't confuse legalistic doctrine with Christ's doctrine for they are far apart.

Look at what Paul says about sin in 1 Corinthians 6:9, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, no adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind." It goes on to list all sins that will keep you from going to heaven. You were bought with a price and it is your reasonable service to present your body, mind and spirit holy and sanctified unto him. I used to be full of sin, but I was washed by the word and regenerated in the blood of the lamb.  I was drawn to the altar and taught sound doctrine and now I'm going to preach the truth given to me of the word by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul had no problem correcting people.  His position in the body of Christ was the five fold ministry of apostle, teacher, preacher, prophet, and disciple.  Paul wrote 2/3rd's of the new testament and he structures the church in the epistles, and gives revelation and order to the church.  God chose him to write the Epistles to the church to bring order, a unified spirit, sanctification and fellowship to Christ's church. He strongly spoke out against sin and he exposed it. He wrote to the church, saying,  "I'm coming, now I can come with love or a whip."  This was when he found out that a leader of the church had slept with his mother- in- law and they were bragging about it. Sin has not changed in these two thousand years since Paul was a preacher. Sin does not change from generation to generation or change with seasons, it is the nature of fallen man and must be washed away by the blood of Christ. What changes is how we view sin from generation to generation and we are living in a church age that has grown soft on sin. Results, no one getting saved in the altars. the gospel not being preached.

What did Peter say about sin?  2 Peter 2:`7 says, "Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with the man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.  These are the wells without water, clouds that are carried with the tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever."  They are flesh driven and full of pride and come with swelling words of vanity.

Peter further tells us that sin brings you back into bondage.  After you escape and are saved, preachers are to watch over you to see that you don't stray.  There is a terrible consequence to falling back into sin, when you crucify Jesus all over again. 1 Peter 2:21-22.

Jesus preached against sin himself.  The scripture shows you can't sin and win. You can't have one foot in the world and one foot in the spirit. I hope that I have shown you by the scripture that this t.v. preacher erred in his speech scripturally, and I can and do rebuke that.  I have been led to draw the treasures out of the people so they can become what God has destined them to be, holy and righteous unto him; to be the praise of his glory.  You can't be holy if you have a preacher that is soft on sin or feeding you untruths.  Ephesians 1:4.

We're not judging an individual but judging his biblical truths.  When a person is asked, Is there more ways to heaven than one?  Is Jesus the only way?  When a preacher or teacher says there's another way, we have a right to judge that person's teaching.  All the false teachers are saying, there is this way or that way, but don't you believe it.  Jesus said, I am the way to the truth and light and no one goes to the father except through me.  I am the only way! John 14:6.

What does Jesus say about all these roads that false teachers say you can follow and get to heaven?  The road to truth and salvation is narrow, and wide is the road that leads to sin and destruction.  There is no other name by which you can be saved but Jesus. Marvel not, you must be born again of the spirit.  Budha, Mahamed or any other false god did not die on the cross and resurrect. There is the only one that died and resurrected for the atonement of our sins and his name is Jesus Christ.  He is the only hope for suffering humanity.  We would be eternally lost without the cross. Romans 1:16.

Those who have been justified live by faith.  No one is saved that does not walk in faith. 1Corinthians 15:13-14 says,  "Your preaching and teaching is in vain if you're not preaching the blood and resurrection of Jesus."  Don't sell Jesus out, and don't listen to false teachers about him and the gospel. If someone is telling you that Jesus didn't die and resurrect or that he was'nt born of a virgin then he is a false prophet.

We are to judge righteousness and we have to judge it against the scripture.  You don't have a right to hypocritically judge a person when you deliver hypocricy from your own tongue,  and probably have a bigger plank in your own eye.  Get the plank out and you will be able to discern truth and wrong words and restore those who have stumbled instead of condemning a person.

I speak God's truth to be others into righteous living not just to talk to try to impress others of my knowledge. It is through a deep love of the body of Christ that I long to see perfected in him and be the unblemished bride. It's a difficult task and before anyone embarks on delivering truth of the word, pray because it will take all of you to be what he has called you to be to benefit the children of the Kingdom. It cost John the Baptist his life, yet today's preachers are afraid to speak the truth about tithing. If you are afraid of offending false teachers then you will have a difficult pleasing the Lord. But your motive for preaching the word must be love of the people as Jesus loves them. Real love and truth does not come without reproof and correction.

This teaching came from my notes and commentary on a sermon of Rev. Jerry Nelson at Westmoreland PHC.  If you would like to have a CD with this sermon's entirety you can contact the church at www.Westmorelandphc.org or djbraman@gamil.com

The Hidden Hindrances To Answered Prayer

Donna Braman

Prayer In My Private Chambers

In the first article on Hindrances to Answered Prayer, I discussed the four obvious reasons why God will not answer prayers. Here, I am going to be discussing the other four hidden reasons God's ear is not tuned to us.

The worldly church has become such a part of our tradition that most of us don't even realize that we put blocks up from God hearing us.  God delights in us when we talk to Him without trying to cover up our contaminated hearts.   David was willing for God to search his heart and correct it. God delighted in that desire because his motive was pure.   In Psalm 139, he said God has searched him and knows his heart. He knows everything we think, speak and our motives. It is beyond our comprehension, because otherwise we wouldn't keep trying to hide our hearts from him and allow it to go astray. Where ever you go and when ever you lie down that heart is still exposed to God.

God doesn't judge our flesh or our weak minds, but he looks closely at what is in the heart, especially those things that we work hard to cover up and will defend with much anger if exposed. It took a prophet to show David the part of his heart that he had tried to hide from God that caused God to turn a deaf ear to him.  And even the prophet approached him in the disguise of a made up person that had stolen a poor man's best sheep. Truth was revealed to David and he learned that nothing is hidden from God concerning us. He then pursued that pure heart that eventually captured God's own heart.  But how many of us are willing to allow God to correct our hearts so that we will be pleasing to him?

You see, the mind cannot be fully renewed without the heart getting right first. With that in mind we're going to take a look at the things in our hearts that cause God's ear to turn from us.  You are going to be awakened by a truth here that the church has been afraid to tell you, and it's going to change your mind about some things and pull down the veil that has hindered you from getting your prayers answered.  You see, a lot of churches aren't concerned about God answering your prayers, they are more concerned about not losing members and tithers and keeping up the act of playing church.

We left off in the first article with hindrance number four and so we'll pick up from there.

5.  Adolatry  (Ezekiel 14:3)

The human heart is desperately evil.  Man has a nature that will gravitate to evil if we don't keep a check on what we allow our hearts to seek through the flesh.  What are idols?  I think a lot of people don't truly know otherwise their house and life wouldn't be so full of them.  The bible tells us to not put any God's before him.  God said the people have set up idols in their hearts.  God tells us that if we reserve iniquity in our hearts then He won't hear you.

We don't have to go and bow down to golden calves.  God is talking about idols we set up in our hearts. Materialism and sex have become America's Goddesses.  If you don't believe me, turn on the television and watch a few commercials.

The devil has three hooks to put idolatry in your heart; the flesh, pride and the eye.  He used this method on Eve and he tried to use it on Jesus.  Americans are like the Israelites when they got sold into Babylon.  They stayed there so long and became merchants and had money and they didn't want to come back to their promised land and covenant with God again.

Jesus tells us in Mathew 13:22 that the cares of this world will choke the word out of you.  That means to steal the truth from you.  I see a lot of this going on in the churches I minister at that are carnal minded and all they want to do is give you a bunch of hype and tell you your breakthrough is coming this season.  Well, I don't know what season they are talking about because God is clear as to His seasons of the former and latter rains and his appointed times to bless us and for us to come before Him.   The Gospel is not a Gospel of just prosperity but it is the good news and how to have eternal life, how to be pleasing to God and live abundantly through living spiritual principles.  Prosperity follows you only when you are blessed by your obedience to live the way God calls us to live.  Real prosperity by God is given to bless others and does not rule you nor is it obtained to line your own pockets. 1 Timothy 6:5 warns us of such preachers as it says, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is Godliness: from such men withdraw thyself. He is proud and knows nothing of how to lead you into prosperity or abundant living. When we see rich preachers fall, that is no wonder to me, because they take your money and lead you not to the truth of righteousness  wherefore all prosperity come forth. Godly living brings favor, not a $100 check to some ministry.  I'll give you a quick formula for prosperity, quit your drunking, smoking, gambling and eating at the finest restaurants  and you'll have plenty of extra money to help some poor widow or orphan or a bag of potatoes to the soup kitchen and you'll get your favor from God. That's how you get your barns filled at HIS appointed seasons.

We get so tied up on temporal blessings but God is interested in blessing our whole life and to give us eternal life.  1 Timothy 6:10 says, the love of money is the root of all evil. What do you think God means when He says to flea something.  He don't mean look back, think about it, dabble in it, walk away slowly, but to run for your life as fast as you can. Narrow is the gate to prosperity and favor and wide is the road to the crowd that will pull you into deception and steal God's blessing from you.

I'll give you a quick lesson how to handle money in the biblical truth.  You pay 10% to the church for it's upkeep, the church that feeds you spiritually and helps you grow and mature in the Lord.  You give a love gift at God's appointed time to the poor, orphans, widows, prisoners and to your minister as a thank offering. Don't you be deceived, you don't buy anything from God.  Now if you want to sow seed to a ministry and I think that is biblical to do that, but you better make sure it is sown in good soil or you will not reap a harvest from it.  Ask yourself these questions before you give to rich ministries; do they save souls, do they nurture and teach the truth of God's word or is the money spent on more hype t.v. sermons, conventions, entertainment for Christians, trips to Israel, planes, $2,000 suits, $10,000 dog houses and $500 dollar hairdos.  We have become a generation of lazy preachers, that do not shepherd anymore but desire to stand behind a glass pulpit, mislead you to get more money so they can continue to be fat and feed you grand standing witty words that is not anointed or of the Lord. They are running scared because they see the people want truth brought back and some of them are trying to go that direction but the anointing like Jeremiah, Jonah and Peter and many more in the bible is not there, because image is what they are trying to hold on to.  God is shaking up His church and He is sifting through the carnal minded to separate the wheat from the tares, and he is giving us discernment to men's motives and a desire to covenant with him again.

Now I am not referring to ministers that buy t.v. time to broadcast their sermons from their church pulpits. I'm referring to networks and preachers who have no congregation and hundreds of ministries that are on the internet that are not even ordained by man much less the Lord that point you to their web sites to ask for donations.

There is a lot more to prosperity than money. Prosperity also includes health, stable families, your job, peace, joy and confidence and faith in God and favor that empowers you against the enemy. Prosperity in seeking personal gain is not Godly.  I'm going to give you some scripture here that shows what an anointed ministry is.
A minister will live in His Oath He has entered into with the Lord and let no man cause him to stray from that oath. See Paul's oath in Acts 18:18.

6.  Uncertainty or Doubt or Lack of Faith

If you're going to get answers, you must believe in your heart and you must confess it in your mouth.
Churches have perverted the real Gospel and the pentecostal power of the Holy Spirit.  That's why we don't see miracles, healings and moves of God, or answered prayer among us.  Search you hearts as to why you want to cast down the power that Jesus gives to us. Search our hearts Oh God so we don't hide your truth or have doubt or lack faith in you.  Help us Lord not to just teach things that are a selfish motivation in us that results in lack of faith of the people we serve.  We say we can move mountains with our tongues but let a crisis come to a Christian and watch him sink to doubt, uncertainty and outright disbelief.  We can't just speak the word but we have to believe in our hearts. Mark 11:23

God is going to have a clean church and one with certainty of who He is.  He's going to do exceedingly, abundantly more than most Christians can even imagine.  But he wants righteous thinking and worship and prayer from our hearts and not hyped up lip service. Get down at the altar on prayer intercessory night and cry out to him from your bellies. James 1:6-8 says, but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord, for the lowly is exalted by the Lord. See also 1John 4:1.

Are you double minded?  Do you change when God doesn't answer you right away?  Keep thanking Him, keep praising Him.  Sometimes that's all it takes is to show God our desires and intents through persistence. God answers us when we cry to Him day and night.  His ear is attuned to need.  Keep you heart fixed and your mind consistent with His word and don't let anything move you from your foundation. Further reading: James 4:23, 1John 3:21.

7.  Wrong Motives

When Peter and John was sent forth to Samaria to preach in Acts 8:17-23, the preachers there saw that as they laid their hands on some, that they received the Holy Ghost.  And when Simon a preacher there, saw that through laying on of hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered the Apostles money, saying, give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.  But Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for their heart is not right in the sight of God, for you have the bond of iniquity on you.

If there is gain or benefit in it for you, you can be sure that God is not in it.  Jesus said, seek ye His Kingdom first and everything else will be added unto you.  Let go of temporal desires, it is those little foxes that come to destroy the vine.1John 5:14 says, and this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he heareth us.  Now most people get the first part of this verse, but we forget that what we ask for must be in His will.  When we are lined up with His word and walk the path He leads us to, then favor falls upon you, and no weapon formed against you can prosper.

8.  Being Inconsiderate Of The Poor

Look at Proverbs 21:1-3, Whosoever stoppeth up his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.  What needy person have you attended to this past year?  Did any elderly person in a nursing home get a fruit basket or prayer from you?  Did some fatherless child get a pair of tennis shoes from you or did you take the time to take a child to bible school?  Did you donate any food to any shelter or give a bag of potatoes to a soup kitchen?  Did you go and comfort a neighbor that lost her husband this year?

Being inconsiderate to such needy will cause your own blessings to not be answered.  We turn a deaf ear and eye to hungry bellies and sick elderly and a blind eye to damaged children across town. A hardened heart toward others in need will stop your blessings. Proverbs 19:17 says, when you give to the poor you're lending to the Lord.

If you've done all these things God has asked us to do and still your prayer hasn't been answered don't be discouraged, it could be just a delay until God's timing or until you've passed a test or trial to strengthen you in the Lord.  Remember the bigger request, the longer sometimes God will make you wait for it, like Abraham had to wait until His faith had been perfected so he could pass the test when he finally got His prayer request which was Isaac, so don't confuse a delay with a no.

The most powerful hindrance I see today in answered prayer in the church is hardened hearts.  In Hosea 5:15 God says, I will go and return to my place till they acknowledge their offense toward me and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.  If you don't get offended by the truth of God's word, like the religious establishment was offended by Jesus' words, then you will see blessings come and abundance and prosperity come and God will hear you when you call on His name from your heart.

This teaching was written from my notes from a teaching at Westmoreland PHC by the Rev. Jerry Nelson.  To order a complete CD request it through westmorelandphc.org or djbraman@gmail.com

When Your Heart Is Overwhelmed

Donna Braman        

Where Your Heart Is Is Where Your Treasure Is

Lovest Thou Me

In John 21:15-17, Jesus asked Peter three times, "Do you love me?"  Jesus is asking us the same thing today, Do you love me more than the things in the world?  Then feed my sheep.  Do you love me more than you do your business? Then feed my lambs. Do you love me more than your own life?  Then feed my sheep.

There is a significance and revelation to why Jesus says this three times. Before you are at the end of this teaching you will know why Jesus did this and it is a message from him for this end generation church.

In Revelation 3:20-22, we see Jesus standing outside His church wanting to come in.  A church He purchased with His own blood. I hope you are listening today because Jesus is speaking to His church. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Lord is saying to His church.  If you will overcome, you can sit at my throne.  Jesus is coming for His church; a holy, virgin bride. It is not the time to hold onto to sin or to backslide or to continue being a part of the carnal minded fellowship.

There is a reason there has been a falling away in the church. This event is scriptural for the end times. Preachers are giving up the pulpits like God didn't call them into a life time appointment.  God needs a people that will love him forever and not for just a season.

There is a luke-warm Laodicean spirit in the church today. For those who have the new spirit Jesus talks about in Revelation let us press forward because God is moving on His church.  He promised us the former and latter rain.  This end time pouring out of His spirit is going to be greater than at Pentecost in Acts.  I see Christians today desiring a renewed relationship with the Lord.  They want His joy and His presence.  God's thoughts are on us and the whole world, and He is searching hearts to see whose heart is perfect for Him.

There are Christians who have been silent for a season that we see now springing up to return to their first love.  They want to love God with all their heart, mind and soul.  They want real prayer time.  They want to hear and read His word.  They are taking the time to get into their private prayer chambers to talk and commune with God.  For some, it is in the car or while jogging, for me, I perch myself up in my recliner first thing every morning to read and pray and talk to my heavenly Father. I meditate on him throughout the day. I come into His presence in the cool of the evening to sit at His feet, because my heart is fixed on him. We've got to get a thirst for him.  Well, I can tell you He blew my skirt up. For others, they know about Him and think they know how to run His church but they have no relationship with Him, nor do they know His ways, desires or heart.

We are experiencing in the church a departing and a coming together simultaneously.  It is what the bible refers to as the separation of the wheat and tares.  People are tired of worldly events in the church.  We've put things in the sanctuary that He never wanted to be put there, worldly speech, making money, movies, parties until it looks more like an entertainment center.  We want the presence of God in our midst not a worldly fellowship.

Do you love me Peter?  Do you love me more than these things? Then feed my sheep!  Stop holding grudges against people in the church, stop gossiping and back biting.  We have forgotten that Jesus' whole ministry is supposed to be about forgiveness, yet we hold such unforgiveness in our hearts for each other. If you have an issue with a brother or sister, now is the time to run to them , not to right the wrong they did to you but to ask forgiveness for your unforgiving heart.

Three times Peter denied Jesus and when questioned by Jesus we see Peter's heart begin to breakdown into an repentant state.  Jesus then reached out and forgave him and blessed him, and he will do the same for you.  Jesus took care of His flock's natural needs.  He fed them, then He filled their spirits and gained their hearts.  We don't know how to gain other's hearts because we're too busy holding on to works without faith, or working to promote our selves and personal gain.

Fishing was all Peter knew.  It was his living.  Jesus said, Do you love me more than these? He's talking about his bank account, his new car, his new home and his business that gains him all of these things.  Jesus is asking Peter, Do you love me enough to leave all that?

We're living in a Laodicean era, and they are leaving the church because they don't want holiness and truth that is coming back.  God will hold this backsliding church generation accountable.  He says to resist this spirit of division and hardened heart.

Jesus was requiring three things of Peter. Let nothing of this world grip you but God.  If you backslide a mile then you've got a long way to come back, but Peter came all the way back.  Jesus said, I'm going to give you the grace and power to walk righteous with me, and as Peter was praying the power fell upon him.  Peter did come back and Jesus made him a great man of God.  We've got get that passionate love for Him into our hearts.

Has God done some great things for you?  He sure has me, and that's why I praise him.  I get lost in worshiping Him because I love Him for what he's done for my life.  You see, we don't preach right in the church. We don't teach right.  We have to stop loving the ministry and love HIM for what he's done for us. Are you proclaiming His glory on your life? By the power of your testimony they will overcome.  Yet, we sit back in the pews and don't proclaim nothing he has done that might help a hurting or lost soul in your midst.

God is asking the same thing to us today that He did Peter.  Love Me more than anything!  Did you know it's possible to fall in love with the work of the Lord and not love Him?  This is what Jesus meant when he said, I did not come to bring peace but division.  He is distinguishing who is righteous and who is not by their love for Him.  There can be nothing that takes priority over loving Him.

A seductive spirit has come upon His church, and you have to find the balance with Jesus or you will be lured away by this dividing, seducing spirit. Get His word and truth in you so you won't be deceived.

Are we trying to please God or man?  Too many preachers want to lace their pockets.  God will meet your needs, get away from the "me" thing.  It's not about you.  Jesus says, seek my Kingdom first and everything else will be added unto you.  We've got to find balance in these matters with Christ's church.  Unless you eat of His body and drink of His blood you can't walk with Him, and You Will Fall Away.

Where is your heart today?  A man examines his heart by the word.  What are your treasures?  Is He your song?  Is He your breath and your every heart beat?

If you backslide you'll have to crucify Him all over again.  You can come back, Peter did, because Jesus mirrored his heart to him.  God makes us do things we don't want to do so we can come into balance with Him.  He will balance your dreams and desires.  It is a Pastor's job to preach the truth of the word so you can become right and balanced with God.  Jesus is coming for an unblemished bride.  That's why I know the spirit of the church is changing, because Jesus says it's going to happen.

Peter, do you love me more than these?  You'll have to ask yourself these questions that Jesus asked of Peter.  Is is the work you're doing, or is it the call of HIM ON YOU?  Why has He called you?  If you can't get this revelation then you'll never surrender. Mark 3:14

Jesus called us to be with him, in our closet chambers, in our hearts, in our minds to send forth to teach and preach.  We have it all today, ipods, youtubes, television, sports, secular activity, and we have money.  That's the problem in this church age, that those goods have us.  Those things are what grips our hearts, not Jesus. Those things are what is stopping us from spending time with Jesus.  Can you get a prayer answered?  Can you come to the throne of Grace?  Do people say of you, Oh he is righteous, he can get prayers answered?

We need some radical preachers that can get prayers passed the clouds and speak the truth of God's word without caring what the people approve of.  Next time you go to the altar find someone else to pray over instead of for your own needs.  We need effectual, fervent prayer for each other.  Our hearts have become overwhelmed by everything except Jesus. Spend some time with the Master and you will get a revelation of what the Master is doing.

Don't be like the church of Ephesus.  It started out right, but it fell back.  These men in the church of Ephesus were followers of John the Baptist and they began to follow Jesus.  They had a passion for Christ but something happened, they lost their gifts, the Holy Spirit.  They started to do things their own way.  When we go our own way the devil takes over the church. We can not embrace the world and the church.  We must die to the worldly church age and reemerge as the new spirit of Christ's end time church.

Listen to what Jesus said to the church of Ephesus.  Rev. 2:4, You have left your first love.  There's something in your life you are putting before me.  Many of today's churches are a lot like Peter.  They've denied Jesus their time, talent, and fellowship.  Well, we then whine, it wasn't intentional, but take heed to Luke 21:34, If you're a minister or teacher you are a watchman on the wall.  God called you to speak and preach the truth and to warn the people.  Jesus is the Lord of His Sanctuary and His spirit cries out, build for me a sanctuary where the hearts are overwhelmed for me.

This teaching was taken from my notes on a sermon of the Rev. Jerry Nelson at Westmoreland PHC with my commentary added.  To order the sermon in it's fullest content on CD or DVD you can request that by going to the church web site, Westmorelandphc.org or by emailing me at: djbraman@gmail.com

To see more of Believers Ministry articles and teachings go to djbraman.blogspot.com
To have me as a guest speaker at your church or womens group to speak on these teachings please contact me at the above email address.

Believers Ministry-guest writer, Chaplain Brent Daniels

Guest writer for Believers Ministry
Brent is a N.C. Highway Patrolman in Winston Salem, N.C.  He just finished his training to be a Chaplain. His ministry has been a blessing to many.  I hope you are blessed by this piece he wrote on Christian living.

TEST ME OH LORD TO SEE THAT I AM PLEASING TO YOU

by Brent Daniels

Psalm 26:2-3
Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth.


Have you ever done a self-examination of your life from a spiritual, physical, and emotional standpoint? As a Christian and public servant, I have trained myself into doing this daily. I am a very passionate person that takes life and relationships very seriously, I know that. But, if I do not keep a check on myself, how is The Lord going to be able to use me? How will I be able to endure the high calling that The Lord has on my life combined with the stress of my current profession? If any of these areas get ignored, how will that be a benefit to my life or a blessing to others? If I lose sight of the importance of my spiritual health, my personal relationship with The Lord will suffer greatly. So therefore, the spiritual examination has to be looked upon with great importance. The maintenance of my spiritual health comes when I am surrounded in fellowship to worship with other believers, prayer, devotional/scripture reading, and obedience to The Holy Spirit. The maintenance of my physical health comes when I exercise, get enough rest, and strive to maintain an overall appropriate level of physical health. The maintenance of my emotional health comes when I find others that I trust to communicate with and debrief from the stressful situations that life brings daily. If you have a true, trusted and loving relationship with others, they will hold you accountable for your actions. By a loved one holding us accountable in any of these three areas, we find ourselves in a state of constant progression. By carrying out what was just mentioned, we are working towards something for a positive result, instead of allowing ourselves to regress into that which has a negative result.


Please focus on what the Apostle Paul is inspired to convey to the Church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 13:1-10.


1 Corinthians 13:1-10
This will be my third visit to you. "Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. 


In the process of an honest self-examination, you might find yourself with the need to do some tearing down first. Physically, strength and muscle building comes with the price of pain and hard work. Emotionally, one has to become vulnerable to grow in true love. In order for spiritual revival to occur, one must break down the walls that fortify the heart against the will of The Holy Spirit. These same walls hold in all the worldliness as well as the old self. Are you willing to do that self-examination today? Are you willing to make some progressive lifestyle changes? Are you willing to let the worldliness go from you and allow The Holy Spirit to take over and be your guide? I am trusting that you will, by first calling on The Lord for every ounce of your strength to make this happen. It is for a worthy cause, for He is worthy!


Father in Heaven, I pray and plead with You today for every ounce of Your strength to be poured into Your people. Help us to see that as Christians, we must progress in our relationship with You. Help us to examine ourselves and remove from our life that which keeps us from a closer walk with you. Father, please forgive us for our shortfalls and all of the sinful impurities that separate us from Your perfect will and divine plan. We know that we cannot occupy the blessing and the curse at the same time. May Your Holy Spirit be our guide to making those decisions. In Jesus name, AMEN.


Choose To Be Blessed!!!


The Running The Race For The Prize Administrative Team


http://www.runningtheracefortheprize.org 

Brent Daniels





Running The Race For The Prize Ministries


http://www.runningtheracefortheprize.org







Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.


- 1 Corinthians 15:58

Called To Be An Intercessor-guest writer, Pastor Clint Harris

BELIEVERS MINISTRY

GUEST WRITER: PASTOR CLINT HARRIS

A Time To Sow

A Seed For Planting

Pastor Clint Harris

It is a privilege to be able to share this word with you today. I Pray that this accomplish the purpose for which it is sent forth and that the Holy Spirit minister to each and every one of you as you read these words. There is no coincidence, if you are reading this message it is by the divine providence of our Lord.

Glory to the Lord Jesus Christ!

I want to talk to you about dreams today. Do you dream anymore? Really dream with your heart? Has life relentlessly worked on you and diluted the dreams in your heart until they are just a pale remembrance of what they used to be if they are remembered at all? Let me ask you this question...whom do you think planted those dreams within your heart?

Maybe you wanted to be a physician, a lawyer, teacher or a police officer. Or perhaps own your own business, have a ministry of some type or settle down with a family and children of your own with the person "of your dreams". In your youth you may have had that desire to do good in the world, leave your mark, make it better than you found it, take on injustice and evil...or just finish your education all the way to the doctorate level.

Whatever they may be our dreams and hopes planted within us are just that....dreams planted within us. Let me repeat that statement....Dreams planted within us are just that, Dreams planted within us. Placed there by your Creator for your fulfillment of His Divine Destiny for you.

The Lord spoke to me last night about this. I was drinking a glass of tea with a wedge of lemon in it. When I got to the bottom of the glass on my last sip I got one of the seeds from the lemon in my mouth. As I proceeded to discard it the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "What are you doing?" I replied, "I am getting rid of this seed." The Holy Spirit told me,” Son you don't realize what you have there. Within this very seed is an entire industry worth billions and billions of dollars. If you were to take this seed and plant it in good ground it would yield a lemon tree that would produce thousands and thousands of lemons over its lifetime, and they would produce thousands and thousands of more lemons in turn after there own kind. In this very small and unimpressive seed are thousands of jobs to tend, harvest, market, and distribute those lemons. I am telling you son, you don't realize what you have there. A billion dollar industry is literally in the palm of your hand."

I took that little seed and I set it aside as a reminder of what God was telling me. A very close friend of ours, Brent Daniels, is staying in our home for a few days as he attends a Chaplain School in our area. Brent is the founder of Running The Race For The Prize Ministries. (http://www.RunningTheRaceForThePrize.org ) Brent and I were sitting there talking about the day and things of God and our ministries when all this hit me. Brent is a North Carolina State Trooper but God is calling him to a global ministry just as He is us. I gave him one of those seeds and told him to hold onto it. Our hopes and dreams, YOUR hopes and dreams, are just like this seed. Locked within it is an amazing potential, a yield beyond measure, a result "beyond your wildest dreams!"

This was a very profound moment in my life. I want you to consider what God was saying to me and apply it to your own life. We often think about money when we think about "sowing seeds" well you can be sure the Godly principle of the seed applies to not just money but everything. If you have a hundred dollar bill in your hand the most it will ever be it a hundred dollars. If you sow that resource into God's kingdom that is the least it will ever be. The principle of the seed is the secret of the Kingdom of Heaven. This Godly principle applies to everything in Creation. It is the Divine law by which the Creator did His work. The Word of God is a seed that when planted yields a harvest beyond measure, Faith is a seed that has the power to move mountains and break down strongholds. Your talents are a seed that when sown will yield a harvest beyond measure as well. When you sow your time, effort and hope into a person’s life that yields a harvest beyond measure. Everywhere you turn in this world you will see the principle of the seed at work.

Consider the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-9

"That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."

Amen. He who has ears to hear...Let Them Hear.

Each and everyone one of you are exactly like that lemon seed. Locked within you is a massive potential that cannot be measured. God says to you today to dream big dreams. You do not realize what you have there! Let this be the day that you awaken the passions of your hopes and dreams again. Let this be the day when you sow them into the good ground of the Holy Spirit. I declare to you today that when you do God is going to begin to shift things in your favor. Doors are going to open that no man can close, divine favor will begin to overtake you. God is imploring you today....dream again. Watch Him work on your behalf as you move into your limitless potential.....Jesus said that He came that we might have life and that more abundantly but the devil is a liar and a thief who came to steal, kill and destroy. Praise God, today is the day we start walking in our Divine Destiny, today is the day we rekindle our dreams, today is the day we begin to sow our seeds of potential into the good ground of the Holy Spirit and watch Him work in your life!

If you feel a distance between you and the Lord, don't let the devil lie to you any longer. James chapter three says draw close to God and He will draw close to you. If there is something not right between you and the Lord just simply ask Him to forgive you. He will pick up right where you left off. With that relationship restored you can begin to walk in the divine destiny God has for you.

If you are reading this and know that Jesus is not the Lord of your life. Please come home to Him today. It is the easiest and the most important thing you will ever do. Just ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, believe that He is the son of God and ask Him to be the Lord of your life. It is that simple.

Please let us hear from you, we are praying for each and every one of you folks. We are here for you. We ask you also remember us in prayer as we do the work the Lord has for us.

God bless you and have a great weekend. Apply this word and never be the same!

Jesus loves you, we love you and remember...there is hope, peace and provision Between His Shoulders.

In His service,

Bro. Clint Harris
http://www.BetweenHisShoulders.org

Hindrances To Answered Prayers

Donna Braman
1 of 2 series teaching

HINDRANCES TO ANSWERED PRAYER

     If you can understand what causes prayers to not be answered then you'll be in a better position to have a more successful prayer life.  There are certain things that can hinder our prayers.  We're going to look today at what those hindrances are.  You can be sure that if there is strife or sin in your life, answered prayer will be non-existent.   Look at what David says in Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

     The first major hindrance I want to identify is pride.  Let's go to 1 Peter 5:6, and God said, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.  James 4:6 adds to this line of thinking, "But He giveth more grace.  Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

     So God can resist your prayers!  When we approach Him with a proud heart, don't expect Him to move for your benefit.  We think that we can live like the devil all week and then come to church and approach His throne thinking that He is going to move on our behalf. If you've got something in your heart that has caused bitterness, anger or strife toward another, get your heart right before you pray, otherwise don't expect it to get past the clouds.

     Where did pride come from? Isaiah says it perfectly in chapter 14:13-14, "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High."

     You notice all the I's there?  When we have the "me thing" as the focus pride is lurking in the midst.  Satan was the most beautiful angel, his whole body and voice reeked of the 7 perfect musical notes. That's why he hates it when we sing from our hearts to God Almighty.  Satan is the author of pride.  So let's look more closely at it.

1. PRIDE

     Jesus said, "I am meek and lowly."  He is telling us that he is opposite of the haughtiness of pride. He is showing us here the way to approach God.  You see, Satan lied to Adam in the Garden of Eden when he said, "if you will eat of the tree of knowledge you will be like God."  Adam was already like God because God had given man His spirit and nature. So don't believe Satan's lie because all it will get you is a deaf ear from God.  We live in a humanistic world today where it is full of self will, self righteousness, and all the works of and for self.  But if you want real strength, it comes through humbleness toward God.  These are the issues that keep prayer from being answered.  We have to let go of the haughty spirit that the world says is okay. 

     This kind of spirit goes before a fall.  Man fell into this fall nature of Satan's.  He says, I can do it on my own, and we don't need God's sources or direction.  All gifts come from God so we shouldn't think too highly of ourselves.  That is why there's no prayer in the church today, because of lack of needing God. Self reliant people think there is no need to fast and pray.  Proverbs 29:23 says, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble spirit."

God wants us to seek His will for our lives.  Be careful not to allow pride to enter your heart. It got Satan thrown out of heaven quicker than lightening, and it will take YOU from the presence of God just as quickly.

2.  SIN

     Psalm 66:18-19 clearly tells us, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer."  Now, God hears repentance when it comes before Him with a contrite heart.  But I'm talking about willful sin after you've been saved, where you ignore His word on sins to not commit. 

     God will not answer the prayer of those who live contrary to His word.  Does the Lord have to deal with you over and over about an iniquity?  He will not answer your prayers until you get this thing out of your life. You have got to allow Christ to free you from the law of sin and death.  If we keep practicing sin we become a slave to it.  Look at Romans 6:16, "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?"

     Whoever you yield your life to that's who will control you.  Who does your church members yield themselves too?  Grace is not a license to sin.  1 Peter 3:12 says, "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

     God is Holy and His nature is Holy.  There is no test or temptation that God will not make a way for you to escape from.  1 John says if you do sin, "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous."  Jesus is our family lawyer in the Kingdom. And in verse 6 it says, "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as He walked."

     If we repent, He restores us, but He will not answer the prayers of the unrighteous.  He restores us to righteousness and positions us with Him for fellowship with Him.  The pure in heart seek God.  A pure heart understands the Word, and seeks understanding from the Lord.

3.  STRIFE

     There is a lot of different ways we can have strife in our life but for the sake of defeating Satan, I want to talk here about the strife between a husband and and wife.  That is strife that corrupts the marriage union and covenant with the Lord as well.

     Look at what 1 Peter 3:7 has to say about prayers of the husband being hindered, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."

     So you can see here that you cannot have your prayers answered if you have continual strife with your spouse.  That is because you have hurt the balance and have become out of the spirit with oneness with your spouse and with the Lord.  

     When there is strife in a marriage, it is a dark spiritual force attacking.  When there is tranquility, answered prayer abounds.  You have to understand that the marriage covenant is like our covenant with the Lord.  Ephesians 5 shows us this clearly.  You can't show me a marriage that has strife and then try to convince me that they are all pleasing and walking in covenant with the Lord.  It is impossible.  If you are displeasing in the marriage covenant then you are going to be displeasing in your relationship with the Lord, and it's going to show up in unanswered prayer.

     We are to give to each other and love each other in the marriage covenant as Christ loved and gave himself to the church.  The husband is to carry the heavier load, and God holds him accountable for how he provides for his family and he is to be the spiritual leader in his home.  That means he prays over his family, he takes his family to church, he sets guidelines as to how his house will serve the Lord, he reads the word together with his family. Read 1 Corinthians 7.   The devil doesn't come up into a man's home that serves the Lord like this. We have lost truth in this nation of what a Godly home is.  That's why you see depressed wives, the devil attacking your children, parents turning against children and children against parents. Because we said, prayer is not important anymore in our homes and schools.

     You can take one righteous spouse and change things in your home.  Your unbelieving spouse can be sanctified through you because the marriage covenant is Holy and undefiled. Your children are blessed through the undefiled marriage covenant.

     Everybody wants the church to be Holy again.  But it starts in your home and when we have covenant marriages again, we will see our churches come back into covenant. We have dissention in our churches and strife because we've lost the truth of the word and what it means to live a righteous life. We have a form of it but our hearts are far from it.

     You see, the devil will use small things to create division.  Pastor Nelson tells of how the devil worked him up one time in the middle of dissention over a jar of Coffee Mate.  He said he and his wife hadn't been married long and they would hold these once a week bible studies in their home.  Well, they had one coming up that night and so they stopped by the store to pick up a few things.  As they were driving home his wife asked, "Did you get everything on the list?"  

     "Well almost," he said, "all except the Coffee Mate",  because it had gone from .89 cents to $1.89 and he just wasn't going to pay that.  Well, his wife kept looking at him and saying, "I just can't believe that  you left the coffee Mate off all because of a dollar."  Well she kept on until finally he looked at her and said, "Right now I would pay $20 for a jar of Coffee Mate."

     Sometimes we allow the little foxes to destroy the vine.  His wife was a detailed person when having guests over and didn't want the company to have coffee without the creamer. Well, like always with disputes, he said, "and ah ha, nobody there even asked for cream because I was just going to give them milk for their coffee."

     He said, "later I realized that strife like this is what causes a cancer to begin to grow in your marriage, and I thank the Lord for showing me this revelation early in my marriage as I was driving to Duke one day to pray for a little boy with cancer.  I touched this little boy and he was healed but and as I did I could see this cancer growing that you couldn't see with the natural eye."

     You see, we don't think these little divisions in our communication is hurting anything but one day we wake up and our marriages are eaten up with the cancer of division by the devil. Families love one another but when a crisis happens you can see how they say hurtful things to one another.  But that is the time when we need to bridle our tongues until the high emotions are settled down.

4.  UNFORGIVENESS

     In the model prayer that Jesus gave us in Matthew 6:12, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," we can see how he repeats the forgiveness part a second and third time on down in verses 15.

     I forgive, is more than words, but it is an act of doing.  It is an act of love and it comes from Christ's spirit

 in you.  A forgiving heart flows out of the recreated spirit.  

     Joseph could have been bitter at Potipher's wife, or the Butler, or the brothers for selling him into slavery.  But what Joseph said was, "You meant it for evil but God meant it for good."  Joseph is a foreshadowing of Christ, and Christ said, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they are doing."  Powerful words right there.  Had Jesus not forgiven you and me, we would be in a devil's hell right now.

     Let's take a look at unforgiveness in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11, "To whom ye forgive anything, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ: lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. So, it is clear here in this scripture that unforgiveness is a device from Satan. Satan will get an advantage over you if you harbor bitterness and unforgiveness.  That's why I guard my heart from any contamination of Satan's entering it, because it will stop your prayers from being answered.

     You hear a lot of people say, I forgive them but I will never forget.  Well, that's not a spirit or the mind of Christ. It's the first cousin to unforgiveness. Hosea 5:15 says, "I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early."  This is why some people cannot get their prayers answered because of these types of offenses.  You don't kill giants with offenses in your heart.  Sometimes Satan puts division in your marriage just so he can throw you off from doing something else the Lord has for you to do, a distraction from the Lord, or to steal your blessings.

This lesson was written under the teaching of Rev. Jerry Nelson at Westmoreland PHC.  If you would like this teaching series on CD or taught at your church please contact djbraman@gmail.com or contact Westmorelandphc.org