November 29, 2014

Luke 24 Be Spirit-filled, know the risen Lord!

Fear and unbelief cripple and hold one's mind in captivity, and can only be overcome and set free when we receive the power from above, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, that only Jesus can give. (Matthew 3:11). The Holy Spirit anointing breaks the yoke and bondage of the spiritual oppression. (Isaiah 10:27)
Luke 24 records the resurrected Jesus revealing himself as a physical as well as spiritual reality to His disciples. His crucifixion, death on the cross and burial deeply affected His followers, including His closest disciples (and apostles). He knew all about this. Note the words He uses to describe their feelings and responses at this time:
  1. unbelief: because they find it hard to believe in God's words, including all the prophecies about Jesus.
  2. fear and doubt: because they did not believe in resurrection just as God has promised.
We read some verses quoted from Luke 24 to see the reactions of the disciples of Jesus:
Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”
35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.
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What is the solution given by Jesus to bring them out of this defeated mental and emotional state? Note what Jesus says, He repeated the words about Him, the message of the Good News, they are to be His witnesses to the world. Lastly He told them one essential key to overcome their fear and unbelief: He will give them the Holy Spirit, the power from above! (In church history, this has come true. The disciples of Jesus were filled with supernatural power, preaching the Good News, bringing healing and salvation to many, accompanied with signs and wonders.)
44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations,[f] beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.
49 And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Isaiah 58 God wants true worship

Prophet Isaiah was given this message about fasting. Again this is not just for the people at that time, 2700 years ago. God is not talking about mere fasting either. Fasting was a way of life then when people followed a pattern and fixed rituals on the superficial form of fasting for festivals according to their tradition. many are still doing this today in many different religions.
Today, practicing Christians too follow a pattern of religious rituals and observances. But God talks of a different subject, worship. It means fasting and other similar rituals are parts of worship. Fasting is not a show of piety to God or to men. Because just as Jesus says, God sees the heart. God wants a true heart to worship Him in spirit and truth. (Matthew 6:14-19; John 4:23-24)
A heart that is true to God loves God and loves God's people. Jesus speaks of the same priority: Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength. Love our neighbors as ourselves. (Luke 10:27-37)
Jesus takes one step beyond that and commands this, "Love even your enemies." "You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." (Luke 6:27-36)
The question is no longer who my neighbor is. God is not a parochial deity. He is the God. The only God. He loves all creatures created by Him. God went to the extent of giving His own Son Jesus to us. He gave the believers of Jesus the Holy Spirit.
A Spirit filled life witnesses God and gives glory to Him.
We are created to worship and give glory to Him. Worship is a lifestyle. Fasting is part of worship, springing from our hearts to love and worship God, to give us a spiritual clarity to see and hear God, to walk in the presence of God and share His goodness with others.
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Isaiah 58 New Living Translation (NLT)

True and False Worship

58 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
    Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel[a] of their sins!
    Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
    and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
    that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
    pretending they want to be near me.
‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
    ‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
    and you don’t even notice it!’
“I will tell you why!” I respond.
    “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
    you keep oppressing your workers.
What good is fasting
    when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting
    will never get you anywhere with me.
You humble yourselves
    by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads
    like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap
    and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting?
    Do you really think this will please the Lord?
“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
    lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
    and remove the chains that bind people.
Share your food with the hungry,
    and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
    and do not hide from relatives who need your help.
“Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
    and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
    and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
    ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
    Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
    and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
    Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
    and a restorer of homes.
13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.
    Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath
    and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
    and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
14 Then the Lord will be your delight.
    I will give you great honor
and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Footnotes:

  1. 58:1 Hebrew Jacob. See note on 14:1.
Jesus has proclaimed this change of spiritual focus starting from His coming to this earth 2000 years ago, filled with the Holy Spirit, walked by the Spirit, led by the Spirit as the Son of God, living a life of worship in spirit and in truth.
Luke 4:18-19, 21 New Living Translation (NLT)
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
    that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19     and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.[a]
21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

November 20, 2014

Recommending: "God wants you to succeed!"

Here is a new resource: audio teachings by Andrew Wommack,

http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio/1085

God Wants You To Succeed

contents:
God's definition of success
come to the end of yourselves
your success is your relationship with God
Nebuchadnezzar finally got it right
the first step
imagination and success
learn how to dream big
be patient

Teaching article (excerpts):
God designed you for success. He made you to be a winner. This is true for every person, regardless of what has happened in the past. God has never destined anybody to live a mediocre life.
Jeremiah 29:11 says,
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
This verse says that God knows His thoughts toward you, and His desire is to give you an expected end. That end is promised in the Word of God. You can walk in victory like Moses. He was 120 years old, and his eyesight wasn’t dim nor his natural force abated (Deut. 34:7). He actually climbed a mountain the day he went home to be with the Lord.
These things are in the Word, and God is no respecter of persons. What we have today is superior to what Moses had in the Old Testament. We can be guaranteed success. Now, I’m not saying success can always be achieved without a fight or without effort, but we were destined for great things.
God created every one of us to be something special, but I also feel that we live in a culture that has totally misrepresented true success. As a matter of fact, I looked up the meaning of the word. The American Heritage Dictionary (AHD) defines success as “The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted.” That’s a pretty broad definition. I mean, some people are aiming at nothing and hitting it every time. The second definition I found is “The gaining of fame or prosperity” (AHD). I hate that definition. That is not a godly definition of success at all. Lots of people have fame and prosperity, but they do not have true success. ...
........
It doesn’t matter whether the end result is good or not. God wants you to do what He has called you to do, and He wants you to do it out of His ability. I think what some call burnout is just people doing good things in their own strength and power. God’s never had anybody qualified working for Him yet, so stop relying on your own ability. If you don’t trust in the Lord, you can’t accomplish the things He’s planned for you and you won’t be a godly success.
(Please visit the web site for the original full article: http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/wants_succeed )
TV broadcast:
http://www.awmi.net/tv/2014/week40
Live DVD:
http://www.awmi.net/store/usa/dvd_albums_live/3223_d

November 19, 2014

Freedom from fears

never before seen
such ample bountiful rich
blooms defying drought
————————————-
Sometimes we go through a prolonged spell of heat and drought. It seems very difficult to carry on living even the routine living human beings are equipped to live. The mind simply tells us self-talks that discourage and depress us further.
Today we read what Jesus says instead. All these words have come true. What Jesus has promised has happened. Those who believe in Jesus have experienced the abundant life through the power of the Holy Spirit He has given to His believers. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty – freedom from bondages, oppressions, depressions, infirmities, and all hindrances that block us from taking and living the abundant, super-sufficient life that Jesus has promised.
John 10
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 7
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing[g] in Him would receive; for the Holy[h] Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 4
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Luke 11
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
2 Corinthians 3:14-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2024 not abandoned: a new spiritual journey

How may we hear God and understand Him more accurately? Last night while praying my heart purposed to start afresh the unfinished journey ov...