NEITHER FEARFUL NOR SELF-SUFFICIENT PART I

I JOHN 4:18 – THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR: BECAUSE FEAR HATH TORMENT. HE THAT FEARETH IS NOT PERFECT IN LOVE.

FEAR MEANS DREAD, AND TORMENT MEANS TO SUFFER UNBAREABLE PAIN OR PUNISHMENT.

FEAR IS A TORMENT OF THE MIND. GOD REVEALED TO ME THAT FEAR AND WORRY ARE THE WORST THINGS WITH WHICH HIS MINISTERS HAVE TO DEAL. IT CAN PARALIZE. THIS COULD BE EMOTIONALLY OR PHYSICALLY. BOTH CAN BRING ON MANY DISEASES.

THE RELATIONSHIP OF FEAR AND DISEASE ARE PHENOMINAL.

WHAT WE CALL STAGE FRIEGHT, IS JUST AS REVELANT IN MINISTERS AS IT HAS EVER BEEN IN ANY PUBLIC SPEAKER.

ONE OF THE GREATEST RADIO VOICES OF THE PAST, C.M. WARD, WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS.  HE SAID, MANY TIMES BRFORE HE WAS TO SPEAK, HE WOULD SIT IN THE WAITING AREA, AND ASK GOD TO RAPTURE OUT THE CHURCH RIGHT THEN, SO HE WOULDN’T HAVE TO SPEAK.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON OF ALL THE FRIGHTS  IN THE LIFE OF A MINISTER; AND EVEN IN BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.

BUT I FEEL THE MOST DAMAGING KIND OF FEAR IS THE FEAR OF FAILURE. TO FAIL, MEANS TO BE WANTING. THOSE WITH ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY, GET INTO FEAR.    MOSTLY, BECAUSE THEY GET THEIR MINDS OFF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS; AND ON THEIR WEAKNESS.

PSALM 89:33,34 – NEVERTHELESS MY LOVINGKINDNESS WILL I NOT UTTERLY TAKE FROM HIM, NOR SUFFER MY FAITHFULNESS TO FAIL.

      MY COVENANT WILL I NOT BREAK, NOR ALTER THE THING THAT IS GONE OUT OF MY LIPS.

WHOM GOD CALLS, HE EQUIPS!! HE GIVES US ALL THE TOOLS WE NEEP TO PERFORM IN OUR CALLING.

IF WE COULD ONLY UNDERSTAND —NO!, WE CAN’T DO IT,  BUT GOD THROUGH US CAN!

I USED TO SPEAK AT OTHER CHURCHES ON OCCASIONS. BUT LATER ON, I BEGAN TO FEEL THE STRESS OF MINISTRY, AND SAID TO MYSELF, “I’LL JUST SUPPORT MY HUSBAND IN HIS CALLING, AND LET HIM DO THE PREACHING.” I STILL MINISTERED TO PEOPLE AND TAUGHT CLASSES AND BIBLE STUDY, BUT WHEN IT CAME TO WHAT I CALLED ‘MINISTERING OUT, I WOULD NOT ACCEPT IT, AND LEFT IT TO MY HUSBAND.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED? ALL THE DOORS CLOSED FOR ME.

I WAS WAS LOOKING AT MY ABILITY, NOT WHAT GOD COULD DO THROUGH ME. FEAR OF FAILURE HAD SET-IN. I WOULD BE ANOINTED AT ONE SERVICE, AND WOULD BE WORRIED THAT THE NEXT TIME I WOULDN’T BE, ESPECIALLY WHEN BEING TAKEN OUT OF MY “COMFORT-ZONE”. I WAS STILL DEPENDING ON MYSELF AND SOMEHOW I GOT MY EYES OFF THE COVENANT I  HAD WITH GOD.

DEUTERONOMY 31:6 – BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE, FEAR NOT, NOR BE AFRAID OF THEM: FOR THE LORD THY GOD, HE IT IS THAT DOETH GOOD WITH THEE; HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.

LUKE 22:32 – I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE, THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT…

FEAR AND FAITH ARE OPPOSITE. I DIDN’T REALLY SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH WHAT I WAS DOING. I WAS STILL AS BUSY AS EVER.

I BEGAN SOME YEARS AGO TO JOURNAL. I WOULD WRITE DOWN MY PRAYERSTO GOD, AND HE BAGAN TO SPEAK TO ME. HE WOULD TELL ME HE WANTED TO TAKE ME TO A NEW LEVEL WITH HIM. I WAS TO DEPEND ON HIM. I REALIZED I HAD LET FEAR AND WORRY, AND MY DELIVERY, KEEP ME FORM DOING WHAT HE WANTED OF ME. I WAS SO ASHAMED AND REPENTANT.

HE STARTED WITH A RADIO PROGRAM, “WOMAN OF GOD,” THEN, WRITING AND PUBLISHING THE SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE, AND MINISTERING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE IN CHURCHES AND PRISONS.

I FOUND OUT, ALL I NEED TO DO IS PREPARE, AND TRUST HIM TO OPEN DOORS. HE GIVES ME THE MESSAGES. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SPEAK WHAT HE GIVES ME, AND MOVE WHEN HE MOVES. HIS MESSAGE FOR THE HOUR IS ALL HE REQUIRES ME TO SPEAK.

I PRAY, SEEK HIM, AND SOMETIMES FAST, AND HE SHOWS UP, AND THERE IS A DEMONSTRATION OF HIS POWER: FOR HE KNOWS THOSE WHO WILL HEAR, AND HE KNOWS HOW TO REACH EACH PERSON.

THERE IS ALSO A WARNING THAT COMES WITH THE MINISTRY THAT SHOULD BE COVERED, AND THAT IS SELF-SIFFICIENTCY. WHICH WE WILL DISCUSS IN PART II.

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GOD’S MIGHTY STRENGTH

PHILIPPIANS 4:13 – I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.

PAUL WAS SAYING I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH EVERYTHING CONTENT. SATISFIED WITH MY PRESENT CONDITION, BECAUSE OF MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. HE CAN CARRY ME THROUGH ANY HARD PLACE AND ALSO HE CAN CAUSE ME TO ENJOY  ABUNDANCE, OR TO BE IN NEED.

PAUL WAS CONTENT IN CHRIST REGARDLESS OF HIS CONDITION. PAUL KNEW HE HAD THE ABILITY AND THE STRENGTH TO FACE ANYTHING AND DO ANYTHING THROUGH CHRIST.

THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR LIVES GIVES US STRENGTH AND ABILITY FOR EVERY SITUTATION OF LIFE. THAT STRENGTH  AND ABILITY COMES FROM THE ANOINTING THAT ABIDES IN US THROUGH JESUS. WE CAN BE STRONG IN FAITH THAT COMES BY HIM.

THE GREEK WORD FOR STRENGHTENED IS USED IN OTHER SCRIPTURE. HE WORD STRONG; ALSO ENABLED, IS USED TO EXPLAIN THE WORKING OF GOD IN OUR LIFE.

THIS GREEK WORD FOR STRENGTH IS FOUND ONLY IN BIBLICIAL AND ECCLESIASTICAL GREEK, MEANING TO MAKE STRONG; VIGORUS; TO STRENGTHEN.

GOD IS EQUIPPING US WITH THE POWER NECESSARY FOR THE TASK SET BEFORE US.

WHATEVER THE PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHATEVER ABILITY WE NEED IN EVERYDAY LIVE, IN CHRIST, WE ARE EQUIPPED WITH HIS POWER AND STRENGTH.

AS A CHRISTIAN, STRENGTH LIVES IN US, BUT OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM ABIDING IN HIM. RELATIONSHIP, FRESH EVERDAY, DEVELOPES PASSION FOR GOD. WE BECOME STRONG IN FAITH AND POWER.

THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY WEAK. CHRIST ABIDES IN THEM, BUT THEY DON’T ABIDE IN HIM. THEY QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD IS NOT A PRIORITY WITH THEM.

TO ABIDE IN CHRIST IS TO LIVE IN AWARENESS OF HIS EVER ABIDING PRESENCE.

YOU MAY OR MAY NOT FEEL IT, BUT YOU WALK BY FAITH, PRAYING IN FAITH, STUDYING HIS WORD IN FAITH, WORSHIPPING IN FAITH.

IF YOU ARE FAILING IN THIS AREA, REPENT AND ASK THE LORD TO REFILL YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT AND DRAW YOU TO HIM. ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESS AND ASK HIM TO TOUCH YOUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH.

EPHESIANS 6:10 – FINALLY  MY BRETHREN BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.

HERE IS A COMMAND.  THE VERSES THAT FOLLOW ARE RECIPES FOR STRENGTH: PUT ON THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER AND THE FAITH OF GOD WILL CARRY YOU TO PURPOSE AND STOP THE ENEMY.

ABILITIES WILL COME AND DEVELOPE IN YOUR LIFE, GIFTS WILL SHOW UP THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW YOU HAD.

OUT OF WEAKNESS YOU WILL BE MADE STRONG.

HEBREWS 11:34 SAYS OUT OF WEAKNESS WAS MADE STRONG. 

OF COURSE THIS IS JUST PART OF THIS SCRIPTURE. GOD TOUCHES OUR WEAKNESS WITH HIS STRENGTH AND ENABLES US TO DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM, HE IS OUR STRENGTH, HE IS OUR ABILITIES, OUR FAITH COMES FROM HIM, HE GAVE US ALL A MEASURE OF FAITH. THAT FAITH CAN STAY SLEEPING INSIDE OF US ARE WE CAN STIRR IT UP AND IT WILL GROW. I CHOOSE TO USE MINE.

EVERYTHING GOD HAS PUT IN OUR HEART CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, THROUGH GOD’S MIGHTY POWER IF WE WILL OBEY HIM AND BELIEVE HIM. AMEN,  IN JESUS’ NAME.   

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THE KING POSSESSES ME

ROMANS 14;17      FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT MEAT AND DRINK; BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS THE POWER OF CHRIST RULING IN OUR HEART.

THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD IS INSIDE OF US, IN CHARACTER AND NATURE OF CHRIST.

WE POSSESS HIS NATURE AND HIS POWER.

HIS KINGDOM IS ALREADY HERE, BUT WILL COME TO THIS WHOLE EARTH AT CHRIST SECOND COMING TO THIS EARTH.

WE POSSESS POWER THROUGH SUBMISSION, WE SUBMIT TO OUR KING AND HE GIVES US AUTHORITY AND POWER THROUGH HIS NAME OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY.

HE GAVE US HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, THEREFORE WE WALK AND LIVE IN HOLINESS UNTO HIM.

HOW CAN WE SAY WE ARE IN HIS KINGDOM? WHEN WE LIVE LIKE THE WORLD.

RIGHTSTANDING WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST BRINGS HIS NATURE.

GRACE IS NOT A LICENSE TO WILFULLY SIN, GRACE IS A KINGDOM POWER THAT TOUCHES OUR WEAKNESS, AND GIVES US POWER OVER THE FLESH.

HIS STRENGTH TOUCHES OUR WEAKNESS THROUGH GRACE.

GRACE IS A KINGDOM POWER , THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST IN OUR CONDUCT.

1 JOHN 2:1-4    MY LITTLE CHILDREN, THESE THINGS WRITE I UNTO YOU, THAT YOU SIN NOT, AND IF ANY MAN SIN, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS:

AND HE IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS: AND NOT FOR OUR’S ONLY, BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

AND HEREBY WE DO KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

HE THAT SAITH, I KNOW HIM AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM.

BUT WHOSOEVER KEEPETH HIS WORD, IN HIM IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED: HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE ARE IN HIM.

HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH IN HIM OUGHT HIMSELF ALSO SO TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED.

WE COME TO JESUS AS WE ARE, BUT WE DON’T STAY AS WE ARE, WE SUBMIT TO HIS GRACE TO CHANGE US.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO KINGDOMS, LIGHT, DARKNESS, ONE EVIL, ONE GOOD. WE CAN’T ABIDE IN BOTH, WE MUST CHOOSE, THE KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUSNESS OR THE KINGDOM OF SATAN.

THE FRUIT AND CONDUCT OF THESE KINDOMS ARE COMPLETLY OPPOSITE.

OUR WILL, AND OUR CONDUCT DETERMINES WHICH ONE OF THIS KINDOMS WE REALLY BELONG TO.

IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH SOMETHING, DON’T GIVE UP ON YOURSELVE.

IF YOU ARE BY CHOSE LIVING IN THE WORLD AND CLAIMING TO BE A CHRISTIAN, AND YOU WILFULLY LIVE WITH THIS CONDUCT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER GRACE BUT DECEPTION.

      

 

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