This prayer is for people who have trouble sleeping or getting a good night's sleep.
Father, I thank you for sweet sleep, divine rest and a Holy Ghost download during our sleep life.
I
thank you, Holy Spirit, that you will stand guard over their dreams and
visions. Help them to remember and interpret their dreams upon
awakening.
Holy Spirit will give you direction,
correction, warning, comfort and protection. Healing and deliverance
will be ministered to your soul, spirit and body.
May your visions, dreams, thoughts, day dreams and images be fruitful and blessed when you tap into the dream realm.
Psalm 4:8: I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
I
break every demonic contract and/or covenant made in your sleep
knowingly, unknowingly, intentional or unintentional at any time in your
life.
I command your electrical, magnetic and chemical frequencies to be in harmony and balance.
I
break off all insomnia, sleep disorders, anxieties, fears, stresses,
excessive worries, and traumas; and I release the Shalom of heaven over
you; I decree all sleep issues and anything attacking your sleep is
being broken off and healed.
I decree that your heart will not be troubled.
Proverbs 3:24: When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
I
decree that you are committed to think on things that are true, honest,
just, pure, lovely, of a good report and full of virtue and praise. The
Lord is anointing you between sleeping and waking up. The Lord is
downloading His will to you as you rest.
Isaiah 26:3: You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
I
decree that every file or program of distraction is being deleted from
your soul. Your spirit is being cleared of all blockages resulting in a
wholesome dream life.
I prophesy over you today that some HUGE breakthroughs are happening and will continue to manifest in your life AS YOU SLEEP!
I declare over you that God is doing MORE in you and for you than you realize, while you sleep.
I decree an INCREASE of prophetic dreams and awareness of what Jesus is doing in and for you while you sleep.
I decree over you a season of OVERNIGHT MIRACLES!
In Jesus name! Amen!
NOTE: This prayer is prayed over you or someone else in the second person pronouns (you, your, etc). If you would like to pray this for yourself, simply change the pronouns to first person (I, me, my, etc).
12.29.2019
11.26.2019
Every Morning and All Day
Pray it; proclaim it; decree it; declare it-- every morning and all dady!
Jesus is Lord, Jesus is my Lord, Jesus is Lord over my family, Jesus is Lord over my finances, Jesus is Lord over my health, Jesus is Lord over my city, Jesus is Lord over my nation, Jesus is Lord over all the earth.
I go into all the world, I preach the gospel to every creature, I make disciples, I cast out devils, I lay hands on the sick and they do recover, I speak with new tongue, and if I drink any deadly thing it does not hurt me, because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I treat others the way I want to be treated.
I go to the sick and minister to them because if I were sick I’d want someone to come to me.
I do go to the lost and witness to them, because when I was lost someone witnessed to me.
I have received an anointing that abides. It doesn’t lift, it doesn’t wane, it abides. It walks in me and talks in me therefore I am anointed at all times. The anointed One lives in me therefore I am always anointed. His anointing is my anointing. His strength is my strength. I am filled with all the fullness of God. I believe on Jesus Christ. He is my Lord, He is my master. I’ve given Him my life and my heart. I purposefully renew my mind to the word of God. I am filled with His knowledge in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. In Him is hid all the wisdom of the ages and in Him I abide and dwell. I dwell in Him and He in me. I am baptized in the Holy Spirit, completely to over flowing, immersed, influenced, controlled and in the name of Jesus the Holy Spirit leads and guides me, into all truth. The light of the world is in me and I am the light of the world. My light will shine and by my light I will glorify God.
My works glorify God. My words glorify God, my thoughts glorify God. I bring every thought into captivity, and I cast down every thought contrary to the word and knowledge of God.
I am healed by His stripes. I walk in divine health and I bring divine healing to others. I preach the gospel; I proclaim liberty to the captives and set them free, I don’t judge, I don’t qualify people. I set them free so that the goodness of God can draw them to repentance. God gives me wisdom to win any person I speak with.
I walk in the power of Jesus Christ; I walk in the power that God has poured through Him. The authority I walk in is Jesus’ authority, it’s not mine, it’s not based on my works, it’s not based on my name. It’s based on the name of Jesus. I walk in power, I walk in authority, and I walk in the very ability of God Himself. I am filled with all the fullness of God because I have the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost abiding in me, dwelling in me, they don’t come and go, they dwell. And I dwell in them.
I love all men. I love God with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength. I love men as I love myself and I treat others the way I want to be treated. Therefore I walk in the way of life. I do not walk in the way of death. My plans are of God because I acknowledge Him in all my ways. I don’t lean to my own understanding; I do not lean to my own strength, but I am strengthened by Christ. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I give freely to any person not judging, deciding, or picking or choosing who deserves it and who does not. Instead I look at all men through the eyes of Christ. I see mankind the way God sees them, through eyes of love, eyes of grace, mercy, and long suffering. I take my time to help people. I go out of my way to help people. I am absolute over all demonic evil forces, beings, principalities, powers, and any Spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
I do what is right, I have the whole armor of God, I am saved. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. His blood makes me free. His blood makes me righteous. His sacrifice made me acceptable, and I am accepted in the beloved. He is my God and I am His child. I’m not carnal, I’m Spiritual. I do not take offense, I refuse to take offense. I refuse to give unnecessary offense. But I will not compromise the Gospel or the truth of the Word of God.
By the Spirit of God I am healed, I am delivered, I am free, my mind is guarded. I take heed to what I hear, to who I listen to. I take heed to separate myself from the wicked. I do not sit in the seat of the scornful. I walk in the company of the wise. My words will be the words of God. My words are Spirit and they are life, they bring life, they provide life. I will speak that which is true and I will speak the truth in love. I’ve purposed myself to become love personified. I lay down my life for others, so in the Name of Jesus, I am forgiven, I have confessed any sin and I am cleansed by the blood of Jesus, made whole. I now am righteous by the blood of Jesus. His mind, His thoughts, His objectives and His plans are mine. I’ve laid down my life and taken up His. I take up my cross every day, every day I take up my cross and I recognize that every day I count myself as dead and I die to the things of the world and I die to the things of the flesh but I am alive to God. I’m dead to sin. Sin is not my friend it is my enemy. Sin is death, it is bondage, and it is not my master and I am not its servant, but I am God’s son, I am man’s servant, and I am the devil’s master. For it is no longer I that live, but Christ who lives through me and the life that I now live I live by the faith in the Son of God, who lived and died and gave Himself for me. I bless those that curse me, I bless those that despitefully use me.
He is the head, I am His body. He gives me the thoughts, He provides all power and I provide the action. I pray and receive. And He is glorified through my receiving, and by my receiving my joy is made full, because I know that He hears me, and I know that if He hears me then I have what I ask in the name of Jesus. Everything that I ask for I receive. I have it in the Spirit and I shall have it in the physical. My prayers are answered because Jesus paid the price. My words come to pass, so right now from this day forth I will not say words, either the words themselves or the manner in which they’re spoken in any way that will hurt, harm, or bring discomfort to anyone unnecessarily. I will speak the truth in love, I will bring peace, my heart is pure, my mind is renewed, my thoughts are pure. I think on things that are above, I think on things that are pure and of good report. Things that bring joy to God and peace to my spirit.
God’s power is available to me, to be used when I deem fit. To be used by me according to the will of God, which is for things to be done on earth as they are in heaven. His will is my will, I choose His will, I choose His way above my way. It is not my will, but His will that I will do. And I will seek to make sure that in every way my will comes into alignment with His will because His spirit, His words, His power fills me, dwells in me, every day, all day. I take the opportunity to choose to turn situations into glory to God that the devil meant for bad. I refuse to be defeated; I refuse to allow the enemy to dictate my actions, my thoughts, my words, my reactions. I speak His words, I study His words, and His word will abide in me richly causing every situation to turn to the glory of God.
I walk by faith and not by sight. I choose to believe the word of God over what my eyes show me. I choose to believe the report of God over the report of man. God’s word is the final authority in my life. If He said it, I believe it. It is settled. I walk by it and I will not allow deception, I will not allow any thoughts contrary to the word of God. I pull down strong holds of wrong doctrine; wrong teaching that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. I will pull them down and bring them to captivity and I let free the words of God. I let them free through my mouth; I let free through my mind. I think the thoughts of God, thoughts of good will toward all men.
I am a new creature in Christ, old things are passed away, all things have become new and the “all things” are of God.
I am free and I set others free. I’m healed and I heal others. I am delivered and I deliver others. The spirit of the living God, His nature, His character, His attributes, are demonstrated through me in every way in every opportunity, I will turn every situation into the glory of God. Nothing can separate me from God and therefore I will not separate myself.
I will not divide what God has joined. We are one, as He is one. I am one with Christ, we are one with God. He’s the head and we are the body, we are the church and it is the church’s responsibility to meet the needs of the world, every need regardless of what it is. And our bank account is heavens bank account. Whatever the world could need God has provided. I will expect and trust God to bring it through me.
I expect to do the same works of Jesus. I expect to do greater works because He went to the Father. The truth of the word of God is alive in me. His life is in me, His life flows through me to others, His life brings freedom through me and I distribute it freely to everyone that has need. Young or old, black or white, male or female, there is no distinction. I bring freedom everywhere I go in the name of Jesus. The enemy cannot stop me, I resist him because I have submitted myself unto God and because I’ve humbled myself God will exalt me. I will look to no man to exalt me, I look to God. I lay my life down and God has taken my life and turned into something good, something He can use to bring freedom to people I bring glory to God, by bringing freedom to man. In the name of Jesus, what I have spoken is true. It is true now and it will remain true. I say it and therefore I stand by it. I have spoken the truth of the word of God, things that are already seen I give God glory for, things that are not yet seen I give God glory for and those things that need to be brought forth into my life I call into being, I call those things which be not as though they were because I speak by faith and faith brings it to pass and as I exert faith I bring glory to God, I take the shield of faith and quench every fiery dart by my faith in Christ Jesus, He said nothing shall by any means shall harm me, I believe Him. I’m bold as a lion, I speak freely, I speak openly, and I display the kingdom of God. In every way in Jesus name. Amen
Jesus is Lord, Jesus is my Lord, Jesus is Lord over my family, Jesus is Lord over my finances, Jesus is Lord over my health, Jesus is Lord over my city, Jesus is Lord over my nation, Jesus is Lord over all the earth.
I go into all the world, I preach the gospel to every creature, I make disciples, I cast out devils, I lay hands on the sick and they do recover, I speak with new tongue, and if I drink any deadly thing it does not hurt me, because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. I treat others the way I want to be treated.
I go to the sick and minister to them because if I were sick I’d want someone to come to me.
I do go to the lost and witness to them, because when I was lost someone witnessed to me.
I have received an anointing that abides. It doesn’t lift, it doesn’t wane, it abides. It walks in me and talks in me therefore I am anointed at all times. The anointed One lives in me therefore I am always anointed. His anointing is my anointing. His strength is my strength. I am filled with all the fullness of God. I believe on Jesus Christ. He is my Lord, He is my master. I’ve given Him my life and my heart. I purposefully renew my mind to the word of God. I am filled with His knowledge in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. In Him is hid all the wisdom of the ages and in Him I abide and dwell. I dwell in Him and He in me. I am baptized in the Holy Spirit, completely to over flowing, immersed, influenced, controlled and in the name of Jesus the Holy Spirit leads and guides me, into all truth. The light of the world is in me and I am the light of the world. My light will shine and by my light I will glorify God.
My works glorify God. My words glorify God, my thoughts glorify God. I bring every thought into captivity, and I cast down every thought contrary to the word and knowledge of God.
I am healed by His stripes. I walk in divine health and I bring divine healing to others. I preach the gospel; I proclaim liberty to the captives and set them free, I don’t judge, I don’t qualify people. I set them free so that the goodness of God can draw them to repentance. God gives me wisdom to win any person I speak with.
I walk in the power of Jesus Christ; I walk in the power that God has poured through Him. The authority I walk in is Jesus’ authority, it’s not mine, it’s not based on my works, it’s not based on my name. It’s based on the name of Jesus. I walk in power, I walk in authority, and I walk in the very ability of God Himself. I am filled with all the fullness of God because I have the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost abiding in me, dwelling in me, they don’t come and go, they dwell. And I dwell in them.
I love all men. I love God with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength. I love men as I love myself and I treat others the way I want to be treated. Therefore I walk in the way of life. I do not walk in the way of death. My plans are of God because I acknowledge Him in all my ways. I don’t lean to my own understanding; I do not lean to my own strength, but I am strengthened by Christ. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I give freely to any person not judging, deciding, or picking or choosing who deserves it and who does not. Instead I look at all men through the eyes of Christ. I see mankind the way God sees them, through eyes of love, eyes of grace, mercy, and long suffering. I take my time to help people. I go out of my way to help people. I am absolute over all demonic evil forces, beings, principalities, powers, and any Spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.
I do what is right, I have the whole armor of God, I am saved. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. His blood makes me free. His blood makes me righteous. His sacrifice made me acceptable, and I am accepted in the beloved. He is my God and I am His child. I’m not carnal, I’m Spiritual. I do not take offense, I refuse to take offense. I refuse to give unnecessary offense. But I will not compromise the Gospel or the truth of the Word of God.
By the Spirit of God I am healed, I am delivered, I am free, my mind is guarded. I take heed to what I hear, to who I listen to. I take heed to separate myself from the wicked. I do not sit in the seat of the scornful. I walk in the company of the wise. My words will be the words of God. My words are Spirit and they are life, they bring life, they provide life. I will speak that which is true and I will speak the truth in love. I’ve purposed myself to become love personified. I lay down my life for others, so in the Name of Jesus, I am forgiven, I have confessed any sin and I am cleansed by the blood of Jesus, made whole. I now am righteous by the blood of Jesus. His mind, His thoughts, His objectives and His plans are mine. I’ve laid down my life and taken up His. I take up my cross every day, every day I take up my cross and I recognize that every day I count myself as dead and I die to the things of the world and I die to the things of the flesh but I am alive to God. I’m dead to sin. Sin is not my friend it is my enemy. Sin is death, it is bondage, and it is not my master and I am not its servant, but I am God’s son, I am man’s servant, and I am the devil’s master. For it is no longer I that live, but Christ who lives through me and the life that I now live I live by the faith in the Son of God, who lived and died and gave Himself for me. I bless those that curse me, I bless those that despitefully use me.
He is the head, I am His body. He gives me the thoughts, He provides all power and I provide the action. I pray and receive. And He is glorified through my receiving, and by my receiving my joy is made full, because I know that He hears me, and I know that if He hears me then I have what I ask in the name of Jesus. Everything that I ask for I receive. I have it in the Spirit and I shall have it in the physical. My prayers are answered because Jesus paid the price. My words come to pass, so right now from this day forth I will not say words, either the words themselves or the manner in which they’re spoken in any way that will hurt, harm, or bring discomfort to anyone unnecessarily. I will speak the truth in love, I will bring peace, my heart is pure, my mind is renewed, my thoughts are pure. I think on things that are above, I think on things that are pure and of good report. Things that bring joy to God and peace to my spirit.
God’s power is available to me, to be used when I deem fit. To be used by me according to the will of God, which is for things to be done on earth as they are in heaven. His will is my will, I choose His will, I choose His way above my way. It is not my will, but His will that I will do. And I will seek to make sure that in every way my will comes into alignment with His will because His spirit, His words, His power fills me, dwells in me, every day, all day. I take the opportunity to choose to turn situations into glory to God that the devil meant for bad. I refuse to be defeated; I refuse to allow the enemy to dictate my actions, my thoughts, my words, my reactions. I speak His words, I study His words, and His word will abide in me richly causing every situation to turn to the glory of God.
I walk by faith and not by sight. I choose to believe the word of God over what my eyes show me. I choose to believe the report of God over the report of man. God’s word is the final authority in my life. If He said it, I believe it. It is settled. I walk by it and I will not allow deception, I will not allow any thoughts contrary to the word of God. I pull down strong holds of wrong doctrine; wrong teaching that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. I will pull them down and bring them to captivity and I let free the words of God. I let them free through my mouth; I let free through my mind. I think the thoughts of God, thoughts of good will toward all men.
I am a new creature in Christ, old things are passed away, all things have become new and the “all things” are of God.
I am free and I set others free. I’m healed and I heal others. I am delivered and I deliver others. The spirit of the living God, His nature, His character, His attributes, are demonstrated through me in every way in every opportunity, I will turn every situation into the glory of God. Nothing can separate me from God and therefore I will not separate myself.
I will not divide what God has joined. We are one, as He is one. I am one with Christ, we are one with God. He’s the head and we are the body, we are the church and it is the church’s responsibility to meet the needs of the world, every need regardless of what it is. And our bank account is heavens bank account. Whatever the world could need God has provided. I will expect and trust God to bring it through me.
I expect to do the same works of Jesus. I expect to do greater works because He went to the Father. The truth of the word of God is alive in me. His life is in me, His life flows through me to others, His life brings freedom through me and I distribute it freely to everyone that has need. Young or old, black or white, male or female, there is no distinction. I bring freedom everywhere I go in the name of Jesus. The enemy cannot stop me, I resist him because I have submitted myself unto God and because I’ve humbled myself God will exalt me. I will look to no man to exalt me, I look to God. I lay my life down and God has taken my life and turned into something good, something He can use to bring freedom to people I bring glory to God, by bringing freedom to man. In the name of Jesus, what I have spoken is true. It is true now and it will remain true. I say it and therefore I stand by it. I have spoken the truth of the word of God, things that are already seen I give God glory for, things that are not yet seen I give God glory for and those things that need to be brought forth into my life I call into being, I call those things which be not as though they were because I speak by faith and faith brings it to pass and as I exert faith I bring glory to God, I take the shield of faith and quench every fiery dart by my faith in Christ Jesus, He said nothing shall by any means shall harm me, I believe Him. I’m bold as a lion, I speak freely, I speak openly, and I display the kingdom of God. In every way in Jesus name. Amen
10.22.2019
One Another: A Scriptural Theme
Dan Crawford and Al Meredith searched the New Testament and came up with 31 "one anothers" for God's people. They wrote a chapter on each in their volume One Anothering, which is available from your favorite online bookseller.
What are the 31 one-anothers?
Pray for one another (James 5:16).
Be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50).
Wash one another's feet (John 13:14).
Love one another (John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17; Rom. 13:8; Gal. 5:13; 1 Thess. 3:12, 4:9; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 3:11-12, 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 5).
Be members of one another (Rom. 12:5).
Be devoted to one another (Rom. 12:10).
Honor one another (Rom.12:10).
Let us not judge one another (Rom. 14:13).
Be of the same mind toward one another (Rom. 15:5).
Receive one another (Rom. 15:7).
Admonish one another (Rom. 15:14).
Greet one another (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 1 Pet. 5:14).
Wait for one another (1 Cor. 11:33).
Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25).
Serve one another (Gal. 5:13).
Do not bite and devour lest you consume one another (Gal. 5:15).
Do not provoke one another (Gal. 5:26).
Do not envy one another (Gal. 5:26).
Bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2).
Bear with one another (Eph. 4:2, Col. 3:13).
Be kind to one another (Eph. 4:32).
Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21, 1 Pet. 5:5).
Do not lie to one another (Col. 3:9).
Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18).
Edify one another (1 Thess. 5:11).
Consider one another (Heb. 10:24).
Do not speak evil of one another (James 4:11).
Do not grumble against one another (James 5:9).
Confess to one another (James 5:16).
Be hospitable to one another (1 Pet. 4:9).
Fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).
What do you think this means for God's people?
What are the 31 one-anothers?
Pray for one another (James 5:16).
Be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50).
Wash one another's feet (John 13:14).
Love one another (John 13:34-35; John 15:12, 17; Rom. 13:8; Gal. 5:13; 1 Thess. 3:12, 4:9; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 3:11-12, 4:7, 11-12; 2 John 5).
Be members of one another (Rom. 12:5).
Be devoted to one another (Rom. 12:10).
Honor one another (Rom.12:10).
Let us not judge one another (Rom. 14:13).
Be of the same mind toward one another (Rom. 15:5).
Receive one another (Rom. 15:7).
Admonish one another (Rom. 15:14).
Greet one another (Rom. 16:16, 1 Cor. 16:20, 1 Pet. 5:14).
Wait for one another (1 Cor. 11:33).
Care for one another (1 Cor. 12:25).
Serve one another (Gal. 5:13).
Do not bite and devour lest you consume one another (Gal. 5:15).
Do not provoke one another (Gal. 5:26).
Do not envy one another (Gal. 5:26).
Bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2).
Bear with one another (Eph. 4:2, Col. 3:13).
Be kind to one another (Eph. 4:32).
Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21, 1 Pet. 5:5).
Do not lie to one another (Col. 3:9).
Comfort one another (1 Thess. 4:18).
Edify one another (1 Thess. 5:11).
Consider one another (Heb. 10:24).
Do not speak evil of one another (James 4:11).
Do not grumble against one another (James 5:9).
Confess to one another (James 5:16).
Be hospitable to one another (1 Pet. 4:9).
Fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7).
What do you think this means for God's people?
9.29.2019
Biblical Standards for Leadership
This article is from chapter 10 of Joseph Mattera's book Poisonous Power.
In an age of an evangelical church culture that is fraught with scandals, we must continually remind and ground ourselves in the biblical criteria for leadership. Otherwise, we will lose our credibility within our churches and before the world. In addition, every church's board of trustees should insist their pastor be accountable to a higher body of leadership or presbytery. This can aid in steering clear of unnecessary challenges related to ministerial integrity.
There is an urgent need in contemporary Christianity to overhaul our assessment and criteria for leadership. This has been made abundantly clear by all the scandals that continue to take place in the church. Those who attempt to bring correction (like I am doing here) are often accused of being legalists or judgmental. I am not advocating that ministers caught in sexual or ethical sin should step down permanently. But there needs to be a body of leaders to which fallen ministers are accountable so they may be restored to their ministries after demonstrating true repentance and inner healing.
The following are some of the ethical and ministerial standards as related to priests, kings and New Testament elders. These are qualifications that we can still apply in principle to today's church.
Old Testament Standards
For the Priests (Lev. 21)
Originally, all the children of Israel were to serve as priests of the Lord (Ex. 19:6). But this privilege was evidently taken away and given to the tribe of Levi after the people turned away from the Lord. Among the many laws related to the standards for the priesthood (which relate to all present saints, according to 1 Pet. 2:8-9) are some ministerial and ethical principles that we can allegorically extrapolate (although the actual ceremonial qualifications are no longer relevant).
Standard: They shall not dwell among dead bodies and make themselves unclean (Lev. 21:11). This has to do with not fellowshipping with folks while they are involved in the works of darkness. (Jesus called unconverted people "dead" in John 5:25, Luke 9:60 and Eph. 2:1-3.)
Principle: I can't tell you how many Christians I know of who think nothing of going out and partying with the world—getting drunk, listening to ungodly music, gambling or other worldly pursuits.
Standard: They shall not marry a prostitute or a divorced woman but only a virgin (Lev. 21:13-15). The basic idea of this passage is this: Marriage is not a free-for-all. Priests are commanded to marry women of God without previous marital issues. This is so the priestly class is protected from unnecessary distractions and so they nurture their children in a godly environment.
Principle: Jesus modified this view in Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:8-9 for the kingdom age of the church when He forbade divorce, except for sexual immorality, and forbade marrying a person divorced for an unbiblical reason. (It is now common in the body of Christ for people to divorce just because they don't get along with their spouse. Jesus strictly forbids this.)
Various laws highlight physical defects (Lev. 21:17- 24). Physical defects or blemishes are related to spiritual deficits that hinder a person from ministering for the Lord. For example, lameness represents those whose walk with God doesn't allow them to minister; blindness represents those who have no discernment and no real revelation of Christ in their lives; those with crushed testicles represent those who are not winning souls or bearing any fruit in their ministries; hunchbacks represent those who are not walking uprightly before the Lord (Prov. 2:21); and dwarfs represent those who have not grown in stature and maturity in Christ (Eph. 4:13).
Standards for Kings (Deut. 17:14-20)
While the principles for priests relate to all believers, the standards for kings relate specifically to those serving in church leadership.
Standard: A foreigner who is not your brother may not serve as king (Deut. 17:15). Those serving in leadership positions in the body of Christ must be "born again" and demonstrate clear fruits of salvation.
Principle: Often, churches place people in leadership positions without any assurance of their salvation! This dilutes the church of its effectiveness and power to witness to the world!
Standard: Kings must not acquire many horses for themselves (Deut. 17:16). In the Bible, horses represent strength and pride. Thus, God is warning His leaders not to acquire possessions that symbolize their elitism and raise themselves higher than the people in their congregations. For example, there are church leaders who drive very expensive cars or wear $5,000 suits (even though their congregation is very poor) to show people that God is blessing them above everyone else.
Principle: This goes against the principles of humility and simplicity that Jesus and His apostles modeled in Scripture. God forbids kings from acquiring too many horses because it would cause people to turn back to Egypt, which is a symbol of returning to previous ungodly lifestyles they had before experiencing salvation in Christ. Leaders who need material excess in order to be satisfied in this life will produce people who will also get caught up in materialism. This will turn their hearts away from the Lord and back to the things the world values.
Standard: Kings shall not acquire many wives. God was teaching against polygamy and telling the leaders to go back to the one-wife standard, as found in the union between Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:19-22). Although church leaders in America today don't practice polygamy (having more than one legal wife at the same time), more and more leaders in the church are violating the spirit of this passage because they get married, divorced and remarried numerous times. This is causing unrest, disgust and alarm among many leaders (including me) in the body of Christ.
Principle: Ever since the 1980s, when certain national ministers began divorcing and remarrying without adultery or infidelity being cited as the reason (and then on television telling the world that they are blessed), the standards of church leadership regarding marriage and divorce have been sliding down into an abyss.
Several years ago, two high-profile church pastors/leaders divorced. The reasons they gave had nothing to do with adultery but everything to do with simply not getting along or having different visions for ministry. If this is so, they have set an awful example for younger leaders and their congregations by putting their ministry aspirations (or career aspirations) ahead of their marriage vows, which are emblematic of Christ and the church and should never be broken (Eph. 5:25).
This is different than some of the cases in which a spouse does not want to serve the Lord anymore or wants their spouse to choose between them and the ministry. This is a difficult situation, especially if a person thinks that by resigning, they are putting the fleshly desires of their spouse before God.
Standard: Kings shall not acquire for themselves excessive silver or gold (Deut. 17:17). There are some contemporary Christian leaders who live lavishly and receive an inordinate amount of compensation from their churches. I have no problem with a pastor receiving a decent salary, commensurate with their hard work and the size of their church, so they can devote their time to ministering to the church and not be distracted by having to work another job. But some go over- board and live like narcissistic celebrities! This has become a stench in the nostrils of the world and is something that must be adjusted, or we will see the judgment of God visit the church as never before!
(I have several income streams related to various aspects of my ministry outside of our local church, so I don't put an excessive burden on the finances of our congregation. Also, I have no issue with someone making a lot of money from book sales, audio sales and royalties. This is different than making millions in salary from a local church.)
Standard: Kings shall both write and read the Word of God all the days of their lives (Deut. 17:18-19). Christian leaders are required by God to be "people of the book." We are to focus on the Scriptures, understand all the important doctrines of the church and the Bible, and be able to apply all of this to our personal lives, families, churches, and the surrounding culture.
Principle: There are many leaders who know the sports pages, current events or the musings of Wall Street more than they know and understand the Scriptures. If we are going to get back to correct standards of holiness, ethics and ministerial protocol, we need to recapture the simplicity of the gospel (the kerygma) and the teachings that apply it (the Didache).
Standard: The hearts of kings shall not be lifted up above their brothers. When I was consecrated as a bishop in 2006, many congratulated me for being "elevated." I would cringe when hearing this because I could not picture the Lord Jesus telling His apostles that they were elevated! He told them they were servants, called to wash the feet of the people (John 13).
Principle: When we view leadership as a position, title, or status above others in our faith communities, we are missing the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and are acting like the world. The world has leaders who lord their authority over their subjects. This is the opposite of what Jesus taught His apostles (Mark 10:42-45).
New Testament Standards
For Church Elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7)
Elders in local churches are those who have the greatest responsibility for leading their congregations. Elder is the highest governmental office in the church—something even the apostle Peter claimed for himself (1 Pet. 5:1). (The fivefold ministry, as found in Eph. 4:11, describes a function, not an office, of the church.)
Because of the great resonsibility, there are some general guidelines that all pastors, fivefold ministers, trustees, deacons and elders must meet before they are installed. The following is a brief summary:
They must be above reproach. This regards not having hidden "skeletons in the closet" or a lifestyle that others could seize on and use as an accusation to discredit them.
They must be the husband of one wife. This has to do with barring a person from serving as an elder who is married to more than one woman at a time. We can also extrapolate from this standard that one should not serve as an elder if they divorced their wife and remarried for anything but the biblical reason of adultery. (However, a case can be made that divorce is acceptable if one's spouse is a violent abuser who threatens their life. But some would say you could divorce but not remarry in a case like this. There is too much to say regarding this subject to fit here.)
They must be sober-minded. This means elders should be serious about the primary things in life related to God, the church, family and eternity. Their values and priorities should be on things above (Col. 3:1-3).
They must be self-controlled. This means a leader needs to live a prudent, discreet life of self-control in which they are not giving in to their fleshly desires or the whims of their physical and sensual passions regarding lust of the flesh, food and sexual appetite.
They must be respectable: a person who is not disorderly, but lives a quiet life as a respectable citizen.
They must be hospitable. Elders should have their marriages, families and finances in order, to the point where they are able to put up people in their homes as the Lord leads. They should also have people over for dinner. I know some leaders who never allow anyone near their homes or personal lives. This makes me wonder what they are trying to hide. Hospitality is an important requirement because it enables the discipleship or mentoring process, so those being discipled can go to the next level beyond what is available in larger congregational meetings.
They must be able to teach. Elders have to be capable of communicating the gospel to the unsaved and applying it practically in a teaching setting for a congregation. Having a Word ministry is an important requirement of all elders.
They cannot be drunkards. It is not a sin to drink alcoholic beverages, but it is a sin if it becomes a habit and causes drunkenness. This can also be applied to any mind-altering substance. Some leaders have become addicted to painkillers, drinking and other activities that dim the brain to avoid dealing with the pain and pressures of life.
They must not be violent. Unfortunately, there are many leaders with a violent temper. A violent temper disqualifies a person in God's eyes for eldership in the body of Christ.
They must not be quarrelsome. There are some leaders who are very argumentative because they have issues in their own hearts that have not been dealt with. While we don't want "yes men" to serve as elders (people who just rubber-stamp everything the senior pastor says without honest dialogue and feedback), we also don't want people serving as elders who must debate everything.
They must not be lovers of money. Leaders whose hearts are fixated on money are not qualified to be elders because they will always view their ministries and associations with people with a "What's in it for me?" mentality. Those with serious financial challenges should not serve as elders or trustees because they will be tempted by a conflicting interest when they have business meetings and discuss how to dispense or spend church finances.
They must manage their households and have their children subject to them. If a person cannot lead their own family, the Bible teaches they cannot manage or lead the household of God. This also means that young children of elders who are still living in their homes should be submissive, attend church and not be a disruption to the family goal of serving the Lord.
They must not be a recent convert. In New Testament times, a person had to be at least 30 years old and a believer for several years before they were appointed as elders. This is to protect new converts who could be puffed up with pride if they are put in a position of influence.
They must have a good reputation with those outside the church. We are not called only to be an example within the church but also outside the church. This is why an elder should not have bad credit, a bad record on their job or a bad reputation among their neighbors.
These are all simple guidelines. Unfortunately, we need to be continually reminded of the first principles and foundational things of leadership so our standards will glorify God and enable us to serve as salt and light in our communities!
In an age of an evangelical church culture that is fraught with scandals, we must continually remind and ground ourselves in the biblical criteria for leadership. Otherwise, we will lose our credibility within our churches and before the world. In addition, every church's board of trustees should insist their pastor be accountable to a higher body of leadership or presbytery. This can aid in steering clear of unnecessary challenges related to ministerial integrity.
There is an urgent need in contemporary Christianity to overhaul our assessment and criteria for leadership. This has been made abundantly clear by all the scandals that continue to take place in the church. Those who attempt to bring correction (like I am doing here) are often accused of being legalists or judgmental. I am not advocating that ministers caught in sexual or ethical sin should step down permanently. But there needs to be a body of leaders to which fallen ministers are accountable so they may be restored to their ministries after demonstrating true repentance and inner healing.
The following are some of the ethical and ministerial standards as related to priests, kings and New Testament elders. These are qualifications that we can still apply in principle to today's church.
Old Testament Standards
For the Priests (Lev. 21)
Originally, all the children of Israel were to serve as priests of the Lord (Ex. 19:6). But this privilege was evidently taken away and given to the tribe of Levi after the people turned away from the Lord. Among the many laws related to the standards for the priesthood (which relate to all present saints, according to 1 Pet. 2:8-9) are some ministerial and ethical principles that we can allegorically extrapolate (although the actual ceremonial qualifications are no longer relevant).
Standard: They shall not dwell among dead bodies and make themselves unclean (Lev. 21:11). This has to do with not fellowshipping with folks while they are involved in the works of darkness. (Jesus called unconverted people "dead" in John 5:25, Luke 9:60 and Eph. 2:1-3.)
Principle: I can't tell you how many Christians I know of who think nothing of going out and partying with the world—getting drunk, listening to ungodly music, gambling or other worldly pursuits.
Standard: They shall not marry a prostitute or a divorced woman but only a virgin (Lev. 21:13-15). The basic idea of this passage is this: Marriage is not a free-for-all. Priests are commanded to marry women of God without previous marital issues. This is so the priestly class is protected from unnecessary distractions and so they nurture their children in a godly environment.
Principle: Jesus modified this view in Matthew 5:31-32 and 19:8-9 for the kingdom age of the church when He forbade divorce, except for sexual immorality, and forbade marrying a person divorced for an unbiblical reason. (It is now common in the body of Christ for people to divorce just because they don't get along with their spouse. Jesus strictly forbids this.)
Various laws highlight physical defects (Lev. 21:17- 24). Physical defects or blemishes are related to spiritual deficits that hinder a person from ministering for the Lord. For example, lameness represents those whose walk with God doesn't allow them to minister; blindness represents those who have no discernment and no real revelation of Christ in their lives; those with crushed testicles represent those who are not winning souls or bearing any fruit in their ministries; hunchbacks represent those who are not walking uprightly before the Lord (Prov. 2:21); and dwarfs represent those who have not grown in stature and maturity in Christ (Eph. 4:13).
Standards for Kings (Deut. 17:14-20)
While the principles for priests relate to all believers, the standards for kings relate specifically to those serving in church leadership.
Standard: A foreigner who is not your brother may not serve as king (Deut. 17:15). Those serving in leadership positions in the body of Christ must be "born again" and demonstrate clear fruits of salvation.
Principle: Often, churches place people in leadership positions without any assurance of their salvation! This dilutes the church of its effectiveness and power to witness to the world!
Standard: Kings must not acquire many horses for themselves (Deut. 17:16). In the Bible, horses represent strength and pride. Thus, God is warning His leaders not to acquire possessions that symbolize their elitism and raise themselves higher than the people in their congregations. For example, there are church leaders who drive very expensive cars or wear $5,000 suits (even though their congregation is very poor) to show people that God is blessing them above everyone else.
Principle: This goes against the principles of humility and simplicity that Jesus and His apostles modeled in Scripture. God forbids kings from acquiring too many horses because it would cause people to turn back to Egypt, which is a symbol of returning to previous ungodly lifestyles they had before experiencing salvation in Christ. Leaders who need material excess in order to be satisfied in this life will produce people who will also get caught up in materialism. This will turn their hearts away from the Lord and back to the things the world values.
Standard: Kings shall not acquire many wives. God was teaching against polygamy and telling the leaders to go back to the one-wife standard, as found in the union between Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:19-22). Although church leaders in America today don't practice polygamy (having more than one legal wife at the same time), more and more leaders in the church are violating the spirit of this passage because they get married, divorced and remarried numerous times. This is causing unrest, disgust and alarm among many leaders (including me) in the body of Christ.
Principle: Ever since the 1980s, when certain national ministers began divorcing and remarrying without adultery or infidelity being cited as the reason (and then on television telling the world that they are blessed), the standards of church leadership regarding marriage and divorce have been sliding down into an abyss.
Several years ago, two high-profile church pastors/leaders divorced. The reasons they gave had nothing to do with adultery but everything to do with simply not getting along or having different visions for ministry. If this is so, they have set an awful example for younger leaders and their congregations by putting their ministry aspirations (or career aspirations) ahead of their marriage vows, which are emblematic of Christ and the church and should never be broken (Eph. 5:25).
This is different than some of the cases in which a spouse does not want to serve the Lord anymore or wants their spouse to choose between them and the ministry. This is a difficult situation, especially if a person thinks that by resigning, they are putting the fleshly desires of their spouse before God.
Standard: Kings shall not acquire for themselves excessive silver or gold (Deut. 17:17). There are some contemporary Christian leaders who live lavishly and receive an inordinate amount of compensation from their churches. I have no problem with a pastor receiving a decent salary, commensurate with their hard work and the size of their church, so they can devote their time to ministering to the church and not be distracted by having to work another job. But some go over- board and live like narcissistic celebrities! This has become a stench in the nostrils of the world and is something that must be adjusted, or we will see the judgment of God visit the church as never before!
(I have several income streams related to various aspects of my ministry outside of our local church, so I don't put an excessive burden on the finances of our congregation. Also, I have no issue with someone making a lot of money from book sales, audio sales and royalties. This is different than making millions in salary from a local church.)
Standard: Kings shall both write and read the Word of God all the days of their lives (Deut. 17:18-19). Christian leaders are required by God to be "people of the book." We are to focus on the Scriptures, understand all the important doctrines of the church and the Bible, and be able to apply all of this to our personal lives, families, churches, and the surrounding culture.
Principle: There are many leaders who know the sports pages, current events or the musings of Wall Street more than they know and understand the Scriptures. If we are going to get back to correct standards of holiness, ethics and ministerial protocol, we need to recapture the simplicity of the gospel (the kerygma) and the teachings that apply it (the Didache).
Standard: The hearts of kings shall not be lifted up above their brothers. When I was consecrated as a bishop in 2006, many congratulated me for being "elevated." I would cringe when hearing this because I could not picture the Lord Jesus telling His apostles that they were elevated! He told them they were servants, called to wash the feet of the people (John 13).
Principle: When we view leadership as a position, title, or status above others in our faith communities, we are missing the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and are acting like the world. The world has leaders who lord their authority over their subjects. This is the opposite of what Jesus taught His apostles (Mark 10:42-45).
New Testament Standards
For Church Elders (1 Tim. 3:1-7)
Elders in local churches are those who have the greatest responsibility for leading their congregations. Elder is the highest governmental office in the church—something even the apostle Peter claimed for himself (1 Pet. 5:1). (The fivefold ministry, as found in Eph. 4:11, describes a function, not an office, of the church.)
Because of the great resonsibility, there are some general guidelines that all pastors, fivefold ministers, trustees, deacons and elders must meet before they are installed. The following is a brief summary:
They must be above reproach. This regards not having hidden "skeletons in the closet" or a lifestyle that others could seize on and use as an accusation to discredit them.
They must be the husband of one wife. This has to do with barring a person from serving as an elder who is married to more than one woman at a time. We can also extrapolate from this standard that one should not serve as an elder if they divorced their wife and remarried for anything but the biblical reason of adultery. (However, a case can be made that divorce is acceptable if one's spouse is a violent abuser who threatens their life. But some would say you could divorce but not remarry in a case like this. There is too much to say regarding this subject to fit here.)
They must be sober-minded. This means elders should be serious about the primary things in life related to God, the church, family and eternity. Their values and priorities should be on things above (Col. 3:1-3).
They must be self-controlled. This means a leader needs to live a prudent, discreet life of self-control in which they are not giving in to their fleshly desires or the whims of their physical and sensual passions regarding lust of the flesh, food and sexual appetite.
They must be respectable: a person who is not disorderly, but lives a quiet life as a respectable citizen.
They must be hospitable. Elders should have their marriages, families and finances in order, to the point where they are able to put up people in their homes as the Lord leads. They should also have people over for dinner. I know some leaders who never allow anyone near their homes or personal lives. This makes me wonder what they are trying to hide. Hospitality is an important requirement because it enables the discipleship or mentoring process, so those being discipled can go to the next level beyond what is available in larger congregational meetings.
They must be able to teach. Elders have to be capable of communicating the gospel to the unsaved and applying it practically in a teaching setting for a congregation. Having a Word ministry is an important requirement of all elders.
They cannot be drunkards. It is not a sin to drink alcoholic beverages, but it is a sin if it becomes a habit and causes drunkenness. This can also be applied to any mind-altering substance. Some leaders have become addicted to painkillers, drinking and other activities that dim the brain to avoid dealing with the pain and pressures of life.
They must not be violent. Unfortunately, there are many leaders with a violent temper. A violent temper disqualifies a person in God's eyes for eldership in the body of Christ.
They must not be quarrelsome. There are some leaders who are very argumentative because they have issues in their own hearts that have not been dealt with. While we don't want "yes men" to serve as elders (people who just rubber-stamp everything the senior pastor says without honest dialogue and feedback), we also don't want people serving as elders who must debate everything.
They must not be lovers of money. Leaders whose hearts are fixated on money are not qualified to be elders because they will always view their ministries and associations with people with a "What's in it for me?" mentality. Those with serious financial challenges should not serve as elders or trustees because they will be tempted by a conflicting interest when they have business meetings and discuss how to dispense or spend church finances.
They must manage their households and have their children subject to them. If a person cannot lead their own family, the Bible teaches they cannot manage or lead the household of God. This also means that young children of elders who are still living in their homes should be submissive, attend church and not be a disruption to the family goal of serving the Lord.
They must not be a recent convert. In New Testament times, a person had to be at least 30 years old and a believer for several years before they were appointed as elders. This is to protect new converts who could be puffed up with pride if they are put in a position of influence.
They must have a good reputation with those outside the church. We are not called only to be an example within the church but also outside the church. This is why an elder should not have bad credit, a bad record on their job or a bad reputation among their neighbors.
These are all simple guidelines. Unfortunately, we need to be continually reminded of the first principles and foundational things of leadership so our standards will glorify God and enable us to serve as salt and light in our communities!
8.29.2019
We Will Win
This post is an adapted from a coach's pep talk to his team:
Who are we?
We are champions.
We need to remember that all throughout this fight.
We will conquer that which has not been conquered.
We will believe when others doubt.
We will always endeavor to please the Father.
We have trained our minds so that our bodies will follow.
We understand that the enemy thinks he can win.
But we will never surrender.
We will never back down.
Weakness will not be considered.
We will look to our fellow soldiers and those that have gone before us.
And we will learn from them and build upon their victories.
We will gladly go into the battle field.
And we will heal the sick and set the captives free.
We will use everything that the Father has given us.
We will stomp on the devil's head and send him running in defeat.
We will sacrifice for the cause; we accept persecution and are honored to be persecuted for Him.
We lay down our lives and take up His life.
No one will tell us that something is impossible, for with God ALL things ARE possible.
Faith will change our world, faith can move mountains and it will carry us through this battle.
Defeat, retreat, impossible, terminal…none of these words are in our vocabulary.
We will make our mark in history and we will be remembered.
No one will tell us what we can and cannot do.
We will never go to bed without giving everything we have to further the kingdom of God.
We love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbor as ourselves.
And WE WILL WIN!
Who are we?
We are champions.
We need to remember that all throughout this fight.
We will conquer that which has not been conquered.
We will believe when others doubt.
We will always endeavor to please the Father.
We have trained our minds so that our bodies will follow.
We understand that the enemy thinks he can win.
But we will never surrender.
We will never back down.
Weakness will not be considered.
We will look to our fellow soldiers and those that have gone before us.
And we will learn from them and build upon their victories.
We will gladly go into the battle field.
And we will heal the sick and set the captives free.
We will use everything that the Father has given us.
We will stomp on the devil's head and send him running in defeat.
We will sacrifice for the cause; we accept persecution and are honored to be persecuted for Him.
We lay down our lives and take up His life.
No one will tell us that something is impossible, for with God ALL things ARE possible.
Faith will change our world, faith can move mountains and it will carry us through this battle.
Defeat, retreat, impossible, terminal…none of these words are in our vocabulary.
We will make our mark in history and we will be remembered.
No one will tell us what we can and cannot do.
We will never go to bed without giving everything we have to further the kingdom of God.
We love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and our neighbor as ourselves.
And WE WILL WIN!
7.23.2019
The Benefits of Jesus' Shed Blood
When Jesus laid down His life on the cross, His innoceent blood was shed for us. Because Jesus was God in human flesh, death had no power over Him, but He laid His life down willingly and intentionally to save us with certain benefits.
Here are some benefits of Jesus' shed blood:
Forgiveness
You and I have been forgiven through the blood that Jesus shed when He gave up His life. "Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22).
Cleansing
Our consciences have been washed by the blood of Christ Jesus because we have truly been purified from all sin (Heb. 9:14).
Redemption
Forgiven and cleansed, we find that we have been redeemed from the clutches of the powers of darkness. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Eph. 1:7).
Justification
It is one thing to believe that you are forgiven, cleansed and redeemed, but it is another to believe that it is just as if you had never sinned in the first place. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). When I am justified, it is "just as if I'd" never sinned. I am righteous.
Sanctification
Now we can take it one step further and declare that we have been set apart for a holy calling—sanctified. Each believer is a special vessel set apart for God. Only Jesus' blood can make this possible. Because of Him, we can walk on the straight and narrow way (Matt. 7:14).
Peace
Because of Jesus' blood, we can have perfect peace. There will still be plenty of battles to fight, but the outcome has been determined on Calvary: "It was through what his Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him—all things in heaven and on earth—for Christ's death on the cross has made peace with God for all by his blood" (Col. 1:20).
Access to the Father
Jesus' blood has made possible your complete reconciliation with the Holy Father in heaven. Now, covered as you are in the blood of Christ, you are like the high priest who was invited to enter the Most Holy Place—without being struck dead. You can enter the most holy throne room of heaven with perfect impunity: "And so, dear brothers, now we may walk right into the very Holy of Holies, where God is, because of the blood of Jesus" (Heb. 10:19).
Thanks to JG for original sourcing.
Here are some benefits of Jesus' shed blood:
Forgiveness
You and I have been forgiven through the blood that Jesus shed when He gave up His life. "Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22).
Cleansing
Our consciences have been washed by the blood of Christ Jesus because we have truly been purified from all sin (Heb. 9:14).
Redemption
Forgiven and cleansed, we find that we have been redeemed from the clutches of the powers of darkness. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace" (Eph. 1:7).
Justification
It is one thing to believe that you are forgiven, cleansed and redeemed, but it is another to believe that it is just as if you had never sinned in the first place. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). When I am justified, it is "just as if I'd" never sinned. I am righteous.
Sanctification
Now we can take it one step further and declare that we have been set apart for a holy calling—sanctified. Each believer is a special vessel set apart for God. Only Jesus' blood can make this possible. Because of Him, we can walk on the straight and narrow way (Matt. 7:14).
Peace
Because of Jesus' blood, we can have perfect peace. There will still be plenty of battles to fight, but the outcome has been determined on Calvary: "It was through what his Son did that God cleared a path for everything to come to him—all things in heaven and on earth—for Christ's death on the cross has made peace with God for all by his blood" (Col. 1:20).
Access to the Father
Jesus' blood has made possible your complete reconciliation with the Holy Father in heaven. Now, covered as you are in the blood of Christ, you are like the high priest who was invited to enter the Most Holy Place—without being struck dead. You can enter the most holy throne room of heaven with perfect impunity: "And so, dear brothers, now we may walk right into the very Holy of Holies, where God is, because of the blood of Jesus" (Heb. 10:19).
Thanks to JG for original sourcing.
6.17.2019
The Times Jesus Shed His Blood
When we think of Jesus shedding His blood for us, we generally think of it as occurring at a single moment during His crucifixion. A closer look at Scripture reveals otherwise. In fact, Jesus shed His blood on two different instances during the crucifixion account alone. In the Scriptures, we can find seven different times Jesus shed His blood for us. Why seven times? Seven is the number of completion. All seven of these times are during the lead up to or during His crucifixion. All seven are encapsulated in Jesus' one sacrifice for all time. Make no mistake about it, Jesus didn't make seven sacrifices; He made one sacrifice, but He did shed His blood seven times during the lead up to or during that one sacrifice. Jesus made one sacrifice for all time, but what happened during the lead up to or during that one sacrifice?
Let's look at the seven times Jesus shed His blood for us:
1. Sweating Blood
The night forr have been even more agonizing for Jesus than actually being crucified. The act of deciding to accept the harrowing torture that would end in death—with full foreknowledge of what it would entail—was so grueling that blood actually exuded from the pores of Jesus's forehead: "He was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops falling to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly" (Luke 22:44). This is the initial blood-shedding of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Struck and Beaten
Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night and taken forcibly from Gethsemane to the house of the high priest, Caiaphas, where the scribes and elders had assembled. There He was questioned and handled roughly:
"'Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?' They answered, 'He deserves death!' Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists [or with rods]; and others slapped Him" (Matthew 26:65b-67).
Surely, this beating drew blood, although it was nothing like the scourging that was to follow.
3. Beard Plucked Out
In biblical times, if you wanted to express utter abhorrence and dishonor toward a man, you would not only beat him and slap his face, but you would also spit in his face and tear out his beard. This would get ugly, undoubtedly, because as each chunk of beard was ripped out, it would take a piece of the flesh of the man's cheek or chin with it. We believe that this form of dishonor happened to Jesus because the prophet Isaiah foretold it: "I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting" (Isa. 50:6).
No wonder Isaiah spoke of the Messiah's appearance as being "marred" (Isa. 52:14), or "disfigured" beyond recognition.
4. Back Scourged
To be scourged under the Roman system was a brutal punishment, sometimes resulting in the death of the one who had been whipped: "The punishment of scourging was common among the Jews.... Under the Roman method the culprit was stripped, stretched with cords or thongs on a frame and beaten with rods" or with metal attached to leather thongs.
advertisement
Do you get the picture? Not only would Jesus's face no longer have been recognizable, but also, His back would have been plowed open. I do not want to imagine this scene! For love's sake, our Lord Jesus endured this fourth blood-shedding.
5. Head Pierced with Crown of Thorns
Jesus's precious blood was shed in a fifth way when the Roman soldiers plaited a mock crown from thorny branches and pressed it into His scalp, causing the blood to run down over His face: "And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him" (Matt. 27:28-29). The thorns pierced His skin like sharp needles, penetrating down to the bone of His skull.
6. Crucified
Bleeding profusely, Jesus was forced to carry His own cross through the streets to the site of crucifixion. There, spikes were driven into His wrists and feet to attach Him to the rough wood of the cross (see Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:22-2; Luke 23:32-33, 24:38-40; John 19:18.) This was at least the sixth time that Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, willingly spilled His blood.
Suffering the cruel death of crucifixion, this one sinless Man was penalized by being executed like a criminal.
7. Side Pierced
Even after His death, Jesus's blood was shed one more time: "One of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (John 19:34).
Seven times, the innocent blood of the Lamb of God was shed so that you and I could be freed from our slavery to sin and everlasting death. Thankfully, Jesus loved us so passionately that He would endure all this bloodshed. Hallelujah!
Thanks to JG for original asourcing.
Let's look at the seven times Jesus shed His blood for us:
1. Sweating Blood
The night forr have been even more agonizing for Jesus than actually being crucified. The act of deciding to accept the harrowing torture that would end in death—with full foreknowledge of what it would entail—was so grueling that blood actually exuded from the pores of Jesus's forehead: "He was in such agony of spirit that he broke into a sweat of blood, with great drops falling to the ground as he prayed more and more earnestly" (Luke 22:44). This is the initial blood-shedding of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Struck and Beaten
Jesus was arrested in the middle of the night and taken forcibly from Gethsemane to the house of the high priest, Caiaphas, where the scribes and elders had assembled. There He was questioned and handled roughly:
"'Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?' They answered, 'He deserves death!' Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists [or with rods]; and others slapped Him" (Matthew 26:65b-67).
Surely, this beating drew blood, although it was nothing like the scourging that was to follow.
3. Beard Plucked Out
In biblical times, if you wanted to express utter abhorrence and dishonor toward a man, you would not only beat him and slap his face, but you would also spit in his face and tear out his beard. This would get ugly, undoubtedly, because as each chunk of beard was ripped out, it would take a piece of the flesh of the man's cheek or chin with it. We believe that this form of dishonor happened to Jesus because the prophet Isaiah foretold it: "I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting" (Isa. 50:6).
No wonder Isaiah spoke of the Messiah's appearance as being "marred" (Isa. 52:14), or "disfigured" beyond recognition.
4. Back Scourged
To be scourged under the Roman system was a brutal punishment, sometimes resulting in the death of the one who had been whipped: "The punishment of scourging was common among the Jews.... Under the Roman method the culprit was stripped, stretched with cords or thongs on a frame and beaten with rods" or with metal attached to leather thongs.
advertisement
Do you get the picture? Not only would Jesus's face no longer have been recognizable, but also, His back would have been plowed open. I do not want to imagine this scene! For love's sake, our Lord Jesus endured this fourth blood-shedding.
5. Head Pierced with Crown of Thorns
Jesus's precious blood was shed in a fifth way when the Roman soldiers plaited a mock crown from thorny branches and pressed it into His scalp, causing the blood to run down over His face: "And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him" (Matt. 27:28-29). The thorns pierced His skin like sharp needles, penetrating down to the bone of His skull.
6. Crucified
Bleeding profusely, Jesus was forced to carry His own cross through the streets to the site of crucifixion. There, spikes were driven into His wrists and feet to attach Him to the rough wood of the cross (see Matt. 27:35; Mark 15:22-2; Luke 23:32-33, 24:38-40; John 19:18.) This was at least the sixth time that Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, willingly spilled His blood.
Suffering the cruel death of crucifixion, this one sinless Man was penalized by being executed like a criminal.
7. Side Pierced
Even after His death, Jesus's blood was shed one more time: "One of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out" (John 19:34).
Seven times, the innocent blood of the Lamb of God was shed so that you and I could be freed from our slavery to sin and everlasting death. Thankfully, Jesus loved us so passionately that He would endure all this bloodshed. Hallelujah!
Thanks to JG for original asourcing.
5.30.2019
A Declaration of Dependence on God
This declaration is inspired by a similar declaration issued by AWM. It is a declaration of one's yeild to and dependence on God rather than any government, culture, or person.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Since our Creator gave us these rights, we declare that no government has the right to take them away. We also declare that marriage was instituted by God between one man and one woman only. We oppose same sex-marriage, polygamy, bestiality, and all other forms of sexual perversion prohibited by Holy Scripture. We also declare the truth that life is granted by God at conceptionand that no man or woman has the right to take that life away. We declare that Jesus has provided the cure for all sin and therefore reach out to the sinner in love, but do not embrace the sin, knowing its destructive nature to the sinner and to others around the sinner. Finally, we live our lives in accordance with God's Word and commit to conducting our churches, ministries, businesses, and personal lives in accordance with our Christian faith and choose to obey God rather than man!
NOTE: to use the declaration in singular form, simply change the pronouns we/us/our to I/me/my.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Since our Creator gave us these rights, we declare that no government has the right to take them away. We also declare that marriage was instituted by God between one man and one woman only. We oppose same sex-marriage, polygamy, bestiality, and all other forms of sexual perversion prohibited by Holy Scripture. We also declare the truth that life is granted by God at conceptionand that no man or woman has the right to take that life away. We declare that Jesus has provided the cure for all sin and therefore reach out to the sinner in love, but do not embrace the sin, knowing its destructive nature to the sinner and to others around the sinner. Finally, we live our lives in accordance with God's Word and commit to conducting our churches, ministries, businesses, and personal lives in accordance with our Christian faith and choose to obey God rather than man!
NOTE: to use the declaration in singular form, simply change the pronouns we/us/our to I/me/my.
4.30.2019
A Quick Declaration for Every Believer's Ministry
Here is a quick declaration and reiteration of truths from God's Word. Say these truths out loud and boldly and hide these truths of God in your heart!
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, to lay hands on the sick, to raise the dead, to cast out demons, to trample on serpents and scorpions, and to proclaim liberty to the captives. And to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
Jesus is made unto me wisdom from God, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. If I lack wisdom, I ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it is given to me.
I walk in love, as Christ also has loved me and given Himself for me, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. In Christ Jesus, I've been made the righteousness of God. The love and righteousness of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit, whom I have received from the Father through Christ Jesus.
Whatever I do shall prosper, for I prosper and live in health even as my soul prospers. Therein, the joy of the Lord is my strength!
Finally, I have been given authority over all the ability of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt me, but I rejoice because my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life in heaven forever and ever.
Hallelujah!
Amen.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, to lay hands on the sick, to raise the dead, to cast out demons, to trample on serpents and scorpions, and to proclaim liberty to the captives. And to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.
Jesus is made unto me wisdom from God, and righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. If I lack wisdom, I ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it is given to me.
I walk in love, as Christ also has loved me and given Himself for me, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma. In Christ Jesus, I've been made the righteousness of God. The love and righteousness of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit, whom I have received from the Father through Christ Jesus.
Whatever I do shall prosper, for I prosper and live in health even as my soul prospers. Therein, the joy of the Lord is my strength!
Finally, I have been given authority over all the ability of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt me, but I rejoice because my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life in heaven forever and ever.
Hallelujah!
Amen.
3.09.2019
Blessing through a Young Boy
This prophetic declaration came from a five year old boy. It is amazing!
I decree and declare, God, that You granted these children supernatural strength and ability to fight a good fight of faith.
I decree and declare that they are qualified to share in Jesus’ inheritance.
I decree and declare that they are reconciled to God.
I decree and declare that they are firmly rooted, built up and established in the faith.
I decree and declare that they are a steward of great wealth and riches, on earth and in heaven.
I decree and declare that they are an ambassador for Christ, the light of the world.
I decree and declare that healing power flows through them and they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.
I decree and declare that they are anointed by God.
I decree and declare that there is a hedge of protection around them.
I decree and declare that they will never be broke a day in their life.
I decree and declare that God will provide for them with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
I decree and declare that God equips them with multiple streams of income at a young age.
I decree and declare that God will bless them with multiple multi-million dollar ideas, inventions, and strategies.
I decree and declare that God, through His son Jesus, represents them in the courts of the heavenly realm.
I decree and declare that God gives them authority and power to expose Satan’s tactics and overcome his attacks.
I decree and declare that no weapon formed again them shall prosper.
I decree and declare that they are healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ from the crown of their head to the soles of their feet.
I announce that you, God, will bless them, and that You, God, have the power over them. It’s not by their might nor by their power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. When the enemy comes like a flood, You’re going to lift up a standard against the enemy.
In the name of the Lord in Jesus Christ, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Amen.
What amazing words to be coming out the mouth of a five year old, indeed! Some people may be skeptical that this child could speak such concise, sound words. That's understandable. However, that's exactly the kind of thing the Holy Spirit would do! The Holy Spirit will help us and empower us supernaturally. And the boy's age? Makes no difference. As Paul describes in I Timothy 4:12 and as the story in the Gospels illustrates, Jesus loves the little children! Let the Holy Spirit lead you and empower you supernaturally, no matter your age!da
I decree and declare, God, that You granted these children supernatural strength and ability to fight a good fight of faith.
I decree and declare that they are qualified to share in Jesus’ inheritance.
I decree and declare that they are reconciled to God.
I decree and declare that they are firmly rooted, built up and established in the faith.
I decree and declare that they are a steward of great wealth and riches, on earth and in heaven.
I decree and declare that they are an ambassador for Christ, the light of the world.
I decree and declare that healing power flows through them and they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.
I decree and declare that they are anointed by God.
I decree and declare that there is a hedge of protection around them.
I decree and declare that they will never be broke a day in their life.
I decree and declare that God will provide for them with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
I decree and declare that God equips them with multiple streams of income at a young age.
I decree and declare that God will bless them with multiple multi-million dollar ideas, inventions, and strategies.
I decree and declare that God, through His son Jesus, represents them in the courts of the heavenly realm.
I decree and declare that God gives them authority and power to expose Satan’s tactics and overcome his attacks.
I decree and declare that no weapon formed again them shall prosper.
I decree and declare that they are healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ from the crown of their head to the soles of their feet.
I announce that you, God, will bless them, and that You, God, have the power over them. It’s not by their might nor by their power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. When the enemy comes like a flood, You’re going to lift up a standard against the enemy.
In the name of the Lord in Jesus Christ, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Amen.
What amazing words to be coming out the mouth of a five year old, indeed! Some people may be skeptical that this child could speak such concise, sound words. That's understandable. However, that's exactly the kind of thing the Holy Spirit would do! The Holy Spirit will help us and empower us supernaturally. And the boy's age? Makes no difference. As Paul describes in I Timothy 4:12 and as the story in the Gospels illustrates, Jesus loves the little children! Let the Holy Spirit lead you and empower you supernaturally, no matter your age!da
2.24.2019
Ways to Pray Concerning Abortion
The strength of our demonstrations and protests may be ignored, but "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16b). Let's pray during this critical hour!
1. Pray for a spiritual awakening in our nation.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14, NIV).
2. Pray for expectant mothers who may be facing horrific circumstances. Pray that God will bring peace to the anxieties and fears they may be facing. Pray that the church will rise up to address the needs young mothers are facing.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Ps. 147:3).
3. Pray that America will repent of injustice on behalf of the most vulnerable among us.
"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24).
4. Pray that abortionists will come to know Christ as Savior.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).
5. Pray that abortion facilities will close.
"He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success" (Job 5:12).
6. Pray that the hearts of lawmakers and judges will be awakened to the value of human life from conception to death.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezek. 36:26).
7. Pray that Christians can be an example of love and peace.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).
8. Pray for churches to continue providing life-sustaining alternatives, including foster or adoptive care.
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you" (James 1:27, NLT).
9. Pray for those considering abortions to have divine encounters that will give them hope for their future.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11, NIV).
10. Pray for women who have been the victims of abortionists, that they will experience spiritual, emotional and physical healing.
"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Ps. 145:8).
This list was inspired by the General Superintendent of the AG.
1. Pray for a spiritual awakening in our nation.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chron. 7:14, NIV).
2. Pray for expectant mothers who may be facing horrific circumstances. Pray that God will bring peace to the anxieties and fears they may be facing. Pray that the church will rise up to address the needs young mothers are facing.
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Ps. 147:3).
3. Pray that America will repent of injustice on behalf of the most vulnerable among us.
"But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" (Amos 5:24).
4. Pray that abortionists will come to know Christ as Savior.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:8).
5. Pray that abortion facilities will close.
"He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success" (Job 5:12).
6. Pray that the hearts of lawmakers and judges will be awakened to the value of human life from conception to death.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezek. 36:26).
7. Pray that Christians can be an example of love and peace.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).
8. Pray for churches to continue providing life-sustaining alternatives, including foster or adoptive care.
"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you" (James 1:27, NLT).
9. Pray for those considering abortions to have divine encounters that will give them hope for their future.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11, NIV).
10. Pray for women who have been the victims of abortionists, that they will experience spiritual, emotional and physical healing.
"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love" (Ps. 145:8).
This list was inspired by the General Superintendent of the AG.
1.30.2019
What Does the Blood Moon Mean?
There have been a number of astronomical phenomenons in recent years. The latest one being a phenomenon called a blood moon. What does a blood moon mean though?
In short, a blood moon, or lunar eclipse, occurs when the moon moves into the shadow of the Earth. The sunlight is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere, giving the moon the reddish color which causes it to be called a blood moon.
In the Bible, the moon is the faithful witness in the sky, symbolic of the believers, (Ps. 89:37), while the sun symbolizes Christ the bridegroom and champion (Ps. 19:4-5). The apostle Peter, quoting from the prophet Joel, included blood moons in the signs of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the time of salvation before Christ returns (Acts 2:17-21). The red color of the moon reminds us that we who believe are covered by the blood of the Lamb and have overcome Satan by our witness and the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:11).
There is more to the phenomenon that we can glean from the Bible and from studying the heavens (astronomy; never astrology). However, this is the short story. So be sure to testify about the blood of Jesus today, the blood moon has provideed the perfect opportunity to do so!
In short, a blood moon, or lunar eclipse, occurs when the moon moves into the shadow of the Earth. The sunlight is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere, giving the moon the reddish color which causes it to be called a blood moon.
In the Bible, the moon is the faithful witness in the sky, symbolic of the believers, (Ps. 89:37), while the sun symbolizes Christ the bridegroom and champion (Ps. 19:4-5). The apostle Peter, quoting from the prophet Joel, included blood moons in the signs of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the time of salvation before Christ returns (Acts 2:17-21). The red color of the moon reminds us that we who believe are covered by the blood of the Lamb and have overcome Satan by our witness and the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 12:11).
There is more to the phenomenon that we can glean from the Bible and from studying the heavens (astronomy; never astrology). However, this is the short story. So be sure to testify about the blood of Jesus today, the blood moon has provideed the perfect opportunity to do so!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
