FAITH 3 FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT: YOU CAN HEAR GOD SPEAK PT 1

FAITH 3 FATHER SON HOLY SPIRIT: YOU CAN HEAR GOD SPEAK PT 1: You CAN Hear God Speak 1/21/11 1 Sam 3:1-11 1 Meanwhile little Samuel was helping the Lord by assisting Eli. Messages from the Lord were ...

David Ingles Ministering in Song Sample.

SOMBODY ASKS WHAT IS TRUE WORSHIP. BY ANDRW MURRY

Lord, Teach Us To Pray
Andrew Murray

---

IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH;' Or THE TRUE WORSHIPPERS.

---

'The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be His worshippers. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.'—John 4:23, 24. These words of Jesus to the woman of Samaria are His first recorded teaching on the subject of prayer. They give us some wonderful first glimpses into the world of prayer. The Father seeks worshippers: our worship satisfies His loving heart and is a joy to Him. He seeks true worshippers, but finds many not such as He would have them. True worship is that which is in spirit and truth. The Son has come to open the way for this worship in spirit and in truth, and teach it us. And so one of our first lessons in the school of prayer must be to understand what it is to pray in spirit and in truth, and to know how we can attain to it.
To the woman of Samaria our Lord spoke of a threefold worship. There is, first, the ignorant worship of the Samaritans: 'Ye worship that which ye know not.' The second, the intelligent worship of the Jew, having the true knowledge of God: 'We worship that which we know; for salvation is of the Jews.' And then the new, the spiritual worship which He Himself has come to introduce: 'The hour is coming, and is now, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth.' From the connection it is evident that the words 'in spirit and truth' do not mean, as is often thought, earnestly, from the heart, in sincerity. The Samaritans had the five books of Moses and some knowledge of God; there was doubtless more than one among them who honestly and earnestly sought God in prayer. The Jews had the true full revelation of God in His word, as thus far given; there were among them godly men, who called upon God with their whole heart. And yet not 'in spirit and truth,' in the full meaning of the words. Jesus says, 'The hour is coming, and now is:' it is only in and through Him that the worship of God will be in spirit and truth.
Among Christians one still finds the three classes of worshippers. Some who in their ignorance hardly know what they ask: they pray earnestly, and yet receive but little. Others there are, who have more correct knowledge, who try to pray with all their mind and heart, and often pray most earnestly, and yet do not attain to the full blessedness of worship in spirit and truth. It is into this third class we must ask our Lord Jesus to take us; we must be taught of Him how to worship in spirit and truth. This alone is spiritual worship; this makes us worshippers such as the Father seeks. In prayer everything will depend on our understanding well and practising the worship in spirit and truth.
'God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.' The first thought suggested here by the Master is that there must be harmony between God and His worshippers; such as God is, must His worship be. This is according to a principle which prevails throughout the universe: we look for correspondence between an object and the organ to which it reveals or yields itself. The eye has an inner fitness for the light, the ear for sound. The man who would truly worship God, would find and know and possess and enjoy God, must be in harmony with Him, must have a capacity for receiving Him. Because God is Spirit, we must worship in spirit. As God is, so His worshipper.
And what does this mean? The woman had asked our Lord whether Samaria or Jerusalem was the true place of worship. He answers that henceforth worship is no longer to be limited to a certain place: 'Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.' As God is Spirit, not bound by space or time, but in His infinite perfection always and everywhere the same, so His worship would henceforth no longer be confined by place or form, but spiritual as God Himself is spiritual. A lesson of deep importance. How much our Christianity suffers from this, that it is confined to certain times and places. A man who seeks to pray earnestly in the church or in the closet, spends the greater part of the week or the day in a spirit entirely at variance with that in which he prayed. His worship was the work of a fixed place or hour, not of his whole being. God is a spirit: He is the Everlasting and Unchangeable One; what He is, He is always and in truth. Our worship must even so be in spirit and truth: His worship must be the spirit of our life; our life must be worship in spirit as God is Spirit.
'God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.' The second thought that comes to us is that this worship in the spirit must come from God Himself. God is Spirit: He alone has Spirit to give. It was for this He sent His Son, to fit us for such spiritual worship, by giving us the Holy Spirit. It is of His own work that Jesus speaks when He says twice, 'The hour cometh,' and then adds, 'and is now.' He came to baptize with the Holy Spirit; the Spirit could not stream forth till He was glorified (John i.33, vii.37, 38, xvi.7). It was when He had made an end of sin, and entering into the Holiest of all with His blood, had there on our behalf received the Holy Spirit (Acts ii.33), that He could send Him down to us as the Spirit of the Father. It was when Christ had redeemed us, and we in Him had received the position of children, that the Father sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts to cry, 'Abba, Father.' The worship in spirit is the worship of the Father in the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Sonship.
This is the reason why Jesus here uses the name of Father. We never find one of the Old Testament saints personally appropriate the name of child or call God his Father. The worship of the Father is only possible to those to whom the Spirit of the Son has been given. The worship in spirit is only possible to those to whom the Son has revealed the Father, and who have received the spirit of Sonship. It is only Christ who opens the way and teaches the worship in spirit.
And in truth. That does not only mean, in sincerity. Nor does it only signify, in accordance with the truth of God's Word. The expression is one of deep and Divine meaning. Jesus is 'the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.' 'The law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.' Jesus says, 'I am the truth and the life.' In the Old Testament all was shadow and promise; Jesus brought and gives the reality, the substance, of things hoped for. In Him the blessings and powers of the eternal life are our actual possession and experience. Jesus is full of grace and truth; the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth; through Him the grace that is in Jesus is ours indeed, and truth a positive communication out of the Divine life. And so worship in spirit is worship in truth; actual living fellowship with God, a real correspondence and harmony between the Father, who is a Spirit, and the child praying in the spirit.
What Jesus said to the woman of Samaria, she could not at once understand. Pentecost was needed to reveal its full meaning. We are hardly prepared at our first entrance into the school of prayer to grasp such teaching. We shall understand it better later on. Let us only begin and take the lesson as He gives it. We are carnal and cannot bring God the worship He seeks. But Jesus came to give the Spirit: He has given Him to us. Let the disposition in which we set ourselves to pray be what Christ's words have taught us. Let there be the deep confession of our inability to bring God the worship that is pleasing to Him; the childlike teachableness that waits on Him to instruct us; the simple faith that yields itself to the breathing of the Spirit. Above all, let us hold fast the blessed truth—we shall find that the Lord has more to say to us about it—that the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God, the revelation of His infinite Fatherliness in our hearts, the faith in the infinite love that gives us His Son and His Spirit to make us children, is indeed the secret of prayer in spirit and truth. This is the new and living way Christ opened up for us. To have Christ the Son, and The Spirit of the Son, dwelling within us, and revealing the Father, this makes us true, spiritual worshippers.
'LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY.'
* * * * *
Blessed Lord! I adore the love with which Thou didst teach a woman, who had refused Thee a cup of water, what the worship of God must be. I rejoice in the assurance that Thou wilt no less now instruct Thy disciple, who comes to Thee with a heart that longs to pray in spirit and in truth. O my Holy Master! do teach me this blessed secret.
Teach me that the worship in spirit and truth is not of man, but only comes from Thee; that it is not only a thing of times and seasons, but the outflowing of a life in Thee. Teach me to draw near to God in prayer under the deep impression of my ignorance and my having nothing in myself to offer Him, and at the same time of the provision Thou, my Saviour, makest for the Spirit's breathing in my childlike stammerings. I do bless Thee that in Thee I am a child, and have a child's liberty of access; that in Thee I have the spirit of Sonship and of worship of truth. Teach me, above all, Blessed Son of the Father, how it is the revelation of the Father that gives confidence in prayer; and let the infinite Fatherliness of God's Heart be my joy and strength for a life of prayer and of worship. Amen

DEALING with UNBEIEF

                         theme : Dealing with Unbelief

Text:  Mark 11;22 and Jesus answering saith unto them have faith in God.

Introduction : I like to show you how unreasonable unbelief is. Unbelief makes unreasonable demands of God and the Bible. Unbelief is motivated by an evil spirit. It's interesting to see that the word unbelief isn"t mentioned in the Old Testament but repeatedly we can see it mentioned in the New Testament. We deal with unbelief on an everyday basis almost every decision we make revolves around whether we believe our we don't. When we go to work knock on doors we either believe we will succeed or we won't that's just from the natural point of having faith in yourself. But unbelief when it comes to God's word will make you or break you as a Christian.

1.) What is unbelief ?.

A.)  unbelieve is refusal to trust God's word.

B.) Unbelief is our fear of obstacles.

C.) Unbelief is a result from seeing the problems instead of seeing God's word.

2.) Doubt versus unbelief.

3.) unbelief is the cruelest thing in the world.

A. The difference between doubt and unbelief.

Unbelief is from the French word( DOUTER) which means to fear. It goes back to the Latin word (DUBIUS) which means unsettled when we doubt were confused in our judgment. This means doubt can be honest. For example: Nathaniel had doubt but later he believed. Thomas had doubt but believed however Judas had unbelief-and refused to believe.

B. Unbelief is very different from doubt. It means uncertainty our skepticism-it is a negative reaction to faith. It's the opposite of believing. The dictionary says for "unbelievers"-is to be an infidel. Unbelief is a negative action a deliberate action and a unresponsible action and proceeds from an evil heart. Hebrews 3: 12 says, take heed brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."

Unbelief screams, no! Without thinking without proving.

C. When Christ was dying on the cross for the sins of the world unbelief screened in Matthew 27: 40, if thou be the son of God come down from the cross! Rather than seeking to know the purpose of the  cross in Christ dying on the cross unbelief demands that he be selfish and come down.

D. unbelief will kick crutches from under the arms of a crippled man. Unbelief will still bread from the window. Unbelief will hold back water from a thirsty person. Unbelief is like weeds growing out without  nobody tending to their garden. gnostic and the atheist are unbelievers this is how they believe.

E. Unbelief cries acts 2: 13 these men are followed

without seeking to determine if they were good men or if it was a gift from God.

F. Unbelief cries to the praying man for the sick Mark 3:22 he has Beelzebub and by the Prince of the Devils casteth he out devils. (without-seeking to know the truth)

G. Unbelief demand statistics and material reality rather than faith. For this reason, no spiritual thing can flourish in the atmosphere of unbelief.

4.) What unbelief will do to you

A. Israel wandered in circles for 40 years until death, because of unbelief. Hebrews 3: 9:11 when your fathers tempted me, proved  me, and saw my works for years. Verse 10 wherefore I was grieved with that generation and said, they do away error in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.  verse 11 so I swear in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.)

B. Second Kings 7:19 and 20 Lord answered the man of God, and said now behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, behold thou shalt see it with thine eyes, and but child not eat thereof. v 20, and so it fell out onto him, but for the people trode upon him but in the gate, and he died.

The Kings right-hand man was trampled to death at the gate because he could not believe what was  prophesied by Elisha                                                                                                       C. To Kings Saul and Goliath: Saul did not believe, so the devil gave him unbelief until finally he became a suicide victom.

D. Denominational unbelief: many churches reject the great commission, to preach that he that believes in saved and he that believes not is damned: and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, to heal the sick and cast out devils are not for today. Mark 16;14 and 18 afterwards he appeared unto the 11 as they sat at meat, and unbridled them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not that which had seen him after he was risen. v 15, and he said unto them go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. 17, and these signs shall follow them that believe, and my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, 18, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing and shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover

5. Whole towns and cities.

The force of unbelief is seen in Matthew 13;58 Jesus could not do know great miracles because of unbelief in Nazareth. The sick could not be healed..the Heathon prevented the sick from recovery.

6. Ultimate destiny of unbelievers

Revelations 21;8 but the fearful and the unbelieving… Shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

7. How to destroy unbelief

1. Romans 10;17so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
2. Faith is an act. We destroy unbelief by acting on God’s word.
3. Noah acted-and he saved his family and the world.
4. Abraham acted-and gave birth to nation’s.
5. Moses acted-and saved 2 or 3 million out of slavery.
6. Faith is a act. We destroy unbelief by acting on God’s word. James 2;20 will thou no o vein man, that faith without works is dead?
7. Noah acted, and saved his family and the world. Hebrews 11: 7 by faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he commanded the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8. Abraham acted, and gave birth to a nation. James 2;.21was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Galatians 3; 16 now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not,and to seeds, as of many; but as one, and to thy seed, which is Christ.
9. Moses acted, and brought two or 3 million people out of slavery Exodus 12: 31-38 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, rise up and get you forth among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and ghosts are the Lord as you have said.v 32 also take your flocks and your herds, as you had said and be gone; and bless me also.v 33, and the Egyptians were ignorant upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, we need all dead men. V. 34 and the people took their goods before it was leavened, there kneading-troughs being bound up in their close upon their shoulders. V. 35 and the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and will and rimaiment; v. 36, and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.v. 37, and the children of Israel journeyed from Ramses to Succoth,about 600,000 on foot that were men, beside children.v 38, and a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks and herds, even very much cattle.
10. Joshua acted, and took Israel into the holy land. Joshua 11:23so Joshua took the whole land, according to all the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it four an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. In the land rested from war
11. The blind man obeyed. John 9;7 go wash in the pool of Saloam,( which is by interpretation, sent) he went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
12. The man with a withered arm thrusted it forth. Mark 3;5 he and when he had looked around about on them with anger, being grieved for their hardness of their hearts, he said unto man, stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out; in his hand was restored whole as the other

Conclusion; so many times we are confronted with many decisions to believe God and his word are to act on our own belief system the world system, if we put our confidence in the word of God and believe with our heart in what Jesus said we will grow in our faith as believers our lives will be fuller from day-to-day I know what we face in our daily lives our families are relatives are children depend on us as believers to make the right choices there are only two choices and that is decisions based upon the word of God and believing what it says, or believing what the world says we should be and what we should do, it is taken me many years to begin to make the right choices but God never gives up on you and his word never fails.               James Stewart

Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty .. [Agnus Dei]

Carman - Revive Us Oh Lord

BIBLE - Thy Word - Amy Grant

God's Promises

Temptation

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You."Psalms 119:11
"He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."Proverbs 28:13
"For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."Romans 6:14
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."1 Corinthians 10:12, 13
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one."Ephesians 6:10-11, 16
"For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted."Hebrews 2:18
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."Hebrews 4:14-16
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."James 1:2-3, 12
"Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust."James 1:13, 14
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."James 4:7
"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."1 Peter 1:6-7
"Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."1 Peter 5:8-9
"Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation."2 Peter 2:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."1 John 1:9
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."1 John 4:4
"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty."Jude 24-25

WHY DO WE PRAISE AND WORSHIP GOD

 why do we praise god: music was thougt as ones calling into the ministery.
text:1 sam 10:5-6 Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. 10:6 Then the spirit of the Lord will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.
A) what is Praise gen:29:35 She conceived again and had another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” That is why she named him Judah.Then she stopped having children.
(note:The name Judah ( yÿhudah) means “he will be praised” and reflects the sentiment Leah expresses in the statement recorded earlier in the verse)
1.definetion:of praise-somthing coming out of the mouth that are words of thanksgiving matt: 21:16 and said to him, “Do you hear what they are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants you have prepared praise for yourself’?”( A quotation from Ps 8:2.)
Heb:13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.
2. Praise is words of thanksgiving for what he;s done doing an going to do.
B)why is it so inprotent to praise god?
1.God is worthy to be praised - Rev:4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
since you created all things,
and because of your will they existed and were created!”
2.God inhabits praises:psa22:3 You are holy;
you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.
You see god will manifest himself to us as we praise an worship him when we get to the place were worshiping god with are hole heart(are spirit soul body)we come to the throne of are god.
psa:22:3 inhadits praises of Israel(how meany of you know you are israel) literlly means god sets his throne in the midst of his people.
Let me put it this way this job used to belong to lucifer .
ezekl:28:13 You were in Eden, the garden of God.
Every precious stone was your covering,
the ruby, topaz, and emerald,
the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper,
the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl;
your settings and mounts were made of gold.
On the day you were created they were prepared.
28:14 I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub;
you were on the holy mountain of God;
you walked about amidst fiery stones.
28:15 You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created,
until sin was discovered in you.
28:16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned;
so I defiled you and banished you from the mountain of God –
the guardian cherub expelled you from the midst of the stones of fire.
28:17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom on account of your splendor.
I threw you down to the ground;
I placed you before kings, that they might see you.
28:18 By the multitude of your iniquities, through the sinfulness of your trade,
you desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I drew fire out from within you;
it consumed you,
and I turned you to ashes on the earth
before the eyes of all who saw you.
28:19 All who know you among the peoples are shocked at you;
you have become terrified and will be no more.’”
-Lucifer had the ability within him god had made him that way.jer:14:12 Look how you have fallen from the sky,
O shining one, son of the dawn!
You have been cut down to the ground,
O conqueror of the nations!
14:13 You said to yourself,
“I will climb up to the sky.
Above the stars of El(god)
I will set up my throne.
I will rule on the mountain of assembly
on the remote slopes of Zaphon.
14:14 I will climb up to the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High!”
14:15 But you were brought down to Sheol,
to the remote slopes of the pit.
:yes the job of praiseing an worshiping god belonged to lucifer himself but his pride was not only his fall but he gave up his place in haven even befor man was here.Now god wonts that intamicy with us.
psa 65 alot of times if people would just praise there probloms thay would have there answers psa65:1 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion.
Vows made to you are fulfilled.
65:2 You hear prayers;
all people approach you.
65:3 Our record of sins overwhelms me,
but you forgive our acts of rebellion.
65:4 How blessed is the one whom you choose,
and allow to live in your palace courts.
May we be satisfied with the good things of your house –
your holy palace.
In conculion:I would like to say We as belivers have been given a song of praise unto god a testimony psa:40:3 He gave me reason to sing a new song,
praising our God.
May many see what God has done,
so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!
you are blessed of god do not waste the time to just tell the father how much you love him an sing to him your song amen.  jimmy

EL SHADDAI BY AMY GRANT

         God
(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine Being--ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and JEHOVAH, translated Lord . Elohim is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying strength , as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect , and that it properly describes God in that character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful idea that it referred to the trinity of persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty , or it denotes the fullness of divine strength, the sum of the powers displayed by God. Jehovah denotes specifically the one true God, whose people the Jews were, and who made them the guardians of his truth. The name is never applied to a false god, nor to any other being except one, the ANGEL-JEHOVAH who is thereby marked as one with God, and who appears again in the New Covenant as "God manifested in the flesh." Thus much is clear; but all else is beset with difficulties. At a time too early to be traced, the Jews abstained from pronouncing the name, for fear of its irreverent use. The custom is said to have been founded on a strained interpretation of (Leviticus 24:16) and the phrase there used, "THE NAME" (Shema), is substituted by the rabbis for the unutterable word. In reading the Scriptures they substituted for it the word ADONAI (Lord), from the translation of which by Kurios in the LXX., followed by the Vulgate, which uses Dominus , we have the LORD of our version. The substitution of the word Lord is most unhappy, for it in no way represents the meaning of the sacred name. The key to the meaning of the name is unquestionably given in God's revelation of himself to Moses by the phrase "I AM THAT I AM," (Exodus 3:14; 6:3) We must connect the name Jehovah with the Hebrew substantive verb to be , with the inference that it expresses the essential, eternal, unchangeable being of Jehovah. But more, it is not the expression only, or chiefly, of an absolute truth: it is a practical revelation of God, in his essential, unchangeable relation to this chosen people the basis of his covenant,            (SMITHS BIBLE DICTIONARY)

PRAISE & WORSHIP THE LORD 3 SONGS YOU CAN PRAISE TOO.

GIVE GOD SOME TIME AND THANK HIM FOR WHAT HE"S DONE-DOING AND ABOUT  TO! (THAT IS THE HEBREW AN GREEK DEFINITION OF PRAISE.)Heb:13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.

IMATATE GOD'S LOVE/PART 1 JOYCE MYERS

IMITATE GOD"S LOVE/PT.2 JOYCE MYERS

THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS

                                The Present Day Ministry of Angels


I.        An Innumerable Company of Angels
Hebrews 12
vs. 22 But ye are come to mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
vs. 23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and the spirits of just men made perfect,
vs. 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
We should be thankful for the blood of Jesus. Old Testament saints lived their lives looking forward to it and we look back to it. The blood of Jesus Christ has not only removed all sins, it has also removed the consciousness of sin. No longer are we held accountable for the sins before we got saved. Every time we confess a sin after we are saved, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us.
Notice, verse 22 says we are come to an “innumerable company of angels”.
II.       The Increased Activity of Angels
Since the time of the Old Testament, the ministry of angels has increased.  Hebrews 1:14 says of angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
God has not created more angels, however, their activity has increased. Under the old covenant their ministry was limited but under the new covenant, the angels are assigned to protect every individual who is born again.
III.      The Ministry of Angels Surrounding Jesus
At the beginning of the book of Matthew, angels are present. At the closing of the four Gospels, angels are also present. As Jesus was resurrected into heaven, there were thousands of angels surrounding Him.
Psalm 68
vs. 17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
vs. 18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
Of the thousands of angels that surrounded Jesus as He ascended to heaven, two remained on earth and instructed the disciples to go to the upper room to wait for the coming Holy Spirit.
These verses are referring to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the beginning of the Church age on the day of Pentecost. But it also refers to the fact that Jesus was resurrected before that event. On Pentecost, gifts were given to men, the Spirit of God was poured out, and God came on that day with the Holy Spirit to turn rebellious people into children of God.
But notice what the disciples could not see as Jesus was taken into heaven. Jesus was received into heaven by thousands and thousands of angels in chariots!
Acts 1
vs. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
In verse 8, Jesus had instructed the disciples to go Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit. And after Jesus had shared these things with the disciples, verse 9 tells us that a “cloud received him out of their sight”. That cloud was the glory cloud. There were thousands of angels accompanying Him and they surrounded Him like a cloud!
IV.     Angels at the Beginning of the Church Age
vs. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
vs. 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
The angels were saying, “Yes, Jesus is gone, but He will return. Until then, you have things to do.” The ministry of the Church began with angels and the ministry of the Church leaving this earth will end with angels. Jesus had told the disciples to go to the upper room and wait for the Holy Spirit and when the angels asked, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” they were in essence saying, “You’ve got a job to do. You better get busy doing it!”

V.      Angels are Waiting for Us
The angels were ready for their new assignment. They were ready to go into battle. They were ready for the disciples to be obedient to the Spirit of God. The angels would be there for divine protection.
Today, angels are waiting to minister in our behalf, but usually they are waiting on us. They are not waiting for us to sit down and do nothing. Unfortunately, there are many Christians today who have bored angels. Their angels have nothing to do because these people will not do anything for the kingdom of God. But when we are doing things for the kingdom of God, we keep our angels busy!
Each day we should wake up asking the Lord, “What can I do for you today, Lord?” When we do, our angels are standing beside us saying, “Praise God! Today we will have something to do!”
VI.   Angels at the End of the Church Age
First Thessalonians 4:16 says, “He shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel.”
When Jesus comes back at the rapture of the Church, I believe in addition to the archangel, there will be thousands of angels with Him. Just as Jesus was accompanied into heaven by a multitude of angels, I believe as the trumpet is blowing on that day, a myriad of angels will accompany us right into the throne room of God.
This is also true for every individual in the Church age who goes on to be with the Lord. The moment we were born, an angel was assigned to us. Every young child has an angel that ever beholds the face of the Father. The moment a believer leaves this earth to be with the Lord, they are taken up into heaven by a number of angels.
When Lazarus died and went to be with the Lord, the angels accompanied him into Abraham’s bosom. I believe that not only do angels escort us, but also Jesus personally comes back to escort us to heaven.
Many who have died and gone on to be with the Lord have described relatives that have gone on before and they often describe angels, large angels. In fact, many times the angels are so real to them they cannot understand why we cannot see them. But they are actually in a transition between this life and next, between heaven and earth, time and eternity. Their eyes are seeing clearly into both realms, the natural and the spiritual.
You may wonder why we need so many angels for protection. It is because there are so many demons that try to attack us. Psalm 91 tells us that the angels have been sent to protect us so no evil can befall us and no plague can come nigh our dwelling. They will protect us so that we do not dash our foot against a stone.
VII.    The Ministry of Angels and Deliverance
Throughout the book of Acts, we learn what angels can do for us. The people mentioned in the book of Acts were not super heroes. They were people who were born under natural circumstances, faced with the same temptations as we are today. They are people who failed and floundered but got back up and kept going. The ministry of angels in their lives really speaks to us today, because the book of Acts is where the Church age began.
The first occurrence of angels after the Day of Pentecost, is described in Acts 5:17. Some of the chief leaders of the Church had been persecuted and put in prison because in Acts chapter 4 they were threatened and commanded never to preach again in the name of Jesus. Their response was, “If we must choose between you and God, we choose God.” The Bible says that as soon as they were released, they went back to “their own company”.  Their own company would be their own congregation, their own friends who knew Jesus, were filled with the Holy Spirit, and knew how to pray.
When they returned, the Bible says they all lifted up their voice in one accord and said, “Lord, this has happened before. David prophesied of it in Psalm 2, and Lord, we are lifting up our hands, rejoicing that we had an opportunity to suffer for Jesus.” At that moment, the Bible says, the building where they were assembled was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The disciples went on to preach the Word with more boldness than ever before.
In chapter five of Acts, Peter and John were again thrown in prison for preaching the Word of God.
Acts 5
vs. 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
vs. 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
vs. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
vs. 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Notice, the angel did not say, “Hey guys, I’m getting tired of this. Please don’t preach anymore.” Instead, the angel said, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” The angel was speaking of the life of Jesus, the life of the new birth, the life of being Spirit-filled.
The angels were delivered from prison by an angel. If the angels delivered the apostles from prison, we do not need to be in fear about anything. The disciples were not afraid of what the people thought of them. Even though they ended back in jail for preaching the gospel, when the angel delivered them he told them to get right back out and preach again.
When we are in trouble for the sake of the gospel, the angels are present to deliver us out of that trouble. Jail cannot defeat us and chains cannot defeat us. If necessary, the angels of God will deliver us from them!

VIII.   Angels and Guidance
The second time we find the ministry of angels after the Day of Pentecost is in Acts 8:26. Philip had just preached the gospel in the city of Samaria.

Acts 8
vs. 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
vs. 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship.
The second time the ministry of angels is mentioned after the Day of Pentecost is in Acts 8:26. Philip had just preached the gospel in the city of Samaria. An angel appeared to him and gave him guidance.
Angels know how to lead and guide us. Not only do we receive guidance from the Holy Spirit, angels can bring a message that will help to guide us. God sent an angel to Philip, a servant of the Lord. He was simply a deacon in the church, someone who helped serve other believers in the church. He wasn’t born into royalty. He was not one of the twelve disciples. He was simply a believer in the church who was faithful. An angel appeared and gave direction to a Christian who was faithfully serving the Lord!
The same angels that ministered in Philip’s day minister to us today. When you are seeking guidance, God can choose to guide you by one of His angels.
IX.     Angels Give Instruction
There are many appearances of angels in the book of Acts. It seems once the Church began, angels had many more demands because of all that God intended for the Church to accomplish.
In Acts 10:3-6, not only was guidance given, instruction was also given. Cornelius was a Gentile man who was earnestly seeking after God. An angel came to him in a vision giving him instruction and admonishing him that his prayers had been heard in heaven. God sent this angel with instructions for Cornelius. He told Cornelius to send for a man named Peter, who was in Joppa. The angel also told Cornelius that Peter would come. This angel gave Cornelius more than guidance; he actually told Peter what was going to happen. Peter did come, preached the gospel, and Cornelius and his entire household believed and were filled with the Holy Spirit.
X.      Angels and Prayer
The first half of Acts, chapter 12 recounts the fact that Peter was in prison and the church was praying for him. This story reveals that angels are great stewards over intercessory prayer. There are numerous instances in the Word of God when an individual or group of believers prayed and angels were sent to minister the answer to those prayers. Whether it was Abraham praying for Lot or Daniel interceding for the future of his nation, angels respond to prayer.
In Acts 12, the church was praying at the house of Mary. While they were praying, an angel came and delivered Peter from prison. Peter was sleeping and the angel awakened him. Peter was bound in chains and the angel broke off the chains. The angel instructed Peter to put on his shoes and coat. The angle then opened the prison door that had been chained and locked. The next set of doors was also opened and Peter found himself on the street. At that moment, the angel disappeared.
XI.     Supernatural Deliverance
Whether or not we see them, angels are present to supernaturally deliver us. Just as Peter was delivered from a physical prison, bars cannot keep us from God’s delivering power, which often comes through angels. In this particular instance, Peter’s bondage was a prison cell, with physical bars and he was bound with physical chains. But today, many people are bound with chains of oppression, chains of lust, and chains of the sins of this world. Oftentimes, when a person prays for deliverance, an angel is sent to break the chains that are holding them captive.
XII.    Angels and Praise and Worship
Angels also respond to praise and worship. The moment we begin to lift our hands to worship the Lord, angels are there to break those chains. I believe when we praise and worship the Lord in the midst of trials and temptations, angels go to battle with the demons around us and prevail.

XIII.   Angels and Judgment
Acts 12:21-23 recounts a time when Herod stood pridefully before the people, declared himself to be a god, and immediately was struck dead by an angel. The Bible says he was smitten with worms and died. The angel was sent to bring judgment to Herod.
IX.     Angels and the Word of Knowledge
In Acts 27, Paul was given a word of knowledge by an angel. Paul was a prisoner on board a ship that was caught in a terrible storm, which lasted many days. During the storm, and angel appeared to Paul and told him that not one man’s life would be lost.
I believe often there are times when we are seeking God and worshipping Him that the gifts of the Spirit will be brought to us by an angel; word of knowledge or word of wisdom in the midst of a circumstance, the gift of healing or working of miracles.
XV.    Angels and Healing
According to the Bible, angels have the ministry of bringing God’s healing power into the earth. John chapter 5 recounts how people desiring healing in their bodies would lay by the pool of Bethesda waiting for an angel to stir up the water. Angels are connected to the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. We may sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in a church service but I believe that what we are sensing can often be the tangible presence of angels.
XVI.   Angles and the Rebuke
In the book of Jude, we learn something very interesting about the ministry of angels.
Jude
vs. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Even though Michael was an archangel and one of the higher ranking angels, he did not bring a railing accusation against Satan. He simply said, “The Lord rebuke you”.
When we come against Satan it is not us coming against him, it is us in the name of Jesus, coming against him. We do not come against Satan in our own strength or with our own words. Even an angel, superior to us until we receive our resurrection bodies, would not come against Satan except in the name of Jesus.
The name of Jesus is so vital and we need to use that name in all we do. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatsoever ye do in word of deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
XVII.  Angels Can Bring Destruction
The book of Revelation is filled with the power of angels to bring destruction against the camp of the enemy and those in this world who reject the Lord.
In Revelation 1:1, an angel brought the message of the book of Revelation to John. An angel delivered the entire book to him. This angel accompanied John into heaven and revealed end time events to him.
In Revelation 7:2, also in chapters 8 and 16, angels delivered the wrath of God to the earth. There are many other recorded instances in the book of Revelation. Again, angels will bring the wrath of God to this earth.
XVIII. Angels Deliver the Prayers of the Saints to Heaven
Revelation 8
vs. 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
vs. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Angels deliver the prayers of the saints into heaven. At the same time the wrath of God is being delivered by angels into the earth, angels are delivering the prayers of the saints.
When we pray, angels can deliver those prayers right into the presence of God. In Acts chapter 10, an angel told Cornelius, “Your prayers and alms have come up for a memorial before God.” Angelic beings delivered his prayers and offerings before God and an angel brought a message back to Cornelius.
XIX.   Angels Will Preach
Revelation 14
vs. 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.
In Revelation 14:6, the Bible also reveals that angels will preach the gospel during the Tribulation. This is something that has never occurred.
XX.    The Power of Angels
We must not underestimate the power of angels. If one angel will throw Satan into the bottomless pit, and an innumerable company of angels surrounds us, just imagine how much our angels can do for us! Often, Christians give more credence to what Satan is doing in their lives than what God is doing!
One angel with us is more powerful than Satan. As believers, we are more powerful than Satan. The Bible says, “I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!” We are more powerful through the name of Jesus and the blood of the new birth. In addition, angels surround us!
Again, just one angel will throw Satan into the bottomless pit for a thousand years and one angel will throw him into the lake of fire forever!
Angels have been with us since birth and we need to increase in our awareness of them in our daily lives. Angels will accompany us to heaven either when we die or when we are raptured at the Second Coming of Jesus.

Just as believers are anticipating the Second Advent of Jesus Christ, so are the angels. When that day arrives, not only will we hear a shout from heaven and the voice of an archangel, we will hear a shout from the eternities of one end of heaven to the other as angels rejoice at the coming of Jesus Christ for His Church.

We cannot lose! We do not need to fear the future. If God be for us, who can be against us. Why should we fear what man might do if we are empowered by the Holy Spirit of God and surrounded by an innumerable company of angel?

ENCOURAGING BIBLE VERSES

                                  Encouragement Bible Verses
 
 
God will not let us down:Isaiah 41:10 Fear not; for I am with you. Be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.

Who can harm or condemn those who belong to God?Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me", says the LORD.

We have nothing to fear in death:Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perish, and no man layeth it to heart: and mericful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

The Lord will stop the enemy:Isaiah 59:19 When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

God will be found by those who seek him, and will prosper those who find him:Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you", says the LORD, "thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon Me, and you shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart."

We were hand picked by God:John 15:16-19 You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remin; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hate you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Why we endure:Romans 5:3b-5 ...we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulations works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maks not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

We share in Christ's glory if we share in his sufferings:Romans 8:16,17 The Spirit Itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 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.

God gave us His Son, who pleads with Him for us:Romans 8:31b-34 If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

In both life and death, we belong to God:Romans 14:7,8 For none of us lives to himself, and no man dies to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

With Jesus you can do anything:Phillipians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

God will give us mercy and grace:Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Endure temptation to receive God's wonderful and holy promises:James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love Him.

God cares for us and lifts us up, protecting us from the our enemy:1 Peter 5:6-8 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.


Do not love the world's ways, and we will live forever:1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of God abides forever.

We have victory if we have faith:
1 John 5:3,4 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

                          Blessings Bible Verses  
 
Refuse all evil, and goodness will embrace you:Psalms 34:12-15 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

We should always have our thoughts on God:Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Honor the Lord with what He blesses you with:Proverbs 3:7-10 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones. Honor the LORD with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all your increase: so shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses will burst out with new wine.

We are blessed for being diligent to God:Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

God blesses the righteous with wisdom and happiness, who get the wicked's wealth:Ecclesiastes 2:26a,b For God gives to a man that is good in His sight, wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner He gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that He may give to him that is good before God.

Put an end to all evil, and you will be blessed:Isaiah 58:9b-11-If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well.

The invincible God is on the side of the righteous:Amos 5:8,9,14,15 (NIV) He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns blackness into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land- the LORD is His name- He flashes destruction on the stronghold and brings the fortified city to ruin. Seek good, not evil, that you may live. The LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

To be blessed, apply what God says in your life:James 1:25 But whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Those who please God receive what they ask from God:1 John 3:21-23 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, "that we should believe on the name of His son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment."

God hears us and answers our prayers:1 John 5:14,15 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.

Jesus will give authority to those who endure:Revelation 2:26,28 And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father.

Jesus will claim those who endure:Revelation 3:5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.

THE MOST STUPID SIN

                                                The Most Stupid Sin

I.     The Parable of the Sower
In Mark 4:13, Jesus told His disciples, “If you understand this parable (the parable of the sower), you will understand all other parables.”
The word “parable” means “the explanation of the scriptures”. This also means anything that seems difficult in the Word of God can be understood by this particular passage of scripture. The parable of the sower is the first parable ever given by Jesus. It is a parable that teaches the character of God, the character of Satan, and the importance of man’s heart in receiving the Word of God. The sower, the seed, and the thief remain constant in this parable. The only thing that changes is the condition of the soil, which represents the condition of man’s heart.(spirit)
God gives. God blesses. Satan comes to steal but he can only steal what God has given. Once the seed is received into the soil, persecutions, trials, troubles, and afflictions begin. Most Christians realize that it wasn’t until they began studying God’s Word, meditating, and spending time with God that the problems began in their lives. That is when they became a threat to Satan’s kingdom. The Bible says affliction and persecution arises because of the Word’s sake. The more Word we receive, the more Satan wants to come against us. He will try to steal from your family, from your finances, and from life so that you will become discouraged. Throughout the parable of the sower, Satan tries to steal the Word and stop the progression of the Word in the believer’s life.
Mark 4:16-17
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
The beginning of verse 17 describes a believer who had no root in themselves so they endured for only a short time. There are many people who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, love the Lord, come to church and then suddenly, are gone. The root of why they left the church is offense. Persecution and affliction came and they were not prepared for it and became offended.
II.     Offenses in the Body of Christ
One of the main reasons Christians leave the church is offense. Many Christians today are sitting at home, not attending church, and missing the blessings of God all because they have become offended.
When a person leaves a church for the right reason, because God is calling them to another church, it is a blessing. Some people are led to other churches because God wants to use their lives to minister to another group of people. When people leave for the right reason, it is a blessing to everyone. But when a person leaves because of offense, it is always a tool of the enemy to steal the Word that has been planted in the soil of their heart.
III.     Characteristics of an Offense
An offense usually takes us by surprise and often involves someone with whom we are very familiar. That person may appear to turn on us and this contradicts our perception of them and challenges our confidence in them.
It is important to understand that there are real offenses and perceived offenses. The majority of offenses are perceived. Maybe the person who offended us was in a bad mood and did not intend to offend us. Or maybe we misinterpreted the behavior of the person toward us.
There are also real offenses. A person may have maliciously turned against us. Maybe they lied about us. Real offenses hurt and it is often difficult to let them go.
We cannot stop offenses from coming but we do not have to accept them. Offended people will cross our path but we do not have to accept their offenses. If we choose to accept any kind of offense, it will eventually lead to a root of bitterness that can destroy us.
IV.     The Progression of Offenses
The offended person first becomes critical and then self-righteous. They begin to think more highly of themselves and begin to look down on others. Next, they lose their joy. They are no longer happy. No longer do they enjoy coming to church. Because they are critical of everything, they begin to see things that are wrong where they used to see things that were right. Before they were offended, they would think on things that were lovely and of a good report and rejoice in those good things. But joy turned to being critical, not only towards people, but towards the church.
The next thing that happens is the offended person loses true perception. Offenses are like glasses. You put them on and see the world through those offenses. Your imagination begins to run wild and you begin to believe that people are against you. This is a tactic of Satan to hinder your production and eventually destroy you. You become like a person who has one hand tied behind your back. It seems like you are working harder and getting less accomplished and that is because you are separated from fellowship with God. Offense separates you from God’s power and hinders you from accomplishing what God has called you to do.
V.     Three Types of Offenses
There are three types of offenses. The first is a direct offense. This type of offense is when someone offends you. Someone may have said something or you could have wrongly perceived what they have said. A good friend could come to you with some godly counsel thinking you could receive it, but you couldn’t and you become offended. This type of offense often occurs between friends.
The second type of offense is a given offense. This offense occurs when you offend another person. Usually, you did not try to offend them. You may have been trying to be honest with a friend and they became offended. Maybe you had a bad day and did or said something wrong that offended another person. The higher a person rises in leadership, the easier it becomes to unintentionally offend others. Many people who are heads of successful family business begin to find themselves alone. Many of the friends they have had over the years desert them because of a wrong perception. Often the saying is true, “It is lonely at the top”.
The third type of offense is a borrowed offense. The reason this type of offense is what I call “the most stupid sin”, is because it had nothing to do with you. Another person offended someone and they brought that offense to you. You end up choosing to join them in their offense. It is the easiest offense to accept, but the most stupid of all! You listen to someone complain, and rather than trying to help them, you take up their cause and become offended.
Many Christians say, “You should never listen to anyone complain”. But this thinking is wrong. We are called to minister not only to physically afflicted people, but to emotionally afflicted people as well. The thing we must guard against in helping others is accepting their anger or bitterness. We should turn them to the Word of God and with the compassion of the Holy Spirit, minister healing to their lives.
VI.     The Talebearer
Proverbs 20:19
He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
Something about a secret wants to draw us in. It is called the flesh. One of the worst things a person can ever do is begin to spread gossip under the guise of a prayer request. You can hear a person out, listen to what they have to say, but check the attitude of the person. The Holy Spirit can reveal motives.
Proverbs 26:17
He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
It is not wise to grab a strange dog by the ears. Chances are great that you will be bitten. If that dog had rabies, you could get sick. If you get sick, you could eventually die. Meddling and getting involved with another person’s offenses or gossip is like grabbing a strange dog by the ears. You are opening yourself up to danger and possible harm. In other words, you are involving yourself with something more powerful than you are.
Often we desire to help others, but we are unable to help some people because of their attitude.
VII.     The Angry Man
Proverbs 22:24-25
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare (trap) to your soul.
The word “snare” is actually the word “trap”. Offenses are a trap of Satan. Angry people will be brought across our path and there are times when we can help them. Compassion can draw us to them. We may have a desire to get to the root of their anger and give them the Word of God to apply to their lives. But this verse is telling us some angry people will not want to change.
It is important not to develop a close friendship with an angry person. Even though we sometimes believe our attitude will positively affect them, in reality we will begin to see the world through their eyes of offense.
We have probably all seen someone middle-aged who has forgotten their glasses and are trying to read a menu. They borrow their spouse’s or friend’s glasses in an attempt to be able to see. They may put the glasses on and say, “Wow! How do you see through these things?” It is bad enough to borrow glasses that are not yours for only a moment, but how much worse it would be to wear them every day. The same thing happens to a person who makes friends with an angry person. Their attitude causes you to see things through their eyes, through the eyes of offense.
VIII.    The Results of a Borrowed Offense
When you take another person’s offense, you usually become selfrighteous. Then you begin to feel like it is your responsibility to “right the wrong”. At this point you step away from under God’s protection because the Bible says, “Vengeance is Mine. I will repay, saith the Lord.”
You may hear something about a leader in the church or a leader in the community. You may hear something about your mother father or children. You may get offended by what you hear and could carry anger and bitterness inside for years. But how do you know whether or not that person has repented? It would be such a waste to carry anger and bitterness when the person repented years ago for something they may have done wrong.
IX.     Hanging on to Offense
There are some sick people who say they want to be healed, but when you examine a little more closely you discover they enjoy the attention they receive from being sick. If they were healed, the attention may go away. In the same way, people can hang on to offense. Many times offense is directly related to sickness and disease. There have been people unwilling to release an offense.
One minister met a man who was filled with cancer and knew that he had been carrying offense against another man. The minister told the man, “Turn loose of that offense”. The man’s response was, “I can’t turn loose of that offense. I hate him! I hate him!”
Years ago there was a television program aired about African monkeys. There were traders that wanted to capture them and consulted with the natives. The natives built little cages with bamboo bars and a door at the front that could easily be closed once the monkey was inside. Placed inside the cage hanging from a sting was a brightly colored stick that would attract the monkeys. Everyone thought, “Sure, the monkey will go inside the cage, grab the stick, which pulls the string. The door will close and the monkey will be trapped.”
However, the monkeys were smarter than that; they wouldn’t go through the door to grab the stick. Instead, they would reach in through the bars, grab the stick, but could not figure out how to get the stick through the bars. Once they grabbed the stick, they would never let it go. The natives would return to the cages after hours had passed because they knew the monkey would still be outside the cage holding on to the stick. Once the monkeys would see the natives, they would begin screaming in fear but would not release the stick. The natives would kill the monkeys and those monkeys would still be holding the stick in their hand.
That is exactly what happens to a person hanging on to an offense. Satan comes in and is able to destroy us because we are unwilling to release the offense. Your business may be failing, sickness may by attacking your body and you are still saying, “God, I have every right to be mad at him. I have every right to be mad at her,” when you actually have no right at all. Jesus died to rid us of our offenses and it is time that we turn them over to Him.
Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgressions.
There is a progression to offense. First, you are offended. Then you become angry. Next, you begin to stir up strife. Finally, you become a furious person and your life is filled with sins, but you justify every one of them.
Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
If you are offended, it is time to become humble in spirit and turn loose of the stick of offense.
X.     We Have a Choice
Proverbs 18:19
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
A person can become so offended that it becomes almost impossible for them to change. Notice, bars are mentioned in this verse. Bars not only keep people out, they keep people in. A person can become trapped by their offenses. They become imprisoned and as time passes, they do not want to be released. Their offenses become like the bars of a great city.
Proverbs 20:3
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will continue meddling.
We can pray all we want, “God, get this offense away from me”, but in this verse God said it is an honor for you to lay that offense at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, to cast the burden on Him, and release it. When you choose to release offense, the bars that the enemy intended to use to imprison your life will be removed and free you to receive the blessings God has ready to pour out upon your life.
forgive one another as he has forgiven you. I apologize four the monkey illustration but it fit so will had to leave it in for give me.o