Sharpen Your Blade!

Sharpen your Blade!
sparks
Pr 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

We walk in love, and operate by faith. This verse reminds me of something I heard some years ago, during a leadership meeting.

The minister read this verse, and made the statement: “Seems God takes great delight, when strong leaders, both moving in the same direction, hit each other a glancing blow, and to those on the outside looking in, sparks fly!

He went on to say, that it reminded him of a cole chisel, that if you hit it from the side, it simply sharpens the cutting edge, that you only dull it if you hit head on.

I am a strong leader, and sometimes in my passion and zeal, in working with other leaders, sparks fly. My prayer is that I never dull anothers edge, but that we continually sharpen one another in the love of God.

Pr 9:8 : rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

I am the kind of guy that would rather have someone confront and correct me when I am wrong, than gossip behind my back about me. Bring it on! If I’m wrong, I will quickly repent, receive instruction, and correct myself, and lets get back in the fight, together.

Pr 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Yep, faith produces God’s power, and as we move in the anointing to reap harvests in God, we can cut a wide swath. However, while all this reaping, moving and shaking is going on, the oil that makes the combine move, must be the love of God.

scythe
Ga 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Let’s work our faith, but let’s keep love flowing, so that we can continually sharpen one another, even when the sparks are flying!

I have learned in life, that I either grow in responsibility, or I gotta go…

I either allow myself to be instructed, or I become part of the problem.

Here is my question to you today: ‘Who are you going to sharpen today, and who are you going to allow to sharpen you?’

I would love to hear your thoughts…

Let’s Pray:
‘Father, we love you, and are determined to make an impact with our lives, and bear much fruit for the gospel. Let us not be a stumbling block to the people you have called us to walk with, serve with, and support, and may kingdom conflict only produce the sharpening of our blade, as we encourage one another on to even great exploits, for your kingdom and your glory. Amen’

Strife opens the Door to Demons…

Arguing, bickering, and strife opens the door of your home to demons.

strengt
James 3:4 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
If you want peace in your home, refuse to allow arguing, harsh words, bickering.
I heard of a minister with several hundred employees, that on the job application for employment, he insists ministry employees tithe at their local church, and understand that strife will terminate their employment, instantly.
I will not allow my children to argue and fight, and on one occasion, when they refused to stop, I put them on the front porch and told them they could not come back into the house until they stopped arguing and worked out differences.
In the realm of the spirit, strife opens the door to devils and every evil work. The kingdom of God, is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you want the kingdom of peace in your home, refuse to allow strife under your roof. Its all flesh, and pride anyway, for it is written:Proverbs 13:10

Only by pride cometh contention..
We are servants of Jesus, humble…
Let’s pray:
‘Father, bring Your kingdom in peace today to my home, and my heart. Do not allow me to enter into bickering, arguing, or strife, no matter what people do, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.’

Hear God – Even if you are in trouble!

Revelation brings persecution!

possible not easy

Heb 10: 32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

Mr 4:17  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

2Co 12:7  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

When you honestly hear God, Satan will oppose you. The very direction, illumination, and revelation you have been seeking God for, when granted, brings Satan on the scene.

Why?

Containment.

If he can’t take the Word from you, he will try and shake it from you, and he does this to stop the work of God in the earth.  You cannot judge what you hear from God by your circumstances, or the voices of other people, but must judge what you hear by the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God.

Jesus said: Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

faith John 16-33

The apostles knew this, and taught it to the early church, clearly:

Ac 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

You will have victory in this life, when you believe God, and walk out what He is telling you, but it is not always a walk of ease. There can be intense hardship, affliction, and persecution for following Jesus, to try to get you off of your heavenly mandate and vision.

1Jo 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

faith stand

Your belief will see you through, and you will become stronger than your trial, as you obey God.

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are in a trial of your faith now, know that you are not alone. All of us that have stepped out in faith have experienced challenges, sometimes very, very severely. Yet, God did not bring the trial, He loves us, and is a good God. He will give you overwhelming, supernatural power and grace to not only go through it, but to explode out the other side in total victory, not just a winner, a conquerer, but more than a conquerer in Him. Keep on walking friend, you are not alone warrior, history making and nation shaking is our duty and responsibility, let’s walk through it in JOY!

33  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

Had a group of businessmen that I had led to the Lord buy me a plaque, that read, ‘He is no fool, that gives up what he cannot keep, to gain that which he can never lose!”

It is a statement made by a missionary named Jim Elliot, who was killed for trying to share the gospel with an unreached Indian tribe in South America.

In the eyes of the world, we may look like fools, laughingstocks to people who have no understanding of who we are and what we do. Yet our testimony is making headlines in heaven! What we are doing has eternal weight and consequence!

34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

These Christians loved Paul, their minister, when everyone else wanted him imprisoned or killed. It cost them their stuff, the joyful spoiling of their goods, yet they saw their lives through heavens eyes.

35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

The word Confidence here, is the same word translated in other verses as Boldness. Live boldly for Jesus, and do not back down on what He has told you.

36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Who is He? Jesus! King of kings, Lord of Lords, king of glory! When He shows up on the scene, you trial ends, with His power and glory displayed!

faith king

38  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

What we believe keeps us alive! No matter what the circumstances are screaming, believe, and continue walking forward! You are putting a smile on God’s face as you do, and with all the heartache and evil in the world, that alone should be enough to encourage you. He has been good to us, let’s give Him pleasure!

39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

You are going to make it! Jesus is with you, and I am praying for you! You are not alone, but have heaven on it’s feet, the great cloud of witnesses, cheering you on! Don’t let up, shut up, nor put up with compromise! WHATEVER HE SAYS, DO IT!

faith voice

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Jesus knows, He sees, He feels, and He understands!
He loves you! Even if you feel you cannot see Him:
faith believe sunrise

Is 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus knows! Jesus cares! He knows what you are going through, and these verses declare that He is in it with you! He will never leave you nor forsake you, and has given you Holy Spirit and angels to get you through.

Ro 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

When you have come to the end of yourself, pray in the Holy Spirit. He will help you, strengthen you, comfort, encourage, direct, and reveal to you what needs to be done. Jesus loves you, and so do I, you are not alone….

Is 64:1 ¶  Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

2  As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!

3  When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

4  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

This is the cry of my heart these days. I was in a meeting once, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at a conference in the revival there, at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. Worship had been deep and rich, and there was an incredible presence of God in the air, as the man of God came to the pulpit to preach. Then, it happened: God moved. The minister was knocked to the floor, and like a wave, so were the 5000 people present in the meeting. We laid on the floor, some under chairs, for over an hour, the only sound being the occasional deep sobbing and weeping of God’s people as He ministered. There was a tremendous fear of the Lord in the place. God showed up, not in some Holy Ghost giftings, and goose bumps, but in His power, majesty and glory, and no man could stand to minister, nor speak for that matter.

This is my cry for the church here in the United States, and for America. That God show up, and reveal again His power, majesty, holiness, and glory, to this generation. For this I am pressing in, the hope of the nations, the only hope for this nation….Jesus is Lord!

Yet, even after the manifest presence and glory of God is revealed, we must still walk by faith:

Hebrews 11:6 [Full Chapter]

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Matthew 13:21

yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended

Rev dim light

Seems that in the glory of God, God speaks clearly. When He does, He expects us to believe what He says, to the exclusion of every other voice and circumstance. His passion is to be believed and trusted…this is a way we can put a smile on His face!

When we actually believe that He has not only spoken to us, but that despite the often incredibly contrary circumstances, He, Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth is both willing and able to bring to pass exactly what He said He would….

This, and distractions are the main reasons the works of Jesus do not fully happen in the earth…

He is developing us, for eternal rank and privilege, and this life becomes a training ground for this process, as we learn to live and walk by faith!

Romans 8:29 (King James)

29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

He loves us! Holy Spirit will both bring to our remembrance things He has already told us to do, and will show us things to come…

Yet, His name is ‘I AM’, the one who will never leave nor forsake us, and NOW, faith is.

He has opened doors for you and I:

John 10:3

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out

13 A temptation has not seized you except what is common-to-humanity. And God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but also with the temptation will make the way-out, that you may be able to endure

 

Even now, as we seek Him in His Word, He speaks, He leads, He reveals, and He guides…

 

Acts 22:14

And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth

 

voice

 

Hebrews 3:7

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

 

Hebrews 4:7

again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

 

 

Revelation 21:3

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 

We are called to bring Heaven to earth, by His Word and our obedience to His Spirit.

 

There are always people on the other side of our obedience, people who are good works for us, prepared from before the foundation of the world, for His glory.

 

Yesterdays tragedies, failures, or victories are but memories and instruction points: we learn from them, but today is the day of salvation, and NOW faith is what is required.

 

Today is a great day to obey God, a great day for your miracle, a great day to work miracles in the lives of those He has called you to serve!

 

Let’s Pray:

 

‘Father, Today, I would obey You! Today, I release my faith in You for direction, breakthroughs, wisdom, the hearing afresh and anew, Your voice. I expect You to use me and flow through me today to promote Your kingdom and Your glory, for I come before Your throne, knowing I am loved, heard, and answered, for I have come in Your mighty and matchless name Lord Jesus, Amen!’

For prayer, comments, or to donate online:

Email: chris.aomministries@gmail.com

Donate on-line: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=95XHSDDXDS7MC

OR

Bluebird Account#: 315150058661505

Give in faith!

1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?

1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.

I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…

 

As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.

Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.

I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.

Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:

Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies

It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!

Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!

Daily Bible Reading

Daily Bible Reading

May 16th, 2014
1 Samuel 18:5-19:24, John 8:31-59, Psalm 112:1-10, Proverbs 15:12-14 are today’s readings!

Fight or Flight?

Determined to be like Jesus!

2Ti 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

As I read through today’s reading, I felt Holy Spirit speak to me these words: Fight or Flight?

1 Sam 19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Ps 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
Enemies of God, sometimes, are to be boldly confronted, and fought. Yet, Jesus Himself walked away from enemies trying to stone him, safe in the protection of our Father. On other occasions, He boldly confronted religious leaders, and even took a bull whip to the money lenders! Yet, Paul was lowered over a wall in a basket, David fled into the wilderness to avoid the spears of Saul.

In life, there will be confrontations: Do we fight, or choose flight?

The answer to this and a myriad other questions in life is simple two words: ‘Be led!”

It’s about being led by Holy Spirit, doing the will of the Father for each of our lives, individually, relation-ally, specifically.

Let’s pray:

‘Father, where you have called me to fight, may I stand bold as a lion, enforcing complete victory over our enemies, destroying every trick and tactic of hell operating through them. Where you have called me to flight, may I carefully hear you in this, and run if necessary, that my life be preserved for future service to you. May I be fully led of You, in every area of my life, in Your name I pray, Lord Jesus, Amen!”
Do you know Jesus?

Each day, we seek first the kingdom of God, and this post is designed to encourage you to read through your Bible, daily, each year.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Each day, as we read, we must meet with Him, for He is life!

Knowing Him, is the difference between heaven and hell, healing and sickness, heartbreak or peace, success or failure…

Today, give Him your life, for He is King of the universe.

Ac 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Call on Him today! He knows you, and He loves you!

Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Let’s pray!

“Father God in heaven, I come to you now, and ask that You would forgive me. I choose to believe, that You raised Jesus from the dead, and Lord Jesus, I receive You now. Please come into my life, and fill me with Your presence, plan, and purpose, that I am created to live. Fill me with Your love, and may I obey, and love all those You place in my path, Amen.”