NDP 2021: MAY OUR HEARTS BE ALL FOR JESUS

Most Gracious God in Heaven, at the start of Holy Week, we reflect with great gratitude and sadness at what our rebellion, sin and iniquity led to on that Friday, almost two thousand years ago. On a hill far way, as the old rugged Cross exacted brutality and pain from the Suffering Savior, You brought one Final Atonement for all the sin of all the world, past, present and future.

Lord, Your Great Son, Creator of Heaven and earth, bore our sin and shame and carried our pains. He was afflicted for the terminal illness of the consequences of our sins. He was persecuted, flogged and then pierced through for our rebellion. He was crushed for all our outrageous iniquities. But by His Wounds, we were healed. By His Stripes He brought us the roadmap to redemption. By His Sacrifice, we were exonerated from paying a massive debt, for which we had absolutely no hope of even paying the interest.

Father, as the Lord Jesus set His Mighty Eyes towards Jerusalem and never wavered, may WE never waver from our commitment to serve, honor and obey You, as the Bride of Christ we have been set apart to be.

May we, as joint heirs with Christ in the Eternal Kingdom, resolve to set our hearts in motion to love You with all our mind, body and soul.

May our feet be planted on the solid ground of the Gospel of Jesus and the Word of God, which stands forever in the Heavens.

May our hands reach out and serve the least of these and never grow weary from doing good, from our homes to the hopeless.

May our ears listen to the clarion call from the Word of Truth to be ye Holy, as YOU are Holy, so we will not stray from the narrow paths of righteousness.

May our eyes see You in all creation as we worship You in Spirit and in Truth, as one day, even the rocks will cry out.

May our mouths proclaim the Salvation of the Lord, wherever we see the lost, hurting and those who need a hand up or a hope whispered.

May the Sacrifice, which comes at the end of the week which changed the entire course of human history, not be trivialized but studied to show ourselves approved.

May it be honored so that we do not grieve the Heart of the Lord and the Holy Spirit.

May this same Sacrifice by the Good Shepherd Who rescued His wayward sheep, be passed down not just to generations not yet born, but the living who grew up in homes where the Name of the Lord is not well known or revered.

Father, so, as we remember the Savior's suffering and persecution, may we as Christians, even venture to call our current sufferings - our jewels!

May we regard suffering for Christ a significant honor.

May the griefs we endure be the fuel for a life symbolized by perseverance.

May our sorrows and troubles be seen in light of Who He is and What He did for us, for on that great and glorious Day, when we see Him - face to Face - all things which are now murky as in a mirror, we shall see Him as He is - the King of Heaven and the Lord of all.

For it is in His Mighty, Strong, Delivering, Powerful, Liberating and Excellent Name we pray - Amen and amen.

WORD OF LIFE, PART 9: HIGHWAY 119 - REST STOP AHEAD

Have you ever made a huge mistake which hurt no one but yourself and promised God to never do it again? Or how about this one? Somehow, again in your own efforts, you have managed to get yourself in a pickle and promised God “Lord, if You get me out of this one, I will…..(fill in the blanks).

We have all done this more times than we can remember! God, in His mercy, grace and long-suffering with us, knows we are going to mess up and it is only His love that prevents Him from striking us dead the next time we make another one of these conditional “promises” we make. Some of these self-inflicted wounds have the potential to damage not just our testimony (depending on the level of degree of sin) but our own walk, if we are not careful.

When God disciplines us due to these shortcomings, it is for our own good. Who among us cannot testify to the goodness and mercy of the God of second, third and 3000 chances? Just imagine if the God of the Bible, the one True God Yahweh, was not our loving Creator who is full of grace and mercy?! (Verses 67-68) Where would we be? God does not just discipline us when we fall short in sin. He also brings correction through circumstances, people, new paradigms and most of all- His Word! "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
Psalm 119:65-72

Teth.
65   You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word.
66   Teach me good discernment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments.
67   Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
68   You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.
69   The arrogant have forged a lie against me; with all my heart I will observe Your precepts.
70   Their heart is covered with fat, but I delight in Your law.
71   It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.
72   The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

As we travel along Highway 119 (as in Psalm 119), we, therefore, now pull over at the nearest rest stop (Verses 65-72) to simply get out and “stretch” our proverbial spiritual legs, be refreshed by reflection of the surrounding scriptures so present in our midst.  This rest area is designed, constructed by the Master and placed there for us to have a significant pause to stir our thinking.  This thinking should lead us to acknowledge our position as sinners saved by Grace in verses 67 and 68. It is only then we can fully comprehend His unmerited favor. Stretching our spiritual limbs should result in another desired effect. That is, it should birth an overwhelming sense of gratitude of what this Grace really looks like.

It would behoove every Christian, who is in the lifelong pursuit of holiness to use our few quiet moments in this spiritual rest area to meditate on verse 65. From this flows the instruction in the Revealed Word and Decrees of the Master Himself (verse 66). God has dealt well with us, in spite of ourselves and our mistakes, by His provision of our temporal needs. When we could not figure out how this bill was getting paid, or how our sick child was going to be cared for at the doctors, or how we were going to get to work the next day when the car would not start last night. When He provided this or that, just in the nick of time or brought us to this place where we found just the perfectly home within our price range, where community and safety were readily available.....these are some of the things which show that He has "dealt well" with this Servant. The most important part of the entire equation of course is the fact He saved our souls from the fires of hell.

Our reflection in the "rest area" will not be complete and we should NOT get back on the expressway, until we know that there is a verse 69. This verse represents the orange cones of life. These "orange cones" are not just things which slow us down, way down, but can become obstacles in life. Any so-called allegedly spiritual philosophy which tells you that "your best life is now" and you have the power to speak things which are not, into being, because you have the power of the "I am" will cause you severe internal engine trouble in the journey of life. The truth is this: you and I are going to face trials, tribulations and taunts from the enemies of God who have simply transformed themselves into those who HATE the people of God - Christians.

Oh, may we never forget, we are children and followers of the Suffering Savior, Who held up His Suffering for our sake, as a standard. This is the very Standard which was in the plans and Mind of Holy God, before He spoke the world into being in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. Do not despise the seasons of suffering, of going through the difficult times and testing because these are not the times that try men's and women's souls. 

These are the times which show our mettle. 
These are the things which show that of which we are made, in our core. 
These are the tests which graduate us from spectator to special in the Eyes of God and man. 
These are the testimonies which show the world we are who we say we are, and more importantly, we are WHOSE we say we are - Yahweh! 
This is the true meaning of perseverance of the saints which can provide the fuel for the next leg of the journey, in Jesus' Name.
This is what should be in our rear-view mirror as we drive on ahead through the construction zones of life, where we sometimes get slowed way down from our normal daily clip. 
This is what we need to grasp from Psalm 119:71 when the inspired Scripture says: "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes".

Let us learn from the Master, the ultimate GPS of our lives, Whose love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, direction, protection, provision and simple GRACE are the most priceless things in the world - ever (verse 72). Let us lean ONLY on Him for the very fuel of each and every moment that we may cruise in peace, joy and contentment, all the days of our lives. Let us resolve to live like this, from this moment on, and experience what is truly the most fruitful and meaningful life, we can possible imagine. It will bless you. It will bless everyone else around you, for an eternity. Amen

(Image 1 Credit Here)
(Image 2 Credit Here)

JESUS IS THE REAL CLIMATE CHANGER - NOT MERE MORTALS

In these last days, where every man (and woman) does what is right in their own eyes, we see increasing tendencies in people, including even somereligious leaders, to assume God's power unto themselves. Some do it without knowledge. They lack knowledge because they know not the One Who gives true knowledge. 

The Bible says at the beginning of the Wisdom Book of Proverbs that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge". The reason we have no knowledge in the world today is there is absolutely no Fear and Awe of God. Even with some of today's Christian "leaders", you can see it in their secular TV interviews where they fail to defend the Truth of the Word of God and the Gospel and weasel around the topics of sin, salvation and Satan.  In the religion of Climate Change (formerly known as Global Warming), more and more of professing Christians are falling for an untruth because they do not know the Scriptures of the One Who inspired and wrote it. Those of us who are followers of Yahweh, the Great I am, know that only He can change the climate, the winds, the weather because He created them all.

When Jesus rebuked the winds after the disciples woke Him up in the middle of the storm as He slept on a pillow, those winds feared Him and stopped. "They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" (Luke 8:24).

All creation worships Him. Yet, increasingly and unfortunately, are dismissing His claims as Creator and Sovereign God over all. This mindset of "man-made climate change" leaves the Creator completely out of the picture and creates a god out of mortal men who now think they have the solutions to things they know nothing of, hereby overruling the Sovereignty of Holy God. 

Which person today can create a snowflake, a rain drop or an apple on a tree? Who can create a mountain and the elk or mountain goat to inhabit it, thereof? Who can fill the sea with fish, and even when natural fossil fuels (called oil) seeps out of the ocean bed, those same seas cleans and restores themselves? Who can describe how every part of the human eye was created and who create sight in the blind? No one can. There is no one.  Even the god of the lost - Charles Darwin doubted his own theory of evolution when he said "to suppose that the eye with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus to different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I confess, absurd in the highest degree...The difficulty of believing that a perfect and complex eye could be formed by natural selection, though insuperable by our imagination, should not be considered subversive of the theory.” (A broken clock is right twice a day).

While we expect non-believers to act, sound and behave like unbelievers, what is really troubling are today's celebrity preachers - are not even speaking the Truth about any of this. Their silence is acquiesence to it, in a way.  
There are so many Bible passages from Genesis and through the New Testament that these preachers have no excuse for not proclaiming Truth and standing ON the Truth. The Truth is as plain as day. What Creation does not explain in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 on Creation, the first book of the Bible ever written – the Book of Job – explains in Job chapters 38-41. (Watch the video below on Creation). God is very clear as He tells Job about the storehouses of the snow and hail; the lightning and winds. God fills in more details on dinosaurs; the great Leviathan fish; the entire Galaxy of stars and their names and more. Yet, most, if not all of these modern American and western celebrity speakers; preachers and pastors would say nothing about that as young children are brainwashed into thinking that they came from an ape or some non-existent “Big Bang” as being responsible for them being here.  These same western church leaders then complain that young people are walking away from Christianity as, they lose members.  Instead of looking at their own modus operandi, they proceed to hire marketing gurus to develop more useless programs which end up creating MORE unbelievers! This is more than a travesty. This is unforgiveable. It reminds me of millstones and neckties. But that is another story.

This is the foundation for the confusion about who controls the Climate. Born-again, spirit-led believers and students of the Bible instinctively know who is owns, controls and directs all the affairs of mankind – GOD. Almighty God, King of the Universe Who will show His Mighty Hand one day soon, is Lord of EVERYTHING. HE IS LORD OF EVERYTHING, NOW. He is Lord not then but NOW. He owns the back 40 in Odessa, Texas and the frozen tundra north of Alaska. He owns the land some Saudi king has his worldly palace on and the majestic snows of Kilimanjaro. He owns the ice that stops foolish ships in Antarctica and the heights of Mount Everest. He owns Vatican City; New York City and Diverse City, USA. He owns it all. What is mere man, whether he is a priest, politician, CEO or scientist, before the Power and Majesty of Holy God? 

Those who question the Creator and His Sovereignty would do well to see where this "man-made climate change" movement is heading - doubting the Power and Role of God in Creation. It is so dangerous that it can lead to so many people doubting their faith and eventually walking away from Jesus as we see in increasing numbers daily. It all started when mortal men first started promoting earth worship and worship of the Creation rather than the Creator Jesus. Here is what God has to say about this: For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (Romans 1:20-23)

In all of this, one thing is constant - Jesus (Yahweh) is the King. He created all things and all things were created by and for Him. He controls that which He has created and that includes - the Wind, the Rain, the Snow, the Storms and all thereof. He controls the Climate and changes it as He pleases. It was so, IS SO, and will always be.

LIVING WATER- THE SOURCE OF TRUE LIFE

Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks of this water which I will give to him will never be thirsty for eternity, but the water which I will give to him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  (John 4:13-14)

There is no way any creature on planet earth can survive without water.  Even creation without souls and wills need water to live, thrive and survive. Plants need it. Animals need it and mankind, who was made a little lower than the Angels definitely cannot live without water. Scientists say that the average human can go  days without food, not so with water. Dehydration or lack of water in the human body can lead to physical, emotional and mental problems according to doctors and scientists in both the private and public sectors. We see the effects of drought not just in third world countries, but increasing in an America which has not just abandoned a God but constantly shakes its collective fists at Him, refusing to humble ourselves and repent, turn from our wicked ways and be healed. Hence, spiritual dehydration can lead to a slow spiritually bankrupt life, which will result one day in eternal separation from the Creator. 

There's nothing like a high mountain stream. Crisp, clean and clear, it pours out of the words of heaven. At first it slips down an incline and glides clean over smooth rock, picking up speed and cutting its own path this way and that. The Lord knows even where that little source of life goes. He directs thirsty people to it. 

There's nothing like the taste of a high mountain stream. It has a natural sweetness and unique flavor which no bottled water manufacturer anywhere in this world could duplicate. It's the natural, original grace and goodness of God. 

There's no such thing as eternal life without Living Water. This living water quenches the spiritual thirsty that has plagued humankind since the Fall in the Garden. This living water, once you and I drink it, does not require paying a monthly water bill or stopping in the local grocery store for a bottle of Dasani.  Sine every human being since Adam and Eve sinned, was born spiritually dead in our sins. It is only the pure Grace of God reaching down from Heaven, looking at the Sacrifice of God the Son (Jesus Christ) which pulls us out of the bottomless pit. 

The majority of mankind would rather rebel like Moses and STRIKE the Rock rather than speak to Him and seek a right relationship with God, through Christ. (Scripture told us the rock which Moses struck, when he was specifically told to speak to it, WAS Christ  (1 Corinthians 10:4)). Jesus told us of the rich man who was in hell and he was in torment, yet he thirsted. Being conscious, he even sought a sip of water to cool his tongue. Why does this even have to happen when the cool, peaceful water of Life is completely FREE and available to everyone, everywhere (John 3:16)?!

Let's think about this next time up on the front range of the Rockies and the snow starts melting or hiking around Pine Mountain, Georgia...or the gorgeous Smokey mountains. Have you drank at the font of life? Why not?!

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER TODAY - DAY 5 of 5 DAYS OF PRAYER

FIVE DAYS OF PRAYER (SUNDAY MAY 3- THURSDAY MAY 7, 2015)

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

9 For He spoke, and it was done;

He commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;

He frustrates the plans of the peoples.

11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,

The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,

The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. (Psalm 33:8-12)

Oh Most Heavenly, Kind, Gracious and ever-loving Father, we have lost our fear of You, no longer stand in awe of You and disrespect You at every turn. In fact, Great God of Heaven, we are more in awe of ourselves and who we think we are, how good and powerful we are when we are nothing but dust dressed in filthy rags, on our way to perdition as a people, who have completely lost our minds and our ways.

Father, our Families have failed You. We have become just like the world inside as well as outside. We have allowed garbage into our homes via the television sets instead of turning it off. We get caught up in the latest crazes and waste money on them. We have let family hour go where we cease to communicate with our children about what is going on in our schools and their lives. We no longer train up a child in the way he or she should go, so they will not depart from it. We don't do those things because we are lax in our personal prayer and devotional lives to You, Almighty God. We now longer make the Bible the cornerstone on which we build the foundation of our homes, still we call ourselves Christians and drive up to Starbucks on the way to church so we can put on a nice show on Sunday mornings. There is no shame anymore as the inside of some of these youth groups are no different than what goes on inside a secular malt shop or drive-in movie. Lord have mercy on our families! Christ and His Righteousness no longer seems to be the Master of our Homes. We repent of that and it stops today. We return to our first love and the original mission of the family, which is to be united in Christ and Godly, missional and focused on You, in Jesus' Strong Name, amen.

Sovereign God, King of the Universe, why do these nations rage and the corrupt evil people of this world imagine a vain thing. Like Lucifer in Isaiah 14, they have assumed unto themselves at the United Nations, in presidential palaces and houses of power, in media halls and colleges, the vain deception that it is NOT YOU Who are in control but man. This is the same deception which led to the evil one's fall with one third of the angels that You are not sovereign over anything at all, in fact they shove the lie of evolution and climate change into the minds of children, turning them from you, hour after hour, day after day until our young people can find no purpose in their lives and seek it in the man-made systems and pleasures which leadeth to destruction. We know You said it would be better if a millstone were put around the necks of those miscreants and they be cast to the bottom of the sea for misleading Your little ones, but they have no respect for You as they blaspheme Your Name and in fact, worship other pagan non-existent gods, protect those idols and then persecute and kill Your saints in the Middle East and everywhere else. They brainwash even small children now, with sensual matters of the flesh which Thou hast ordained for married adults. Lord, have mercy on our children and the generations to come, if You tarry.

Lord, this nation was built on religious freedom by authentic women and men of God who risked their lives in their former homes, to sail the deep blue and create the greatest country which ever was. America was synonymous with Christianity for a century, and was blessed with untold riches in resources, people and ingenuity. But now, we have lost our way, as our religious leaders are hiding in their posh caves, behind their BMW's and $65 million dollar aircraft and ministries, pretending to speak for You, while the nation is heading straight into hell. Father, oh Most Powerful and Great God, we repent and submit to the Judgment of drought, famine and disease which are coming our way, and is already here in California and elsewhere, and seek to return to You. On behalf of the remnant of our fellow believers, we ask forgiveness for turning away from You and following after this seedy culture when Christ is all we need, and all sufficient for us. Even if they say we cannot say His Name in public, He lives in our hearts and the hearts of all who are saved by Him, so let us live in such a manner than they will know we are Christians by our love, in Jesus' Name, amen.

Lord Your bride the church has failed You. We let others do what you called us to do, and they made slaves to men for their meager bread and row paneled houses instead of making servants for the King. We have developed programs to feed our egos and grow men's kingdoms instead of telling of the Kingdom of God. We have preached fell good messages so people giving money won't go to the other "tickle-your-ears" church with the fancy coffee and pastry down the street and then put it on TV for other people to be misled. We have ceased making disciples and holding prayer services to instead have fancy conferences and seminars to tell ourselves how smart we are. We have ceased from proclaiming the urgency and evil of the times and instead are telling people, who sit in comfortable pew chairs, that Jesus is coming any minute, so we can just keep sitting there. There is no love for the lost, no passion or hunger to help the hurting and the hopeless and most times not even a prayer for the persecuted. Lord, we are completely ashamed and embarassed to even look to Heaven  and cry out to you, because we are part of churches who do all of the above and more. We repent, right now, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, for all our short-comings. May this insane and purposeful failure to obey You, cease this day and may we according to Your Will, Word and Statutes, now and always remain, abide and walk with You, surrendering our lives to You, in the Name of the Messiah, Jesus the King, amen. 

TEN DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: OCTOBER 24-NOVEMBER 2, 2014, Day 3

WHY PRAY? – Part 2

The great 19th century Missouri teacher on prayer Edward McKendree (EM) Bounds said the following on prayer, in one of his many sermons: "It is a man's business to pray, transcending all other business and taking precedence over all other vocations, professions or occupations. Our praying concerns ourselves, all men, their greatest interests, even the salvation of their immortal souls. Praying is a business which takes hold of eternity and the things beyond the grave. It is a business which involves earth and heaven. All worlds are touched and worlds are influenced by prayer".

As I studied this EM Bounds quote, I discovered the following verses on prayer back up the old Missouri pastor's teaching on the "transcendence and prominence" of our prayer. In 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Scripture says "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way".

It goes without saying, that a woman or man of God's thinking must transcend those of the rest of the perishing world.  If we think of the word "TRANSCEND", and we apply it to prayer, first in the natural its definition means "to go beyond the ordinary and its limited thereby exceeding in excellence". (Giving God prominence in our lives, regardless of our station, is already a given).

The Christian who takes up the mantle of making "all supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving for ALL people" has already transcended, surpassed and blown past the mediocrity of the average and thus, has placed the Work and Wonder of God in Prominent, Permanent display - to the praise and Glory of His Name! It is this type of Christian who, when called to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) can then proceed to have "such a hope, that we may be bold"(2 Corinthians 3:12)!

It is this characteristic of our Christian DNA which gives the purpose, thereby propelling us to intercede for our persecuted brethren in faraway lands AND next door. In the civilized western world, as post-Christian or post-modern as it is, persecution comes in different subtle ways. We must intercede for military chaplains and others in the public arena who are constantly under pressure to refrain from "praying in Jesus' Name", we should also pray for our young people who are put upon by an increasingly hostile public education system and are persecuted for simply believing the Bible and its truth. This same harsh treatments are not extended to the violent non-Christian religions, since these people are fulfilling the Will of God without knowing it, just like the pharisees who killed Jesus in 30 AD went did. So we pray for our children as well as those in the latest update from OPEN DOORS:

ITEM:"Boko Haram militants killed more than 30 civilians and burned two churches in two attacks on the border towns of Amchide and Limani in northern Cameroon on Oct. 15-16. The Cameroon Minister of Defense, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, said the heavily-armed Boko Haram members crossed the Nigerian border in armored vehicles and stormed the villages.

ITEM: "Unknown attackers killed a Christian man by machete and injured another in Bukoba in northwest Tanzania on Oct. 9, according to sources and reported by World Watch Monitor....church members have been receiving threats from Muslim expatriates in Bukoba, who have vowed to decrease the number of Christians in the area. 

ITEM: "On October 21st, Islamist militias invaded the ancient Christian settlement of Sadad, Syria, killing at least 45 people, and injuring many more." 

FATHER, WE AS A PEOPLE, COME TO THEE WITH BROKEN HEARTS, HUMBLE SPIRITS AND SURRENDERED SOULS SUBMITTED TO THE WILL AND PURPOSES OF CHRIST TO PRAY, INTERCEDE, CRY OUT AND BEG FOR YOUR MIGHTY, TRANSFORMATIVE TOUCH IN THE LIVES OF THOSE OF US WHO ARE UNDER DURESS HERE IN WEST, IN OUR SCHOOLS WHERE THE AGENDA OF THE LEFT IS TO CORRUPT AND LEAD YOUR CHILDREN ASTRAY, THEREBY TAKING AWAY THEIR LOVE AND TRUST FOR YOU AND INCREASINGLY, TO BUILD ON NATURAL HUMAN DOUBT TO MOLD IT INTO AN ATHEISM WHICH HAS NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE THE DAYS OF NOAH OR THE NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. WE PRAY FOR THE REMNANT STILL IN THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AS WELL AS THOSE WHOM THEY AFFECT, TO STAND BOLDLY AND LEAD COURAGEOUSLY WITH DYNAMIC SPIRIT-LED POWER TO PROTECT THE NEXT GENERATION OF PRAYER WARRIORS AND INTERCESSORS.

ALSO FOR TODAY, OH MOST HEAVENLY AND MERCIFUL GOD, IN JESUS' NAME, WE PRAY FOR THOSE IN THE VILLAGES OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN AFRICA WHO ARE BEING RUN OUT OF THEIR HOMES AND ARE HAVING THEIR VILLAGES AND CHURCHES DESTROYED BY BOKO HORAM.....NOT JUST IN NIGERIA, BUT INCREASINGLY IN CAMEROON, TANZANIA AND OTHER PARTS OF AFRICA WHERE ISLAM IS WIELDED BY THE MERCILESS SWORD OF HATRED FOR YOU AND THE CREATOR - JESUS CHRIST. 

WE PRAY FOR YOUR PEOPLE, OUR BRETHREN IN THE ANCIENT CHRISTIAN REGION OF SADAD, SYRIA, WHERE SCORES HAVE ALREADY BEEN MARTYRED, AND EVEN MORE INJURED, BY THE FOLLOWERS OF THE SAME RELIGION WHICH WOULD MAKE EVEN THE PRIESTS OF BAAL OR FOLLOWERS OF MOLECH CRINGE. LORD WE KNOW NOT HOW YOUR SAINTS IN THESE REGIONS PERSEVERE THROUGH TIMES LIKE THESE WHERE THE BODIES OF THEIR WOMEN ARE VIOLATED AND OTHERS ABUSED INHUMANELY, BUT FATHER OF ALL GRACE, WHOSE MERCIES ENDURETH FOREVER, GRANT THEM FAVOR, LOVE, COMPASSION AND STRENGTH RIGHT NOW, IN JESUS' STRONG NAME AND MAY THEIR PERSECUTORS RELENT, REPENT AND TURN TO YOU BEFORE THE COMING DAY OF JUDGMENT, IN HIS NAME, AMEN.

OH MOST HOLY AND REVERENT FATHER, WE LONG TO BE MEN AND WOMEN OF PRAYER, PURPOSE AND PASSION, WHOSE CALLING TRANSCEND THE ORDINARY AND SEE THE EXTRAORDINARY WHICH CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN YOU, AS WE LIFT YOU UP, FOR THE PRAISE AND GLORY OF YOUR NAME, THROUGH CHRIST OUR KING, AMEN AND AMEN.

 

"I AM STATEMENTS OF JESUS" - THE IMPACT OF JESUS OVER 2000 YEARS

Jesus Christ is not just the Creator of the World and everything therein.
Jesus Christ is not just the Lord and Savior of all mankind.
Jesus Christ is not just the High Priest, Prophet and King Who lives to make intercession for the elect.
Jesus Christ is not just the loftiest idea in literature, the melodies of a million songs.
Jesus Christ is not just the Image of the Invisible God:
He is the inspiration and the driving force of the following:
- The entire hospital and the entire health care system we have today.
- The entire educational higher educational system we have today.
- The missionary movement which took civilization, health care, clean food & healthy systems to the western world and to Africa, India, China and all points in between.

Princeton, Harvard and Yale all began as Christian colleges to promote the teaching of the Gospel. Princeton started as a bible study group. What they have become - secular humanist anti-Christian institutes of higher learning - is a testimony to the sin of mankind, for which accountability will be required one day. 

The following video: Part 1 of this two part TV show teaching examines first the foundational understanding  and underpinnings of Who Jesus Christ is, some of His impact, and the Historical/Biblical background of this teaching. 

Part 2: THE "I AM STATEMENTS" Examined....

777 - SEVEN DAYS OF PRAYER STARTS TODAY (JULY 1-7, 2014)

DAY ONE (JULY 1, 2014):
When Anne Graham Lotz (daughter of the great Evangelist Billy Graham) introduced 777 - "An Urgent Call to Prayer",  it marked the first national call to Prayer and Repentance from any national recognized ministry or church leader in a long time. For troubled times like these, this Call could not be any more timely.

While prayer is beneficial to a people and for the personal growth of those called by God, it remains the only line of Communication from the created to our Creator God in Heaven. Prayer still remains the only way we build our love and relationship with Abba Father above. Prayer has been given to us as the modus operandi to enhance our fellowship with "oh, what a Friend we have in Jesus". Prayer still remains the only way to seek forgiveness for our sins -personal and corporate - and to be forgiven by the Father and Judge of the Universe.

Anne Graham Lotz laid out these three purposes as we proceed as individuals to deepen our prayer life and strengthen our walk with Jesus Christ, over these next seven days:

·     For God the Father to restrain, protect, and deliver His people from the evil that has come into our world.

·     For God the Son to be exalted, magnified, and glorified in His church, in our nation, and in our lives.

·     For God the Holy Spirit to fall on us in a fresh way, compelling the church to repent of sin and our nation to return to faith in the living God, resulting in a great national spiritual awakening.

These are worthwhile objectives to keep in mind, but as we begin any prolong period of focused prayer, as we have done several times in recent years on this blog - THE WRITE STUFF - we MUST begin by acknowledging His Sovereignty, His Majesty and His Power.

So as we begin this brief journey together, let us worship His Majesty:
Father God, in Jesus Strong and Mighty Name, I say like Job (Chapter 42) did “I know that You can do everything, that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." You are all Powerful, all Magnificent, all Glorious, all Knowing, all Sovereign and all Righteous.

Lord, Your Power and Glory has been seen for all generations for all times. You are the Creator and Commander of the Universe. You are the Foundation of Time and the Diviner of All Truth. Nothing came into being or was or is or will be unless YOU, My Father, said so. Nothing lives or dies or flourishes, unless YOU, My Father, grant grace, breath and life according to Your Perfect Will and Wonder.

There is no one greater than You.

There is no one stronger than You.

There is none more righteous than You.

There is none more Holy than You.

There is none like You. 

Therefore Most Holy and Righteous  Father, and as Job said in verse 6 (Chapter 42), I detest myself and my sin and repent in dust and ashes. I am not worthy to be in Thy Holy Presence. I am like filthy rags and have become undone, as Isaiah was when he saw the King. I am a man of unclean lips. We are people of unclean lips and unwashed hearts and yet, You still listen and love and grant us life and liberty.

Lord, I acknowledge You, adore You, glorify and thank You. I worship and bow down before You and praise You Holy Name, on this blessed day You have given. Father in addition to our daily conversations with You, may these next seven days be an extra offering from us, Your people, as we cry out to You for a special dispensation, for such a time as this, in Jesus Holy and Most Powerful Name, amen.

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 30

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 30
GOD IS JEHOVAH SHAMMAH


"Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there" goes the well known auto insurance commercial! The implications is that no matter what the cost or the consequence, whenever you have an accident or issue which calls for insurance coverage, you can more than depend on the integrity and full faith of State Farm Insurance Company! In fact, you can rely on them being there, no matter what the reason.


Of course, this is only valid if you pay the high premiums regularly. If your teenage kids have a couple fender benders while they are still young, watch how fast some of these auto insurance companies drop you from their roster!


God is not like that (thank God)! First of all, there is no cost  to being covered by the Blood of the Lamb.  Jesus Christ paid it all on the Cross of Calvary. He is always THERE for us, when we are in pain, trouble or just need a friend.


Unlike the temporary coverage of any type of insurance companies, God's Coverage is forever. He gives Fire Insurance. If you are truly saved and born-again by repenting, believing and accepting His Sacrifice for Sin on the Cross, His Blood is the only True "Insurance" mechanism by which you and I can avoid going into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. The majority of the world does not have that eternal guarantee or protection from the fires of Hell!


This "Fire Insurance" is free, but it should cost US something which we should willing pay....not because God demands it of us, but because we want to KNOW HIM better and desire that closer walk with Him! If someone rescued you from a burning house, should it ever accidentally catch fire, you and I would be forever grateful to the brave fireman or neighbor who pulled us out of the inferno, just before the entire house exploded out of control. So we should be with Almighty God.


Many times, from beginning to end, God says to His people "I will never leave nor forsake you". He said it in Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5 and Hebrews 13:5. Jesus Himself said it at the end of Matthew 28 "lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the age "(verse 20). There are other Promises from the Holy God, Who cannot lie, and Who made this promise!.


You can count on Him. No matter what trial or tribulation, You can count on Him. No matter what you are facing, you can count on Him. From the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same, He is there for you. From the moment you are born until the second you leave this earth and cross into eternity, He is there for you.


He is Jehovah Shammah, the God Who is just - THERE! He is everywhere. You can't run from Him and you do not really want to, either! Praise God. Trust Him; fall on Him; fall before Him; surrender to Him and you will never regret it.


Father in the Name of Jesus, I just surrender my entire life into Your capable Hands, not only because You have the free Fire Insurance policy called Salvation, which saved me from eternal separation from You, but because I want to. Lord, I want to know You, the God Who is always There, better. Lord I want to learn Your Ways to love you more and more each day. Lord I want to know Your Word to learn all Your attributes, which are more than just Names, they are the every essence of You, Almighty and eternal Father.


You are my Creator and Sustainer and I come to You to not just know the One True God, but to live my life fully aware of His Presence in my life and my very being as Your Spirit lives in me. I release the Power of Your Spirit in my life and give Him full access to every area of my life so He can wash, cleanse, instruct, guide, convict and then lead me on to the path of full revelation of Who You are and what a complete Joy it is to have been adopted into Your Eternal Kingdom!


Jesus gave us this promise before He left earth the first time and He said “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:1-3 ESV)


Father, I not only believe this Promise, I know in my very being that it is completely True. He said it, I believe it, the Spirit confirms it! Lord, I rest in that knowledge You are always there fore me, from the moment I was created in the womb, until I breathe my last earthly breath - You are there! And I know, because of the Promise from Your Son, Who is my Advocate and Savior, when that last breath comes, I will be there with You forever!


What an amazing thing that is, Father! What peace...what true joy in the inner man...what revelation...what a saving knowledge to know that You, Abba Father, are always there for me. And because of that and because You live forever, I can face today, tomorrow and all through this life with a song in my heart and Your Word on my lips. Thank You, Lord, in Jesus' Holy and Mighty Name, amen!

THANKS FOR PRAYING THE 30 DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE WITH ME!

THERE ARE MORE NAMES AND ATTRIBUTES, AND TOMORROW - A BONUS ONE!

(Image by Google Images)