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Showing posts with label prophecy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prophecy. Show all posts

December 31, 2013

A Chronological Look from the Cross to the Resurrection


By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
Abundant Life Today Podcast

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These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.

Matthew:45-50 45
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

It’s commonly taught that at this point in the life of Jesus God the father has turned his head from Jesus, severing his relationship with Jesus temporarily, due to the reality that all the sins of the world for all time from those who look to the messiah in faith from eternity past to those who look back in time, in faith to the cross from eternity future, we’re upon Jesus.

This would be an especially acute spiritual pain for Jesus Considering Hebrews 5:7.

Hebrews 5:7 (Amplified)
In the days of His flesh [Jesus] offered up definite, special petitions [for that which He not only wanted but needed] and supplications with strong crying and tears to Him Who was [always] able to save Him [out] from death, and He was heard because of His reverence toward God [His godly fear, His piety, in that He shrank from the horrors of separation from the bright presence of the Father].

Let’s look at another possibility. Jesus in making this cry from the cross is actually quoting Psalm 22:1 and it’s a common Rabbinical custom to start speaking a passage of scripture before one would begin teaching on it due to the fact that they didn’t have what we today call “chapter and verse”. The Rabbi would speak the first part of the passage to get the listeners to focus there.

It’s also possible that Jesus is teaching from the cross with his dying breath illustrating the fulfillment of prophecy to those who have ears to hear and a knowledge of Psalm 22.

This one Psalm has approximately 12 prophetic fulfillments.

Professor Peter Stoner (1888-1980)- Stoner was Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College until 1953, and Chairman of the Science Division of Westmont College from 1953 to 1957. Stoner calculated the probability of one man fulfilling only a handful of the over 300 Messianic prophecies. In 1944, he published his research results in Science Speaks: Scientific Proof of the Accuracy of Prophecy and the Bible.

Stoner concluded that the probability of one person fulfilling just eight of the specific prophecies was one chance in 1017 (one followed by 17 zeros). How about one person fulfilling just 48 of the over 300 prophecies? Stoner calculated these odds at one chance in 10157 -- way beyond statistical impossibility!

We take 1017 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly… Blindfold a man and tell him…he must pick up one silver dollar… What chance would he have of getting the right one? Just the same chance that the prophets would have of writing…eight prophecies and having them come true in any one man.

Peter Stoner
Science Speaks, Moody Press, 1963, p. 100-107.

John 19:30
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I personally believe that Jesus paid for all the sins of mankind on the cross because of this statement and my understanding of it, however, Jesus’s physical body was dead for three days. Let’s watch a short video to segue into the next portion of the message.

Colossians 2:15
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Ephesians 4
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it[a] says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”[b] 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

We know Jesus descended before he ascended. I believe he led the righteous saints from the Old Testament who looked forward to the messiah in faith into the presence of God.

 Matthew 27:51-53
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Revelation 1:17b-18
I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Where did Jesus get these keys?

Hebrews 2:14-15
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

By conquering death Jesus frees people from being controlled by their fear of death. We realize that we will live forever in eternity with Jesus so we’re not under the same compulsions and controls as someone who thinks that when this life is over they cease to have consciousness.

John 20:17,18
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

After Jesus died, we know he descended to the lower earthly region we know he has the keys of death and hades. And we know he instructed Mary to not hold onto him because he hadn’t returned to the father yet.

Christ is the First fruits of the Resurrection
 

1 Corinthians 15:42 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54
51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

We know when Jesus ascended he gave gifts to men. These gifts are our five fold ministers.

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

The goal of these ministry gifts is to get the body of Christ equipped for service and built up so we may reach the unity of the faith and be formed into the functioning image of Jesus himself fully.

Let’s prioritize the work of God in and through our lives, realizing that we are sowing seeds for eternal life and an eternal resurrection. Let’s pray that we receive the spirit of revelation knowledge to know how fragile and short this life truly is and how glorious and eternal our life with Christ is going to be when the trumpet sounds!



Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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June 3, 2013

If God, through his prophets says, "Live!" you will Live!

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
Abundant Life Today Podcast

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To watch the video, click here.
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These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video.


No Matter How Bad Things May Look, If God says, “Live”, you will live!

The Nation of Israel had forsaken God and was in exile. God, because of his namesake was planning on bringing Israel back to their covenant land. God instructed his prophet to speak to this exiled people symbolized by a valley of dead dry bones.

Today, in our nation, when we look out over the spiritual landscape things seem to be going the wrong direction. However, if we have the word of the Lord and declare it, I believe our nation will turn around.

Ezekiel 37:1-14
The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

1. Even though obvious circumstances look bad, the Word of God trumps all “realities”.

The obvious answer to God's question in verse 3 is “NO!” but the prophet knows his God and answers based on the fact that “all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

In our lives and in our time, I believe that God's word trumps all realities. Things can look bad, even dead, even very dead, and the Word of God when released will bring the reality that God has ordained for an individual, Church fellowship, or Nation.

In verses 4-6 we see God telling Ezekiel to prophecy breath into the dead, dry bones.

Sometimes God may ask you to do something that is irrational in your own mind. However, if you are sure that you are hearing the Lord you must obey the direction the Lord is leading you. Declaring life into dry bones is not the most rational thing for a person to do but if God says to do it you should obey.

Conversely, if God does not tell you to prophecy to dry bones it would be best not to. Presumption and our own human will is not what this passage is about. It's about a prophet hearing the voice of God and declaring a heavenly reality into the realm of the Earth.

Timing plays a critical role in how God is dealing with individuals and nations. When Israel was under judgment the word of the Lord was “you are going off into captivity”. Now after being in captivity, the word is “you are going to live again”. Prophetic people need to be just that. Not prophesying the will of their own heart. They must find the heart of God.

In Jeremiah 28 we see a prophetic show down of sorts where Jeremiah, the true prophetic man of God, prophecies what modern day people might call “doom and gloom”. Hananiah on the other hand prophecies a return to peace and prosperity.

Jeremiah simply “goes his way” after Hananiah prophecies his lies but hears a word from the Lord and returns saying, something like Hananiah's words would be great if they were from the Lord but because he's prophesied his own thoughts he will die within one year. The prophet is to be judged by the accuracy of his words.

Obedience predicates the manifestation

As Ezekiel prophecies in obedience to the word of the Lord, organization begins to replace chaos. It starts with a rattling sound. Admittedly not very impressive at first but it's the beginning of something very impressive.

After the bones become organized tendons and flesh appear on the bones. The bodies get covered with skin but there is not breath in the bodies.

In Genesis we see a similar process and in Acts Chapter 2 we see some similarities.

When God creates something he often starts with a spoken word.

You and I due to the nature of God in us have power in our words to bring life or bring death. Proverbs 18:21

One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost." God listened very patiently and kindly to the man and after the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this, let's say we have a man making contest." To which the scientist replied, "OK, great!" But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam." The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt. God just looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"

In Ezekiel 37:9-10 Ezekiel is instructed to prophecy to the breath. So in obedience to the word he does it. When the breath comes into the people they stand to their feet like a vast army. An army speaks of organization, rank, file, and purpose.

In verse 11 we get a glimpse into the attitude of the Israelite people. They have a meditation of the heart and it goes something like this. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Gloom, despair and agony on me!

What the Israelites are saying is true but God want's to shift their reality by returning them to their land and giving them hope again. The change can't happen unless someone begins to declare the heavenly reality. Ezekiel is the Man of God who in faith declares the Word of the Lord.

In verse 13 we see God's motive in doing everything he's going to do. Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord

We need to see the manifestations of God in our generation if people in our time are to come to know the Lord.
   

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.


Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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January 8, 2013

Filled To Overflowing

By Donna Santini 


I was in a service one morning listening to a pastor deliver a great Sunday message when all of a sudden he stopped and said that he had to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. He began to prophecy and flow in the gifts of the spirit in an awesome way.  Many people were touched that day because of his willingness to be used and his obedience. He said one thing that has really stuck with me over the years. He said, under the unction of the Holy Spirit I believe, that many of us want to be used in the way God was using him but were we willing to invest what he’d invested to get there?

That statement caused me to stop and think but, to be honest, the impact of it didn’t really sink in until this morning, many, many years later. I remember hearing him make that statement and for a brief moment I had to scratch my head and think “Hmmm, would I be willing to invest as much of myself as he has? How hard could it be?”

As Christians, we often get this hyper inflated view of ourselves and our relationship with God. Kind of like the old saying “my eyes were bigger than my belly”. We listen to a message and that momentary feeling of elation causes us to excitedly make the declaration that we’re going to spend all our free time seeking God’s face, in His presence. And like most of us, we start out with good intentions of getting up an hour early to read the bible, to pray several times a day, to put on that soaking tape and just bask in God’s presence. Some people, like an inexperienced runner, start off running full force but then quickly become exhausted. Some, like me, have had grand visions of what I was going to do but never got off of the starting block.

I think you have to approach these or any goals in a realistic way. My biggest downfall was in trying to convince myself that I was going to get up at 4 in the morning to read the bible and pray and maybe fit in a workout session. First of all, I am not a morning person and second, I can’t seem to make myself exercise any time of the day much less at 4 in the morning! I’m like an old automobile that you have to crank start several times to get the motor going and then when it finally starts, you have to let it run a little while before putting it in gear.  So, to set a goal like that for myself was not realistic at all and ultimately set me up for failure. It started off with me hitting the snooze button several times and then finally hitting the off button then as each day progressed, I just stopped setting the alarm for that all together. I never got off the starting block!

I was listening the other day to one of my teaching cd’s and the lady was talking about discipline. I dreaded starting that cd only because as Christians we really have gotten so spiritually and physically lazy in doing the work of God and disciplining ourselves in every area of our lives. I’ve heard, as I’m sure most all of us have, that wise crack about how we’re to “buffet” our bodies not “buffet- as in all you can eat” yet many of us engorge ourselves on the things of this world until we are so full of junk that there’s no room for anything spiritual to survive. One of the things she said made perfect sense. It was one of those “why didn’t I think of that” moments. She was talking about how she listened to teaching cd’s, the word of God on cd’s, on a daily basis and had to decide when she could devote the time to doing that. She looked at her schedule and said, “Well, I can put a cd on while I’m getting ready for work and while I’m driving.” That worked out great for her. Her spirit was getting fed every day because she was hearing the word of God.

Why is it that as Christians we’re made to feel like we’re missing the mark if we’re not rising before the chickens? Does God love me any less or think worse of me if I spend time in His word in the evening as opposed to the crack of dawn? I don’t think that is as big of an issue to Him as it is to people who can have a tendency to be a little overly zealous in their religious beliefs and how they think things should be done. I believe God is overjoyed with us when we spend time in His presence, day or night. Do I take time to pray every “morning”, even if it is brief? You bet! Why? Because that is something I can do even when I’m going about my day and I need that personal time with God. I can’t always open the bible and spend an hour in His word any time of the day but I can pray anytime, anywhere, and it brings me to the throne room of my Father. Then, for me, in the evening before I go to bed when I’m not a walking zombie, I can sit down and spend time getting to know my Heavenly Father in an intimate way by reading His word.

A few years back the Lord spoke to me and told me that I needed to remove myself from the things that were keeping me from operating fully in the gifts He’d given me. What all did that encompass? Well, the first thing that came to mind was the physical things; tv, computer, and my new smart phone with all it’s neat gadgets and games. Immediately my flesh went into panic mode.  I don’t watch a whole lot of tv so that didn’t seem too bad but my flesh screamed out “you can’t give up the computer! After all, you do all your work on it and remember that book you started writing, you’ll need it to do any research.”

The iphone was new, uncharted territory. I’d just gotten it for my birthday and at first it was just a phone because, unlike any child born today, I wasn’t born with the “I know how to operate any cellular device ever created even though I’ve never seen it before” gene.  Then my daughter who was born with that gene and who already had one of these high tech devices decided to download a bunch of new apps for me to play with. Well, it didn’t take long for me to find phase 10, spades, family feud, words with friends, draw something, and a host of other games that started consuming the biggest majority of my free time. The sad part is that we really don’t realize just how much time we waste with all of these things that have no eternal value.   Does that mean that we should never watch another tv show, ever get on the computer, or have any cool smart phones? Not at all.  Those things are not bad if done in moderation. They just don’t need to consume us or our time and when God has to tell you that you need to remove yourself from them, you’re probably spending way too much time on them!

As I sat here this morning looking over the prophetic word the Lord had given me a few years back, it suddenly hit me that the physical things aren’t the only things that keep us from operating in the gifts God gives us. He tells me, in this prophetic word, that I try to compare my accomplishments and talents to that of others around me. Even going so far as to tell me to STOP IT! He reminded me then that I am uniquely and wonderfully made just the way the way I am; a diamond in the rough. How many times has that kept me bound and ineffective for God? Let’s get real, there is always going to be someone who is prettier, sings better, and is way more talented then we could ever imagine. Chances are we are never going to be THE absolute best at anything. The moment we start letting that be a deciding factor in our decisions is the moment we cut the power cord of our lives. We will never accomplish anything if we are always comparing ourselves to others. It will leave us feeling totally defeated and unworthy all the time.

The next thing I read was that fear was keeping me from being used in those gifting’s. As God put it, “Fear and feelings of inadequacy had kept me from operating in those gifts to my full potential”. “Why are you fearful?” He asked. “Have I given you a spirit of fear?” 2 Timothy 1:7 says specifically that He has not given us a spirit of fear.  The next statement caused me to really stop and evaluate my heart and motives. “Who is it that you seek to please? Man or Me?” Wow! That hurt a little only because I’d been trying to convince myself that it was all for God but the fear of what other people thought controlled my emotions and actions more than God’s approval. God is not going to force himself on us or make us use the gifts He’s so generously given us. We can toss them by the wayside and never be effective or we can use them to further the kingdom of God. The choice is ours.

His gentleness touched me so much in His next sentence to me. “If you will allow Me, I will use your words and they will be like manna from heaven”. If you will allow Me. Not, “Do what I say or else I’ll smite you.” as we tend to view Him. Like a true shepherd, gently, ever so gently, leading His sheep. The choice was mine to make. Would I allow Him to use me? That would be like a jeweler saying, “If you will allow me, I’ll give you this gorgeous diamond ring”. Hello??!! Who wouldn’t want something like that that is of such great value? What woman wouldn’t love to get a diamond ring? But more on the spiritual aspect of it, why would I not want to allow God to use me in such a powerful way? The “treasure of great value” is in the honor of God even wanting to use me in the first place. What a privilege and honor to have the King of Kings, the great I AM, want to use me! All He asked from me and from all of us is that we are obedient.

What He said to me next has always stuck with me and has changed how I view myself and the gifts He’s given to me. “It doesn’t matter whether every note is perfect or how nervous you were, whether you felt it went badly or was a success. All that matters is that you are obedient to do what I’ve called you to do.” Then there was a promise of what He’d do if I would be obedient to do what He’d called me to do. He finished the word off with this. “Let me use you, flaw and all. I don’t need or ask for perfection. I ask for a willing heart.  I love you my child and desire only the best for you and always have.”

You don’t realize how much pressure that took off of me. All of a sudden I didn’t feel like I had to be perfect. God had made it perfectly clear that regardless of how good or bad I felt it was, He would anoint it. It would be like delicious nectar He said. Good or bad, no need for perfection on my part. All He was asking of me was a willing heart.  How much simpler could He have made it? Be willing, He’ll anoint, and blessings will flow. That was a major turning point in my life when I realized that as long as I was willing, so was He. It set me free from the bondage of fear, inadequacy, and comparing myself to others.

What the enemy wants to do is keep us bound by so many fears that we do nothing to encourage our spiritual growth or that of others. What he wants to hear us say is something I once said out of embarrassment and frustration while operating in God’s gifting’s and that is “I’m never going to do this again!”. God didn’t even miss a beat. He told me “That’s what the enemy wants you to say”.  If the devil can keep us defeated, we will never be a threat to him. The picture God gave me was of a toaster. You can buy a top of the line toaster, put toast in it and push the lever down but if it is not plugged in; it will never do what it was intended to do which is toast the bread. That toast will sit in that toaster until it becomes hard, crusty, and stale.   As Christians, if we’re not plugged into our power source, God, we are no different than that. We can walk around pretty on the outside but powerless on the inside.

God’s proven good on His word to me too. Whether I’ve felt it was good or bad, He’s anointed it and when I took my focus off of what man thinks and to what God thinks, it even changed how I felt about worshipping Him. It was no longer about how well I sang that morning. It was about how much God was rejoicing because I was obedient. No longer do I cringe if I miss a cue or forget the next word, I just inwardly smile and just remind myself that to God it is all good. It is a wonderful fragrance to Him, a soothing aroma, a sweet smelling incense to Him; no matter what WE think of it.

As I sit here rejoicing in the prophetic word my Heavenly Father gave me so many years ago that still pertains to me today and the new revelations that tie in with it, He’s reminding me of the desires of my heart that I truly desire today as much as I did those many years ago when I first heard that pastor say what I was thinking: “Many of us want to be used in the way God was using him but were we willing to invest what he’d invested to get there?”

I’m reminded of the story in Acts 19:11-12 where God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. And like a kid in a candy store, my eyes glaze over and I begin to drool and I think of just how awesome that would be. To be so filled with the presence of God that people could be healed just by touching me. That would be totally amazing I tell God and then He asks me: “Are you willing to invest what Paul did to get there?” At first I got excited and loudly exclaimed, “Yes! You can count on me God because I want that so badly. I want my life here to count for something more than what it has. I don’t want my life to end and realize that I made no difference in this world. I want to have an eternal impact on people’s lives. I want to be the vessel that you can use to pour out Your glory. I want to walk on water. Well, I say to God, maybe not the last part, I got carried away a little there.”

Immediately, in one thought, the enemy throws every fear, every failure, every broken promise I’ve made to God in my face. I am suddenly hit with that horrible feeling you get when you’re stuck in the pit of despair. He reminds me of the prophetic words God has given me in the past and how I’ve not done them. He reminds me of the exact words that I’ve told God. “I feel like I’m not worthy of Your love at all God, You can’t even trust me to do anything you say.” I remember the tears that fell when I said that. The feeling of total worthlessness and shame I felt when saying that. In one instant that excitement fades because I do remember all the times I’d started out totally excited and ready to run the race and like the story about the tortoise and the hare, I fell asleep at the starting line.

Just as quickly, the Lord reminds me that there is no statute of limitations on Gods word or His promises to us. I’m sitting here feeling shame over my past and God is reminding me that today is a new day and that His promises are new every day. He shows me the things that the enemy has tried to keep me from seeing such as the little things that I’ve done that made a difference to someone and the areas of my life where I have been obedient to Him.

“You are a new creation” He says “fearfully and wonderfully made in My image. You are my child and I love you so much and I want you to know that you are the apple of My eye and I love you more than you could ever fathom. You see your failures. I see your potential. You see a life that’s been wasted. I see a field that’s being prepared for a bumper crop. A field that was so overgrown with the weeds of life that the process of getting it cleared and ready for planting has been a long and tedious process; that is a work still in progress. Underneath the weeds and thorns is a soil so rich and full of nutrients that when the time is right will produce a field of glorious proportions. You see no further than today. I already know your future. I know the great things you will do in my name. If I felt I couldn’t trust you then I wouldn’t require so much from you. I am not a God that I would set you up for failure. I am not one that would lie. My desire is your desire. I so want to fill you to overflowing. How my heart rejoices because I see what you cannot see as of yet. My heart rejoices because I’ve already seen you overflowing! I know what you will become and who you will touch. My child, pay no attention to the enemy who would try to keep you bound by the past mistakes. Remember that the moment you asked for forgiveness it was no more. Why are you crying over things that are not? Rejoice that your name is written in the Lambs book of life my child! Rejoice that you have been given a great destiny and purpose in this life and that not one moment of your life is unredeemable. I rejoice at the mere thought of you. Can you believe that? You said the other day that you couldn’t understand why I loved you so much. You were crying and as your Father, it broke my heart. My love for you isn’t based on how you feel about yourself which is exactly why you said that to me. I see your heart. I see your potential. I see what will be, not what is.

My children perish in part because of a lack of knowledge but they also perish because they choose to believe the lies that the enemy keeps feeding them. They get to feeling so ugly and worthless that they shrink away from my love like Adam did in the garden when he had sinned. They want to hide themselves not realizing that there is no place they can hide from me. I reach out my hand daily to pull my people out of the pits they’ve felt trapped in but so many of them refuse to take it and believe that they are loved with an everlasting love. They refuse to believe that I loved them so much that I was willing to sacrifice my only begotten son to pay for their freedom with His blood. Why can’t they believe that they are treasured so greatly? They’ve been invited to the banquet but they’ve chosen to feast in the gutters. My people need to rise up and proclaim the good news to the captives. My call to my people is will you be my hands and feet? Will you be salt to a tasteless world? Will you be light in the midst of total darkness? Will you go outside your four walls, outside of your little box to make a difference to even one person? All I need is a willing heart. A kind word spoken to someone who is hurting is manna to their soul. Does that mean that I’m requiring every person to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim the gospel? No. But it does mean that we can start right where we are. If you will just open your eyes, you will see that there are many hurting, broken people right where you are. My child, I am calling you to make a difference right where you are, flaws and all. So my question for you is “Are you willing to make the investment to get to where I need you to be?””

As I sit here and ponder the awesomeness of God and that He would even take the time to speak to me, I am almost at a loss for words. You notice I said “almost”. I am a woman, so therefore, hardly ever at a total loss for words! God also gives us a sense of humor.

I have to seriously ask myself that if it truly is my desire to be used by God in a mighty way, am I willing to do what it takes to get there?  Am I willing to invest myself, my time, in God’s word, God’s presence on a daily basis? Am I willing to pour myself into my relationship with my Lord and Savior? Am I willing to lay down my desires, my will, my life, my heart for my King? I have to be willing to empty myself so that God can fill me with Himself.

What comes to mind is what the word of God says about new and old wine skins. No one pours new wine in old wineskins because it will burst the wineskin. It’s the same way with us. His word says that we must decrease so He can increase. That just means that our will and our desires need to be placed at the feet of Jesus so that we can be filled with His will and desires for our lives. A person who is full of the things and desires of this world has no room for kingdom treasures. As the bible says, you cannot serve two masters. You will love one and hate the other. The bible refers to this in the context of God and money but I believe that whatever controls us whether money or some other means has become a master in our lives. What it really boils down to is am I “willing”? Are we as Christians willing? God wants a “willing” heart. Am I willing to allow Him to use me? Am I willing to lay down my life for my Father? Am I willing to be used for God’s purpose, good or bad? Am I willing to step out of my little world to make a difference to a dying and hurting world? Am I willing to invest my time, my life in getting to know my heavenly Father so intimately that I walk around filled to overflowing?  It's a question we all have to ask ourselves.   It starts with obedience and a willing heart.  
   

October 29, 2012

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

By Tony V. Hammack

Abundant Life Today Media
Abundant Life Today Podcast

Podcast: Play in New Window | Download
These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio.

A look at the 9 manifestations of God’s Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12v.1 tells us that he wants the church to be informed. He’s noticed that when the Corinthians were lost or pagans they were led astray by mute idols. Now he’s wanting to give the church some guidelines regarding manifestations of God’s Spirit. It’s implied that they may be prone to error due to their gullibility from the past.

The rule is, the manifestations of the Spirit have to give glory to Jesus, v. 3 says, I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. Father, Son, Holy Spirit

John 16:13-15
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Imagine, if you will, a flow chart with the Holy Spirit at the top flowing down into an individual person. What flows out of that person are works. These works consist of service and spiritual gifts. Imagine the flow chart now consisting of many people. There’s only one Holy Spirit but many expressions of the Holy Spirit through people.

God Gives Good Gifts to those Who Ask

Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

1 Corinthians 12:7
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Meaning these gifts are not only for you but to help others.

If the gifts become self serving then things are out of order. (Tongues, without public interpretation, are for self edification 1 Cor. 14:4)
  1. Message of Wisdom
  2. Message of Knowledge
  3. Faith
  4. Gifts of Healing
  5. Miraculous Powers
  6. Prophecy
  7. Distinguishing Between Spirits
  8. Speaking in Tongues
  9. Interpretation of Tongues
Wisdom
Wisdom is the synthesis of knowledge (facts). It causes one to draw conclusions that people without wisdom cannot draw. Facts and knowledge are the building blocks upon which wisdom is built. Supernatural wisdom would have a God component to it that would make it elusive to anyone without the Holy Spirit. Sometimes lost people are very wise in their synthesis of facts.

James 1:5,6
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Knowledge

Holy Spirit Knowledge-
John 1:47-51
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe[h] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[i] you[j] will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[k] the Son of Man.”

Faith

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Faith of the Centurion

The Centurion’s faith was rooted in his natural understanding of authority and his supernatural understanding of who Jesus was. Combining these two components leads Jesus to proclaim, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”

If we want to be people of great faith like the Centurion we also will have to know who Jesus is. Compare the Centurion to Martha.

John 11:21-24
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Gifts of Healing
As an extraordinary charism, gifts of healing are supernatural enablements given to a believer to minister various kinds of healing and restoration to individuals through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Greek of the New Testament, both the words gift and healing are plural.

I have noticed that some people who have gifts of healing may have greater success with healing some people with certain diseases over other diseases. I have a ministry friend that says, “Send me people with fibromyalgia”. They’ve seen a lot of success with the Holy Spirit flowing through them in healing this particular disease. I’ve also known a man who could touch a wart and it would disappear within a few days. It seems strange, but gifts and healing are both plural in the Greek.

Miraculous Powers
Every time something happened for the first time in the Bible it had never happened before. Today, in our time, if God did something that was not recorded in Scripture that was miraculous and brought glory to Jesus, there are some in the Body of Christ who would say, “That’s the Devil”. Be open to God doing miracles that don’t necessarily fit into our box, but the manifestation must point people to Jesus.

Signs and Wonders by their very nature will make a person wonder.

John 21:25
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Prophecy

Foretelling – Knowing the future, knowing hidden knowledge.
Forth telling – Expressing the heart, mind, and will of God about a situation supernaturally.

1 Corinthians 14:3
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

A word of Wisdom regarding directional words. Be careful. You should be able to hear God for yourself any way but if God uses a prophet to speak a directional word please be cautious. You don’t have to do what the person prophesying says. Unfortunately some can “prophelie” their own feelings or use the prophetic platform to manipulate.

A Truly Seeker Sensitive Environment

The gift of prophecy when in operation
1 Corinthians 14:24,25 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Distinguishing Between Spirits
Demons have various agendas usually tied to a sinful habit or behavior. A spirit of lying for example that influences a person’s thinking and words to lie. When a demon is manifesting they seem to try and mask their true nature because, for a reason I don’t fully understand, they lose part of their hold on the person when their true nature is revealed. In the Bible a name=nature.

In Mark 5:9 we see Jesus asking the Gaderene demoniac’s demon what its name is. The demon answers it’s name (nature or character) is legion for we are many.

When the nature of a demon is uncovered it’s exposed and less likely to retain it’s hold on the person.

Tongues
A sign that consistently accompanies the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:4, Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9

A sign in a one on one setting for unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 14:22
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; A Language to God 1 Corinthians 14:2 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.

Personal Edification

1 Corinthians 14:4a
4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves,

Jude 1:20
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, Interpretation of Tongues

Conclusion

1 Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified)
31 But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces).

1 Cor. 14:1
Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy ([a]interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).
   
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) and Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM (Central Standard Time U.S.A.) If you can't be with us in person please visit via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KBAP 88.1 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church45 Thunderbird Dr. Batesville, AR 72501 (870) 793-9124
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September 26, 2009

The Evidence for Christ, Prophecy

Enjoy this "school house rock" style video describing the mathematical probabilities of one person fulfilling just 8 prophecies in their lifetime. The video also gives a good argument for objective truth vs. subjective truth.



Jubilee Family Church

November 9, 2008

Israel in the News


To Visit Rabbi Dale Cohen's Website, Click Here


Rabbi Dale Cohen shares with us some relevant truths for Israel and the United States.

Jubilee Family Church

September 30, 2008

Eye Opening Prophecy


Dr. Sharon Stone:"September Will Convince You that You Must Connect to His Economic System"

The following is a prophecy given by Dr. Sharon Stone in Glasgow, Scotland in the summer of 2008. The notations in red italics are fulfillment of the word, but are not part of the word given.

September is a Turning Point

"September is a turning point and a sign of the times. It is all about those who have made Godly alignments in this season being blessed with revelation and information in the midst of world crisis.
"I see more banks will suffer: a USA world bank's shares are in trouble (Lehman Brothers files bankruptcy, September 15, 2008). I see government in the USA bailing out mortgage giants (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - Federal takeover, September 7, 2008) and the government in England cutting house purchase taxes for the sagging housing crisis (Stamp Duty Tax change announced, September 2, 2008) to no avail.
"I see a European airline failing with no notice (XL files bankruptcy, September 12, 2008). I see the eyes of the world looking to see, 'Who is this coming out of Alaska?' (Sarah Palin announced as McCain's running mate, August 29, 2008). And I see smoke coming from the Chunnel (Fire in the Chunnel, September 11, 2008).

"As I see these things, I hear the encouragement of God to His Isaacs in the earth who sow in the times of famine and reap 100 fold in the year. I'm not a prosperity preacher, I'm a prophet. And God is saying that September will convince you that you must connect to His economic system. There are always the few that are greatly blessed when the majority are shaken, threatened and fearful."
God says, "Have you positioned yourself for THE NEW? Your storehouse is not an earthly bank. Hold on and I will bail you out of your mortgage issues. Am I not better to you than any government? I will not leave you stranded on foreign soil, and I will carry you above the circumstances better than any plane or jet. And your hope is not an Alaskan saviour, but Me." I know that sounds strange, it does to me also.
"England, the smoke I saw coming out of the Chunnel is a warning for your intercessors to arise and cut off the enemy's plan to sabotage and siege England's favour in trade. Let him who has ears hear....
"God, I release an Isaac anointing upon us now!"
Dr. Sharon Stone
Christian International Europe
Email: cieurope@aol.com

About Sharon Stone: Sharon is the founder and senior minister of Christian International Europe. She is widely recognized as an Apostolic Prophet to the nations and has traveled to over thirty nations. By the age of nineteen, Sharon was an Intern Pastor and within twelve years she had pioneered and planted two churches and was the president of a Bible college. In 1996, Sharon and her family relocated to England to pioneer Christian International Europe with the intention of developing and mobilizing prophets and apostles to unlock harvest in the nations. Sharon has three grown children and is married to Greg Black.

Content taken from the Elijah List e-mail.