TRUE THANKFULLNESS

BE anxious FOR NOTHING, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV)

Every believer knows they need to be thankful, so we usually just say, "Lord, thanks for the food - and thank you for all the missionaries in the whole wide world, amen!" Now we are thankful! course we know that Jesus is the seed of God. He had to die to be reproduced in us. Are we really thankful? Do we just say words or do we know the power of thanksgiving.Do we know that the seed dwells within us? It grows day and night and we don't know how! The seed was created on the Third Day. Seedtime and harvest are the Third Day truth that we need to grab hold of today. It is the intention of God that those of us who actually live in the Third Day (3rd thousandth year from the cross) know the power of the seed of thanksgiving.

Thankfullness is a much underrated FORCE for believers. It is the MISSING LINK. Thanksgiving is the power cord to finding contentment! It is the avenue to our peace. When we TRUST God, we can be truly thankful. Godly thanksgiving give us immunity to depression, worry, envy, anger, and resentment. It heals our sorrows and disappointments.Thanksgiving will change your future. Losing your worries will open you up to be more clearly  guided by the Holy Spirit. Renew your MIND to this concept(Rom. 12). Allow your thoughts to create a nowness of revelation and purpose. This continual process is known by scientists as imprinting or modeling.  Whatever you call it, start now and just do it! Thanksgiving is not an action nor is it an emotion. It is a state of awareness - of heightened consciousness of the Goodness of God. Thanksgiving is a kingdom perspective that allows us to FULLY POSSESS

our INHERITANCE THROUGH GRATITUDE.

It brings us into a MANIFESTATION of Who  GOD is in us and for us.You have been given 365 days of 24 hours a day to LIVE. Are you thankful? That's - 720 hours a month of LIFE to enjoy! That's 31, 638,000 seconds a month to enjoy   RIGHT NOW! It's time to rejoice with sincerity and purpose. Paul said it this way, "Thanksgiving is our dialect" (Eph 5:3 MSG). It is my prayer that today you actively realize the good things in your life. Begin to have a conscious awareness of having abundance. It's about persistent faith and unrelenting focusing on being thankful. Jesus taught us the principle that to those who are conscious of much, more will be given! (Lk. 12:48). 

The energy of thanksgiving causes wonderful new things to manifest in your life. Sometimes, it may seem like nothing is happening - but something is always happening when you are thankful. Be thankful about what you have gained - not what has been lost (the water glass being half full not half empty). Be thankful about what you have rather than pondering about what you don't have. Be thankful for what works in your life right now. Be thankful for the times when you win and don't remind yourself of the times when you failed.Be thankful for those things that make you happy and put behind you thoughts about being sad.Be thankful for those who love you and forgive those who have hurt and disappointed you along the way! Be thankful for your talents and don't worry about what you can't do.Be thankful to be part of the Body of Christ and enjoy being who you are in that Body. Be thankful for theGoodness of the Lord and how He longs to bring blessing to you right now!

WORD MADE FLESH

WORD BECAME FLESH

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14)

The essence of Christianity is the Word being made flesh... the engrafted living Word that is able to bring salvation to our mind, will and emotions- our soul, our flesh. 

OUR SPIRIT IS ALREADY SAVED. WE ARE WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION.

Word made flesh (Heb. 1:3)

His desire is that the engrafted Word find expression in US, 

If then, the Word being made flesh is so central, let us explore HOW this happens. We are going to look at three things: the EAR canal, the VOICE canal, and the BIRTH canal;

 Since we know that the Word was made flesh in the womb of Mary, and brought to fruition in the body of Jesus Christ, perhaps there is a prototype we can glean from. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus... Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee... For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy WORD.” (Luke 1:30-31, 34-35, 37-38)

Here we see that the WORD, Who was in the beginning (John 1:1), ‘sent word’ to Mary through a messenger. 

The EAR Canal/Gate-

Perception

Hearing the Voice of God

Fear and unbelief, prejudice and ignorance is when you are dull of hearing.

Some had ‘ears to hear’, some were ‘dull of hearing’.

Just a few verses previous to the messenger bringing the Word of the Lord to Mary, there is a very similar message for Zacharias concerning the birthing of John. If you remember the account, it would seem that Zacharias had been listening to those other ‘sound waves’- opinions of men, fear and unbelief, prejudice and ignorance.

 Take note of the vast difference in Mary’s response to the Word, “be it unto me according to thy WORD.” (Luke 1:38) Even today, no have ‘ears to hear’ the message that the Father desires to spiritually ‘impregnate’ us, in order that we may give ‘birth’ to a holy thing,

The VOICE Canal/Gate- Proclamation

As we just saw, Mary’s proclamation was “be it unto me according to thy WORD.” (Luke 1:38)

She not only had ears to hear, she also joined HER VOICE with the Word, therefore establishing it as a reality in her life. Keep in mind that this was no light thing for her to proclaim, for to be pregnant and unmarried in that culture and period in history was absolutely devastating.

For Mary, any thought of being socially acceptable or living the ‘American dream’ so to speak, was entirely out of the question now. In fact, under the letter of the Law, she could be stoned to death. She had to entirely ‘die’ to self to make that proclamation, “be it unto me according to thy WORD.”

Jesus makes an interesting statement in John 5:30, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I HEAR, I JUDGE: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

So as with Mary, we see the same process with Jesus, He HEARD the Word of the Father, and joined His VOICE with the Word, therefore establishing it as a reality.

2 Cor. 13:1 states this principle so clearly; “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every WORD be established.”

Mary was  dead to the desires of self, to be able to say “be it unto me according to thy WORD.”

Jesus was a living martyr, dead to the desires of self, to be able to say “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

RHEMA- the God-breathed, living, NOW-Word of God.

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Rhema /now word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Shall every RHEMA, God-breathed, living, NOW-Word be established!”

My friend, this is not ‘Kingdomized’ name it and claim it, blab it and grab it! This is ruling and reigning in Christ. This is bringing the Kingdom of heaven to bear upon the earth. This is the ‘real thing’!

The BIRTH Canal/ Gate

- Procreation

Perhaps you are thinking about now, “How can this be?” Well don’t worry, Mary asked the same question in Luke 1:34. The angel’s answer to Mary rings just as true for us today, “For with God NOTHING shall be impossible.” (Luke 1

Birthing Process

 There was certainly no ‘extra room’ in the birth canal, the baby was pressed on all sides. “We are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed...” (2 Cor. 4:7-9)

Let us press forward in understanding the EAR canal, the VOICE canal, and the BIRTH canal.

 Let us advance in our perception, proclamation, and procreation. Let us grasp the essence of Christianity, which is the Word being made flesh... the engrafted living Word that is bringing salvation to our mind, will and emotions- our soul, our flesh.

THE KINGLY ANOINTING

Exodus 19:6‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Some Other King/Priest Scriptures:
Is. 6:1  And you will be called priests of the Lord; you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 1Peter 2:5 And you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, to be a Holy Priesthood. Rev. 1:6 And has  made us kings and priests unto God and His Father. Rev. 5:10And has made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth.

Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

 This Scripture says we will reign in life through Jesus, the Greek word for "REIGN" is derived from the word for "KING". And means to be a king. And you notice that the reigning is now as well as forever. (in life, eternal life)

The Word says that two of the anointings that believers have received are those of Kings, and Priests. Hebrews 6:30 says Jesus "has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek" . The next verse says that Melchizedek was the KING of Salem (Jerusalem) and PRIEST of God Almighty. By the way Melchizedek means "king of righteousness", and king of Salem means "king of peace". The word says that this priesthood is an eternal one, "A priest forever, just like Melchizedek" (PS 110:4; HEB 6:30; HEB 7:1-3; HEB 7:15-17; HEB 7:21-25).We are Priests after the order of Melchizedek, just like Jesus, our High Priest. And we are Kings in the line of David, just like Jesus, the Son of David.

I am convinced that if we are to do the things that Jesus did, and the greater things, and to live as Jesus lived, we will have to participate in the ministry and anointing God has placed upon each of us to be Kings and Priests. We know that He is King of kings (we are the little kings) and Lord of lords (we are the little lords).

So lets find out just what the characteristics of a King are according to the Word.

First of all a Godly King is one who's heart is so soft to God's touch that He can direct it just as He pleases (Prov. 21:1). When you walk in the fullness of the Anointing of a King after the order of David, and after the order of Jesus, the Son of David, you are a person, who's way is fully in the Hand of the Potter.

What made David different, and what made Jesus different? They were quick to believe the Word of God ( Jesus was the Word); they honored God and had a heart dedicated to pleasing Him. They had a servant's heart, one that was predisposed to obedience.

When you are a King you are without reproach from those who are not. Bear in mind that we are to treat others as we would have them treat us, we are not to lord it over the lost, they have the same potential, all they need to do is accept the King of Kings, then they too will become anointed to be Kings and Priests.

Another aspect of the Kingly characteristics is justice, a King of God will always judge justly, never having two sets of measures.

Another characteristic of Kings is that they establish  the Kingdom for God. They do this by subduing those who set themselves at enmity toward the Kingdom. They will cause peace to reign over that kingdom so that the people of God will prosper. When we reach the fullness of our Kingships we will manifest the Kingdom of God, and Peace will be established for His people.

Another characteristic of a Davidic King is that God will cause you to prosper; in Solomon's time God made his kingdom so prosperous that silver was considered of little value (1KG 10:21). If we are going to spread the word, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, around the whole planet, we will need a LOT of wealth. Now the wealth shouldn't have us, we should have it. And it should primarily be the intent of our heart to use it for the Gospel, no matter what He blesses us with, we should be willing to give it at His direction with the responsiveness of a King whose heart is like a watercourse. God should be able to direct us to give according to His pleasure, and we should instantly give
anything and everything that He desires. Everything belongs to Him anyway.

Another characteristic of a Davidic King is that he will pay no heed to the traditions of men, and will even rightly divide the Word's commands.

Another Kingly Characteristic is DILIGENCE, Proverbs 12:24 says, "Diligent hands will rule". 2 Peter 1:5 calls for us to "giving all diligence" or with all diligence to "add to our faith" several steps, which all add to each other to bring us to a place where we will walk in Agape-Love, and promises us, in verse 8 that we will never be unfruitful in our knowledge of Christ. And verse 10 says, "Give all diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things ye shall never fall".
David was a shepherd as a boy, and he was a shepherd as a King, God himself said he would be one in 2 Samuel 5:2. Jesus was and is The Good Shepherd. A Davidic King will be one who has a Shepherd's Heart. One who is quick to rescue one of the flock.  This is the priest’s/ shepherd’s heart.
 
Kings are comfortable speaking the  Word of Authority. Part of our Anointing as Kings is to speak the Word Boldly. We have been granted the Authority to bind and loose things here on the Earth, and it is established in Heaven. We have been given the right to speak God's Word, and the responsibility to do so, so that it may be in effect over the enemy (EPH 6) as part of the Armor of God. We are also granted the right to speak to nature and it will obey, if we have the ever-increasing type of faith that is like a mustard seed. The continuing existence of the entire creation of God is upheld by the Word (HEB 1:3). Because of this, when God's Word is released in faith from our mouths the creation is already trained and predisposed to respond to it.

 

What Have You Put Out in The Atmosphere?

"What Have You Put Out in The Atmosphere?"

Everything in the universe begins with and revolves around two things: words and thoughts. These two elements are divine gifts created by God and given to man. They form the creative substance that molds and shapes the destiny of humanity. Each of us becomes the person we are, chooses the direction we take, and accomplishes everything we do based on these two primary elements.

Just as in every seed, there is life-giving power that resides in every spoken word. This principle illustrates how the spiritual law of incubation and manifestation works. Everything you see in the natural began as a spiritual seed—that is, as a thought.

We are told in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that God, in His infinite wisdom, has already given us all things pertaining to life (the Wycliffe version says, "all things of His God-like virtue") that we might partake of His divine nature. Included in this celestial equipping are divine thoughts and inspired words.

As a spiritual being created in the image of God (see Genesis 1:26) your spiritual genes hold the creative power to frame your personal world by the thoughts and words you think and speak, which are divine tools given for your creative use. All you are, experience, and ultimately achieve can be traced back to how you have made use of these two simple, yet vastly powerful, tools—your words and thoughts.

What Occupies Your Mind Determines What Eventually Fills Your Mouth

The power of the spoken word is one of life's greatest mysteries. All that you will ever be or accomplish hinges on how you choose to govern what comes out of your mouth. By what you allow to occupy your mind and mouth, you can either bless your life to great heights of success or send it orbiting into realms of failure, sadness, and discontentment.

This is why Proverbs tells us, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7), and urges, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life" (Proverbs 4:23). Jesus followed suit by declaring, "For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart" (Matthew 12:34-35).

What occupies your mind determines what eventually fills your mouth; your outer world showcases all that has dominated—and at times subjugated—your inner world. Because the law of cause and effect is continually at work, there is always an inner cause for every outer effect. Your outer world is a direct result of your inner world.

Every circumstance in life is a result of a choice—and every choice is the result of a thought. All those things that fill your mind hold the keys to your reality. Your thoughts provide the fuel for your words, and your words provide the fuel for your world.

It is paramount that you become the master of your thoughts. The greatest man has become so by the scrupulous attention he gives to controlling what goes into his mind and what comes out of his mouth.

So, "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:6-8).

FINISHED WORK TRUTHS

A Brief Scriptural Synopsis of the Finished Work of the Cross of Jesus Christ: 

* We are ALREADY cleansed and perfected by virtue of the Finished Work!

"For by ONE offering He hath PERFECTED for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14) I love the way the Amplified Bible expresses this also; "For by a single offering He has forever COMPLETELY CLEANSED AND PERFECTED those who are consecrated and made holy." There is nothing more that we can do to enhance this cleansing and perfection that was provided by His one offering. All we do is rest in His offering.

* We are ALREADY sanctified by virtue of the blood of the finished work!

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might SANCTIFY the people with his own BLOOD, suffered without the gate." (Hebrews 13:12) In the past I have always thought of sanctification as a process, however the Word clearly states that I am sanctified by ONE offering of the blood of Christ. So the process involved is not a process of being sanctified, but rather a process of renewing my mind to the fact that I am ALREADY sanctified!

* The WORK was FINISHED before it even started (in a sense)!

"...although the works were FINISHED from the foundation of the world." (Hebrews 4:3) "..the Lamb SLAIN from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8) Because Father is outside of and not confined by our time/ space continuum, He sees the end from the beginning. When He creates, He creates things finished and complete in spirit, even though there may appear to be a process or period of time for that thing to come into manifestation in this natural realm. For example, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was slain from the foundation of the world... however it did not come into manifestation until 2000 and some years ago. Yet, it was finished before it even started. Indeed, it is a Finished Work!

* We must appropriate the Finished Work by FAITH!

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, NOT being mixed with FAITH in them that heard it. For we which have BELIEVED do enter into rest..." (Hebrews 4:1-3) Indeed it is a Finished Work, but in order for that work to be manifested in my life, I must appropriate it by faith. "Now FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]." (Hebrews 11:1 Amplified Bible) It seems that most everything in this spiritual life we are living is appropriated and activated by faith.

15 Things Jesus Did Say

15 Things Jesus DID Say: (in simple terms)

“There’s only one litmus test to authenticate if someone gets what I’m about – love.”

“The kingdom of God is here and now, which means it’s not somewhere else and later.”

“If you’ve reached perfection on your journey, feel free to judge others. Otherwise, be quiet.”

“My peace is not as this world gives. Your strategy to control circumstances in order to be happy won’t work… ever.”

“You religious people have your nose buried in the Law feeling all smug about your spiritual maturity. But you wouldn’t know my truth if it knocked you in the head.”

“There is no mountain, sacred place or church building where God expects to be worshiped. True worship is a way of seeing – it’s spotting and honoring the Divine, expressing yourself from your heart. It's really a lifestyle.

“You think you are doing well because you have not been hauled off to prison for murder, but your harsh and critical spirit is no different.”

“Embracing my truth will make you a heretic in most people’s minds and you will be persecuted. No worries; you’re on the right track in my kingdom.”

“God and I are one, you are included.”

“I have to die.  You are already dead.  If you believe you have to die, you’re going to create a religion around my human personhood and personality, rather than embrace and give expression to my spirit and truth.”

“Don’t say you love God and then hate people. Those two things can’t be true at the same time.”

“You and God are not separated and never have been. You are connected to God like a branch to a vine – the essence and nature of God is the sap running through your veins.”

“You can’t reduce my way to a book or the law.  I am the Living Word.The same Spirit that filled and led me fills and leads you. Follow that Spirit.”

“You think your humanity is an affront to God. If this were true how could I be one with God?”

“You look into the sky to find God that sits on a throne. You want to see God?  Look within.

MAKING GOD HAPPY

This an article written by a friend of mine. Enjoy.

MAKING GOD HAPPY

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

Happy:  Having, showing, or causing great pleasure or joy – Webster’s Dictionary

Today I was sent a Facebook post that seems to be going viral. I don’t pay much attention to social media, but this one caused me to look closer in response to a check in my spirit. It was about an exhortation given in a sermon by Victoria Osteen, co-pastor at Lakewood Church. It caused quite a stir because she seemed to be saying that we obey God and do good for our own self; that the key to making God happy is to first make yourself happy. This was not a direct quote of what she actually said.

On the surface this sounds like she is advocating pleasing yourself above pleasing God. I don’t think that was her intent at all. After listening to the video, I’m sure of it. Her intent was to simply encourage people to be happy because it pleases God when His people are happy. If you look at the definition of happy, you will see that happiness is linked with joy. We know that the joy of the Lord is our strength and Jesus gives us joy. But, happiness is a choice that we must make every day. What she was saying is we’re not making a decision to be happy for God, but for what it does for our own souls. It pleases God when we make a decision to be happy regardless of our circumstances and live in the joy of the Lord. Victoria could have said it better, but it wasn’t rehearsed and sometimes the words don’t exactly express what is in our hearts.

I’m not so concerned with Victoria as I am with the Body of Christ which is so quick to judge another in the high court of social media. I wasn’t there. I didn’t hear the whole sermon. I wasn’t sitting in the presence of the Holy Spirit. I saw this clip that could have been interpreted as heresy, but instead a voice inside of me said, “Defend her”. I know that voice well. He gave me no other instructions, but I knew what I had to defend.

I may not know what makes God happy, but I do know what grieves the Spirit. We are not to judge each other. Every follower of Christ has already been judged and found guilty. It is only through the blood of Jesus that we stand in righteousness. Jesus gave us another commandment to add to the original ten which would sum them all up into one commandment. We are to love one another. When we look in the Word at what love is to God we see that love is patient, kind, doesn’t envy, is not proud, not self-seeking, not provoked, thinks no evil  … Let’s stop there. It thinks no evil. In other words, we don’t think evil of those we love. We give them the benefit of a doubt. We do not criticize or slander others, especially in gossip. We support and defend those who are under attack.

This is a pastor who has devoted her life to the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ and shepherding His Church. Can we not protect her from the wolves? The enemy is always looking to get a mob gathered to attack someone who makes an innocent mistake. Jesus never said or did anything against the will of the Father, yet he was falsely accused and murdered because those who claimed to love him deserted him and some even joined the very mob that crucified him. This ministry has suffered attacks before and will continue to do so, but not at my hand. I believe that it makes my Father happy when I walk in love with my brothers and sisters in Christ. They aren’t perfect. They make mistakes. But if they need correction, the Father knows how to correct His children and it is always in love and to bring them to repentance. It is never to tear them down for the sake of gossip in the social media.

Our leaders are under severe attack by the enemy of our souls. He is pulling every evil trick that he can find to bring them down. Love conquered him before and it will continue to defeat him because it never fails. We can’t keep ripping each other apart in the social media sites as we hid behind our laptops and smart phones. I remember Jesus asking for the accusers to step forward when a woman was being accused of adultery. They all had sin in their hearts and He made them see that they were no better than this woman. If you are perfect and have never said anything that others misunderstood your meaning, then perhaps you can put your self-righteous post on Facebook. If, like me, you remember the pain of having those in the family of God turn on you, perhaps, you will decide not to get involved in this feeding frenzy. Instead, lift Victoria up in prayer. If she has strayed in her thinking, the only true righteous Judge will correct her. Regardless of whether she was wrong or right, refuse to persecute her.

Part of the reason that it is so hard to get people to come to church or even consider Christ is the fact that Christians no longer stand together. They have become as nit-picky as the ungodly. We have to stand up against sin and beware of false teachers, but many times it’s not about cleansing the church that sends us off on witch hunts. We are to protect each other in love because our adversary the devil is roaming about stirring up trouble hoping that we will kill one for him to devour.