Forgive Future Sins?

Hi WordPress world. I read this article on Guy Dunnicks Facebook page, and messaged him asking his permission to repost it. Enjoy!

Are All Future Sins Pre-forgiven ?

There are some ministers who teach that all the sins of all believers — past, present, and future sins — are already forgiven. They teach that for Christians, every past sin they have committed, every present sin they are committing, and every future sin they might commit is already forgiven. When we study Scripture, however, it is clear that although all the past sins of believers are forgiven, future sins are not pre-forgiven.

It is absolutely true, of course, that the full measure of Jesus’ blood has already been shed, once and for all, and that He will not “re-suffer” or “re-die” or “re-shed His blood.” The full retainer of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross is available and the completeness of His saving work is capable to meet whatever “forgiveness demands” become present in any believer’s life. That does not mean, however, that all the future sins believers might commit are “pre-forgiven.” Although everything necessary for the forgiveness and cleansing of every sin of every person in every generation and at all places — from Adam and Eve up to the last baby that will ever be born; for both sinners and saints — has been provided through the incredible and super-abundant one time and once for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ in His suffering, in His shedding of blood, and in His death, that does not mean that all the sins of all believers are “pre-forgiven.”

It is true, of course, that believers will be forgiven and cleansed of any sin they commit in the future because the necessary provision for the forgiveness of their sins is already in place. Jesus is the propitiation, not only for the sins of sinners, but also for the sins of believers. The blood of Jesus Christ is effectual to cleanse any sins that any believer may commit [I John 1:7]. But believers’ sins are not forgiven BEFORE they are committed; they are forgiven AFTER they are committed.

We could compare the abundant provision of Jesus’ shed blood which the Father planned and Jesus provided for the forgiveness of all sins of all people — past, present, and future — to a good earthly father who, because of his love for his children and his foresight, made a financial deposit into a bank that was so substantial, it could cover every possible future need that might arise in the lives of any and all of the children he might ever have. All the necessary health insurances and life insurances, and medical aid, and lawyers, and legal aid, and anything else that was necessary or might become necessary could be met by the substantial provision that had been put in place by the father before he even had any children. Any time that any of his children had a crisis or a need, or any time a bill “came due,” a draw could be made from the substantial account at the bank and everything that needed to be covered would be covered in full. Although the provision to cover every bill and pay every debt and meet every need was already put in place long before it was needed, the bills and debts and needs would only be paid when they “came due.”

This is exactly what our heavenly Father did for all His children in the New Covenant. He put in place for all lost sinners who He loved and for all of His children who were already saved the full provision of the saving work of Jesus Christ. Everything that might ever need to be dealt with or payed for in the future, including the sins that believers would commit, could be dealt with and payed for. What God pre-planned and pre-provisioned in the New Covenant to deal with the forgiveness and cleansing of believers’ sins — the provision of the precious and powerful cleansing blood of Jesus — is an account so richly funded that there will never be a “debt” incurred by any sinner’s sin or by any saint’s sin that cannot be immediately “paid in full.” As the apostle John revealed in I John 1:7, in I John 2:1-2, and in several other places in his first epistle, true believers can continue to experience, in the present — in “real time” — the forgiveness and cleansing of any sins they commit. Although the provision for the forgiveness of those sins was put in place long before the Father God had any children, the sins that believers commit are forgiven after they are committed, not before.

Earlier in our study, we learned that when believers walk in the light as God is in the light, “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth [them] from all sin” [I John 1:7]. In this verse, the Greek word katharizei that the English word “cleansing” is translated from is in the third person, present tense, active voice, and indicative mood. We know, then, that the cleansing John was referring to in this verse was neither a past cleansing or a future cleansing, but was an ongoing cleansing; a cleansing that was happening “in the present.” This ongoing cleansing was being accomplished by a “third person” — the blood of Jesus Christ. According to John, the cleansing of believers’ sins by the blood of Jesus is a present, continuous, and ongoing cleansing. It is obvious, then, that believers’ future sins have not been “pre-forgiven.”

In I John 2:1-2, John informed his spiritual children that if they sinned, “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” John also revealed that believers have had provided for them a propitiation for their sin; the same Jesus Christ. According to John, Jesus is presently believers’ advocate with the Father, pleading their cases before Him if they sin. According to John, Jesus is presently the propitiation for believers’ sins, dealing with whatever sins they have committed to ensure that there is no impediment in their relationship with the Father. If it was true that every future sin of every believer had already been pre-forgiven, there would be no need for an advocate with the Father. If it was true that all future sins of believers were pre-forgiven, believers would not need a propitiation for their sins.

It is interesting that in our primary text, I John 1:9, John wrote that God, “is [present tense] faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Notice that John did not write that God was [past tense] faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It is clear from John’s words in I John 1:9 that the forgiveness and cleansing of believers’ sins occurs AFTER they are committed. That means, of course, that all future sins have not yet been forgiven.

If every past, present, and future sin was forgiven at the moment a person first believed and was saved, then no believer would need to be cleansed of his sins by the blood of Jesus as he walked in the light [I John 1:7]. No believer would need an advocate with the Father or a propitiation for their sins [I John 2:1-2]. And no believer would need to be forgiven of their sins and cleansed [I John 1:9]. If every future sin was already forgiven, then the blood of Jesus would not be continually cleansing believers of their sins, having an advocate to plead before the Father would be unnecessary, and a “propitiation for our sins” would be unnecessary. John’s teaching clearly reveals that the sins believers commit are forgiven AFTER they are committed, not BEFORE.

This is an excerpt from Guy Dunnicks upcoming book:

“Must We Confess Our Sins?”

Its a 200 plus page study on 1 Jn 1:9

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, where you have appeared distant, and I have sinned against you, show me my terror, that I might humbly ask Your forgiveness and find grace in Your sight today, restored fully to fellowship to You through Jesus precious blood, Amen’

Guy Dunnick heads up ‘Masters Touch’ Ministries here in Tulsa: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Guy-Duininck-Masters-Touch-Ministries

Dangerous Love! by Ed Elliot

30 Dangerous things that can happen to a person who focuses too much on God’s love for them.

Recently, I have seen warnings from ministers to “beware” of focusing too much on God’s love. They seem to believe it is a dangerous thing to have too much information, knowledge or experience about God’s love. My question to them is, “what possible danger is there in knowing and experiencing too much of God’s love?”

I came up with a list of 30 possible dangers that could happen if you focus too much on God’s love for you. I could have easily come up with a few hundred more but here are some that I believe to be the most dangerous.

1. They will speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:15
2. Their faith will work because faith works by love. Galatians 5:6
3. They will know God because He is love. 1 John 4:8
4. They will accurately communicate the gospel because the gospel is a revelation of God’s love for man. Ephesians 3:18-19
5. They will walk in love. Ephesians 5:2
6. They will have a better understanding of the scriptures because they were written by God who was motivated by love. John 3:16
7. They will evangelize because love is the motive to reach a lost world. John 13:34
8. They will have far more confidence in God because they believe in the love He has for them. Romans 8:35-39
9. People who fall in love with God, fall out of love with sin. 2 Corinthians 5:14
10. In loving others, they are actually loving and knowing God. 1 John 4:7-8
11. They will repent quicker because they know God’s goodness for them. Romans 2:4
12. They will know that nothing can ever separate them from God. Romans 8:38-39
13. They will overcome every obstacle and situation because they are convinced God loves them. Romans 8:37
14. They will reflect perfectly and accurately their true nature and God’s character because He is love. Ephesians 5:1
15. They will always know how to treat people, even their enemies. Luke 6:27-28
16. They will have a love, an insatiable appetite, for God’s word. 1 John 2:5
17. They will model what it is like to be loved by God in the same way Jesus did. John 15:9
18. The world will know they belong to Jesus because of their love for one another.
John 13:35
19. Wives will be extravagantly loved because their husbands will love them as Christ loved the church. Ephesians 5:25
20. They will never fail because love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8
21. They will know the heart of God because it is full of compassion and mercy.
Psalm 145:8-9
22. They will be extravagantly generous because love is giving by nature. John 3:16
23. They will be free from fear because perfect love drives out all fear. 1 John 4:18
24. They will fulfill every expectation that God has for them. Romans 13:10
25. They will never be spiritually unbalanced because they know love is greater than faith and hope. 1 Corinthians 13:13
26. They will never lose their faith because their heart is grounded and rooted in God’s love for them. Ephesians 3:17-21
27. They will always know that God will do exceedingly and abundantly for them beyond anything they could ask, imagine or think. Ephesians 3:20
28. They will always know the truth and live in freedom. John 14:6
29. What comes out of their mouth will always be laced with grace. Colossians 4:6
30. They will be spiritually mature. Ephesians 4:15

No where in the entire Bible does Jesus, Paul or the other apostles ever warn believers that focusing to much on God’s love for them can be dangerous thing.

So, I really don’t see any downside to a believer knowing or experiencing too much of God’s love. Seems like all these minister’s warnings to people to be careful about being exposed to too much of God’s love need a healthy dose of knowing and experiencing God’s love for themselves.

By the way, this list of 30 dangerous things that could happen if you focus too much on God’s love for you, isn’t dangerous to you but it is very dangerous to the devil who knows the impact and transformation that happens when a believer focuses on God’s love for them!

By Ed Elliot https://www.facebook.com/wordoflifeworldoutreach/

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

https://chrisaomministries.com/2017/02/27/do-you-want-to-go-to-heaven/

Judge Not? Judging like Jesus..

Judging like Jesus!

Been meditating on the concept of how Jesus judges. Watched the movie, ‘The Shack’ recently, and it got me to thinking. I remember one scene in the movie, where God the Father (appearing as a wonderful black woman) was asked “Why don’t you judge them?”

With raised eyebrows she said: “Judge?”

The overwhelming theme of the movie is how incredibly complex human lives are, and how far God will go in love to reach out and heal and redeem shattered people.

Clearly God is love, and hates evil, yet operates in love above and beyond all evil.

Got to thinking about some Scriptures.

Remember the woman caught in adultery?

Let’s look at it together:

John 8:

Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

² And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

³ And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

⁴ They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

⁵ Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

⁶ This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

⁷ So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

⁸ And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

⁹ And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

¹⁰ When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 ¶ Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

We see in this reading, that Jesus was called to judge in the case of the woman caught in adultery. Many have commented on His great mercy towards the woman, and the wisdom of His judgement on her behalf, standing against the corrupted judgement of the religious leaders of the day. Obviously, for adultery to have occurred, there had to be two participants, and the man was conspicuously absent from this mock trial and potential stoning.

Yet, Jesus was able to render true judgement in this case, and in His judgement, I believe there was grace imparted to the woman, power from God, to empower her to be able to do, what He told her to do: Go, and sin no more.

Yet, today as I meditated upon the Word, seeking the will of our Father for my life, I see something here that I suspected for many times, and that is the relationship between personal holiness and purity of heart, and the power of God displayed.

Normally, judgement is rendered out of the mouth of two or three witnesses. The question logically might be: How do we know if the witnesses are telling the truth? Secondly, what do we do if the society has become so corrupt, that no honest witnesses can be found?

Jesus heart was revealed in His relationship with our Father, in this:

John 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Jesus walk with our Father, was from birth to the cross, in absolute purity, and sinless perfection.

I believe that we are called to walk this way also.

The question is how do we get there, and how do we judge or make decisions?

What about these verses?

Matt 7:1 ¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Here we see a direct commandment not to judge people.

Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Joh 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Joh 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

How on earth, are we supposed to do that?

Answer? This is only possible by correctly applying the Word of God, and accurately hearing the voice of Jesus in the earth, the Holy Spirit!

Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

In all of these Scriptures, we see that we are forbidden to judge other people, yet what about these verses:

Joh 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Joh 5:27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

Does Jesus still have authority to judge? Surely.

Question is, as His representatives and ambassadors in the earth, how do we judge?

1 Cor 4:1 ¶ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

I believe there is a place in obedience to the Holy Spirit, whereby Jesus reveals to us, as leaders, His judgments and decrees in the earth, and that these must be received by direct revelation from the heart and lips of our Father in heaven.

The challenge is what to do with what He shows us?

Are we to pray, prophesy, preach, confront?

This takes wisdom, because sometimes, because He loves us, He simply shows us things, to protect or bring understanding to us, and our families.

Sometimes the best I can do in these situations, where others are set in THEIR ways to do against the revealed will of God, is to quietly walk away and remove myself from them.

I have learned to seek purity of heart and motive.

Why?

Mt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

I, like you, need to see God, clearly, so that I might know the will of the Father. Only when I see and hear Him, can I honestly obey, with a right motive, and judge correctly. He is Lord, I am not, I am nothing but a steward over His work, His Creation. Yet, there are times, when I must stand bold against sin, sickness, demons, and the constructs of the agendas of men and their worldly agendas.

Our job is always to endeavor to obey Him, no matter what!

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

As we obey, we will see more and more power of God manifest in the earth:

Ac 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

As a witness, I need to see something: either His plan, purpose, presence or revealed will in a situation, or perhaps to an event that He performed, a sign, wonder, miracle, that I can testify about. When I witness the Holy Spirit bears witness, and He graciously shows up in my life, as I obey Him!

This, and this alone allows me to judge situations, people, and even governments!

When this happens, I can take His authority, and war for His will in the earth, declaring His decrees and watching as He establishes these in power, as I believe His Word!

You can too!

Let’s Pray:

“Father, I believe that all judgement still belongs to Jesus. He is Lord, and I am His. Jesus, show me your will for my life, my family, my church, my community, my state, and my country. In every area these are not in alignment with your will and your Word, anoint me to arise in violent faith, and to blast every enemy, and to establish your kingdom through your Word declared. Thank you for signs, wonders and miracles establishing your Word in the earth. Amen’

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Grace to live Holy and Happy!

Grace Leads to Holiness!

As we seek first Jesus again this morning, and commit to our yearly Bible reading plans, this thought is impressed upon my mind: Holiness!

Grace is simply God’s power towards us to do what we cannot do.

He wants us to be holy, like Jesus in this world!

Holiness, purity, integrity – almost forgotten word in today’s society, but the very nature and character of God.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.

12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,

I like the way the King Jimmy translation says these verses:

Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

So, grace from heaven, comes in the form of the HOLY Spirit, and teaches us….

What does He teach us?

To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts – to live soberly, righteously, and godly – where? In heaven?

Surely we will live holy there, but this verse is plain. Grace teaches us to live holy here, in this war-torn, broken world…no small task!

2 Timothy 1:9

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

Well, there you have it – true grace leads to true holiness (and, I might add, is the only path to actually get there).

I long to live a pure, holy life, full of love, laughter, peace, where we honestly treat others right from a pure heart – holiness is what this world needs.

He is determined to make us into the image of Jesus: Rom 8:29 CEV

and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children…

I remember reading a quote from Lincoln that has stayed with me over the years:

‘The test of a man’s character is not adversity as many would suggest, for many a good man has made it through a hard time, rather, give that man a little authority, and some money in his pocket, and then see how he treats his fellow man!”

Truly, poverty may reveal sin, but can also reveal eternal character!

God has decided to allow us to rise from the muck and the mire of the human experience, and become the people of honor both heaven and earth long for!

This is the true grace of God, the power to live a holy life!

May this be our desire and pursuit today!

Let’s Pray:

Father, work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Cause us to love purity and holiness, and hate sin. Grant us grace to deny ungodliness, rejecting and and renouncing all that is not like You, Your love, Your presence, Your holiness, Your purity. All that will not enter heaven. Do this today, and every day I pray. I ask, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus! Amen!

Prayer Requests: If you or your family need specific prayer for anything, please send us a prayer request. We as a family will pray for you today, and if you would, please let us know the wonderful ways God answers. This is a great encouragement to us. https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

The Press and the Process – NO COMPROMISE!

The Press!

Sometimes in life, you just gotta go for it! Been thinking about this particular season of transition in my life, as I have gone from being a moving and shaking businessman as a contractor, to becoming more and more obedient to the heavenly call in full time missions these past years, to now, carefully balancing construction as a part time superintendent, to staying aggressively in the face of God to maintain my place in the office and the call….

‘As the things of earth, grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace’ the song goes..

The years of brutally hard work, and then before that the grueling schedule needed to survive my college degree, while maintaining national level fitness in the sport of triathlon, have come back to remind me, that the disciplines that must be in place, to be a champion.

Knowing my passion and drive, I have learned that I must come under the tight rein of the Holy Spirit, desperate for His presence, His voice, His leading, or the self imposed disciplines I would apply to myself, would bury me.

Yet, when we determine to settle for nothing other than the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, without compromise, and hunger for truth, and power with God, seems about every human relationship feels the test of the call.

In the natural, I have given it all. There is no financial seed left to give…in order to merely live each day, Jesus HAS to provide, there is no plan B.

And day by day, challenge by challenge, He has proved Himself faithful.

Has it been brutal? Yes!

Has it been rewarding?

To see the nations changed in prayer, the multitudes moved through my intercession, the experience the radical intimacy and fulfillment that only He can give, I must say, ‘YES!”.

Though I have nothing financially left, I get alone with Him, having stood upon His promises, and I look at the stars in the heavens…He made them!

He will reward this particular stand of faith, and He will not only restore everything I have given, and given up for Him, but will multiply it, and prosper me with not merely heavenly riches, but I will see wealth, and prosperity again, here, in the earth, in my life, supernaturally, by His hand.

To say I have been misunderstood, criticized, etc, would be an understatement, but I am consumed with One who totally satisfies, and I find myself loving people more and more, yes caring less and less whether they love back, or understand…

His voice, His presence, His Word come alive, are more than enough….

Certain things though, are only ‘as He wills..’

His timings, His gifts of the Holy Spirit, His appointments into public ministries, and His financial provisions and breakthroughs, we believe we receive them, and fight for them in faith, daily, yet, if the day ends, and it has not happened yet, then we roll the care of it over upon Him, and deliberately trust that He is faithful, that which He has spoken, that which we have believed we received, will surely come to pass.

In moments of weakness, I have heard Him say, ‘Are you still willing?’, and repeatedly, I have said, ‘Yes, Lord, strengthen, equip me to the responsibility before me, give me grace to survive the brutality of the savage unbelief, and contest of wills around me…;

Some days, I reread, Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

The brutality, the attempted tyranny of the ungodly expectations of people, who are not hearing, seeing, experiencing what is screaming inside of you…

I understand the heart of Paul, when he exclaimed…

Ac 26:19  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Hab 2:3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

I am not a Calvinist, believing in the great sovereignty of God, like we are some fluff in the wind of the cosmos.

No, I am a son of my heavenly Father, and a man of faith, passion, authority, passionately standing upon His promises, that He must fulfill, for He cannot lie.

What does faith look like though, when each day, as you believe, that which you have prayed for most definitely does not come to pass? When it feels like the heavens are brass, and that our faith confessions seem to hit some kind of metal dome over our heads, unheard by God?

In our anguish of soul, comes the comforter, the great One in the earth, the breath and voice of God, and He brings words of encouragement, that nothing on this earth can compare to…

Simple words, like ‘Child, I love you, and I hear your heart, your quietest whispers in the night, and I am with you, and am bringing to pass that which you have believed, for did I not promise and commission these things to you?’

Simple comforts like: ‘You have done my perfect will today!”

These keep me going, like Joseph:

Ps 105:19  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

There is a timing of a thing, and until that appointed time, I am aggressively reading, praying in tongues, after doing my faith confessions for the day, for I must keep my faith fed, strong, and I must fill my soul with good teaching, to grow, to press, to feed the raging hungers inside my heart!

Ps 17:3  Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

I fight to keep my words right, for this is the way of perfection, holiness, and as I allow the Word to grow and work deeper and deeper in my heart, this becomes easier and easier, for as my deepest desires are changed, as He takes His knife to my fears, my filth, my stinking thinking, a practical purity emerges. I don’t have to rigidly watch my confessions as much, for out of my transformed heart, my mouth speaks, and good things come out…

Ps 18:30  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

I trust in Him. He has spoken. I am sorely tried, but after it is all done, I shall be that vessal of honor described in the Word, purged, and fully fit for the Masters use…

Passionate love is worth the pursuit….

God is love….

Let’s pray:

‘Father, I know You, and I hear Your voice. May I not shrink back, or give up, but bring you great glory, in believing. Strengthen me to fully obey, without compromise or reservation, exactly what You have shown me. Comfort me daily, and equip me, for the responsibility of the call, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus.Amen’

The Spirit of Faith! USE IT!

The Spirit of Faith!

Read with me: 1 Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

This is the heart of any true minister. You need faith for your marriage, faith for protection, faith to receive wisdom and revelation from God. Faith to eat your meals, faith to raise your family, faith to provide for your family. Faith to be a good steward over your money.

The Bible says: 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

I want God’s church to grow, so I must continue to preach the Word to you, because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Some of you need faith just to get to church every Sunday. Well,

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Or if you want a teaching on it: https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/why-go-to-church/
https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/04/15/eagles-still-go-to-church/

You now see that regular church attendance is actually in the Word of God, so now, you simply have to agree with the Word, for faith came when you heard it, now do what you believe!

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Once you recognize that your very world is framed by the Word of God, you will have no problem getting to church to hear the good word of God.

Why?

Well, I’m commanded by God to 1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind

;

Now, if you understand that your life is going to be adversely or positively affected according to your hearing of the Word of God, you will reprioritize some things. ‘Seek ye first’is still in the book, not in a legalistic sense but so that God can add all things unto you.

2 Corinthians 4:13 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;

2 Corinthians 4:13 (BBE) But having the same spirit of faith, as it is said in the Writings, The words of my mouth came from the faith in my heart; in the same way, our words are the outcome of our faith;

Romans 4:17 ¶ (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Romans 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

Throughout the week, I spend countless hours praying out mysteries in other tongues, for you.

1 Corinthians 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Why, because faith comes by hearing.

Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

692 argov argos ar-gos’

from 1 (as a negative particle) and 2041; TDNT-1:452,76; adj

AV-idle 6, slow 1, barren 1; 8

1) free from labour, at leisure

2) lazy, shunning the labour which one ought to perform

For Synonyms see entry 5814

My question to you today is what do you believe about your life? Like that old comedy:”Doom misery and despair, if I didn’t have bad luck I’d have no luck at all?”

Like Eeyor in Winnie the Poor, are you down at the mouth, just barely getting by?

Well, you’re carnal then. The children of Israel died in the desert by grumbling and complaining. What are you doing day to day? Calling those things that are not as though they were? Standing boldly on the promises of God, more than a conquerer in Him? Or like the ten spies, do you have grasshopper mentality, all your problems are giants in the land? Where are the Joshua’s and Calebs of this generation who will stand up and boldly declare the victory Jesus bought and paid for in His own blood?

I like the statement I read of the Moravian Christians that went as missionaries to the Virgin Islands to bring the gospel to the slaves there, knowing that it may cost them their lives, that they might need to become slaves themselves, in order to reach the slaves there.

They prayed, “Dear Lord, that we might grant you a reward worthy of Your sufferings..”

They had such a deep revelation of the depths to which Jesus went for us, when He died upon the cross for all mankind, in light of eternity, no sacrifice was too great, in comparison of what He did, to redeem people back to Himself.

Faith, established upon the promises of God despises obstacles. He is the resurrection and the life. He is Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and earth, He lives, and He reigns.

Lets see this spirit of faith in action in the Word of God

David

Did David say to Goliath, “You big mighty man of war. You fearsome giant, and undefeated warrior?”

Not!

He was so in tune with His walk with the Lord, and the promises of God, He saw the problem from God’s perspective. ‘Who is this uncircumcised Philistine to raise up against the army of Almighty God?’

He saw himself from God’s perspective, with a covenant with God.

He saw Goliath from God’s perspective, without protection, and without a covenant.

Can’t you see, this man is without protection, and He dares to raise His hand against God? This should be fun, what’s in it for the man who chops off his head?

Did he run from the giant? No! He ran to him! Faith is not waiting for Jesus to come and deliver them but enforcing Jesus victory in every arena of life.

What about Jonathon?

1 Samuel 14:1 ¶ Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.

14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

16 ¶ And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.

One man, with God, walking by faith got victory over an entire enemy nation. Why, because when he did in the natural, God did in the supernatural,

and:

15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.

God backed up Jonathon, and the earth quaked.

Where are the giant killers today?

The David’s that will look enemies in the eye and tell these mountains to move?

The Jonathon’s that will take the battle to the enemy, not run from it or pretend it doesn’t need to be fought!

He went to the enemy, and he won.

How about the three Hebrew children? Let’s pick up their story in the midst of their challenge.

Danial 3:10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Notice the attack is against the glory of God, we must keep our attackers focused on Him, not us.

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Spirit of Faith – They knew God, and knew He would deliver them!

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

17 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

If you throw us in the furnace O king, God will deliver us and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.

That kind of stand of faith will really tick a controlling person off. They think they are in charge.

19 ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Enemies were destroyed in their own flames.

No weapon formed against you shall prosper.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

In your trial of faith, in the firey furnace of your affliction, the object of your faith will appear!

Jesus, your Lord and your king, shows up, for He will never leave you or forsake you. When He does, you get delivered for God acts!

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

26 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

The kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. Kings come to the light of God’s glory.

Isaiah 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (God shows up, you get delivered, and yes, you get really grateful and glad!)

1 Peter 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

27 ¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

God gets the glory, you get the promotion, and the real purpose of your trial is revealed – the harvest! God has eternity on His mind, and we are the only hope this generation has. Sometimes we go through things at the hands of satan and wicked people, that God allows for a season to perfect us, glorify Him, and most importantly, allow others to come into the kingdom of God.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.

Notice the gospel was preached by the government as a result of the stand of faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They did not bow, they did not burn, and the entire nation came back to God through their stand of faith, and they were promoted!

Ps 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

6 ¶ For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

So who are you anyway? A grumbler, destined to spend forty years in the desert in despair, or more than a conquerer in Christ Jesus?

You can choose what you are going to do right now, COMPLAIN AND REMAIN (In your present trial), or PRAISE AND BE RAISED (seeing the power of God make your mess a miracle!) Praise Him in the midst of your madness, and He will deliver you!

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Jesus made it plain,

John 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.

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

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

So your bills look like they have you whipped? Are they a mountain of bills yet? God said something about mountains in Mark 11:24. Are you down so low you have to look up to see bottom? Not! Never! You are the head and not the tail, a child of the king, made to sit with Him in heavenly places. There is no circumstance that can lord over you, unless you let it. Whatever your circumstance is, get over it with the Word of God.

Jesus is your Lord, and He has the final say.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

If it is in the world, your faith in God is well able to whip it. Are you a grasshopper? Or are you well able to take the land?

Stand in the presence of our king, and let’s reaffirm our faith in Him again.

I don’t care what your bankbook says:

God says:

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

2 Corinthians 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

You are a giver aren’t you?

Let’s believe the Word together!

The Bible says now 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Now how are we to be strong, when we feel so weak?

In the Lord, using our faith-filled words!

Mark 11:22-25New King James Version (NKJV)

²² So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. ²³ For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

I am a whosoever, and so are you! (https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2013/11/12/mountain-moving-faith/)

We are mountain-moving, history making disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

You say it, and God will back you up, and you will be strong.

Is 53:4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Thank you Father, we were healed. We believe it and receive it, now, by faith.

Now normally, I end these exhortations with a prayer, but not today. The Word of the Lord given to me by the Holy Spirit is PRAISE!

Ps 67:5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.

Praise is the weapon of the day, the key to unlock our victory, today.

Hurting, discouraged, feeling beat? Been there, done that…

Sing!

I don’t care if you are choking on every word join me:

‘We bring the sacrifice of praise, into the house of the Lord’

‘We bring the sacrifice of praise, into the house of the Lord’

‘And we offer up to You, the sacrifices of thanksgiving’

‘And we offer up to You, the sacrifices of joy!’

Praise paralyses devils, it is the shout of victory that overcomes the world, for God inhabits the praises of His people!

I remember hearing a testimony of a women doctor, dying of cancer and a heroin addiction named Dr. Lillian Yeoman. She had been asking God to heal her, and bringing His promises of healing before Him in prayer, yet was still dying. One night, lying on her pain-wracked bed, she had a vision, that changed her life. She saw a balance, with one side that was labeled PRAYER, and the other side PRAISE. The side that was labeled PRAYER was weighted down completely, while there was nothing on the praise side to counter-balance the load. She claimed she heard the voice of God speak to her, to PRAISE, and that when the weight of her praise, equaled the weight of her prayer, she would be miraculously healed. So, she began to sing praises to God, like a croak at first, but as she gave herself to it, she began to get stronger, and her voice clearer. She stayed with it, until she literally sang herself off of that deathbed, totally healed of cancer, and totally delivered of her heroin addiction.

He is worthy!

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

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

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 am a five-fold ministry gift and office – this is my life – I pray, I hear, I write, and wonderful things happen. You have your job description, I have mine – this is mine….

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!

The Press and the Process – NO COMPROMISE!

The Press!

Sometimes in life, you just gotta go for it! Been thinking about this particular season of transition in my life, as I have gone from being a moving and shaking businessman as a contractor, to becoming more and more obedient to the heavenly call in full time missions these past years, to now, carefully balancing construction as a part time superintendent, to staying aggressively in the face of God to maintain my place in the office and the call….

‘As the things of earth, grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace’ the song goes..

The years of brutally hard work, and then before that the grueling schedule needed to survive my college degree, while maintaining national level fitness in the sport of triathlon, have come back to remind me, that the disciplines that must be in place, to be a champion.

Knowing my passion and drive, I have learned that I must come under the tight rein of the Holy Spirit, desperate for His presence, His voice, His leading, or the self imposed disciplines I would apply to myself, would bury me.

Yet, when we determine to settle for nothing other than the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, without compromise, and hunger for truth, and power with God, seems about every human relationship feels the test of the call.

In the natural, I have given it all. There is no financial seed left to give…in order to merely live each day, Jesus HAS to provide, there is no plan B.

And day by day, challenge by challenge, He has proved Himself faithful.

Has it been brutal? Yes!

Has it been rewarding?

To see the nations changed in prayer, the multitudes moved through my intercession, the experience the radical intimacy and fulfillment that only He can give, I must say, ‘YES!”.

Though I have nothing financially left, I get alone with Him, having stood upon His promises, and I look at the stars in the heavens…He made them!

He will reward this particular stand of faith, and He will not only restore everything I have given, and given up for Him, but will multiply it, and prosper me with not merely heavenly riches, but I will see wealth, and prosperity again, here, in the earth, in my life, supernaturally, by His hand.

To say I have been misunderstood, criticized, etc, would be an understatement, but I am consumed with One who totally satisfies, and I find myself loving people more and more, yes caring less and less whether they love back, or understand…

His voice, His presence, His Word come alive, are more than enough….

Certain things though, are only ‘as He wills..’

His timings, His gifts of the Holy Spirit, His appointments into public ministries, and His financial provisions and breakthroughs, we believe we receive them, and fight for them in faith, daily, yet, if the day ends, and it has not happened yet, then we roll the care of it over upon Him, and deliberately trust that He is faithful, that which He has spoken, that which we have believed we received, will surely come to pass.

In moments of weakness, I have heard Him say, ‘Are you still willing?’, and repeatedly, I have said, ‘Yes, Lord, strengthen, equip me to the responsibility before me, give me grace to survive the brutality of the savage unbelief, and contest of wills around me…;

Some days, I reread, Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

The brutality, the attempted tyranny of the ungodly expectations of people, who are not hearing, seeing, experiencing what is screaming inside of you…

I understand the heart of Paul, when he exclaimed…

Ac 26:19  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

Hab 2:3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

I am not a Calvinist, believing in the great sovereignty of God, like we are some fluff in the wind of the cosmos.

No, I am a son of my heavenly Father, and a man of faith, passion, authority, passionately standing upon His promises, that He must fulfill, for He cannot lie.

What does faith look like though, when each day, as you believe, that which you have prayed for most definitely does not come to pass? When it feels like the heavens are brass, and that our faith confessions seem to hit some kind of metal dome over our heads, unheard by God?

In our anguish of soul, comes the comforter, the great One in the earth, the breath and voice of God, and He brings words of encouragement, that nothing on this earth can compare to…

Simple words, like ‘Child, I love you, and I hear your heart, your quietest whispers in the night, and I am with you, and am bringing to pass that which you have believed, for did I not promise and commission these things to you?’

Simple comforts like: ‘You have done my perfect will today!”

These keep me going, like Joseph:

Ps 105:19  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

There is a timing of a thing, and until that appointed time, I am aggressively reading, praying in tongues, after doing my faith confessions for the day, for I must keep my faith fed, strong, and I must fill my soul with good teaching, to grow, to press, to feed the raging hungers inside my heart!

Ps 17:3  Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

I fight to keep my words right, for this is the way of perfection, holiness, and as I allow the Word to grow and work deeper and deeper in my heart, this becomes easier and easier, for as my deepest desires are changed, as He takes His knife to my fears, my filth, my stinking thinking, a practical purity emerges. I don’t have to rigidly watch my confessions as much, for out of my transformed heart, my mouth speaks, and good things come out…

Ps 18:30  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

I trust in Him. He has spoken. I am sorely tried, but after it is all done, I shall be that vessal of honor described in the Word, purged, and fully fit for the Masters use…

Passionate love is worth the pursuit….

God is love….

Let’s pray:

‘Father, I know You, and I hear Your voice. May I not shrink back, or give up, but bring you great glory, in believing. Strengthen me to fully obey, without compromise or reservation, exactly what You have shown me. Comfort me daily, and equip me, for the responsibility of the call, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus.Amen’

Grace to live!

Grace Leads to Holiness!

As we seek first Jesus again this morning, and commit to our yearly Bible reading plans, this thought is impressed upon my mind: Holiness!

Grace is simply God’s power towards us to do what we cannot do.

He wants us to be holy, like Jesus in this world!

Holiness, purity, integrity – almost forgotten word in today’s society, but the very nature and character of God.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.

12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,

I like the way the King Jimmy translation says these verses:

Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

So, grace from heaven, comes in the form of the HOLY Spirit, and teaches us….

What does He teach us?

To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts – to live soberly, righteously, and godly – where? In heaven?

Surely we will live holy there, but this verse is plain. Grace teaches us to live holy here, in this war-torn, broken world…no small task!

2 Timothy 1:9

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

Well, there you have it – true grace leads to true holiness (and, I might add, is the only path to actually get there).

I long to live a pure, holy life, full of love, laughter, peace, where we honestly treat others right from a pure heart – holiness is what this world needs.

He is determined to make us into the image of Jesus: Rom 8:29 CEV

and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children…

I remember reading a quote from Lincoln that has stayed with me over the years:

‘The test of a man’s character is not adversity as many would suggest, for many a good man has made it through a hard time, rather, give that man a little authority, and some money in his pocket, and then see how he treats his fellow man!”

Truly, poverty may reveal sin, but can also reveal eternal character!

God has decided to allow us to rise from the muck and the mire of the human experience, and become the people of honor both heaven and earth long for!

This is the true grace of God, the power to live a holy life!

May this be our desire and pursuit today!

Let’s Pray:

Father, work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Cause us to love purity and holiness, and hate sin. Grant us grace to deny ungodliness, rejecting and and renouncing all that is not like You, Your love, Your presence, Your holiness, Your purity. All that will not enter heaven. Do this today, and every day I pray. I ask, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus! Amen!

Prayer Requests: If you or your family need specific prayer for anything, please send us a prayer request. We as a family will pray for you today, and if you would, please let us know the wonderful ways God answers. This is a great encouragement to us. https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Holiness! Society needs it!

Grace Leads to Holiness!

As we seek first Jesus again this morning, and commit to our yearly Bible reading plans, this thought is impressed upon my mind: Holiness!

Grace is simply God’s power towards us to do what we cannot do.

He wants us to be holy, like Jesus in this world!

Holiness, purity, integrity – almost forgotten word in today’s society, but the very nature and character of God.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.

12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,

I like the way the King Jimmy translation says these verses:

Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

So, grace from heaven, comes in the form of the HOLY Spirit, and teaches us….

What does He teach us?

To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts – to live soberly, righteously, and godly – where? In heaven?

Surely we will live holy there, but this verse is plain. Grace teaches us to live holy here, in this war-torn, broken world…no small task!

2 Timothy 1:9

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

Well, there you have it – true grace leads to true holiness (and, I might add, is the only path to actually get there).

I long to live a pure, holy life, full of love, laughter, peace, where we honestly treat others right from a pure heart – holiness is what this world needs.

He is determined to make us into the image of Jesus: Rom 8:29 CEV

and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children…

He has decided to allow us to rise from the muck and the mire of the human experience, and become the people of honor both heaven and earth long for!

May this be our desire and pursuit today!

Let’s Pray:

Father, work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Cause us to love purity and holiness, and hate sin. Grant us grace to deny ungodliness, rejecting and and renouncing all that is not like You, Your love, Your presence, Your holiness, Your purity. All that will not enter heaven. Do this today, and every day I pray. I ask, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus! Amen!

Prayer Requests: If you or your family need specific prayer for anything, please send us a prayer request. We as a family will pray for you today, and if you would, please let us know the wonderful ways God answers. This is a great encouragement to us.

Grace to live!

Grace Leads to Holiness!

As we seek first Jesus again this morning, and commit to our yearly Bible reading plans, this thought is impressed upon my mind: Holiness!

Grace is simply God’s power towards us to do what we cannot do.

He wants us to be holy, like Jesus in this world!

Holiness, purity, integrity – almost forgotten word in today’s society, but the very nature and character of God.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind.

12 It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,

I like the way the King Jimmy translation says these verses:

Titus 2:11-12 (KJV)

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

So, grace from heaven, comes in the form of the HOLY Spirit, and teaches us….

What does He teach us?

To deny ungodliness and worldly lusts – to live soberly, righteously, and godly – where? In heaven?

Surely we will live holy there, but this verse is plain. Grace teaches us to live holy here, in this war-torn, broken world…no small task!

2 Timothy 1:9

[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

Well, there you have it – true grace leads to true holiness (and, I might add, is the only path to actually get there).

I long to live a pure, holy life, full of love, laughter, peace, where we honestly treat others right from a pure heart – holiness is what this world needs.

He is determined to make us into the image of Jesus: Rom 8:29 CEV

and he has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his own Son, so that his Son would be the first of many children…

I remember reading a quote from Lincoln that has stayed with me over the years:

‘The test of a man’s character is not adversity as many would suggest, for many a good man has made it through a hard time, rather, give that man a little authority, and some money in his pocket, and then see how he treats his fellow man!”

Truly, poverty may reveal sin, but can also reveal eternal character!

God has decided to allow us to rise from the muck and the mire of the human experience, and become the people of honor both heaven and earth long for!

This is the true grace of God, the power to live a holy life!

May this be our desire and pursuit today!

Let’s Pray:

Father, work in us to will and to do of Your good pleasure. Cause us to love purity and holiness, and hate sin. Grant us grace to deny ungodliness, rejecting and and renouncing all that is not like You, Your love, Your presence, Your holiness, Your purity. All that will not enter heaven. Do this today, and every day I pray. I ask, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus! Amen!

Prayer Requests: If you or your family need specific prayer for anything, please send us a prayer request. We as a family will pray for you today, and if you would, please let us know the wonderful ways God answers. This is a great encouragement to us. https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/