John 12:1-8
Mary came in the house with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.
What are you bringing in the house? As a pastor, I love to see people bring in the house of worship their praise and adoration to the Lord. I love to see people who are hungry to hear the living word of God, then charged up to share their faith to a lost and hurting world.
I love to see broken hearts healed and delivered and set free. I love to see warriors come in with their faith, ready to fight off the devil's discouragement. Many have been in the fire through the week, but have chosen to serve the devil notice, " I will not quit, I will not relent, I know in whom I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him."
I love to see those who come in with an attitude that "if God be for me, who can be against me." I love to see those come in that are ready to serve the master. Many come in ready to pour the oil out and are ready to serve by caring for the kids, encouraging the middle school youth, some are at the doors with a smile greeting whosoever might walk in, some ready to lift up their voice with beautiful melody's to heaven's courts.
But then there are some that wake up on the wrong side of the bed. They have awakened with something else driving their mind. Just a few wake up upset, agitated, aggravated, nervous, and frustrated. They won't even speak nice to their dog. What's got you so upset, that hell has got your dandruff up?
Keep in mind that Mary came in the house with expensive oil. She was ready to bring Jesus something of value, something that would bless him, something that would make a difference for his mission on the cross. The word says she brought something that would be remembered for all of eternity.
Now we all know it's very easy to come through the doors of you're church with some other things. Some choose to go to the churches with their complaints, "preacher I don't like this and I don't like that. David said I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter his courts with praise, I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad.
Mary's heart was on the Lord. It would have been easy for her heart to be on other things, but she chose to be saturated with a love for the master. I wonder what would happen if we all got dipped, flooded beyond our ankles in love with God. Now I'm not saying you can't ever speak your concerns to the leadership, but come on, is it going to make a difference where people spend eternity? Is your gripe going to hinder or who promote the building up of the kingdom of God?
I just happen to believe that when you get baptized in his love, you will come to the house with something that brings the master glory and honor. What Mary brought to Jesus was honor into the mission and mandate from the heavenly father.
There are more important things to dwell on than our opinions and our likes and dislikes. When Mary got through anointing Jesus, there was a fragrance that filled the house. When we leave the house, what have we poured on Jesus? What fragrance have we left because of our love for the master?
Friday, November 11, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Who Are You Leaning On?
Ezekiel 29: 16 Never again will Israel be tempted to rely on Egypt. All she'll be to Israel is a reminder of old sin.
When I left home at the age of 19, I was newly married, new in college, new to central Florida, new to being the provider of my home. I was now in a position where I had to totally depend on God.
When the responsibility of paying the rent, the electric bill, putting food on the table, keeping fuel in the car kept coming week after week. I quickly had to learn that dad's provision was no longer there for my pleasure. Now I had to completely depend on the God that I had served from my early years.
God was saying to Israel, "never again will you be tempted to rely on Egypt. All she'll be to you is a reminder of old sin."
God was about to take her to the bottom of the ladder, and there she will stay and never climb to be a world leader again.
When Israel's king Solomon began to drift away from his God, he had allowed his heart to chase after women from Egypt. I had always thought that he just had a bent for women. The man ended up having 700 wives and 300 concubines. What was up with his drive and lure to women?
If you further study this man, you will see that he became very fearful in these days of a backslidden condition. What was going on? The word says that he hired 60 bodyguards to surround his bed in the night.
Why was this man sweating bullets in the night? You see in his backslidden state, he had lost his trust for God and was having to depend on another source for his peace of mind.
It wasn't his love for women that brought about his peaceful state of mind, but it was his alliance with Egypt that brought him peace. See they were the strong presence of power in the world. He figured as long as I have their women, I'm protected from their strong hand, and Egypt will be my friend and not my enemy.
God despises it when we turn to other means to be our strength and our protection. " The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and they are safe" Proverbs 18:10
God doesn't like it when we look for other means to be our peace in the night. Solomon with all of his bodyguards still left him fearful and miserable. There is only one person that can bring us perfect peace. His name is Jehovah Shalom. "Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon thee" Isaiah 26:3
Who are you leaning on? Who is your peace in your worst nightmare? Who do you look to when you don't know how your going to meet budget, when you don't know how your going to put food on the table. It was during my early years of life, that God taught me not to look to a man to be my provider. Paul says; "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in Glory." Philippians 4:19
Don't be surprised when God places you in a position where you have to look to Him. Smile, 'If God be for you, who can be against you? Romans 8:31
Stand up with confidence, " Be confident of this very thing, he which hath begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."Philippians 1:6
Quit loosing your rest in the night. "For it is vain for you to rise up early and to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrows, for so he giveth his beloved sleep." Psalm 127:2
There is no greater life than leaning on the God who loves you and has hand picked you for his purpose.
When I left home at the age of 19, I was newly married, new in college, new to central Florida, new to being the provider of my home. I was now in a position where I had to totally depend on God.
When the responsibility of paying the rent, the electric bill, putting food on the table, keeping fuel in the car kept coming week after week. I quickly had to learn that dad's provision was no longer there for my pleasure. Now I had to completely depend on the God that I had served from my early years.
God was saying to Israel, "never again will you be tempted to rely on Egypt. All she'll be to you is a reminder of old sin."
God was about to take her to the bottom of the ladder, and there she will stay and never climb to be a world leader again.
When Israel's king Solomon began to drift away from his God, he had allowed his heart to chase after women from Egypt. I had always thought that he just had a bent for women. The man ended up having 700 wives and 300 concubines. What was up with his drive and lure to women?
If you further study this man, you will see that he became very fearful in these days of a backslidden condition. What was going on? The word says that he hired 60 bodyguards to surround his bed in the night.
Why was this man sweating bullets in the night? You see in his backslidden state, he had lost his trust for God and was having to depend on another source for his peace of mind.
It wasn't his love for women that brought about his peaceful state of mind, but it was his alliance with Egypt that brought him peace. See they were the strong presence of power in the world. He figured as long as I have their women, I'm protected from their strong hand, and Egypt will be my friend and not my enemy.
God despises it when we turn to other means to be our strength and our protection. " The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and they are safe" Proverbs 18:10
God doesn't like it when we look for other means to be our peace in the night. Solomon with all of his bodyguards still left him fearful and miserable. There is only one person that can bring us perfect peace. His name is Jehovah Shalom. "Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon thee" Isaiah 26:3
Who are you leaning on? Who is your peace in your worst nightmare? Who do you look to when you don't know how your going to meet budget, when you don't know how your going to put food on the table. It was during my early years of life, that God taught me not to look to a man to be my provider. Paul says; "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in Glory." Philippians 4:19
Don't be surprised when God places you in a position where you have to look to Him. Smile, 'If God be for you, who can be against you? Romans 8:31
Stand up with confidence, " Be confident of this very thing, he which hath begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."Philippians 1:6
Quit loosing your rest in the night. "For it is vain for you to rise up early and to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrows, for so he giveth his beloved sleep." Psalm 127:2
There is no greater life than leaning on the God who loves you and has hand picked you for his purpose.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Secret Place
Psalms 91:1
There's no fun about living in a home without power. Recently the northeast of America has been hit with a early October snow storm. It has put a million plus people without any power. In freezing weather, people have to find other methods to stay warm.
What do people do who lack power with God? There is nothing worst than a person living without God's power and presence permeating in their everyday life. People wonder why they are living empty, miserable, and void in the depths of their joy tank. Psalms 91 says; there is a secret place with God that will cause everything in your life to turn around.
I have learned without spending time alone in his presence, or in that secret place alone with God, that I will suffer the consequences of no power in my life.
Without waiting in His presence, you will experience a lack of confidence with God in your journey, the battles; the struggles of life will overwhelm you.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High
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There's no fun about living in a home without power. Recently the northeast of America has been hit with a early October snow storm. It has put a million plus people without any power. In freezing weather, people have to find other methods to stay warm.
What do people do who lack power with God? There is nothing worst than a person living without God's power and presence permeating in their everyday life. People wonder why they are living empty, miserable, and void in the depths of their joy tank. Psalms 91 says; there is a secret place with God that will cause everything in your life to turn around.
I have learned without spending time alone in his presence, or in that secret place alone with God, that I will suffer the consequences of no power in my life.
Without waiting in His presence, you will experience a lack of confidence with God in your journey, the battles; the struggles of life will overwhelm you.
If you fail to spend time in the secret place; you will lack sleep through the night. God says; He gives his beloved rest. You'll lack purpose for your destiny. Do you really want to go through life and miss the mark He has chosen for you?
- Without the secret place you will lack patience to wait for the promises of God. Do you really want to miss your Isaac and settle for an Ishmael? Isaiah 40:30 declares;"even the youth shall faint and be weary and shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount upon wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
See I can't help but faint in my vision without waiting in the secret place with God. I'm not superman. Jesus instructs us in Matthew 26:41, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation, the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak."
I don't care if you are a preacher, a board member, you might sing in the choir, you had better find the secret place so you don't faint in the call of God on your life.
You will lack peace in your storms, you will lack passion to do the will of God, without the secret place you will lack power to persevere in the hard times.
Jesus never had any lack of power because He realize the impact of the secret place with His father. The Holy Spirit came upon him like a dove at his baptism, but He kept the power on His life by daily finding the secret place. It was in the secret place that kept the oil, the anointing, the power flowing through his life.
Friend there is a secret place where you shut yourself in with God. Only then can you declare like David; I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge my fortress, my God, in Him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wing shall thou trust.
You can listen to somebody talk for 2 minutes and tell if they have been in the secret place with God.
What is coming out of your mouth? What you feed on grows, and what you starve dies. When you spend time in his presence, he will deposit into you a new language, a new attitude, a new prospective, a new confidence, a new rest in your spirit, a fresh peace to get though the storms, a new power to energize you to heights that you have never walked in before.
Go on today and shut yourself in the secret place with God, and life will never be the same, a new touch of God will refresh you , and yes your smile, your demeanor , the spring in your step will take you where you need to go in life.
| Oceanwayag.com |
More? Dead things to Life
Have you ever seen something in a man or woman of God that you said, "surely there must be more than what I have?"
What was it that Elisha saw in Elijah that made him say I want more than what you have? Elisha saw a man that knew how to get through a famine. He saw a man help a needy widow get through her own famine. The next incredible thing Elisha took note of was, what to do when a widow's son dies.
In this life I see many people who are dealing with the death of their marriage, their job, their finances, their dreams, their hope in life. The widow son had died and now she is pleading out to the prophet for help.
This great man of God takes the son and stretches out himself 3 times over the son and prays with all his might that the boy might live. God listen to Elijah's prayer and put breath back into his body-he was now alive!
What has died in your world that has caused you great grief? Is God any different today than he was in Elijah's day? Can God raise the dead again in our day?
I have seen God take a marriage that was dead, no life in the least in the union. I have watched him resurrect and place a new love in that marriage. I have watched God take a person's dream that was in the rubble and bring new hope and life again into their heart.
God says; "greater works shall ye do because I go to my father." I recently read a miracle from a Reinhard Bonnke crusade. Here is the interview between Robertson and Bonnke.
Can God really do that in our day? I have seen it first hand in one of our own church services at Oceanway Assembly of God. One Sunday morning, one of our members fell dead right in the middle of my message, the whole church prayed for God to bring her back to life. She was gone; no breath came out of her for approximately 15 plus minutes. Before our very eyes, she was raised back to life.
Do we want more than what we have today? I do, and may God give stir up the gifts again in the church to see greater works than any of us have ever seen before. Ask yourself; is anything to hard for God? If God did it then, He can do it again. Today is your day to believe for dead things to come to life.
What was it that Elisha saw in Elijah that made him say I want more than what you have? Elisha saw a man that knew how to get through a famine. He saw a man help a needy widow get through her own famine. The next incredible thing Elisha took note of was, what to do when a widow's son dies.
In this life I see many people who are dealing with the death of their marriage, their job, their finances, their dreams, their hope in life. The widow son had died and now she is pleading out to the prophet for help.
This great man of God takes the son and stretches out himself 3 times over the son and prays with all his might that the boy might live. God listen to Elijah's prayer and put breath back into his body-he was now alive!
What has died in your world that has caused you great grief? Is God any different today than he was in Elijah's day? Can God raise the dead again in our day?
I have seen God take a marriage that was dead, no life in the least in the union. I have watched him resurrect and place a new love in that marriage. I have watched God take a person's dream that was in the rubble and bring new hope and life again into their heart.
God says; "greater works shall ye do because I go to my father." I recently read a miracle from a Reinhard Bonnke crusade. Here is the interview between Robertson and Bonnke.
ROBERTSON: I want you to tell us about a man that was in one of your meetings. He was hit by a car. I understand he was stiff and rigormortis had set in. I don't know if they had embalmed him or not.
BONNKE: They did.
ROBERTSON: He had been embalmed?
BONNKE: He was embalmed, but not the way it is done in America with the removal of organs. They injected chemicals into the body to slow down decay, since there was no refrigeration.
ROBERTSON: So what happened?
BONNKE: His wife was one with a promise from God that woman have received back the dead by resurrection. She said, 'My husband will come back, and I have heard Reinhard Bonnke is in Onitsha this Sunday I will bring him there. She brought him there. I was preaching and I knew nothing about it. Suddenly, the man started to breathe. His story is awesome and what he was shown while he was in eternity.
ROBERTSON: Tell me, what did he see?
BONNKE: An angel took him to show him Paradise. He showed him the mansions that are waiting for the saints. And he showed him hell. He saw the people in hell. He said one shouted to him, 'I was a pastor and I stole money. Help me to return the money.' He said it was so frightening to him that the angel turned to him and said, 'The prayer of the rich man in Luke 16 will now be fulfilled, and you will be sent back to earth as a last warning to this generation.'
Can God really do that in our day? I have seen it first hand in one of our own church services at Oceanway Assembly of God. One Sunday morning, one of our members fell dead right in the middle of my message, the whole church prayed for God to bring her back to life. She was gone; no breath came out of her for approximately 15 plus minutes. Before our very eyes, she was raised back to life.
Do we want more than what we have today? I do, and may God give stir up the gifts again in the church to see greater works than any of us have ever seen before. Ask yourself; is anything to hard for God? If God did it then, He can do it again. Today is your day to believe for dead things to come to life.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Is there More (3)
1 Kings 17: 7 Eventually the brook dried up because of the drought.8 Then God spoke to him:9 "Get up and go to Zarephath in Sidon and live there. I've instructed a woman who lives there, a widow, to feed you."
When the brook of Cherith dried up, God directs Elijah to a widow woman's house that was on her last meal for herself and her son. The prophet Elijah says; "bake for me a cake first." She had to be flabbergasted thinking why? See God always requires that we put him first.
Sunday is the first day of the week, put him first in your worship, God says bring the tithe into the storehouse. He wants to remind us each week that He is to be first.
When she obeyed the word of the Lord, and gave the first part as was directed. Back in the kitchen was more oil and more flower and more meal to continue for on and on through the famine. If you're going to make it through this famine in our land, you best put the Lord first.
God's word declares touch not the tithe, for it is holy. The word holy means to set apart. Have you set apart your tithe which belongs to God? Leviticus 27:30 "A tenth of the land's produce, whether grain from the ground or fruit from the trees, is God's. It is holy to God. If a man buys back any of the tenth he has given, he must add twenty percent to it." Ouch, God adds a late fee on my tithe when I use it for something else.
I would be frightened to touch the holy part that belongs to God. Do you want the heavens to open up and the favor of God to come your way? If you want the business to thrive and stay alive, don't touch the part that belongs to God. The first part is the ten percent that comes out first to God. If you give your seed to mortgage company, the grocery store, the taxes, the roof repairs, you will never get ahead and win in the famine.
In my early days of marriage, things were very tight. One week I used my tithe to help out with our expenses. That week someone stole all of our brand new towels out of the apartment laundry mat. Ouch, that hurt. The next week things got tighter. Again I used our tithe to help with our weekly expenses. That particular week the water pump went out in the car. God was saying to me; " are you going to put me first or not?" God was trying to teach me, bring me the cake first, then there will be enough for you and your wife to eat and to live.
What was it that Elisha saw that He wanted in his mentor Elijah? A man that could help others get through their own drought. Are you a leader in helping others to get through their own drought? The widow woman obeyed the word of the Lord, and the meal and the oil did not run out. He will do the same for you.
What was it that Elisha saw that He wanted in his mentor Elijah? A man that could help others get through their own drought. Are you a leader in helping others to get through their own drought? The widow woman obeyed the word of the Lord, and the meal and the oil did not run out. He will do the same for you.
I thank God that he taught me those valuable lessons in my early days, so I could help others get through their own droughts today. Start today with what's in your own hand, so you can help someone else through his or her own struggle. Like Elisha, He said give me a double portion of what Elijah had. God make us all examples for others.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Is There More (2)
2 Kings 2:9
A few days ago my niece was standing in line at 6 AM with her parents for the latest apple iphone. I might add 200,000 others sought out the newest technology on the market. If Steve Jobs can create something that wows the heart of a man, just what could the architect of the world create for you and I?
Something was stirring in the heart of a young prophet Elisha. What was it that he had seen in his mentor Elijah? There are a few things that I believe that he saw. First of all he saw a man that knew how to get through a drought
Elijah had gone down to the brook of Cherith where the Lord had directed him. "For there the Lord has commanded the ravens to feed you." I'm thankful that there is still a God that can get us through a drought.
Years ago while in college, my wife and I knew the struggles of getting through the tough places. Who could afford a nice meal in your college days? Believe me she learned how to stretch the dollars. We ate spaghetti on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday, well you get the picture. One day in her prayer time she calls out to God, "okay God we want this and on and on she prayed. A few weeks later we were invited over to Sister Whaley's home for a great meal.
After lunch this great woman of God says follow me into the garage. She opens her deep freezer and pops her brown paper bag and begins to load up pork chops and corn and okra and steaks and she says; "your not getting any chicken because God didn't tell me to give you chicken." What she didn't know was my wife had said in her prayers; "God I want steaks and pork-chops and fresh vegetables and I don't want any chicken."
Don't tell me that God can't get you through your own drought. May I add, He will also give you the desires of your heart. We are living in tough times. And God is no respecter of persons. If God can get Elijah through a famine, surely he can get you and I through a economic storm in our time.
Could it be like Elisha, that God well create a wave in your heart for more? There are times that God waits for his kids to come and to ask for his leading and his provision during the tough places of life. Have you prayed; "God show me personally your miraculous handiwork?"
If a genius like Steve Jobs can create something that wows our hearts and our hands, what can God create for us that will transform our hearts and lives forever?
Is there more? Elisha believed there was. What do you believe?
A few days ago my niece was standing in line at 6 AM with her parents for the latest apple iphone. I might add 200,000 others sought out the newest technology on the market. If Steve Jobs can create something that wows the heart of a man, just what could the architect of the world create for you and I?
Something was stirring in the heart of a young prophet Elisha. What was it that he had seen in his mentor Elijah? There are a few things that I believe that he saw. First of all he saw a man that knew how to get through a drought
Elijah had gone down to the brook of Cherith where the Lord had directed him. "For there the Lord has commanded the ravens to feed you." I'm thankful that there is still a God that can get us through a drought.
Years ago while in college, my wife and I knew the struggles of getting through the tough places. Who could afford a nice meal in your college days? Believe me she learned how to stretch the dollars. We ate spaghetti on Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday, well you get the picture. One day in her prayer time she calls out to God, "okay God we want this and on and on she prayed. A few weeks later we were invited over to Sister Whaley's home for a great meal.
After lunch this great woman of God says follow me into the garage. She opens her deep freezer and pops her brown paper bag and begins to load up pork chops and corn and okra and steaks and she says; "your not getting any chicken because God didn't tell me to give you chicken." What she didn't know was my wife had said in her prayers; "God I want steaks and pork-chops and fresh vegetables and I don't want any chicken."
Don't tell me that God can't get you through your own drought. May I add, He will also give you the desires of your heart. We are living in tough times. And God is no respecter of persons. If God can get Elijah through a famine, surely he can get you and I through a economic storm in our time.
Could it be like Elisha, that God well create a wave in your heart for more? There are times that God waits for his kids to come and to ask for his leading and his provision during the tough places of life. Have you prayed; "God show me personally your miraculous handiwork?"
If a genius like Steve Jobs can create something that wows our hearts and our hands, what can God create for us that will transform our hearts and lives forever?
Is there more? Elisha believed there was. What do you believe?
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Is There More? part one
2 Kings 2:9 Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.
What was it that caused Elisha to say to Elijah; I want twice what you have?
Can you imagine Steve Jobs being content with a Blackberry, or a Motorola smart phone in his hand? It wouldn't seem right for him to settle for something less when he knows there is more to explore with his genius abilities.
Many of Gods saints have settled for less than God's best for their life. Something was stirring up in Elisha because he had seen something from his mentor Elijah that said; there must be more.
I heard about a man years- ago who got on a boat to go from London to New York. It was a seven-day journey years ago. All week he had eaten cheese and crackers because he couldn't afford to eat the great feast that they brought out for dinner each night. The last night of the voyage, he ask the captain what it would cost to sit and eat one of the fine meals provided by the ship?
The captain began to laugh, "sir what have you been eating all week?" He explained I couldn't afford the meals so I have been eating my cheese and crackers I brought along. "Sir when you purchased your ticket, the delightful food was provided." Can you imagine what the man had been missing all week long?
There are so many people in life that have settled for less than God's best for their life. When Christ went to the cross he purchased everything that we would have need of. It started with this great salvation that would cover us from all of our iniquities. That's only the beginning of what Christ paid for you and me to experience this great divine in life.
Elisha was one of those that said; "I want a double portion on my life." What have you said in your heart? Have you settled to eat on the cheese and crackers of life, and live with intimidation and fear of going forward into a divine future?
Elisha soon found out that because his passion explored into God's divine connection, there was more.
Listen, If a man can explore in the natural and build an iphone, ipad, ipod, itouch, what has God preserved at his table for those that will come hungry and passionate for his will and plan for their lives?
Will discover in our next thoughts, really, what was it that caused Elisha to say; "I want more." What have you settled for?
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