CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT-THE WORD OF GOD!
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The next piece of the armor of God is found in Ephesians 6:17, "And take the
Helmet of Salvation, and The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
We need the Word in our hearts and to know who the Word says we are so we can
come against the fiery darts of the wicked and take the Sword of the Spirit and
resist steadfast in the faith according to First Peter 5:8-9, "Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith." and
avoid Ephesians 4:27, "Neither give place [ground] to the devil." by saying
"It is written!"
Before we get into prayer let’s study an expanded version of the list of scriptures someone handed me after my "counseling" session at the church I was attending when I was first born again. The list God used to encourage my heart.
WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST
Christ in you, the hope of glory-Colossians 1:27
The Word of God says I am
,The Word of God says I,
1.Shall do even greater works than Christ Jesus-John 14:12
2.Possess the greater one in me, because greater is He [Jesus] who is in
me, than he [satan] who is in the world-First John 4:4
3.Always triumph in Christ Jesus-Second Corinthians 2:14
4.Show forth the praise of Him who has called me out of darkness into His
marvelous light- First Peter 2:9
5.Am dead and my life is hid with Christ in God-Colossians 3:3
"Christian Unity Through God’s Starter Kit by Jesus." in review.
Chapter One: We have learned that when someone repents of their old
life and determines to do things God’s way a chain reaction takes place in the
spirit world. We receive a "Starter Kit" free of charge.
When we determine in
our hearts to do things God’s way and repent like Mark 1:15, Acts 20:21 and Acts
2:38 we are born again and then we find that it is the goodness of God that has
led us to repentance according to Romans 2:4.
We are born again, just like in
John 3:1-8 and Romans 10:9-11.
We become new creatures according to Romans
6:6-11, Second Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 4:24 and Colossians 3:9&10.
We become
dead to sin according to Romans 6:11 and First Peter 2:24.
The Greek word for
born again is "gennao" that means the process of
birth-conception-development-delivery.
John 3:3 says we must be born again to
see or understand the Kingdom of God.
We receive wisdom in Christ Jesus
according to First Corinthians 1:30 which enables us to be filled with the
knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, Colossians 1:9.
We are God’s workmanship through Christ Jesus according to Ephesians 2:10.
Salvation is the Greek words "soteria" and "soterion" and is different from born
again, "gennao." The combination of the meanings is rescue or safety (physically
or morally):-deliver, health, salvation, save, saving. Defender or by
implication defense:-salvation.
Jesus’ name is The Word of God according to
Revelation 19:13.
All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, Second
Timothy 3:16.
We must test any message we hear that it lines up with the Word of
God, First John 1:4-6.
Perfect is "artios" and "telelos’-mature, complete, fully
qualified, Matthew 5:4 and Second Timothy 3:17.
satan can blind minds and take
the Word out of hearts-Second Corinthians 4:3-4 and Mark 4:14-15.
Jesus will
open our understanding-Luke 24:45.
We can bind and loose on Earth and it will be
bound and loosed in Heaven-Matthew 18:18.
Angels are our ministering
spirits-Hebrews 1:14.
God has vessels of honor and dishonor and we will be a
vessel of honor if we purge ourselves of our old ways, Second Timothy 2:19-22.
Overcome is "nikao", to subdue (lit. or fig.) conquer, overcome, prevail, to get
the victory and is different from born again and salvation.
We must be born
again to overcome and obtain salvation.
We are ambassadors for Christ that are
to fulfill the great commission-Second Corinthians 5:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18.
We
are to lay up treasure in Heaven-6:19-21.
Chapter Two: Jesus gives Peter the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven in Acts
2:38 just like He said He would in Matthew 16:18.
The Keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven are, "REPENT, and be BAPTIZED everyone of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of
the HOLY GHOST."
We have an initial repentance [ametameletos] in Second
Corinthians 7:10 to enter the Kingdom of God and then we must learn to go to
First John 1:8-9 and repent [metanoia] of our old ways.
Repentance is
determining to do things God’s way.
We are called to repentance in Mark 1:15,
Acts 2:38 and Acts 20:21.
We have our sins remitted by the blood of Jesus
through baptism in the Name of Jesus according to Acts 2:38, Romans 6:1-11,
Matthew 26:26-28 and Hebrews 10:14-20.
We are baptized into Christ according to
Galatians 3:26-27.
We have a good conscience when we are baptized, First Peter
3:21 and Hebrews 10:21-23.
Remission is "aphesis", freedom, deliverance,
liberty, forgiveness.
God will not charge or impute anymore sins to our
account-Second Corinthians 5:19 and Romans 4:6-8.
Communion is a continuation of
Baptism-Luke 22:19-20.
We need to do our best to avoid sin once we are baptized,
First John 3:21-22, but when we do we must go to First John 1:9 and clean it up.
We must not blaspheme or lie about the Holy Ghost-Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29
and Luke 12:10.
Jesus told His disciples to wait for the Holy Ghost in
Jerusalem-Luke 24:45-49.
The Holy Ghost is a comforter, Spirit of Truth, abides
with us forever, Teacher and Prompter, John 14:16-18, 26.
We receive the Holy
Ghost when we speak in our another language God gives us according to Acts
19:1-7 and Acts 10:38-48 and Acts 2:1-39.
We are indwelt by the Holy Ghost
according to First Corinthians 6:19-20 and John 14:26.
Speaking in tongues to
receive the Holy Ghost and the gift of tongues are two different things-First
Corinthians 12:10.
We see the Holy Ghost working all through the book of Acts.
The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us-Romans 8:26-28.
We edify or build up
ourselves praying in the Holy Ghost-Jude 20 and First Corinthians 14:4.
We are
sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, Second Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13
and 4:30.
The works of the Cross redeems us and then our redemption is completed
by the renewing of the mind through the Holy Spirit-First Corinthians 1:30,
Ephesians 1:13-14 and Romans 12:2.
We are sanctified, washed and justified,
according to First Corinthians 1:30.
We are further sanctified, washed and made
just by the Holy Ghost according to First Corinthians 6:11.
We are renewed by
the Holy Ghost according to Titus 3:3-8, Romans 12:1-2.
Grace teaches, Titus
2:11-15.
Chapter Three-God will not send us through the baptism of fire without
the Holy Ghost, Matthew 3:11.
We will go through the fire only if
necessary-First Peter 1:6-7.
Some of us must go through the fire to become
useful for the Master-Second Timothy 2:19-22.
We must learn the difference
between the evil day and the fire-Ephesians 6:13.
We who are in Christ Jesus are
not condemned when we are in the spirit and not the flesh-Romans 8:1.
We must
keep the marriage bed undefiled-Hebrews 13:4.
God will never leave us nor
forsake us-Hebrews 13:5-6.
Be angry and sin not-Ephesians 4:26.
Husbands are to
love their wives as Christ loved the Church-Ephesians 5:25.
Since God is an
Invisible Immortal Spirit-Colossians 1:15, Deuteronomy 33:27 and John 4:24 and
we were created in His image-Genesis 1:26-27, we are also invisible immortal
spirits in a body of flesh-Genesis 2:7.
He created us male and female-Genesis
1:27.
There is a natural body and a spiritual body-First Corinthians 15:44 and
Second Corinthians 5:6-8.
God will bring the dead in Christ with Him-First
Thessalonians 4:13-14.
We are all one in Christ Jesus, Galatians 3:26-28.
Chapter Four-Jesus came to set the blind, broken-hearted captives
free-Luke 4:18-19.
God has given us armor to defend ourselves against the wiles
of the devil-truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, The Sword of the
Spirit or The Word of God and prayer.
Jesus-The Word of God is the way, the
truth and the life, John 14:6.
We must worship in spirit and truth-John 4:23-24.
Truth came by Jesus-John 1:17.
The truth shall make you free-John 8:32.
We are
given wisdom and when we ask for wisdom we will become wise-First Corinthians
1:30, James 1:5 and Colossians 1:9-10.
We must have the truth of The Word of God
to overcome the wiles of the devil.
We need the meat of the Word to be
righteous-Hebrews 5:11-14.
God has given us the righteousness [dikaioaune] of
God through Christ Jesus-Second Corinthians 5:21, First Peter 2:24 and others,
so we can become righteous [dikaios]-James 5:16.
We are justified so we can
become just-First Corinthians 6:11.
We are the temple of God built by God’s
workmanship through Christ Jesus unto good works, Ephesians 2:18-22.
We are not
justified by the deed of the law, but the law has been established by His grace
through the redemption in Christ Jesus-Romans 3:20-28,31.
Jesus was our
Sacrifice so by His blood we can enter the Holiest in full assurance of
faith-Hebrews 10:1-23.
We have been given peace with God so we can make peace
with God, Romans 5:1, Ephesians 6:15.
We must follow those things that make for
peace-Romans 14:17-19.
God has restored our fellowship with Him that was
disrupted in the Garden of Eden when satan deceived Adam and Eve, Romans
5:12-21, First John 1:3-10.
When we don’t seem to be in fellowship with God we
need to go to First John 1:3-10 and have our fellowship restored.
We are able to
humble ourselves and do this because of mercy and grace, James 4:5-8, First
Peter 5:5-11.
We are made glorious or honorable so that we can become
honorable-trustworthy, Romans 8:30, Second Thessalonians 1:12
Chapter Five-We need the shield of faith to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked-Ephesians 6:16.
Since we know by faith that our adversary is the
devil we must resist him-First Peter 5:8-9.
Nothing shall be impossible to us if
we have faith the size of a mustard seed-Matthew 17:20.
Our faith must come from
the Word of God-Romans 10:17.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the
evidence of things not seen-Hebrews 11:1.
We walk by faith, not by what we
see-Second Corinthians 5:7.
God calls those things that be not as though they
were-Romans 4:17, Acts 12:1-17 and the story of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis
chapters 15-21 and many, many others.
The worlds were framed by the Word of
God-Hebrews 11:3.
Jesus-The Word Of God-is the author and finisher of our
faith-Hebrews 12:2.
We must keep our eyes on the Word of God and not man as the
basis of our faith-Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43 and Matthew 7:21-23.
We must work out
our own faith so that God can do His pleasure with us-Philippians 2:12-13.
We
cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven without "child-like" faith-Matthew 18:1-4.
We
can establish our hearts with grace because Jesus-The Word of God is the same
yesterday, today and forever-Hebrews 13:8-9.
We hold fast the profession of our
faith because we know that He is faithful that promised-Hebrews 10:23.
There are
four stages of faith-intellectual, temporary, dead and real saving.
Anything we
are striving to obtain from the spiritual realm will go through the stages of
the parable of the sower and will end up in Romans 10:9-11.
Our works don’t save
us-Ephesians 2:8-9.
Faith without works, or action, is dead-James 2:17.
We are
created in Christ Jesus unto good works-Ephesians 2:10.
The just live by
faith-Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38.
With the heart man
believeth. We have faith in God, speak to our mountains and not doubt in our
hearts by quenching all the fiery darts of the wicked with The Word Of God and
we will have what we say within the will of God-Mark 11:22-24, Romans 10:9-11,
Ephesians 6:16, First John 5:14-15.
God is a rewarder of those that diligently
seek Him-Hebrews 11:6.
We are given a measure of faith and then we must contend
for that faith-Romans 12:3 and Jude 3.
Chapter Six-"fiery darts"-By definition a fiery dart is a thought
introduced into our minds to inflame us with anger, grief or lust.
We must bring
our thoughts into the obedience of Christ, Second Corinthians 10:5.
We defeat
the fiery darts with the Word of God, Luke 4:1-14.
We wrestle or contend not
against flesh and blood but evil spirits for our measure of faith, Ephesians
6:11-12, Jude 3.
We can bind and loose in the Name of Jesus-Matthew 18:18.
satan
can speak to us just like he did Eve, Jesus, Peter, Brother Pittman and me,
Genesis 3:1-15, Luke 4:1-14 and Matthew 16:21-23.
satan can speak to us just
like he did through Peter to Jesus, Matthew 16:21-23.
We are at war and the
weapons of our warfare are mighty through God, Second Corinthians 10:3-5.
God
has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind and not fear-Second
Timothy 1:7.
We must be spiritually minded and not fleshly or carnally minded,
Romans 8:5-8.
We serve the law of God with our renewed mind-Romans 7:21-25 and
Romans 12:2.
We must help people recover themselves from the snare of the devil,
Second Timothy 2:24-26.
We must not give the devil ground or place, Ephesians
4:27.
We resist satan through submission to God and in the faith-James 4:7 and
First Peter 5:8-9.
To please God we must not entangle ourselves with the affairs
of this life, Second Timothy 2:4.
We are redeemed from the curse of the law,
Galatians 3:13.
We must raise our children by instruction and example, Ephesians
6:1-4.
We can be vexed by evil spirits, Luke 6:17-18.
God will not allow us to
be vexed or tempted above that we are able, First Corinthians 10:13.
satan comes
to steal, kill and destroy, Jesus came to give us abundant life, John 10:10.
We
must cast our cares or worries on the Lord and God will exalt us in due time,
First Peter 5:6-11.
We must submit ourselves to God, James 4:7.
Jesus and
Philip cast devils out of many with His Word, Matthew 8:16 and Acts 8:6-7.
We
must strive to be led of the Spirit-Romans 8:12-14.
If we find ourselves in
darkness we must realize our fellowship with God is broken and strive to possess
our vessel in sanctification and honor, First John 1:4-2:6, First Thessalonians
4:4.
We are the servants of righteousness, Romans 6:18.
Fornication is pornein
and porneuo, Harlotry (including adultery and incest) idolatry-to act the
harlot-indulge unlawful lust of either sex or (figuratively) practice
idolatry-commit fornication.
We must strive not to sin so we will not be looking
for the fiery indignation of God, Hebrews 10:26-31.
The works of the flesh is
found in Galatians 5:19-21 and the fruit of the Spirit is found in Galatians
5:22-25.
Chapter Seven-Life will be peaceful and free of oppression and
sickness when God’s Holy Mountain-Zion is established on the top of the
mountains-Isaiah 2:1-4, 11:6-9, 12:6, 25:6-8, 33:24, 35:5-7, 54:13-14.
satan
will be locked up for a thousand years-Revelation 20:1-3, and then be loosed for
a season and gather together many to make war against the beloved
city-Zion-Revelation 20:7-9.
We conclude that since he is locked up and
everything is peaceful that he is our only problem in this world.
satan is a
fallen angel that was created to be the song leader in Heaven and he was perfect
in wisdom and beauty until iniquity was found in him, Ezekiel 28:11-14.
satan
and a third of the angels of Heaven were kicked out of Heaven at the occasion of
the birth of Jesus, Revelation 12.
Through simple math we conclude that we have
the other two-thirds of the angels of Heaven on our side.
Those that are keeping
the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ are at war with
satan, Revelation 12:17.
We overcome by the word of our testimony and the blood
of Jesus, Revelation 12:11.
Summation of the birth, life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of David and the Son of God:
Mary is told by an angel that she will be the mother of Jesus by the power of
the Holy Ghost-Luke 1:26-38
Joseph is told by an angel in a dream that the Child that Mary was pregnant with
was of the Holy Ghost-Matthew 1:18-26
Joseph married Mary and knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn
Son, Jesus-Matthew 1:24-25
The birth of Jesus by a virgin was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14
Jesus was born of a
virgin in Bethlehem-Luke 2:1-7
Jesus being born in Bethlehem was prophesied in
Micah 5:2
God sent some shepherds to be witnesses that the Christ Child had been
born-Luke 8:21
God sends wise men to bring finances for His Son's journey to
Egypt-Matthew 2:1-15
Jesus being in Egypt and coming out of Egypt was prophesied
in Hosea 11:1
satan uses Herod to try to kill the Christ Child by making him mad
at the wise men and has all the children two years and under killed-Matthew
2:16-18
The children being killed was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:15
An angel of
the Lord tells Joseph in a dream to bring Jesus into Israel-He is warned in
another dream to go into Judah and ends up in Nazarene-Matthew 2:19-23
Jesus
living in Nazareth and being a Nazarene was prophesied in Amos 2:10-11
Jesus
told His parents that He must be about His Father's business when He was twelve
years old-Luke 2:40-52
Jesus was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost when He
was thirty years old-Luke 3:21-23
Jesus is led of the Spirit into the desert and
is tempted of the devil for forty days-Luke 4:1-14
Jesus defeated the devil with
the Word of God-Luke 4:1-14
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the
Spirit-Luke 4:14
Jesus did so many miracles in the four gospels that John was
inspired to write that if they were all recorded the world itself could not
contain the books it would take to record them-John 21:25
Judas betrayed Jesus
to the chief priests and elders for thirty pieces of silver-Matthew 27:1-8
Judas
repented and gave them back the thirty pieces of silver and they bought a
potter's field to bury strangers in-Matthew 27:3-8
This was prophesied in
Zechariah 11:12-13
The people of Israel choose to release Barrabas instead of
Jesus-Matthew 27:21
Pontius Pilate scourged or whipped Jesus and delivered Him
to be crucified-Matthew 27:26
This was prophesied in Isaiah 53:5
Jesus was
mocked, spit upon and hit on the head-Matthew 27:27-31
This was prophesied in
Isaiah 50:6
Jesus was given vinegar mixed with gall to drink-Matthew 27:34
This
was prophesied in Psalm 69:21
Jesus was crucified-Matthew 27:35
This was
prophesied in Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 12:10
Jesus’ guards cast lots for His
garments-Matthew 27:35
This was prophesied in Psalm 22:18
Jesus was crucified
between two thieves-Matthew 27:38
This was prophesied in Isaiah 53:12
Jesus’
feelings on the cross are recorded in Psalm 22
Jesus died and the veil of the
temple was torn in half-When the veil was torn in half that gave us access into
the Holy of Holies in Heaven so it was no longer necessary to have the veil that
was put up in Exodus 26 any longer-Matthew 26:51, Hebrews 6:19, 10:19
Jesus died
and the earth quaked and the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints
that slept came out of the graves after His resurrection and appeared unto
many-Matthew 27:51-53
Jesus’ mother, Mary, His mother's sister, Mary the wife of
Cleophas, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James and Joses, and the mother of
Zebedee's children and many women which followed Jesus from Galilee ministering
to Him were at His crucifixion- Matthew 27:56, John 19:25
Jesus was already dead
when the soldiers came to break His legs in John 19:33
This was prophesied in
Psalm 34:20
Jesus shed the blood of the new covenant when a soldier pierced His
side-John 19:34
This was prophesied in Zechariah 12:10 and Psalm 22:16
Jesus was
buried in a rich man's grave-Matthew John 18:38-42
This was prophesied in Isaiah
53:9
Jesus rose from the dead after three days-John 20:1-18
This was prophesied
in Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15
Mary Magdalene was the first to discover Jesus had
risen and stuck around longer than anybody else, so she got to be the first to
see the risen Savior-John 20:1-18
Jesus needs some modern day Mary Magdalene's.
Jesus needs some modern day Paul's and the men in the book of Acts.
Jesus
appears to His disciples and tells them that as His Father sent Him, so will He
send His disciples-John 20:19-21
Jesus met with the eleven disciples in a
mountain and some doubted Him-Matthew 28:16-17
Jesus tells the disciples that
all power is given unto Him in Heaven and Earth-Matthew 28:18
Jesus tells the
disciples to go and teach all nations the things He has taught them, baptizing
in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost-Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus tells His
disciples that he is with them unto the end of the world-Matthew 28:20
Jesus
gives His disciples the "Great Commission" in Mark 16:14-20
Jesus opened the
disciples understanding and told them that repentance and remission of sins
should be preached in His Name and they should tarry in Jerusalem for the power
from on high-the Holy Ghost in Luke 45-53
Jesus was received up into Heaven in
Mark 16:19, Luke 24:50-51, Acts 1:10-11
Jesus will return in like manner-Acts
1:11
Jesus told Peter three times to feed His sheep in John 21:14-17 Jesus gives
His disciples commandments through the Holy Ghost-Acts 1:2
Jesus was seen alive and spoke of the things of the Kingdom of God for forty
days-Acts 1:3
Jesus commands His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Ghost and that
they will receive power to be witnesses-Acts 1:4-8
satan would not have crucified Jesus if he would have known what was
happening-First Corinthians 2:6-8
The works of the cross was prophesied in Isaiah 53
Chapter Nine-We are to take the helmet of Salvation, Ephesians 6:17.
By
definition salvation is rescue or safety (physically or morally), deliverance,
health, save, saving, defense and is different from born again-"gennao" and
overcome-"nikao".
Jesus made a new covenant or testament when He shed His blood
on the cross at Calvary,
Matthew 26:26-28, John 19:33-34 and Hebrews 8:6-13.
God
made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 17:4-12 that is still ours today.
Our
immutable covenant with God is an anchor for our souls, minds, and
personalities,
Hebrews 6:13-20.
Immutable is "never changing or varying;
unchangeable."
Jesus can save us to the uttermost, Hebrews 7:25.
We have a
better covenant, established on better promises, Hebrews 8:6.
God’s laws are
written into our hearts and minds, Hebrews 10:16.
Our sins and iniquities God
will remember no more, Hebrews 10:17.
We can enter into the Holiest by the blood
of Jesus, Hebrews 10:19-20.
We can hold fast to our faith because He is faithful
that promised, Hebrews 10:23.
We will feel as if our covenant is broken if we
sin willfully, Hebrews 10:26-31, but it isn’t, Romans 8:31-39.
We are redeemed
from the curse of the law, Galatians 3:8-14.
We are sealed by the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 1:13-14.
We are called and elected, First Corinthians 1:8-9, Romans
8:28-33.
God wants us to quit worrying about having to crucify Christ for our
sins and instead confess them to Him and He will forgive us and we will be
cleansed from all unrighteousness so we can go on to perfection, Hebrews 6:1-6
and First John 1:8-10 and Hebrews 6:13-20.
Use not liberty as an occasion to
sin, Galatians 5:13.
God will never leave us not forsake us, Hebrews 13:5.
Jesus
will keep us, John 17:12.
We need to know we have eternal life, First John 5:13.
We need to understand our covenant with God so we wont be entangled in the yoke
of bondage Jesus has set us free from and go on and fulfill Luke 4:18-19,
Galatians 5:1.
Chapter Ten-We should do greater works than Jesus did, John 14:12-14.
We
should depart from iniquity to be worthy for the Master’s use-Second Timothy
2:19-22.
God has seated Jesus far above all principality and power and every
name that is named,
Ephesians 1:19-21.
We are seated together in heavenly places
with Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:4-7.
We are the heads of all principality and
power in the Name of Jesus, Colossians 2:10.
Jesus is the Head of the Church and
we are His body, Ephesians 1:22-23.
In the Name of Jesus we will cast out
devils, speak with new tongues, take up satan’s strongholds, drink deadly things
and they will not harm us and we shall lay hands on the sick and they shall
recover, Mark 16:15-18.
We need God and God needs us, Exodus 14:13-21.
We must
be submitted to God so the devil will flee when we resist him,
James 4:7 and
First Peter 5:8-9.
We should never give the devil place, Ephesians 4:27.
We are
not to entangle ourselves with the affairs of this life, Second Timothy 2:4.
We
are to keep ourselves, First John 5:18.
We can overcome the wicked one, First
John 2:14. We must bring our flesh under subjection to keep from being
castaways, First Corinthians 9:24-27.
When we draw nigh to God He will draw nigh
to us, James 4:7-8.
Our authority in the spiritual realm can be hampered by
giving the devil place like in Mark 4:18-19.
We must avoid sin to keep from
looking for judgment and fiery indignation from God,
Hebrews 10:26-31.
When we
walk in the light of God we will have fellowship with Him, First John 1:4-9.
We
must resist the devil, First Peter 5:8-9.
We are not to grieve the Holy Ghost,
Ephesians 4:30.
God will make us perfect, established, strengthened and settled,
First Peter 5:6-11.
A review of "Growing With A Starter Kit By Jesus":
Chapter Eleven-FORGIVENESS:
We are to forgive a fellow Christian 490 times per day-Matthew 19:21-22
We will not be forgiven our trespasses if we don’t forgive others
trespasses-Matthew 6:14-15
We are to forgive one another as Christ forgave us-Ephesians 4:32 and 5:1-2 and
Colossians 3:13
We are to help others for a bond of perfection so the peace of God will rule in
our hearts-Colossians 3:14-15
We are to get into praise and worship at church-Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19
Wives are to submit themselves to their own husbands as it is proper in the
Lord-
Colossians 3:18, Ephesians 5:22
Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and as their own
bodies-
Colossians 3:19, Ephesians 5:25-33
Children are to obey their parents in the Lord-Colossians 3:20, Ephesians 6:1-3
Fathers are not to provoke their children to anger-Colossians 3:21, Ephesians
6:4
Workers are to work as unto the Lord-Colossians 3:22-25, Ephesians 6:5-7
As we forgive others, we will be forgiven of others-Luke 6:37-38
We have to forgive others on occasion because they know not what they do-Luke
23:34
satan cometh but to kill, steal and destroy-John 10:10
Do not repay evil with evil-Matthew 5:38-39-Romans 12:17
Jesus came not to destroy man but to save him-Luke 9:54-56
Christ died for us while we were still sinners-Romans 5:8 We are to love and
pray for our enemies so we can be perfect as our Father in Heaven is
perfect-Matthew 5:43-48
We are not to judge because God will-Romans 2:1-6
God’s goodness leads us to
repentance-Romans 2:4
Chapter Twelve-DIVINE HEALTH:
We wrestle not against flesh and blood-Ephesians 6:12
We shall not say I am sick when satan is locked up-Isaiah 33:24
We were healed by the stripes of Jesus-First Peter 2:24 God’s wish for us is
that we be in health and prosper as our mind is renewed-Third John
Two Moses had
perfect eyesight and was as strong as a young man when he died at 120 years
old-Deuteronomy 34:5-6
God said He would take sickness from the midst of them that serve Him-Exodus
23:25
We are under a better covenant than Moses that is established on better
promises-Hebrews 8:6-7
Jesus healed the sick many, many, many, many,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, times in the
four gospels.
Jesus was striped to fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah 53:4-5
We were healed when
Jesus was stripped by Pontius Pilate two thousand years ago-First Peter 2:24
We
must stand against the wiles of the devil-Ephesians 6:11
The Greek word for
wiles is "methodeia"-method satan has come to steal, kill and destroy-John 10:10
Jesus came that we may have an abundant life-John 10:10
We are the righteousness
of God through Christ Jesus-Philippians 3:9,
Second Corinthians 5:21, First
Peter 2:24
We must tell others about the gospel-Romans 10:13-15
Doubt your
doubts and believe the Word of God-Hebrews 11:1
We are to quench the fiery darts
of the wicked with the Word of God-Romans 10:17
We must take the Word of God and
pray for others-Ephesians 6:17-18
People that don’t believe the gospel will be
damned-Mark 16:16
People that believe and are baptized will be saved-Mark 16:16
People that believe will lay hands on the sick that believe in the name of Jesus
and they shall recover-Mark 16:18
We shall take up the devil’s strongholds in the name of Jesus- Mark 16:18-Second
Corinthians 10:4
Our weapons are not carnal but mighty through God-Second Corinthians 10:4
We bring every thought to the obedience of the Word of God-Second Corinthians
10:5
We must ask God for wisdom about divine health-James 1:5
God supplies all of our needs and we need to be healthy-Philippians 4:19
Faith is not what we see, but what we hear by the Word of God-Hebrews 11:1 and
Romans 10:17
We must be sure we are discerning the Lord’s body, the works of the cross, when
we take communion, so we won’t get sick or die-First Corinthians 11:23-32
We can bind and loose things and they will be bound and loosed in Heaven-Matthew
18:18
We have angels that will go forth and minister for us-Second Corinthians 1:14
The Holy Spirit makes intercession for us in the will of God-Romans 8:26-27
We must not tempt God by doing foolish things-Luke 4:9-12 We must put on the
whole armor of God to withstand the wiles of the devil in the evil day-Ephesians
6:10-18
We should not tempt God by doing things that are dangerous-Luke 4:9-12
Jesus healed a woman that had an issue of blood twelve years, suffered many
things of physicians and spent all she had-Mark 5:22-34
Jesus healed those that
were vexed with unclean spirits-Luke 6:17-18
God has written his laws in our minds and put them in our hearts-Hebrews 10:16
God doesn’t remember our sins and iniquities-Hebrews 10:17
We have boldness to approach God’s throne by the blood of Jesus-Hebrews 10:19-22
We can hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering because God is
faithful-
Hebrews 10:23
We only need a mustard seed of faith to move mountains-Matthew 17:20
Jesus gave us authority to loose satan in Mark 16:17-Just like He did in Luke
13:10-17
We have authority to rebuke symptoms in the name of Jesus-Mark 16:17,
Luke 11:24-26
Jesus took the curse of the law in Exodus 20:5 when He was crucified-Galatians
3:13
God’s goodness leads us to repentance-Romans 2:4
We are to fast in secret-Matthew 6:16-18
We will hunger after a fast-Luke 4:2
We have the liberty to eat and drink
whatever we want, but shouldn’t if it isn’t good for us-
First Corinthians
6:12-13
We should do everything to the glory of God, even eating and drinking-First
Corinthians 10:31
When God’s Holy Mountain is on the earth we will not say we are sick and we will
feast on fat things and drink wine-Isaiah 33:24-Isaiah 25:6
Our Divine health will come through the four stages of the parable of the sower-Mark
4:14-20
Most Christians get hung up in the third stage of the parable of the sower, the
cares, riches and pleasures of this life, and allow the Word that would give us
whatever we are seeking God for to become unfruitful-Mark 4:20
Faith cometh by and hearing by the Word of God-Romans 10:17
We that believe the
gospel will be saved, if we don’t we will be damned-Mark 16:16
In God’s Holy Mountain they will be forgiven their iniquity-Isaiah 33;24
If we
do become sick we are to call for the elders of the church, let them pray for us
and be anointed with oil-James 5:14-15
If the sick has committed sins they shall be forgiven-James 5:15
We shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover-Mark 16:18
We can no longer make a sacrifice for our sins-Hebrews 10:26-31
We must always
remember we are one with the Father and if we are sick He is sick-John 17:20-23
God supplies all our needs and we don’t need to be sick-Philippians 4:19
God
wants us to prosper and be in health-Third John 2
We must pray and thank God for
what He has given us through Christ Jesus-Philippians 4:19 and Philippians
4:6-7
Chapter Thirteen-FASTING Moreover when ye fast-Matthew 6:16
You will hunger after a fast-Luke 4:2
We must not use "the thorn in the flesh"
as an excuse for sickness-Second Corinthians 12:6-10
Chapter Fourteen-DIVINE
FINANCIAL SECURITY:
We are God’s temple and He doesn’t want us broke when He says go-Ephesians
2:21-22 and First Corinthians 3:16
God supplies all our needs and we don’t need
to be broke-Philippians 4:19
God wants us to be prosperous as our soul or
thinking prospers-Third John 2
Gaius was prospering because he was giving to spread the gospel-Third John 3-8
Let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God will rule your
hearts and minds-Philippians 4:6-7
When we sow bountifully we will reap
bountifully-Second Corinthians 9:6
To be a cheerful giver we should give what we purpose in our heart to give-
Second Corinthians 9:7
God wants us to give so that He can make it up to us and we will have enough to
meet our needs and the needs of others-Second Corinthians 9:7-15
We can only have a small amount to give and it will be great in the eyes of
God-Luke 21:1-4
We give and it will abound to our Heavenly account-Philippians 4:15-20
Charity or giving-benevolence-is the bond of perfection-Colossians 3:14
Jesus
became poor that we could be rich-Second Corinthians 8:9
We must be subjected to those that are God’s ministers and pay them
tribute-Romans 13:1-7
We shouldn’t lay up treasure on Earth, but in
Heaven-Matthew 6:19-21
If we don’t pay tithes we will curse ourselves and rob God-Malachi 3:8-9
When we pay tithes God will rebuke the devourer for our sakes and open the
windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing we can’t contain-Malachi 3:10-12
We must be sure we are bringing our tithes into the storehouse not some church
that is not teaching truth-Malachi 3:10
We need to remember the wheat and the tares and do what we know to do and
remember Luke 4:5-8 and Matthew 7:21-23
When we give all to Jesus we shall
receive hundredfold and inherit everlasting life-Matthew 19:16-29
God doesn’t
want us destitute, only to help the poor-Matthew 19:16-29 and Matthew 8:14 and
John 21
God wants us to have sufficiency in all things and abound to good
works-Second Corinthians 9:8
The wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh
to Joseph to finance his trip to Egypt and his trip back to Nazareth-Matthew
2:1-15 and Matthew 2:19-23
We need to do our giving in secret to be blessed of
God-Matthew 6:1-4
Chapter Fifteen-THE CHURCH:
We must endeavor to learn all we can from Jesus’ message to the churches in
Revelation, chapters two and three
Jesus wants the church to go through the fire-Revelation 3:18
Jesus will sanctify and cleanse the church by the washing of water by the
Word-Ephesians 5:26
The church is to be holy and without blemish-Ephesians 5:27
We are servants of righteousness-Romans 6:18
We now have our fruit unto holiness-Romans 6:22
Jesus, through His death has made us unblameable, unreproveable and holy in His
sight-
Colossians 1:21-22
Our mind is renewed in righteousness and true holiness by God-Ephesians 4:22-24
Father chastises us that we might be partakers of His holiness-Hebrews 12:9-10
We must fight to keep our minds from being corrupted from the simple gospel of
Christ-
Second Corinthians 11:3
Women should trust in their godly spirit and not their appearance-First Peter
3:3-5
Men should pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands-First Timothy 2:8
Women should wear modest apparel-First Timothy 2:9
Women should learn in silence with subjection-First Timothy 2:11
Women are not to teach or be in authority over men-First Timothy 2:12
God is not the author of confusion, but peace in the churches of the
saints-First Corinthians 13:33
Women are to be in silence in the church but, we are all, men and women, to
desire to be able to prophesy to build up or edify the church-Acts 2:17, First
Corinthians 14:39
We are not to pray in tongues in front of non-believers because they will think
we are crazy-
First Corinthians 14:23
If we prophesy non-believers will worship God-First Corinthians 14:24-25
Women are to teach each other holiness-Titus 2:3-5 Men should not touch
women-First Corinthians 7:1
Men should not fantasize over women as this is the same as committing
adultery-Matthew 5:28
We should try to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a
good report, virtuous and praise-worthy Philippians 4:8
We will bring every thought into the obedience of the Word of God-Second
Corinthians 10:5
We must endeavor not to be a stumbling block to anyone-Luke 17:1
Pastors and teachers must be God pleasers and not man-pleasers-
First
Thessalonians 2:4 and First Peter 5:4
Pastors and teachers will be accountable for what they teach or don’t teach-
First Thessalonians 2:9
Pastors and teachers must teach the truth so that their flock can walk worthy of
God, who called them-First Thessalonians 2:12
God’s children die because they aren’t taught the truth-Hosea 4:6-9 God’s
ministers are to preach the truth and let God do the rest-First Peter 5:1-4
We must be wary of false apostles and deceitful workers that are being used of
satan-
First Corinthians 11:13-15
Matthew 23 is how ministers should not be.
We must be subject to God’s ministers-Romans 13:1-7
God’s ministers should be paid-Romans 13:7
Ministers of God can turn someone over to satan for the destruction of their
flesh-First Timothy 1:20 and First Corinthians Five
Chapter Sixteen-TEMPTATION-GOING THROUGH THE "FIRE"
We are to purge ourselves of iniquity so we can be worthy for the Master’s use-Second Timothy 2:21
Jesus will baptize us with "fire"-Matthew 3:11
satan will sift us like wheat with God’s permission-Luke 22:31
We will strengthen the brethren when we are converted or sifted-Luke 22:32
God chasteneth and scourgeth every one He receives-Hebrews 12:6
If someone is without chastisement they are not a child of God-Hebrews 12:8
We that endure chastening will yield the peaceable fruit of
righteousness-Hebrews 12:11
We have our minds renewed to be in the will of God-Romans 12:1-2
We can overcome the wicked one-First John 2:14
We are more than conquerors through He that loved us-Romans 8:37
We humble ourselves and God will exalt us-First Peter 5:6
We resist the devil steadfast in the faith-First Peter 5:8-9
We suffer for a little while and we will be perfect, established, strengthen and
settled-
First Peter 5:10
We do not war after the flesh-Second Corinthians 10:3
We bring our thoughts to the obedience of the Word of God to the pulling down of
strongholds-
Second Corinthians 10:4-5
We mind the things of the Spirit and not the flesh-Romans 8:5
If we don’t have life and peace we are being carnal minded-Romans 8:6
We must be sure we are not carnally minded because the carnal mind is the enemy
of God-Romans 8:7-8
We are to bring our mind into the obedience of the Word of God just like Jesus
did in Luke 4:1-14
We, as a church, must learn to be supportive of each other when we are being
purged of our old ways-Galatians 6:1-3
We are not to think too highly of ourselves as God has dealt everyone of us a
measure of faith-Romans 12:3
We are to earnestly contend for our faith-Jude 3
We are to confess our faults to one another-James 5:16
We confess our iniquities, God forgives our iniquities, and we and God cleanse
us from our iniquities-First John 1:9
We, through the Word of God and in the name of Jesus, can bind and loose in the
spiritual realm-Matthew 18:18
We, as born again Christians through the Word of God and in the name of Jesus,
can agree on anything in God’s will and it will be done of our Father which is
in Heaven-Matthew 18:19
The definitions of the Greek words for fornication, as used in the Bible,
pornein and porneuo, are as follows: Harlotry (including adultery and incest);
fig. idolatry-fornication [oral sex]; to act the harlot; indulge unlawful lust
(of either sex) or (fig.) practice idolatry-commit fornication.
We should protect our eyes-Matthew 6:22-23
If we are friends with the world we are enemies with God-James 4:4
We must be humble, because God resist the proud and gives grace to the
humble-James 4:6
To resist the devil and have him flee we must be submitted to God-James 4:7
When we draw close to God He will draw close to us-James 4:8
When we humble ourselves before God He will lift us up-James 4:10
Grace teaches-Titus 2:11-12
The Spirit will lead us into temptation-Luke 4:1, Matthew 6:13
We are tempted when we are drawn away of our own lust and enticed-James 1:14
We should follow Jesus’ example when we are tempted-First Peter 2:21
God knows how to deliver us out of temptation-Second Peter 2:9
We are not tempted by God-James 1:13
We should be joyful when we are tempted because it will try our patience and we
will end up being mature, complete and wanting nothing-James 1:2-4, First Peter
1:6
Our faith will be found unto praise, honor and glory at appearing of Jesus when
we endure the fire-First Peter 1:6-7
God will not allow us to be tempted above that we are able to endure-First
Corinthians 10:13
God will make a way to escape whatever we are tempted with so that we can bear
it-
First Corinthians 10:13
Hopefully you will take the way Jesus did and not the way I did-Luke 4:3-12
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not
seen-Hebrews 11:1
We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony and love not
our lives unto the death-Revelation 12:11
We must learn to contend for our faith together-Jude 3
We must bear each others burdens and help others be restored when they are
overtaken in a fault-Galatians 6:1-3
We must avoid thinking too highly of ourselves so we can help others become
overcomers like we are striving to be-Romans 12:3
We are either wooden, earthen, silver or gold vessels. Consequently, we won’t
all go through the "fire"-Second Timothy 2:19-22
We must bring every thought into captivity and then ask God for wisdom so we can
be in the obedience of The Word of God-Second Corinthians 10:5 and James 1:5
The Word of God tells us to flee fornication in First Corinthians 6:18, idolatry
in First Corinthians 10:14, youthful lusts in Second Timothy 2:22 and envy,
strife, evil speaking, evil opinions with no evidence, arguing about ungodly
things and people that love money and some other things in First Timothy 6:1-11
We sin when we are drawn away of our own lust-James 1:14
sin brings death-James 1:15
We submit ourselves to God and the devil will flee-James 4:7
God will never leave us nor forsake us-Hebrews 13:5
Grace teaches-Titus 2:11-12
When we overcome temptation we will have the crown of life, a life free of
sin-James 1:12
We should never say we are being tempted of God-James 1:13
We are tempted when we are drawn away of our own lust-James 1:14
Yielding to lust will slowly kill us-James 1:15
The Lord shall judge us-Hebrews 10:30
We will not feel condemned when we walk after the Spirit and not our
flesh-Romans 8:1
We will live when we yield to the Spirit and mortify the deeds of the
flesh-Romans 8:13
God gives us the gift of being happily unmarried or married-First Corinthians
7:7
We should marry if we can’t control ourselves-First Corinthians 7:9
To avoid fornication we should be married-First Corinthians 7:2
We must not grieve the Holy Ghost-Ephesians 4:30
SCRIPTURES FOR THOUGHT
We should not be associated with unbelievers-Second Corinthians 6:14-16
To perfect holiness we need to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the
flesh in the fear of God-Second Corinthians 6:18
We should glorify God in our body and spirit because we are bought with a
price-Jesus’ death-
First Corinthians 6:20
We men are to pray everywhere lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting-
First Timothy 2:8
Women should dress in modest apparel with modesty and self control, not with
fancy hair-dos or jewelry or costly do-dads-First Timothy 2:9
Women are not to teach or take authority over men-First Timothy 2:12
The women that have been in Jesus longer should teach the newer women to be of
sound mind, to love their husband and children, to be discreet, pure or
blameless, home keepers, good, and obedient to their own husbands that the Word
of God not be blasphemed-Titus 2:4-5
A man should not touch a woman-First Corinthians 7:1
We should not commit spiritual adultery-Matthew 5:28
We need to try very hard not to let people be an offense, or stumbling block, to
us so they will not be accountable on judgment day-Luke 17:1
We are to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good
report, virtuous and praise worthy-Philippians 4:8
The Lord can make us increase in love toward each other and toward others-First
Thessalonians 3:12
Our hearts can be established unblameable in holiness when Jesus comes back-
First Thessalonians 3:13
To be sanctified we should abstain from fornication and not long to do things
that are forbidden [concupiscence]-First Thessalonians 4:3-5
We are not to defraud our brothers-First Thessalonians 4:6
Women are told to have a meek and quiet spirit-First Peter 3:4
Men are to have short hair and women long hair-First Corinthians 11:14-15
If Christ has not said no we can do anything we want to, but we must be careful
that we can quit when we want to-First Corinthians 6:12 We are to abstain from
fornication as our bodies were made for the Lord and God wants to fill our
bodies with Himself-First Corinthians 6:13
Whatever we do, eating or drinking or whatever, we are to do to the glory of
God-
First Corinthians 10:31
We are to speak only things that will build up or edify the listeners-Ephesians
4:29
We are not to allow bitterness, wrath, anger, complaining, evil speaking and
malice keep us from being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving to one
another-Ephesians 4:31-32
We are to walk in love and be followers of God-Ephesians 5:1
We are not to let fornication, lewdness, a desire to have things, obscenities,
foolish talking, telling jokes that will embarrass someone once be uttered among
us, but instead giving of thanks to God-Ephesians 5:3-4
If we love the world and the things that are in the world the love of the Father
is not in us-
James 4:4-First John 2:15-16
If we purge ourselves from our moral wrongfulness we will be worthy for the
Master’s use-
Second Timothy 2:19-22
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I have never been a very good praise and worship person. I cheat and use praise and worship music that I have on tape to express the way I feel. I can't sing, so I just let the person singing on the tape do it for me and sing along with the tape and I am sure that God could care less how we sound. I have tapes from the church that I attended when I was first born again and they are almost all scripture. The Lord ministers to me through music all the time and one of His favorites is "We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord." I have been woken in the morning hearing, "Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises of Christ my Savior." and lately the song "On Time God" has been ministering to me. I don’t know the song verbatim, but it is something like, "He is an on time God, yes He is, may not be right when we want Him, but He is always right on time." Colossians 3:15-17, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."
Here are just a few of the songs that God used when I was first born again to
help me learn His Word and draw me closer to Him.
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"Holy. Holy. Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are filled with your
glory. Hosanna, Hosanna, In the highest. Hosanna. In the highest. Hosanna."
"We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. And we offer
unto Him the sacrifice of thanksgiving. And we bring unto you the sacrifice of
joy. Oh, we bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. And we
offer unto you the sacrifices of thanksgiving. And we offer unto you the
sacrifice of joy."
"They rush on the city, they run on the walls, for great is the army that
carries out His Word. And the Lord utters His voice before His army. Blow a
trumpet in Zion, Zion. Sound the alarm in my Holy Mountain. Sound the alarm."
"Here comes Jesus. All hail King Jesus. Give Him honor and glory and power.
King Jesus. To His majesty we lift up holy hands. Lord, we praise you, love you,
adore you, Hallelujah. Hallelujah."
"Let your Spirit rise up in me. You set my feet a-dancing, my heart rejoicing, and my mouth singing out your praise. For you alone are a great God and worthy to be praised. Let your Spirit rise up in me. Let your Spirit rise up in me."
"Our Lord God thou has made the Heavens and Earth by your great power. Our
Lord God thou has made the Heavens and earth by thou outstretched arms. Nothing
is too difficult for thee. O great and mighty God great in counsel and mighty in
deed nothing is too difficult for thee."
"Holy is the Lord. Holy is the Lord. Holy is the Lord. Worthy is the Lord.
Worthy is the Lord. Worthy is the Lord. Jesus is the Lord. Jesus is the Lord.
Jesus is the Lord. Hallelujah."
"Come let us sing for joy unto the Lord of Hosts. Let us shout joyfully O Rock
of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving. And make a
joyful noise unto Him in psalms. For the Lord is a great God. Come let us
worship the Lord our maker." "Blessed be the Lord, my strength which teaches me
to war. My Goodness, my Fortress, my High-Tower and my Deliver, my Shield and my
Buckler, in Him will I trust. Blessed be the Lord, my Strength which teaches me
to war."
"You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar
people to show forth the praises of Him. Who has called you out of darkness, out
of darkness, into His marvelous light, into His marvelous light."
"I will praise Him for He has triumphed victoriously, I will celebrate, sing
unto the Lord, I will sing unto Him a new song, I will celebrate, sing unto the
Lord, I will sing unto Him a new song."
"Arise shine for my light is come, and the glory of the Lord has risen, the
glory of the Lord has come, the glory of the Lord has risen up on thee."
"So, go ye into all of the world, and preach the good news of the Lord. Take the gospel of Jesus Christ, we've been commissioned by the Lord, to reach the unreached and tell the untold, the gates of Hell shall not prevail against us. Oh, we must reach the unreached, tell the untold, the gates of Hell shall not prevail against us." ***************************************************************** ************
I am blessed to attend Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas and am exposed to music of by some of the greatest Christian worship leaders anywhere. Cindy Cruse Ratcliff, Israel Houghton, Steve and D’andra Greathouse are very blessed and talented individuals and I feel I come to understand how much God loves and nothing I have done or will do will ever separate me from the love of God. When I first went there in July of 2005 and began to listen to the songs "A Friend of God", "Everyday With You Lord is Sweeter Than the Day Before", "Better Than Life" and many, many others I never get tired of singing, I finally realized how much God does love me and through the teaching or exhorting of Joel Osteen I have come to realize that God has plans for good and not evil and that He had a plan and a purpose for my life that was His plan from the beginning of eternity and if I will only believe that plan will come to pass.
One thing I have noticed about Christian singers, the good ones seem to start
out ministering, and then slowly drift into the music business. Christian music
isn't about music, it's about praise and worship and getting out a message. So
many times people find themselves enjoying the music when it should be the
message. rock music in any form ministers to the flesh. I heard a "Christian"
musician by the name of Phil Driscoll exhort his audience to rock and roll with
Jesus. rock and roll was a term that was planted into somebody's mind by satan
to depict the act of sexual intercourse and rock and roll was inspired by the
powers of darkness to instill a spirit of rebellion in America's youth and now
their youth and their youth’s youth, and as you know, they were successful.
My son Michael and his friend Duane Woodard and I were at the Houston Livestock
show and rodeo in 1987. The "Christian" rock group "petra" was the main
attraction and they were playing a song with a rock beat and told everyone to
raise their hands to the Lord. Please! Michael and his friend Duane looked at me
and knew they better not raise their hands either. Just because someone uses the
name of Jesus in their music doesn't mean it is of God. I saw someone out side I
knew and they said, "Wasn't that beautiful." I couldn't explain it to them so I
kept my mouth shut, but it grieved my spirit. We included this so that any
readers that use rock and roll as praise music can pray and ask God if this is
pleasing to Him. I have found that it ministers more to my flesh than my spirit.
Onward, to Complacency, Convenience, Compromise, Prayer and The Battle.
WORKING ON CHAPTER EIGHTEEN "COMPLACENCY AND CONVENIENCE-THE CURSE OF CHRISTIANITY!"