Worship is vital to any church service. Worship is important in our private times with God in the secret place. Worship creates an atmosphere perfect for the Holy Spirit to impart anything of the Kingdom of God within our lives, even HEALING! One night we had a house church service, and I began to sing a medly of worship songs, and everyone began to join in on these worship songs, and the more we worshipped, the greater the glory filled the atmosphere, and soon people began calling out their healings, in total there were three healings in that moment of worship.
Read (Matt. 8:1-3.) These verses tell of how a man with leperousy came to Jesus, but notice he first worshipped Jesus, and it created an atmosphere of anticipation to receive something from Jesus. An environment for faith was just created. The man said to Jesus, "If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean" Jesus replied, "I will." It is God's will for us to be whole. It is the atmosphere of the Kingdom of God, wholeness.
(Romans 14:17) tells us, "For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink: but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." God's Kingdom is a lifestlye in which we can conciously live in each day; living righteously, with peace..peace knowing we have all we need in this life and in the life to come in Jesus Christ, and joy in the Holy Ghost..joy in knowing God has everything under control. So, remember, let the heart of worship dwell within you...adopt a life of worship...worship is born in the spirit man out of a deep appreciative love for our Lord and Savior. God Bless.
Did you ever realize the Kingdom of God is important? did you know God's Kingdom is for every believer? did you know the Kingdom of God is within you?
Some people get stuck in one message, over and over again, when there's a whole entire buffet of God's Word to explore. We are told to preach the Kingdom (Luke 9:60) "Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God." We must look beyond acts 2:38, and begin preaching the Kingdom of God. When you do, you'll realize God's Kingdom is for ALL the one's that have receive the Spirit of Adoption. (Rom. 8:14-16.)
You'll understand the Kingdom of heaven is not segrigated into denominational sects, or creeds, language, or social status. It is ONE Kingdom. Not just in this area will your eyes be opened, but also, we can begin living Kingdom lifestyle right here, right now!
(Matt 4:17) tells us that after Jesus was in the desert for 40 days and nights tempted of the devil, he began to preach the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
I see it this way, the kingdom of heaven is the subtancial part of the Kingdom, it can be seen, heard, felt, tasted..but the Kingdom of God is the unseen part of the Kingdom that is enjoyed by the citizens of that Kingdom, the lifestyle of it, the reality of it. (Rom. 14:17) reads,"For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink (the subtance of it only;) but righteousness, and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost."
The Kingdom of God is WITHIN you. (Luke 17: 21) "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you." The Kingdom of God is a lifestyle. It is who we are of that kingdom.
(Matt.6:33) says "Seek ye FISRT the KINGDOM of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." We put on the righteousness of God, we should hunger and thrist after it. (Matt.5:6.) Tells us this, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.) And when we are born again, from above, from that Kingdom, God fills us with His Holy Spirit, who then enables us to be righteous.
Jesus was, and still is all about the kingdom. He even taught his disciples, what I like to call, a kingdom prayer. Matt. 6:9-13. He begins by addressing His Father, and giving glory to His name, then immediately proceeds into the kingdom. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." then he closes off with the mention of the kingdom yet again. "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, amen."
Matt 12:25-28. Talks about the structure of a kingdom. Unity is very much involved. And it says in verse 28. "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come upon you." TOTAL liberty is part of God's kingdom avaible for us today.
The peace of that Kingdom can also be ours everyday as we learn to rest in the Lord. We must learn to trust that the Lord has everything under control. When it seems to get stromy in the area of wayward loved ones, finances, or health, or work, we must learn to yeild to that supernatural peace of God's Kingdom, and let Him speak peace to our every storm.
Joy! We have been given this glorious gospel of the risen Christ. We must serve the Lord with gladness. Not with our heads bowed down in condemnation, or sadness, or depression or oppression. We must know that we are Kingdom people, with Kingdom rights, who have been given Kingdom authority. And we have a heavenly King, whose name is JESUS!
We must begin studying and experiencing Kingdom living. (Matt: 7:8) tells us this, "And as ye go, preach, saying, the kngdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the leper, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."
Kingdom wholeness belongs to us as His people, as His children. In heaven there is no one sick, lame or halted. In heaven there is no one in depression, oppression or sadness. In heaven there is unity and harmony and righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(Luke 4:18) reads, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
That is Kingdom living.
But there is yet much more about God's kingdom to be discovered. SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
(Eph.1:22-23.) speaks again of Jesus being the head of all things. Read also (Eph.4:15) "But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."
The body of Christ is much more universal then some legalistic teachings may allow. Some teach only certain denominations are the body of Christ. But, God did not intend for these walls of partition to break His body up into groups or sects.
(Rom.8:14-17) "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15.) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16.) The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17.) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together."
What happens during a natural earthly adoption? ya ever align it with the spiritual? a baby or a child is adopted into a certin family. They go through all the legalities involved, and once everything is set in order, the child now is heir, and joint-heir of that household, they have access to the family's wealth, estate, authority, and also...they receive the family name.
This is what happens to the body of Christ, the church, the many members that make up His body, we receive everything God wants us to have and be a part of. Not just a certain group, or sect or denomination receives the name at Adoption, but we ALL receive the family name. The name of Christ's body is, JESUS!
Though, the bible does warn of those who have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. We must be careful of the leaven of the pharisees. (a religious spirit.)
Regardless of what denomination (as long as we are truly born of the Spirit,) when we are born from above, filled with the Spirit of God, we are parttakers of the body. We are part of that spiritual building. We need to return to the early church, when Christ's followers were called, Disciples. No denominational tags broke up the body of followers, and believers. In fact, the disciples were not even called "christians" UNTIL they came to the city of Antioch. (Acts 11:26.)
(Eph.2:16-22.) the body of Christ, fellowcitizens, the household of God, explained.
According to John 3, we must be born again, born of water and of the Spirit of God. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we go thru the waters of baptism, and are buried with Christ, and risen with Him, we are born from above, of that kingdom.
We need to fulfill the earnest prayer of Jesus in (John 17:20-26.) Here we read the prayer of Jesus for all His followers, all those who believed on Him, and the Gospel. He prays for UNITY. When we walk in discord, we hinder His prayer, we Hinder His vision for unity in the body. We grieve the Holy Spirit. The bible tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. (Eph.4:30.)
In Acts (10:9-14.) Peter had a vision of a sheet coming down from heaven. On this sheet were all manner of four footed beasts and crawling things, and fowls of the air,and a voice told Peter, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat." Peter answered, "not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." then the voice told Peter, "What God hath cleansed, that call not common."
The Kingdom of heaven does not have any sections for certain groups of people, it is not segrigated, it is ONE kingdom, united in righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.
In closing I will share a dream a sister had about a beautiful church buidling that boasted a huge stained-glass window. In this window were all sorts of shapes and colours, yet it made up one perfect window, and it was fitly framed into the building. Right away, I understood the meaning of this dream, it was spiritual. It was revealing the church, or body of Christ. The stained-glass window represented different races, creeds, social status, and denominations; all making up the church and body of Christ.
In the body of Christ, or for the christian, there ought not to be any wine-bibbing. The drinking of wine is something the world indulges in. If you have been oblivious to the fact, you need to read the following insights through.
There may be some things that seem harmless and inoccent, and just a part of everyday life, meanwhile, it is slowly bringing destruction little by little. Take a look at (Solomon's Song ch. 1:15.) It reads, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. (or fruit of the Spirit. God wants us to be, and remain fruitful.)
Sometimes while driving along the country road, I see little cute foxes scamper across the road, and quickly hide from the beaming headlights, only for me to see their cute little ears pop up from behind the tall roadside brush. They seem very harmless, yes. But, spiritually, these "little foxes" represent things that seem harmless to our christianity, and to our relationship with our Holy God, but if we remain ignorant to discover these little foxes and deal with them, they will spoil, and destroy the vines, and take away any fruit there is.
(John 15:1-5) tells us this, "I am the vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2.) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3.) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (We are purged through the Word of God.) 4.) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5.) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
(Daniel 1:8.) "But, Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not DEFILE himself."
(Lev. 10:9-10.) "Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle (we now have a spiritual tabernacle under the new covenant) of the congregation, lest ye die: (Sin brings death,) it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: 10.) And that ye may put difference between unclean and clean.
(Prov. 20:1) "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (Do not be deceived into thinking drinking liquor, as becometh saints, is harmless.)
(Prov. 23:29) "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30.) They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (We should'nt even seek for it on the store shelves, or visit the liquor store, as the world loves to do.)
31
.) Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 32.) At the last it biteth like a serpent, (the serpent is a very subtle creature, as in the account in the garden of Eden,) and stingeth like an adder.
(Eph. 5:18.) "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
Now, some might find an excuse for "a little wine" they may say something like, "oh, it's just some wine to go with dinner, I'm not abusing it to get drunk, or I'm not partying with it." BUT, get this, let's go to the book of (1 Corinth. 5:6-8.) while not forgetting the little foxes, 6.) "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7.) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8.) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice ans wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
Just a little spirit of the world opens a demonic door for the enemy (or little foxes) to enter in and bring destruction to our vines. This pertains not only to wine-bibbing, but even smoking, swearing, pornography, anything that is the works of the flesh, or anything of the spirit of the world. (Gal. 5:19-21.) Look it up.
We can ask God, the Holy Spirit to show us what other little foxes we may be allowing to run rampant in our lives. Then repent, and ask God to get these things out of the way, and close any open doors to the enemy. Amen.
Divination, occultism, sorcery, witchcraft, horoscopes, astrology, tarot cards, the ouigi board, and seances, tea cup reading, chinese cookies. and such like, are things we must be aware of, and stay away from. All these things pertaining to divination all live in the same house.
If we dabble in such things, we then open the door a crack to all kinds of evil spirits that will bring bondage and oppression in. You may experience things like hauntings in your home or elsewhere, for instance.
(Gen.44:2,5) "And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Jospeh had spoken. 5.) Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing."
(Lev. 19:26) "Ye shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times."
(Lev.20:6) "And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people."
(Micah 3:7) "Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God."
(Deut.18:10-12) "There shall not be found among you one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11.) Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12.) For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee."
(Jer. 27:9) "Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: (For they prophesy a lie unto you...)
(Jer 10:2) "Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."
The Word of God very clearly forbids God's people to stay clear of all such divination, and witchcraft. To do so is extremely dangerous, because spirits are very much involved, and demonic strongholds are created in a person's life. The enemy gains legal grounds to oppress that individual as a result of opening such doors to these kinds of spiritual activities. It is not a game, and in no wise be taken lightly as such.
To remove any legal footholds the enemy may have gained into your life, the sin of whatever sort of diviniation must be repented of, and renounced, in Jesus' name.
(Acts 19:19) "Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand peices of silver." No matter the cost...REPENT, RENOUNCE in Jesus' name and get rid of the thing, and decree the liberty Jesus wrought for you on the cross.
Some believers may ask, "Is there a way that I can live in victory?" the answer is..YES!
First of all I will say that the devil is a liar from the beginning. Satan operates by lies. Let's look at Gen.3:1-4. The devil told Eve in verse 4, that she shall not surely die, when in fact in chapter 2:17, God did indeed tell Adam and Eve that they shall surely die if they take of the tree they were forbidden to eat of.
For many generations the enemy has propelled many into fear and uncertainty through his lies. In 1 Peter 5:8 it tells us that the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he MAY devour. Those who he can decieve into believing his lies.
In the natural, when a lion is stalking his prey, he quietly sneaks up to his prey and when it feels right to him he lunges upon his prey with a terrifying roar. The roar momentarily disorientates and confuses his prey and momentarily freezes the victim in total fear.
There is a saying that goes like this, "What you don't know won't kill you." WRONG! The word of God tells us in Hosea 4:6 that "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.." What we do not know is literally killing us slowly. It brings non-productivity. And it is a breeding ground for the lies of Satan to operate in. The devil may say something like, "Oh, I'll tell him or her this and that...she don't know what the Word of God actually says about her situation anyhow..she won't know the difference."
But, when we begin to search the scriptures, and dig our wells deep, we can start learning the liberating truths of God's Word and combat the enemy's lies with the truth. Jesus spoke the truth of God's word in three ways each time the devil came to tempt him as read in Matt. 4:1-11, but each time Jesus said, "IT IS WRITTEN!" and the devil departed from him. The bible says to resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Many are still imprisioned to the devil's lies and it hinders them from living a victorious christian life and stepping into their inheritance, and into their callings. BUT! there is HOPE! and it is in understaning the deep truths of what transpired and what was completed on the cross of Calvary.
Want to be set free? guess what? We've already been set free on the cross of Calvary, for the Word says "He whom the Son set free is free INDEED! But, how do we apply these truths to our lives? by just believing the truth vs, the lie.
THE LIE! the devil may tell lies like the following:
You are too sinful to make it as a christian.
You have failed one too many times.
You have nothing to offer.
You can't sing, what ever else could you possibly do to be a blessing to others?
You can't preach like them other preachers, no one wants to listen to you!
You're sick....just live with it.
You are barely getting by, wealth is only for some folk.
But guess what? All the above samples are LIES! And the truth of what was accomplished on the cross has abolished and nullified all these lies.
Look at Matt.11:28-30. Jesus bids all those who are weary and heavy laden, all those who have been labouring. Now, ask yourself, weary from what? heavy laden from what? Labouring over what?
The laws of Moses given by God, were too holy, how could we fallen human beings, ever be able to live up to these high standards? These laws were too much for us humans to bear. But, it was God's way of helping us see we couldn't even begin to keep these righteous laws, therefore we needed a solution, we needed a SAVIOR! So God's plan for salvation and redemption was set in motion. So, instead of labouring to keep the law, instead of wearying ourselves out trying to live up to all these rules of what we must do to stay in good standing with the law, Jesus took it all upon himself, becoming the law for us, and now instead of working so hard, all we have to do is rest in the done work of the cross. He set us free from the taskmaster (the law) to live free and pure in Him.
Throughout the ages, prophetic voices told of one who was to come who would redeem the world from their sins. Isaiah 9:6-7. Then one day generations later, an angel told a certain maid, a virgin in Galilee named Mary, that she would bear a son miracuously by the Holy Spirit, who would take away the sins of the world! HALLELUJAH!
The bible tells in Titus 3:5, "Not by works of righteousness, but according to His mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, by the renewing of the Holy Ghost. In another part we are told, we are saved by grace,
It is not what we could ever try to do to earn righteousness and holiness, but is all in what Jesus has already DONE on the cross of Calvary.
THE TRUTH! The done work of the cross:
We have been set free from the weight of the Law of Moses. Roms.3:9-25. Roms.4:13-16. Eph.2:15-16.
We have been set free from condemnation. Roms.8:1. Roms.5,9.
Our old nature has been abolished on the cross. 2 Corinth. 5:17.
Jesus, by His work on the cross, has made us free from guilt and shame. 1 Corinth. 6:9-11.
Jesus redeemed us through his blood. Eph.1:7, Col.1:4.
Jesus made us righteous, He made us to be "good enough". 2 Corinth. 5:21.
He translated us from the Kingdom of Darkness, into His Kingdom. Col. 1:13.
Jesus made us to sit in heavenly places in Him. Eph.2:6.
He provided our healing already. Isaiah 53:5.
Jesus provided supernatural peace for us. Roms. 8:15.,2 Tim.1:7, John 14:27.
We belong to God. Roms. 14-17.
He made us to be rich. 2 Corinth. 8:9. (Although some may argue this may mean we can now be rich in grace, mercy and truth, but God wants all the best for you and me, I believe He also wants us to prosper in wealth, and not live in lack.) 3 John 2.
And he provides supernatural protection as you read various accounts of how God's people have been kept safe and rescued time and time again throughout the ages.
When Jesus cried "IT IS FINISHED!" on the cross of Calvary, he accomplished all so that we could just simply rest in the done work, and no more labour and make ourselves weary tryin to live goodly, righteous lives by our own strength, but by living in the truth of what He has already done for us on the cross.
So, when the enemy comes with any of his old lies, we must remember the truth of what has already been done, and continue to live in victory, and keep doing what God wants us to do without any hinderances of selfworthlessness and dirtiness, brought on by lies. Ponder on these truths, let them get so entwined into your spirit, into your soul man, and begin living totally free.