The Truth About Christmas

In Jeremiah chapter 10, YHVH instructs us not to learn the practices of the pagans. He goes on to elaborate on how they follow astrological signs and how they go out into the grove and cut down a tree and deck it with silver and gold. However, it is no different than a scarecrow in a cucumber patch. It's deaf, dumb and unable to do good or bad.

Many people have used this scripture to argue their beliefs against the christmas tree. Yet, with a little careful research, we understand He's speaking of carving an idol. So, why is the christmas tree idolatry?

The pagans of long ago were sun worshipers. They believed that every year around December 25th, the sun died and was reborn. We understand, as did they that the shortest day of the year is December 21st. The following day is a new beginning as the days began getting longer and longer, until it climaxes on June 21st.

For hundreds of years, the Roman empire forced the nations that they conquered to recognized the Roman Emperor as the supreme god on earth. Finally, in the third century C.E. Constantine assumed the title of Emperor. He came to study and believe in the fastly growing Christian faith, which for many years had been outlawed by the Roman empire. In his desire to make Christianity the universal religion of the Roman empire, he begin to adopt pagan practices into the christian faith so that other religions would more easily accept the Christian faith.

On 325 A.D., the council of Nicea met and adopted many of the well known traditions of what we now call Christianity. This was the birth of the Catholic church. For those who are familiar with the term “Catholic”, it means universal. December 25th, which had been regarded by many to be the birthday of the Sun, now became the birthday of “our lord”. You only have to read Luke 1:26 and do the math to decide Yeshua (Jesus) could not have been born in December.

The angel Gabriel came to Mary and informed her of her pregnancy in the sixth month of the Jewish year. Whether the year was agricultural and began in April or whether it was the new year at Rosh Hoshanna, she could not have given birth in December, unless she had a premature birth or carried him past nine months.

The traditions of praying to saints came from idolatrous practices of many faiths, such as ancestral worship, praying to idols, etc. The term “Santa” in latin means “Saint”. Decorating a tree comes from the pagan practices of sacred groves and such. YHVH commanded us in the Ten Commandments not to worship idols or have any other gods. In Exodus 23:12, He commands that not even the names of other gods should be spoken by us.

So, the next time you go out to “the grove” to cut down your christmas tree, or you “deck the halls”, remember where these traditions come from. The apostles never celebrated such pagans “holidays”.

Choose This Day

Choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Josh. 24:15

...Today if ye will hear His voice... Ps. 95:7

And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross DAILY, and follow Me. Lk. 9:23

Every morning that we wake up, God sets a choice before us. Will you choose to serve Him, or will you choose to serve yourself and idolatry. If you choose Him, you choose good and life. If you choose to serve yourself and idolatry, you choose evil and death. Yesterday is past and absolutely nothing can be done to change it. Tomorrow is in the future and you don't know if you'll even be a part of it. But today, while it is called “today”, you must make the choice: Will I choose God and life or will I choose self and death?

In Deuteronomy 11:26-27, God told the children of Israel through Moses, “Behold, I set before you THIS DAY a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD you God, and a curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out out of the way which I command you THIS DAY, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” The choice is yours – a blessing or a curse, but it depends on the choice you make. I capitalized the words DAILY and THIS DAY so that you can see the connection. We must DAILY choose right or wrong; good or evil; life or death. So many want to have the best of both worlds or “ride the fence”, as the old saying goes, but you have to choose. You can't choose to love God and love the world, too.

I recently saw an illustration, where a man had two ladders standing opposite one another, which looked like a V shape. He had one foot on one ladder and another foot on the other. He demonstrated that you can only go so high before you are stuck and must choose between ascending one ladder or the other. Jesus told us, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24 The Apostle James, who was also the Lord's brother said, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8

When the prophet Elijah had brought the prophets of Baal and Israel to the top of Carmel to demonstrate the power of God by fire, he cried out: “How long halt you between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” 1 Kings 18:21 The prophet Joel saw in a vision and declared, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14 Now is the time to choose. Get out of the valley of decision. Choose to serve the Lord and you will choose life. But if you choose otherwise, it is death. The apostle James also said, “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished bringeth forth death.” James 1:14 The apostle John taught us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love 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 passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2: 15-17

Consecrate yourself fully to God. Give your mind, will, emotions, plans, thoughts, everything that you possess over to Him and He will not disappoint you in any way. Choose His way for you.

It Is I

 

 

 

 This sermon, entitled, "It Is I" was preached on Saturday morning, May 03, 2003 at Mount Zion Fellowship in Jerusalem, Israel.

Text was taken from Matthew 14:22-23.

Hidden Manna

 

This sermon, entitled "Hidden Manna" was preached on Saturday evening, April 26, 2003 at Mount Zion Fellowship in Jerusalem, Israel. After the morning service, and afternoon fellowship, i had went back to the apartments I was staying at in French Hill. I laid down for a nap, but my sleep was disturbed in the spirit. I went down to the basement and began to pray in the Spirit in an unknown tongue. The Holy Spirit began to interpret to me what I was praying and it was the revelation for the sermon that was preached.

While I was laying in bed, I could hear a voice in my spirit crying out, "Help me, I can't get free". That evening, a lady visited our service. She was from England and had been bound by an unclean spirit of alcoholism. She testified that the Lord delivered her, that evening.

Don’t Turn Back to Egypt

 

This sermon, entitled, "Don't Turn Back to Egypt" was preached at Mount Zion Fellowship in Jerusalem, Israel on Saturday morning, April, 26, 2003.  The picture is of myself and Sister Paracleta, a nun from Nigeria who lived in Jerusalem. She was a big part of our fellowship during that time. We were sitting by the place of the Nativity in Bethlehem. 

Sermon notes: 

Don't Turn Back to Egypt

I Corinthians 10:1-14

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Exodus 19:4

God brought the children of Israel our of Egypt by mighty signs and wonders.

Had they went through the land of the Philistines, they could have been in the Promised Land in lest than a week.

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the go, that God led them not [through] the way of the land of the Philistines, although that [was] near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: Exodus 13:17

But god took them the way of the wilderness lest they see war and turn back to Egypt.

Sometimes God takes us through the wilderness, and doesn't show us what's up the road, lest we see the battle and turn back.

He uses our circumstances to mold us to fit His purposes in our life:

• Joseph down in the dungeon for three years

• Moses on the backside of the desert for forty years.

• Gideon, hiding down in the winepress from the Midianites in preparation.

• David down in the pasture being trained by the Spirit of God to reign.

• Jesus tested in the wilderness

Can't we trust the leading of the Holy Ghost?

God brought the Israelites out of Egypt in a short time, but it took Him 40 years to get Egypt out of the people.

God brought us out of sin, but sometimes He works overtime to get sin out of us.

He brought us out of man's traditions, but it's more difficult to get that mentality out of us.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you. II Corinthians 6:17

Remembering Egypt

The older generation had to die out. They remembered Egypt to well.

The only thing the older generation could ever think about was the leaks, the garlic, and the cucumbers.

They didn't remember the taskmasters whip across their backs. They couldn't remember the mud pits they stomped in day after day, after day.

Fasting is not sitting around thinking about food.

God was willing to wipe out every last one of them and raise up Moses' family, but he interceded for the nation and so...

The younger generation couldn't remember Egypt, so God chose them.

There was not one feeble one among them, so there carcases must have just fallen by the wayside.

Joshua and Caleb had another spirit. Not a spirit of turning back, but one of moving forward.

Murmuring and Complaining

Joshua and Caleb didn't have that spirit of complaining.

• Some people are never happy with what God gives them.

The waves of the Red Sea hadn't even settled from drowning the Egyptians before the people were already complaining.

“Moses, why did YOU bring us out of the wilderness to die? Would to God we had died in Egypt.”

They complained about the waters. They complained about the food. They complained about the quail. They complained about Moses. They complained about everything and with many of them God was not well pleased.

Joshua and Caleb weren't the only ones under the cloud. Moses wasn't the only one eating the manna. Aaron wasn't the only one eating quail.

They all ate the same spiritual food and drank from the same Rock that followed them through the wilderness.

...for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45

Always Looking Back

When Moses went up into Sinair, Dathan began to stir up the people. He begin to sow seeds of discord that Moses wasn't coming back.

He even convince the Holy Priest of God to make a golden calf to lead them back to Egypt.

They were constantly looking back.

People who aren't really filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost will look for any excuse to go back to Egypt.

Follow the Fire

The children of Israel had to learn to follow the fire.

If the fire moved on South, then the children of Israel had to take up there tents and possessions and move South.

If the Fire settled at the base of the mountain, then the people set up camp there.

We can't get ahead of God. We have to learn to follow the Fire.

There were probably times that some of the people resented the Pillar of Fire, because they had grown tired of wandering and didn't want to back up and move on.

Keep following the Fire.

Follow the Example

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should lust after evil things, as they also lusted. I Corinthians 10:6

“Mistakes were made to be learned from, not repeated.”

God allows us to make mistakes so that we will learn from them and move on, but not repeated them.

Zimri committed whoredom with a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and Phineas was zealous for God and killed him with a javelin.

Not only did he commit fornication, but he was brassy about it.

People often get that brassy spirit on them that they're going to do what they want to do, no matter who sees them.

 

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? Exodus 17:7

After all the signs and wonders God had shown them, they still wondered if God was with them or not.

It's time to come out of our comfort zones.

Once you've left Egypt, allow God to take Egypt out of you.

No matter how rough the road, “Don't turn back to Egypt.”

Deeper Things of God

This sermon, entitled "Deeper Things of God" was preached at Mount Zion Fellowship in Jerusalem, Israel on Saturday morning of April 19, 2003. This first song, Take Us Higher was written and being sung by Sister Nancy Bergen. After, she and I sang together, "What God's Doing in Me" which was written by Sister Ruth Heflin, the founder of Mount Zion Fellowship in the mid '70's. 

These are the sermon notes:
 

The Deeper Things of God

Proverbs 30:19-21

No matter how many lives went down into the grave by war, holocaust, famine, disease, etc. Death still cries out for more lives.

The womb that has never borne children cries out to bear children.

No matter how many homes have been destroyed by floods or how many beaches have disappeared because the ever enlarging ocean, the waters still seek to cover more land.

Thousands and thousands of acres of forest have been lost to fires, yet fire longs to devour more. It's never satisfied.

These all seem like negative aspects of desire for more, but there is a positive aspect.

As true, Holy Ghost filled believers, there must be a cry in each of our spirits for more of God. Not just a head knowledge, but it must run deep in our spirits.

Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me. Psalm 42:7

Where there is a deep calling out to the deep, there is a deep to respond. If there is a craving in your body for sodium, then there is sodium to fill that crave.

Boy with sulfur deficiency... eating the erasers off pencils and petals off of bicycles because of the crave for sulfur... His body knew where to find the sulfur.

Before there was ever an Earth hanging out in space, there first had to be a space for the Earth to hang in. Before there was ever a fish swimming in the water, there had to be waters created for the fish to swim in. Before there was ever a tree in the Earth, there first had to be an environment for the tree to survive in.

So, if there's a craving in your spirit for the deeper things of God, then there are deeper things of God to attain.

Before God was God

There was a time that God was not God. In order for God to be God, He had to have some to worship Him. In order for Him to be a Creator, He had to create something. In order for Him to be a Savior, something had to first be lost. In order for Him to be a Healer, something first had to be sick.

There was a deep longing in God to be worshiped, but He existed alone with His thoughts. There were no cherubim nor seraphim to give Him praise. So, He created them.

But the cherubim had no choice but to worship Him. God longed to have someone worship Him by choice.

So, after the creation of Earth, He created man from the dust of the Earth. And Adam walked with God in the cool of the evening and had communication with the Divine Creator.

But Satan entered into the plans. He had a vendetta against the Most High, because he had been cast from the Heavens for his pride.

All in God's plan, man fell from his position with God. No longer did they have walks in the cool of the evening. No longer was there Divine communication between the two.

Down through the ages, God began revealing His plan to redeem man-kind. Why? Because there was a desire in Him to be a Savior; healer; deliverer.

He did not send a cherub to do this job. This wasn't a job that Michael or Gabriel could handle. He came HIMSELF and not a messenger.

He desired to know the temptations of man. He desired to know the sickness that man is tormented with. He desired to know how it felt to have fellowship as we know it with the Divine Creator.

So the Spirit of God crawled inside the womb of a virgin, Mary and was born in a stable. Not a messenger, but God, Himself.

He experienced all that we have or ever will experience. Just because of the deep longing to know His creation.

In the same sense, there is a deep longing on the inside of every true believer, to know our Creator.

God's desire to be a husband

When God created the animals, He created each of them with a mate, but when He created man, He created him male and female.

So, God looked down and saw that Adam was alone in the garden and had that desire in him for a wife.

So, God put a deep sleep over Adam, reached in Adam's side and took out the feminine part of Adam and created a help meat for him.

On Calvary, when the Spirit of God left Jesus to die alone (because God cannot die), and the Roman soldier came by and pierced His side, it was a type of God reaching into the second Adam and pulling out His Bride.

Because God longs for His mate. The animals had a mate. Adam had a mate. But God didn't have a mate.

1. As the hart panteth after the waterbrooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.

2. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 42:1-2

Just as the deer has a thirst for water, the Believer thirsts after God. The deep calls unto the deep.

There is something about the Word of God that calls out to His Elect. It draws them.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

If there is a thirst for God, then Yeshua (Jesus) is the Living Waters to quench our thirst. If there is a hunger for more of God, then there is more of God to satisfy the hunger.

If your mouth is dry and you are thirsty, your body has already begun dehydrating.

So there is a source to satisfy that thirst. Just like our spiritual thirst.

The woman at the well

She came to the well daily, but couldn't come at the same time as the other ladies, because of her sinful life.

So, she comes to the well one day and there sits a man, who asks for a drink. The dialogue continues.

Finally, He tells her to go get her husband. She says she has no husband. And Jesus tells her, “That's right, you've had five husbands and the man your living with now is not your husband.”

Immediately, there was something inside of her that caused her to recognize Jesus to be a prophet, but when He spoke again, she recognized Him as the Messiah.

It was that seed that had been planted in her spirit from the time she was young. Maybe she had sat at the table and heard her father talking about how God would one day send the Messiah.

Maybe she had heard Him reading the Law and the Prophets and now, she is standing at the well, and the Light of God had come and struck that seed planted in her heart and she recognized Him.

What was it? It was the deep calling out to the deep and standing there at the well, the Deep responded.

Reaching Out for More

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:13-14

How do you find more of God?

We reach forth unto those things which are before. We cannot just sit back and wait on God to drop it in our laps like the stork would drop a baby at the doorstep.

We've got to stretch out our arm a little farther than we've been stretching.

We may have to sacrifice a little more than we've been sacrificing.

We may have to fast a little more than we've been fasting.

Or pray a little more than we've been praying.

Read our Bible a little more than we normally read them.

It might cost us a little more than we've paid in the past.

If you're satisfied with what you've got, God can't give you any more. Wallace H. Heflin.

You've gone as far as you're going to go with God until you're willing to pay a greater price. William Branham

How do you find more of God? Press in.

When thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee. Thy face, LORD, will I seek. Psalm 27:8

Seek His face.

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 4:29

If you seek God with sincerity of heart and all of your soul, you will find Him.

Song of Songs 3

We find that the Bride was seeking the Bridegroom in bed, but He wasn't there.

How often do we go to bed at night, too tired to get down by the bedside and pray. So we just lay there in bed, staring up at the ceiling, expecting Him to just overlook our laziness.

The Bride didn't find Him in the bed. She had to rise up and go about the city and SEEK Him.

God is not hiding from us, in these times, but He wants to see how much we really desire to know Him.

Are we willing to pay the greater price?

The Voice of Resurrection

 

 

 

 This sermon, entitled "The Voice of Resurrection" was preached at the Mount Zion Fellowship in Jerusalem, Israel on Sunday morning, May 5, 2003. 

 

These were my Sermon notes:

John 6:47-71

The crowds were in love with the miracles, not the miracle-worker.

People, today are in love with the church, not the Bridegroom. (Church activities)

They had a form of godliness, but deny the power, thereof.

What power? Power of Transformation

“If any man be in Christ... new creature.” (Things once loved...)

A lot of people want Jesus on the inside, but they don't want to be inside of Jesus. Baptism of Holy Ghost and Fire. (Don't want to get their hair wet)

The days ahead are days to get in or get out. No straddling.

“How halt ye between two opinions, if God be God....” (Lukewarm I will spew..)

As long as He was multiplying loaves and fishes... they were happy

Homecoming or Food at Church. Every comes.

When He begin to reveal Himself and breath the Words of Life to them...

They couldn't handle the meat of the Word, nor His blood.

Churches are taking the “blood” out of Hymnals and sermons.

Without the blood of Yeshua, we're lost. “Power in the blood”

If we don't eat His flesh and drink His blood, we're doomed to Hell.

He is the Word made flesh. Flesh = Word. Blood is new covenant of salvation.

His Words are Spirit and they are life.

When it came to eating the Word and drinking His atonement, they turned back.

They liked thinking He would deliver them from Roman oppression.

But saving them from ceremonial sacrifice was too much.

There's no other salvation, but through Jesus.

Only one way to the Father. Not through Buddha, Mohamed, Hindu...

He turned to His disciples, “Will ye go also?” Will you follow the ways of the world.

Will you go down the road other churches have gone? Away from Me.

People get disgruntled with church and turn back to sin.

“Thou has the words of Eternal life.” - Not the wisdom of man, but demonstration and power of His Spirit. - Peter

Will we go to the scribes? Pharisees? Great speakers? Follow the multitudes?

He was the Word. (Way, Truth, Light) Foundation (All other ground...)

Even the rulers of synagogue said, “Never man spake like this man.”

The people said, “He spake, “the worlds were framed.” (Let there be Light.)

“In the beginning was the Word... All things were made by Him.”

His Words have a creative force.

His voice can shake the Earth... Hebrews 12:26

His voice can be a still, small leading... I Kings 19:12

He is the voice of resurrection... John 11:25

“To whom should we go?” Standing before them was the Resurrection.

He said, “I go to my Father, but I will not leave you comfortless... I will come to you.

“I will be with you, even in you...”

Day of Pentecost... He came inside

“If the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead... shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall...”

“He is able to do exceedingly....”

If the Word of God and Resurrection power is not working in you, you're DEAD!

Doesn't matter what church you belong to.

Or who you know in this life.

Who you shake hands or rub shoulders.

How smart you are, or where you live.

If the Holy Ghost power doesn't work in you, you're DEAD!

“Know Him in power of His Resurrection. Not just in passing, but intimately...

 

Invisible Evidence

 

This sermon, entitled Invisible Evidence was preached on Saturday morning, May 10, 2003 in Jerusalem, Israel at the Mount Zion Fellowship.

Be Sure of Your Foundation

This sermon was preached 20 years ago from the date of this posting in Jerusalem, Israel at the Mount Zion Fellowship on Friday night, April 25, 2003.  

I had already prepared a sermon the day prior, but as we were worshiping the Lord during the service, the Lord drop a scripture in my heart, and I quickly jotted it down by the time I got to the pulpit to preach, I preach spontaneously by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit on Be Sure of Your Foundation..

The Blessing of the LORD

 The Blessing (Hebrew: Bir'chat Strong's# 1293) of the LORD, it makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22

The Hebrew word for Blessing comes from the Hebrew root word meaning to kneel down. We see this in the story of the servant of Abraham when he goes to find a bride for Isaac. And he made his camels to kneel down (Hebrew:Bar'akh Strong's #1288) Genesis 24:1. We also see this in 2 Chronicles 6:13 where Solomon is standing upon his brass platform and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven. This word in Hebrew for blessing has a concrete picture of kneeling down before someone to show respect. In the eastern cultures, we still see this as many Japanese peoples will bow their head in respect to another or how in the monarchies of the world a lady will bend her knee while bowing before a member of the Royal family.  

Back to the story of Abraham's servant, we see that he brought with him ten camels of the camels of his master. The word for camel in Hebrew is Hebrew: Gah'mool which sounds very similar to our English word camel. Camels are able to travel many distances without water for many days due to water storage in the humps on their back. They are also strong animals that are able to carry heavy burdens. A Hebrew word which comes from this same root word, camel, is used in Psalm 103:2: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits (Hebrew: Gah'moo'laiv). It is the Hebrew masculine plural possessive tense. In a literal since you might read this verse as, Kneel before the LORD, oh my soul, and forget not all His camels. How interesting that Abraham's servant brought ten camels, but no word is mentioned of anyone else coming with him. Were all those camels used to bring gifts to the future bride of Isaac and her family? For in verse 53, we read: And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things. Genesis 24:53

Another place in the book of Psalms, we find this root word "Gah'mool" used. It is in Psalm 119:17 Bestow upon Your servant that I should live, and guard Your word. Therefore, I conclude that the Hebrew word for blessing and camel are both linked together.  

Although, the New Testament was preserved in Greek, we know that most of the writers of the New Testament were first Hebrew/Aramaic speakers and their thought processes were Hebrew. When the Apostle Paul, who was born and raised as a strict, Hebrew speaking Jew was writing to the Ephesians, he wrote: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

In light of our new understanding of the words blessing/kneel, camel/bestow, may I propose a different translation of this verse: Kneel before the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who has bestowed on us all spiritual benefits and abundant gifts in heavenly places in Christ. I do wonder when the Apostle Paul was penning these words, did his mind think of Abraham's servant and Rebekah? 

Gamaliel (pronounced GAHM'Lee'el in Hebrew)  was a great grandson to Manasseh. We also find that the Apostle Paul was taught under one, Gamaliel, who was a very respected sage and rabbi in Talmudic times, quoted very often throughout Jewish writings. He was a grandson of Gamaliel the Great. This name in Hebrew means "God is my reward", but more literally would mean, "God is my Camel". 

In the United States, you might hear someone on Wednesday wish another, "Happy Hump Day". This is often represented with a camel. Wednesday is the middle of the work-week, therefore the HUMP day. In light of this, I wish each of you all God's blessings and store for your lives, on this day.

Original posting 12/27/2021

Revival follows Obedience

In my most recent post, I mentioned how I have been meeting with a group of believers about one and a half hour's drive from where I live. Their Sunday morning worship service starts at 8:30am and then they have an evening worship and prayer service at 6:30pm. Due to the time, I am not always able to stay for the evening service, but I recently made a comment to one of the brothers: "Well, if I didn't have to work on Mondays I would certainly stay for the evening service." The Lord heard my confession and when I looked at my work schedule, I had been given Mondays off for several weeks in advance. 

This past Sunday, I woke up at 5am with only about 4-5 hours of sleep. I was quite tired and sleepy as I was getting ready for church. I contemplated that it might be best not to stay for the evening service, so I could get some rest. After getting dressed, I sat down in my prayer closet and began to sing Psalms. I started reading from Psalm 66. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit highlighted some verses to me: I will go into Thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay to Thee my vows. Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. Although, I felt rebuked by the Lord, I couldn't help, but to laugh thinking that the Lord spoke so directly to me.

While the Lord was present in our Sunday morning service, the Sunday evening service seemed a bit hindered. Finally, one of the elders spoke up and said that he felt the Lord wanted to minister to those who were "weary from the battle". We gathered round and begin to pray one for another for about 2-3 hours. After the last person had received personal ministry, I begin to lead the song, "Victory is mine. Victory is mine. Victory today is mine. I told satan to get thee behind. For the victory today is mine." Suddenly, the place came alive and we began to dance. This started around 11pm and we danced before the Lord for some time. Finally, someone began to lead a song of worship, "We exalt Thee." The Presence of the Lord came in such a way that people begin to fall on their faces. It was such a tangible Glory that you could hardly stand (most didn't). This continued until after midnight. Young and old alike were weeping in the Presence of God. The roar of worship was so loud, my ears were ringing. Their was a stringed instrument laying beside me on the bench and the strings were vibrating with the sound.

 One young lady fell on her face in the middle of the room. Just as she did, I saw it as Mary who anointed the feet of our Lord Jesus with her tears and the spikenard from the alabaster container.  Suddenly, a young man begin to lead the worship chorus, "Like oil upon Your feet, like wine for You to drink, like water from my heart, I pour my love on You. If praise is like perfume, I lavish mine on You, till every drop is gone, I pour my love on You."

I realized just how much I could have missed if I had not stayed for the evening service. While some are driving distances to be in a revival, the Lord Jesus wants us to meet with Him right where we're at. He can and will breakout among those Who seek Him.

Lost in the Presence

 This past Sunday evening (2/12/22), I gathered with some believers at their house church about an hour and half from where I live. I only met them about 4 months ago, but it is as if I have known them my whole life. They are a group of believers who formerly were of the Amish faith, but accepted the full revelation of Jesus Christ and believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost. I normally only am able to meet with them on Sunday mornings for their service, but the Lord made it possible for me to join them this past Sunday for their worship and prayer service. 

Immediately, as we began to sing worship songs, the Presence of the the Lord filled the room. As I was sitting there, I led out the chorus, "I Exalt Thee". I felt like I was carried away into the Spirit, but I was still conscience of those around me. Suddenly, I felt the Glory of the Lord fill the room like a great big tire or wheel spinning in front of me. I didn't see it with my natural eyes, but I could see it in my spirit like a Fire. The Holy Spirit reminded me of the Scripture from Ezekiel 1:4 - "a whirlwind came...a fire infolding itself". Then I realized that the very Throne of God was in our midst - the four living creatures, the elders about the Throne. Suddenly, the people in the room begin to sing, "Holy, Holy, Holy". A young sister led us in The Revelation Song, "Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain, Holy, Holy is He. Sing a new song, to Him Who sits on Heaven's mercy seat. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come. With all creation I sing, Praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything, and I will adore You. Clothed in rainbows of Living color; flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder. Blessing and honor strength and glory and  power be to You the only wise King. Filled with wonder awestruck wonder; at the mention of Your Name. Jesus Your Name is power, breath and living water - such a marvelous mystery."  I was so drunk in the Spirit, I couldn't move for sometime. 

Then, on Monday and Tuesday, that same Glory filled the atmosphere around me every time I began to worship. On Tuesday, I could hardly get dressed for work. I was listening to Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah and I thought I would be raptured. Someone called my phone, while I was worshiping, and as God is my witness, the vibration of the ring was in time with Hallelujah Chorus. I got so lost in the Spirit, that I my movements were slow and retarded. My tongue felt thick, my words were scrambled, and I just kept laughing.

The world has their own version of being drunk, i.e. liquor, wine, beer, etc, but all these leave one feeling worse the next day. When one gets drunk in the Holy Spirit, it only leaves him feeling better and greater the next day. And while all these emotions feel good, there is something happening way beyond the realm of feeling and emotion. God is changing by His Spirit into the Image of His Son, from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

I had several things during the day, yesterday, that were so strange. Visions and memories that came that were so random and out of the blue. They didn't bring sorrow, but they didn't bring happiness. But it was as if I was just floating from one thought to another. All I could say about it was I was lost in the Presence of the Holy Ghost.

Who's Faith is it, Anyway?

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; 

yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: 

and the life which I now live

in the flesh I live BY THE FAITH OF THE SON of GOD, 

who loved me, and gave Himself for me.  Galatians 2:20

 

To every man is given the measure of faith...

Romans 12:

Every man or woman that comes into this world, is born with five senses to connect with his natural surroundings - touch, taste, smell, hear, see. Now, sometimes, those five senses are distorted or crippled, such as someone who is blind, deaf, etc. Then, we also have senses in our soul (the inner man), memory, conscience, imagination, affections, memory. These connect with our physical man and our spiritual man. But deep down, on the inside of the inside, as it were, man is given a spirit. And this spirit is giving two senses to contact the spiritual world and the soul: faith and doubt. 

Some years ago, I had the privilege of caring for those who suffer with dementia. I went through extensive training, not only to learn to care for those people, but to train others on how to provide excellent care to those people. I learned so much about the brain. But one of the interesting things about the brain is that inside the deepest part of our brain is the amygdala  (which our brains possess two). One is the positive and the other is the negative sensory. Or we could say one is faith while the other is fear; or one is yes and the other is no. This is still a controversial subject among scientists and I am by no means qualified to make a scientific decision on this. However, when it comes to the spirit, we find there are certainly two motivations - faith or doubt. 

God gave each of us the free will to choose. We can choose what clothes to wear, what food to eat, etc. We can also choose which sense that we will follow - faith or doubt (fear). Many people put their faith in a pagan god or idol. This may be a false god or it may be something like their job or another person, or even their own self.  But when we come in contact with the Lord Jesus Christ and realize that He has paid the price for our sins, once we confess these sins to Him, repent (turn away from) them, and accept Him into our lives by the Holy Spirit, we are given more than a measure of faith. We are given HIS FAITH - the Faith of Jesus. 

Paul said to the Roman believers, "the righteousness of God which is by FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST unto all and upon all them that believe..." Romans 3:22  And speaking of himself, he said to the believers in Philippi, "and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the FAITH OF CHRIST, the righteousness of God by faith..." Philippians 3:9

In the epistle to the Hebrews, we find, "Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through FAITH we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." Hebrews 11:1-3  Faith is a revelation. It is, in fact the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. Galatians 1:11; Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and HOPE to the end for the grace that is to be brought at the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. 1 Peter 1:13

We cannot begin to have the faith for the supernatural unless we have the FAITH of Jesus Christ. Not our faith, but His. That's why Paul could declare boldly, "I can do ALL things THROUGH Christ Who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13  When we recognize this Faith, then we can step into the fulfillment of the words of our Lord Jesus when He said, "I can of Mine own self do nothing" (John 5:30) and "but the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works... He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than this shall He do; because I go unto My Father." (John 14:10;12)

It's not us doing the works, but the Father in us, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So, Who's faith is it, anyway? The Faith of Jesus Christ by revelation.