It’s All About Love
When I wrote my last blog post, I didn’t get to what’s most important of all. It’s not just the fact that we will give an account of our lives or that it will be an exacting account, but that it is all about love.
Feel the Pain – or the Joy
I’ve been listening to and reading about hundreds of people’s near-death experiences, and just as they learn lessons through their experiences, I am too. Many of them tell about how they have a life review, where the Lord questions them about the highlights of their lives and they get to see and feel, good or bad, the impact they had on others. Concerning how we treat or mistreat others, they say we get to feel, good or bad, everything the other person felt. For instance, one person saw Hilter is in Hell being repeatedly cooked alive, feeling all of the pain, suffering, and death that he inflicted on millions of people. According to Wikipedia, it was “around 6 million Jews.” Just imagine feeling everything 6 million people felt being torture and murdered, including the pain that caused their loved ones and God who loves us all so deeply.
Your Life Review – What to Expect
As I’d pointed out yesterday, I listened to Barbara Ireland’s testimony, and unlike any of the others I heard, she went into detail about how “this male voice” [Jesus] asked her specifically what she was thinking when she said, thought, or even gestured, a certain way.
She said, “A movie [of my life] started playing in my head that was crystal clear. Not like a memory that’s a little bit foggy. It had sounds and I could feel all the emotions that I had. … The movie is playing and then it freeze-frames and this voice appears in my head. Not my normal internal voice. Not a voice from outside. This calm, neutral kind of male voice, and it said, what were you thinking at that moment? And I thought I told them what I was thinking. And the movie went off the screen. A new movie took its place of something that had happened maybe a month earlier. It freeze-framed again. I was asked [the voice asked me], what were you thinking? The next one that came up, it went freeze-frame. They [the voice] said, what did that gesture mean when you turned your head down at that moment? Another one was, what did it mean when you raised your eyebrow at that moment? Each of these went over and over for four hours. Four hours of this…life review.”
My Takeaways
For me, there were several takeaways. I mentioned the first two in my last blog post and will recap them here…
First, these life reviews confirm numerous scriptures that say everyone, even the animals, will give account to God. “…for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being,” Genesis 9:5.
Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Romans 14:12
…each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Peter 4:5
But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Proverbs 5:21
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.
Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
Second, this specific testimony confirms how exacting the account will be. Jesus said, “But I tell you that everyone will give an account on the day of judgment for *every careless word* they have spoken,” Matthew 12:36. While we might think He’s simply saying He will hold us accountable for just our “careless” words, He’s really saying that if He cares about the “careless” words we speak, He cares about everything we think, say, and do. Keep in mind that our thoughts, and even our gestures, are ways we communicate to ourselves and others.
Third, and the one I didn’t discuss yesterday, is that every near-death experience seems to have the same lesson — that loving others and yourself is what’s most important. Barbara’s testimony includes a discussion she had with “the voice” [Jesus] that demonstrates this well. In discussing a return to her life on earth, she had asked, “What about all my projects that are half done? I have albums ready to come out. What about my books and all these projects? The voice said, ‘Oh Barbara, those projects, they aren’t that important.’ I was like, ‘Really?’ It was like, ‘No, what’s really important are your relationships. Now if your projects open a relationship up between you and another person or them and another person or them with themselves or you with yourself, then yeah they are important, but in general, that’s not what counts.’ What did count according to our conversation [her conversation with this voice] was how we show up in the world, how open are our hearts, how we treat other people. Do we judge them or are we open to them? How do we treat ourselves? Can we forgive ourselves for things? Can we love ourselves despite all these worthless loops that we might have going on in our heads? I thought okay. It [the voice] said, ‘When you go back, if you choose to go back, you need to do four different things or see four different people, and you need to tell them how much you love them.’ It’s not like, ‘Hey man, I love you!’ It’s not one of those, right? It’s like, this is why I love you. These are the qualities about you that I love. This is the impact you made on my life. There was another person I needed to make amends to. Even if we think they are 90% wrong in a situation, we are responsible for that 10%.”
What is Most Important
One thing that stands out for me is that as I hear these testimonies, they all get a second chance to fulfill their life purpose and that is to learn what love is and to learn how to love, and as we consider these testimonies, along with what the Bible tells us (it says the same thing), we have a chance to begin reviewing our lives in the here and now to see where we stand and we can begin to make any needed adjustments.
Life Review = Life Changing
Think About What You’re Thinking About
This testimony of a near-death experience is quite telling. Barbara Ireland pointed out how “this voice” [the Lord] stepped her through a life review, questioning her about how she was in various parts of her life. She said, “A movie [of my life] started playing in my head that was crystal clear. Not like a memory that’s a little bit foggy. It had sounds and I could feel all the emotions that I had. … The movie is playing and then it freeze-frames and this voice appears in my head. Not my normal internal voice. Not a voice from outside. This calm, neutral kind of male voice, and it said, what were you thinking at that moment? And I thought, I told them what I was thinking. And the movie went off the screen. A new movie took its place of something that had happened maybe a month earlier. It freeze-framed again. I was asked [the voice asked me], what were you thinking? The next one that came up, it went freeze-frame. They [the voice] said, what did that gesture mean when you turned your head down at that moment? Another one was, what did it mean when you raised your eyebrow at that moment? Each of these went over and over for four hours. Four hours of this…life review.”
As part of my own personal research, I have listened to and read hundreds of testimonies of near-death experiences now, and many of them say they went through a life review but this is the first time I’ve heard anyone outline it so specifically. What she describes affirms a number of scriptures that say we will give an account of our lives, and not only that, but it will be a very exacting account. Jesus testified to this when He said, “But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken,” Matthew 12:36. In other words, we will give an account for even our thoughts and gestures since they are words we “speak” even if we don’t verbalize them.
Genesis 9:5 tells us that every creature will give an account. “…for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.”
Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Romans 14:12
…each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Peter 4:5
But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Proverbs 5:21
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.
Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
If It Feels Good
As if thinking about how the Lord will call us to account for every negative thought is not enough, Barbara goes on to point out something I hadn’t thought of before. She says, “I delved into all the research I could find about thought and negative thought … about how we become addicted to the chemicals of negative emotions that we think we don’t want but our cells are like baby birds, going, I want shame and anger and guilt, so we keep feeding it.” She’s pointing out that there’s a literal chemical reaction in our bodies that takes place when we think negative thoughts, and that like taking drugs to help us feel better, we often unknowingly want those chemicals.
Stay on the “Straight and Narrow”
A little later, she explains how repetitively thinking negatively creates neural pathways in our brains and like walking down a beaten path that makes it easier to travel that way again and again, we have to go a new direction and create new pathways if we want something better.
All of this reminds me that if I want a good life or want to accomplish anything good in life, I have to start thinking better, focusing on what is good and positive. Hebrews 12:2 says it this way, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Let us follow Him and His example. Was He a negative person? Can we think like Him? “We have the mind of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 2:16), or according to this scripture, we’re supposed to.
I highly recommend you watch the YouTube video and listen for what the Lord might say to you through it.
Praying for Freedom from Ill Health
Every disease and sickness…
Whatever you’re suffering with or from, Jesus paid the price for you to be free. He was tortured and died a painful death to free you from all sin, sickness, and disease. It’s His free gift to you. All you have to do is believe and receive. Jesus Himself said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11
In my own journal, I went through some tough battles. God was faithful. I also learned many different approaches to healing. One of them was to simply make a list of the conditions you’re dealing with, then lay your hand on it, declare you are healed and command all the issues listed to simply leave. “Just go now!”
A similar approach is to lay your hand on a list of known issues, whether you have them or not and do the same as I just said. You can simply lay your hand on the links below and pray, “In the name of Jesus, I address every issue listed on these pages. I declare, Jesus healed me, so I am free. I command every one of these issues to go and never come back! Go now, in the name of Jesus! Thank You Father for healing me and setting me free! I am healed!”
One of the keys is, you must mean it. You can’t say it halfheartedly or as if casting a magical spell, just saying the right words. If you can’t pray it in faith, pray for God to help you believe. You can also start by renouncing fear, doubt, and unbelief, and commanding them to go. “In the name of Jesus, I renounce fear, doubt, and unbelief, and command you all to go now! I am full of faith and I shall receive all that’s mine in Christ!”
Another key is, be firm. Pretend you are commanding your dog. If the devil was bold enough to think he could conquer God, what makes you think he would just bow at your command without meaning it and being firm? And yes, all sin, sickness, and disease is a work of the devil and is all subject to the name of Jesus. Philippians 2:10-11 says, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List
Illnesses and conditions A to Z
Infectious Diseases – A to Z List
Diseases, Conditions, and Tests
Diseases & Conditions A-Z Index
Disease and Disorder List
God’s Abundance
Can We Talk with Angels?
INTRODUCTION
The Bible has a lot to say about angels. It has many examples. However, this is still quite a controversial topic, especially with non-Christians now getting in on the subject of angels.
But let’s discuss what one believer has said about talking with angels. They said, “Leviticus 19:31 (NIV) says, ‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.’ It clearly warns us not to talk to spirits and angels are spirits.”
This sounds good on the surface but let’s study out this topic to see if Leviticus 19:31 applies to the holy angel of God or not.
TO SPEAK OR NOT TO SPEAK, THAT‘S THE QUESTION
While we have Leviticus 19:31 warning us not to talk to mediums or spiritists, we also have Hebrews 13:2 warning us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
So in one instance, we are warned not to speak with spirit beings and in another, we told to actually show hospitality to them. So which is it? Is the Bible contradicting itself? We know that the Bible does not contradict itself but each situation is always determined by the context so let’s examine the contexts.
WHAT‘S THE CONTEXT?
To insure we understand the context, let’s define some of the terms…
What is a medium? It is one who seeks to communicate with the dead.
What is a spiritist? It is one who believes in Spiritism, which is the belief that the dead communicate with the living.
So both a medium and a spiritist seek to communicate with the dead. But what is an angel? Are angels the spirits of dead people? The official definition of an angel is…
1) one of a class of spiritual beings; a celestial attendant of God. In medieval angelology, angels constituted the lowest of the nine celestial orders (seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominations or dominions, virtues, powers, principalities or princedoms, archangels, and angels). 2) a conventional representation of such a being, in human form, with wings, usually in white robes. 3) a messenger, especially of God.
None of this describes a spirit of the dead. In short, an angel is a spirit being that was created by God as a representative of God, usually one or more characteristics of God. The fallen angels are those that rebelled against God’s order and no longer wished to represent God but only themselves.
Moving on…
What does hospitality mean? It means “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.” Synonyms are: friendliness, hospitableness, warm reception, welcome, helpfulness, neighborliness, warmth, kindness, congeniality, geniality, cordiality, courtesy, amenability, generosity, entertainment, catering, food.
What does entertain mean? It means “provide (someone) with amusement or enjoyment, to please or delight in” or “give attention or consideration to (an idea, suggestion, or feeling).”
So to show a person who might be an angel in disguise hospitality literally means to welcome them warmly, as a friend. The scripture does not tell us to avoid communicating with them but instead to invite them in and treat them well, as a friend. In so doing, we “entertain” them. That is, we find pleasure in them and give attention to them – and likewise, they find pleasure in us and give attention to us.
As you see the context of these scriptures, is Leviticus really telling us that we cannot communicate with God’s angels? Apparently not! To be explicit, it is warning against seeking to speak with the dead.
We might be able to extrapolate that this would include fallen angels, especially as they often pretend to be the dead, but it does not say that. In fact, 1 John 4:1 warns us, “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” How can you “test the spirit” if you are not allowed to communicate with it? Even more, if you are not allowed to communicate with spirits at all, why would you need to test it? You could simply obey the Bible and ignore it!
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT
In 1 Samuel 28, we find King Saul communicating with a medium. Starting at verse 9, the medium says, “Are you trying to get me killed? You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me? … Whose spirit do you want me to call up?” “Call up Samuel,” Saul replied.
So, were they communicating with an angel of the Lord or the spirit of a dead person? Maybe it was a fallen angel pretending to be Samuel, but it doesn’t tell us that, so we have to assume maybe it was literally the spirit of Samuel. Regardless who it was, it was not an angel of the Lord!
The truth is, Leviticus 19:31 can’t mean that we can’t talk to angels because if you will simply go back and read every story in the Bible, you will see that in almost every one of them someone is communicating with the angels of the Lord…
In Genesis 16, “The angel of the LORD found Hagar.” Hagar communicated with an angel twice – once in verse 7 and once in verse 13.
In Genesis 18, Abraham is greeted by “three men” [angels] and they not only speak, but he feeds them a meal.
In Genesis 19, two angels went to Sodom to warn Lot and his family to leave. Lot communicated with the angels.
In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with an angel and communicated with him saying, “I will not let go until you bless me.”
In Exodus 3, Moses encounters a burning bush and it explicitly says, “the angel
of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush,” and “God called to him from within the bush.” Moses is literally talking to a bush. lol But God spoke through the angel in the bush to Moses. Moses communicated with an angel of the Lord.
In Judges 6, the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon communicated with an angel.
In Judges 13, Manoah’s wife communicated with an angel.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah doesn’t actually communicate with the angel, but it does interact with him multiple times.
In 2 Chronicles 32, the Lord sent an angel to destroy a whole army. No communication here, but there was an encounter.
In Daniel 9, Daniel encounters Gabriel, an angel of the Lord. Verse 22 explicitly says, “He talked with me.”
In Ezekiel, Ezekiel meets angels several times and gives lots of descriptions of them.
Keep in mind that all these people and more are found in Old Testament and the Levitical law is from the Old Testament too, yet all of these people and more communicated with the angels of God.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT
As you will see from the New Testament, nothing changed. People still communicated with angels showing that is still valid for today. In fact, there are more encounters with angels in the New Testament than the Old.
In Luke 1, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias and communicated with him that he should name his son John.
In Luke 1, angel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary communicate with one another. Gabriel told her about Jesus.
In Matthew 1, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to confirm that Mary will bring forth a son and call his name Jesus, and in Matthew 2, an angel appeared to him in a dream to warn him to flee to Egypt. In this example, we see God using dreams to communicate with us.
In Luke 2, the angel of the Lord appeared to country shepherds to announce the birth of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ
In Matthew 27, Mary Magdalene and other Mary encountered an angel who explained to them what happened to Jesus.
In Acts 1, two angels declare to the disciples that Jesus will return to the earth in the same way they saw him leave.
In Acts 5, the Sadducees and high priest put the Apostles in prison, but an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and communicated with them that they needed to preach the Gospel.
In Acts 10, Cornelius communicated with an angel that “told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
In Acts 12, Peter is put in prison, but an angel frees him and leads him out. They communicate.
In Acts 27, an angel communicated with Paul that they’d be safe on the ship he was on.
If you look closely at the Book of Revelations, you will see that the entire book was dictated to John by an angel. Revelation 19:10 says… Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” So if that Levitical Law applies to talking to angels, maybe we should not read the book of Revelations since we would be reading what a spirit communicating to him. This would actually apply to other scriptures as well too because other scripture was given by angels. In fact, Acts 7:53 tells us that we “received the law that was given through angels…” The “law” came through angels. Someone had communicate with the angels to receive the law.
Hebrews 2:2 says, “Since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment…” Communicating with angels requires us to listen to them, but if we aren’t allowed to listen to them (the point of contacting the dead is to hear from them), then this scripture is meaningless to us and there is no “binding.”
ADDITIONAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Mediums and spiritists seek to talk to the dead and although Leviticus warns us not to do this, in Matthew 17, Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah while transfigured on the mountain. He appeared to be disobeying Leviticus but we know that He was without sin having obeyed all the Laws perfectly.
What about the worship of angels? Colossians 2:18 warns, “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.” What qualifies as “the worship of angels”? Merely communicating with them or even interacting with them would not qualify. If it did, then God is worshipping angels because He is surrounded by angels, and communicates and interacts with angels. Worship would be putting them in a position over God or literally worshipping them, like worshipping demons or fallen angels.
Hebrews 1:14 says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” And one of the ways — a major way they minister — is through communicating with us. It is the number one thing you see throughout scripture. And the truth is, we hear them more often than we know. That inner voice telling us some good thing to do is often them. Hebrews 13:2 even tells us that we “entertain (see, hear and interact with) angels without knowing it.” If you can entertain them without knowing you are, then, by being attentive, you can entertain them knowing you are.
SUMMING IT UP
It’s clear from scripture that it is normal for people and angels to communicate with one another and it does not break the Levitical Law. So the question is not, can we but should we and if we do, how do we do so safely, since 2 Corinthians 11:14 warns us that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light”?
TEST THE SPIRITS
If we encounter a spirit, any spirit, even one that claims to be a holy spirit, we must obey 1 John 4:1 to “test the spirits to see if they are of God or not.” This, of course, has proven challenging at times because things can be so deceptive. Here are some thing you can do…
What the Lord showed me personally is…
First, does the spirit acknowledge Jesus? 1 John 4:1-3 By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is already in the world at this time.
Second, what is the fruit? How does this spirit “manifest”? Does the spirit manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control — or something other than this? In Matthew 7:16, Jesus said, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
Love is the most important of all. In 1 Corinthians 13, we read that without love we are nothing. If the spirit is anything but loving, you can be sure it is not of God. 1 John 4:20 declares, “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” Likewise, if they are touting darkness, they are not of God. 1 John 1:6 says, “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” 1 John 2:4 says, “If anyone says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
The fallen angels can fake it. For example, I’ve heard stories of people who encountered angels and they felt nothing but peace and unconditional love. Later, they discovered it was demonic. So you need to keep testing it until you are sure.
Third, what are it’s “works”? How does their contact with you affect them? In John 6:29, Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Does the spirit point you to Jesus? Of God’s Holy Spirit, Jesus said, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me. (John 15:26) He also said, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26) Seeing how the Holy Spirit works, does the spirit communicating with you testify of Jesus and what Jesus has said, or himself or of something else? Does the spirit encourage your faith in Christ or other things?
Forth, you can flatly ask it or even command it to reveal it’s name to you? In Luke 8:30 and Mark 5:9, Jesus [flatly] asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. You can tell sometimes by the name who the spirit is, because in the spirit realm, names reflect the nature of the person. In Revelation 2:17, Jesus even says, “I will give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” You will receive a name that reflect how God sees you.
In short, does the spirit agree that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, was crucified to death on a cross, was buried and rose back to life on the third day, and that Jesus is the Savior of mankind? Does the spirit confess “Jesus is Lord”, their Lord, and not just the Lord? Do they demonstrate how Jesus is their Lord? Does the spirit bear fruit in keeping with a holy spirit of God or is it dark, mean, ugly, etc? Does the spirit encourage your faith and build you up, or does the spirit detract from your faith or even try to veer you away from it? Does their name reflect something good or evil?
In my own experience, I once met an angel who claimed to be a spirit of revelation. His name is Simon which happens to mean “he has heard.” From Σιμων (Simon), the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name שִׁמְעוֹן (Shim’on) which meant “he has heard”.
MORE ON TESTING THE SPIRITS
How do we test spirits?
http://www.answers2prayer.org/bible_questions/Answers/testing/test.html
From the “Handbook of Healing” by Charles and Francis Hunter…
http://gloryboundministries.com/wordpress/?p=351
Look into the person’s eyes and command the spirit to manifest. The pupils will dilate if the spirit is there. Matthew 6:22 says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.”
Command the spirit to leave and ask the person if they can feel internally the movement of the spirit.
Command it to leave and watch for a manifestation.
From Charity Kayembe, these are factors to consider…
http://www.cwgministries.org/blogs/charity-kayembe
– Are you a born-again Spirit-filled Christian?
– Are you reading her Bible regularly and regularly fellowshipping with other Believers?
– Are you praying to God every day and focused on your relationship with Him?
– Do you consider yourself a strong Christian?
– Do your angels remind you of Scriptures and explain things from the Bible to you?
– Do your angels give Holy Spirit credit for empowering any miracles, healings, etc?
– Do your angels direct you to Jesus and talk about Father God regularly?
– Is Jesus a big part of their ministry to you or is your relationship with them all about them and you?
– Do your angels glorify and honor God and refocus you on Jesus?
All scriptures NIV unless otherwise noted.
You can download a copy of this from my Docs.com site at: https://doc.co/VTZ5x2/7SB4uQ
“A Prayer Of Thanks For Amazing Grace”
Father, Your abundant grace is poured out on humankind like showers of blessings, both for believer and unbeliever alike. Yet it is only as we appropriate Your saving grace that we turn away from evil and walk in the ways of righteousness. Many leaders and rulers have come and gone, but You, Father, are the eternal One whose kingdom knows no end. We humble ourselves in the light of Your majesty as we bring honor to Your holy name and live as a people who are eager to do what is good. Amen.
This Daily Prayer is from this Daily Encouragement message.
Ask and You Shall Receive
What would you? Jen, the young lady I ride to work, leaves me in the truck each morning while she goes in to get her coffee and today, a man walked over and gave me his sad story and then asked for money. He said, “Can you spare some coins?”
I felt he was lying but thought about what Jesus said and example my son Joshua sets with his giving. I thought, “I should give him something.” [These little promptings, “I should…” or “shouldn’t…”, are often the Holy Spirit or His angels.] I searched my heart, asking the Lord what I should give. At first, I thought I should give him everything in my wallet. Then I felt led to give him $2.
Whether he was lying or not, that was not my business. That was between him and God. My business was to obey the Lord who was prompting me to give and who taught us, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42
It felt good to obey even though I felt this guy was lying. And although I wanted to give more, I felt led to give only $2, which I believe was meant to take away any pride I could boast in. “Look what I did! I gave all my money to him.”
As I reflected on what happened, I see how the Spirit shows us ourselves. In that moment, I had to decide, will I obey the Lord or will I do what seem best? Will I go by what God says is best or go by how I felt?” There was this wrestling in me over what I should do. I even thought, “If I give him all my money, I won’t have money for Cokes this week.” See? I was thinking about myself, my possible loss. I was thinking in terms of lack and not provision, since God always gives back to the giver. There is no way for me to be in lack, except I create that I selfishly hold on to what I already have (Proverbs 11:24).
As I told Jen, every time you give to someone else, you are actually giving to yourself because that is how God designed life to work. Jesus taught…
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38 In other words, whatever you give, even if you give nothing, comes back to you multiplied.
“Whoever has [a giving heart and gives] will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have [a giving heart and withhold what he has], even what he has will be taken from him.” Matthew 13:12
One other point that crossed my mind was the fact that Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” Despite how I felt, this guy could have been an angel sent to test my obedience to Christ and/or show me what was in my own heart. This is what God is always after — our hearts — not our possessions. He is most interested in our character, that we become like Him.
In this case, would I give in to my own lack of faith, selfishness, greed and belief in lack e.g. “I won’t have money for myself to…” or would I obey the Lord and demonstrate trust, faith, selflessness and belief in God’s unlimited supply e.g. if I give this away, God will give it back multiplied?
I feel good about the decision I made today but this is only one of many as this scenario is actually playing out continually with every decision we make and every interaction we have with others.
Once Saved Always Saved
I really hate that there is so much misunderstanding around the doctrine of “once saved always saved.” Let me start by saying unequivocally that I believe “once saved always saved” is correct. However, that means, if you are *truly* saved, your life will reflect this and you won’t be just living wildly or vicariously, just doing whatever you want to do. As Jesus said in Matthew 3:8 “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”
To me, the Bible is really clear on this issue and if anyone disagrees, it simply means that they do not understand the Bible actually teaches on this. So, again, the problem is not that the doctrine is incorrect but that people misunderstanding what the Bible teaches about this. That is true for both sides of this, for those for it and for those against it.
Both sides who misunderstand this doctrine think that it means that one can say they believe in Christ and then just do whatever they want, that it’s all grace. That is not what this doctrine means at all. It means that if you are truly saved then you are saved once and for all and cannot be unsaved again, and that your life will reflect that you are truly saved. If your life does not reflect a change, then either you may not truly be saved or you may be truly deceived or even demonized.
Here’s what the Bible teaches about this…
1 Corinthians 1:8 says, “God will keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Do you see that? God will keep you firm to the end. So you can’t just suddenly become unsaved.
Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Do you see that again? Again, what God started, He WILL finish. He would not invest Himself in you and then just let you go.
John 10:29 says, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” Do you see that? *No one* — not a person or devil — can snatch a person out of God’s hands. Once you come to Him, He holds on to you tightly. In fact, you are someone, can you snatch yourself out of His hand? Only if you were never in it in the first place.
Even more, Jesus himself said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again [that is, born from above] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Think about that for a second! Think clearly and think logically! What does it mean to be “born”? It means new life. It means conception.
Before one can be born, one has to be conceived. Before one can be conceived, a union has to occur — a “seed” plants an egg or the ground and the moment it does, new life is conceived. What does this have to do with always being saved? Well, if being saved is the same as being “born again,” then it means that once you have conceived this new life, you can’t just undo it.
When the seed enters the egg or ground, it changes into a new life and the Bible says that being born again is the same process. You can’t just take that seed out now because it is no longer a seed but a new creation. Likewise, once God’s Seed, Christ (Galatians 3:16), enters you, you cannot just take that Him out because now you are a new creation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
So do you see that? A new creation! The old is gone! The new has come! If the old is gone and there is a new creation, there is no going back to what was, that is, unless that person was never truly saved in the first place. In fact, Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “You were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him *with a seal*, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit *guaranteeing* our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of His glory.”
Do you see that!? Do you see it! True believers are “marked,” and “sealed,” and given a “deposit” of God in them that “guarantees” their inheritance. God’s salvation comes with a guarantee, that if you are truly saved, you are saved once and for all.
Again, think about this logically… If one can be unsaved after claiming salvation, does God take His Seed and Spirit out of that person when they are unsaved again, and then put it back in again when they are saved again, and then take it back out again when they are unsaved again, and then put it back again when they are saved again. NO! NO! NO! It does not work that way!
You can see for yourself what the Bible clearly says…
Hebrews 6:4-6 (KJV) says, “For it is *impossible* for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. * If* they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
This is the most compelling verse of scripture in the Bible for once saved always saved. Do you see what this scripture literally and clearly says? It flatly says that it is “impossible” for those who have been saved to be saved again “if” they fall away. It says, it is impossible, impossible, impossible!
The point here is that if you are truly saved, you won’t and can’t simply fall away because God keeps that from happening. It goes on to say that “if” you could fall away, it is impossible for you to come back and be saved again.
What this means is, either you are truly saved and kept by God, or you are not. If you claim to be saved but your life does not reflect a change of heart, if you think you can just go on sinning and living however you want to, then you are likely not truly saved in the first place. That’s the real issue! Are you truly saved in the first place!? If you are, then you will know it for sure because you will want what God wants and not just be living however you want to live.
So you can believe what you want, but to me the Bible is clear that one cannot go back and forth, that it’s *impossible* to fall away and then come back. Either you truly are “born again” as a “new creation” or you are not. Either you received the Seed, Christ, into your heart and that Seed is changing you into a new creation or that not. Which is it?
Corinthians 2:14 says, “The person without the Spirit [the one who did not receive Christ] does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness…” If the things of God are foolishness to you, then you are likely not saved, period! If you love what God loves and want what God wants, then you are likely saved because that only comes by the Spirit of God in you.
Again, as Jesus said in Matthew 3:8 “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.” If you are “proving” you are saved by the way you live, then you are saved once and for all. There is no going back! But if you are not “proving” you are saved by the way you live, then maybe you were never really truly saved in the first place.
Know it! See it! Feel it!
Today’s word from the Lord is “Know it! See it! Feel it! You must get to that place where you know, that place where there is no doubt.”
The Bible is filled with this…
In Mark 11:24, Jesus says, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Notice the terminology? Jesus tells us to be so sure in our belief that we are to believe we have already received it.
James 1:5-7 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom [or *fill in the blank*], you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you MUST BELIEVE and not DOUBT, because the one who doubts … should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” This scripture is clear. There is no room for doubt with God. Either God is real, or He is not. Either God is true to His word, or He is not.
In Mark 11:23-25, Jesus says, “If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and DOES NOT DOUBT in his heart but BELIEVES that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”
2 Corinthians 1:20 says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ [so be it] is spoken by us to the glory of God.” Whatever God promised to do, He will do; God says yes to it.
Romans 14:5 says, “Each person should be FULLY CONVINCED in their own mind.” You must be fully convinced; you must have a sincere conviction.
Romans 14:23 says, “But whoever has DOUBTS is condemned if they eat [if they partake in something], because their eating [what they partake in] is not from FAITH; and everything that does not come from FAITH is sin.” EVERYTHING is by faith! EVERYTHING!
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being SURE of what we hope for and CERTAIN of what we do not see [manifested yet].” The key words here are sure and certain.
Isaiah 7:9 says, “If you do not stand FIRM in your FAITH you won’t stand at all.”
Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without FAITH it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Faith pleases God. Doubt, fear, unbelief do not.
The bottom line…
Get to that place where you are 100% sure of God and His Word, and about whatever convictions you hold. Let nothing move you from your conviction except God. When you pray, God answers.
Know it! Know you have what you prayed or ask for. Thank God you have it. Thank Him as if you do.
See it! Use your imagination to see the answer. Imagine what it is like to have what you asked for. Imagine what the healing looks like, what having the good relationship looks like, what having the finances looks like. Ask God to give you a picture if needed.
Feel it! Actually try to feel what it might feel like to have what you asked for. Feel healed! Feel the love of a good relationship! Feel the need met!
Hang onto that knowing, seeing and feeling until it manifests. Keep spending time thanking God you have it, seeing yourself have it and feeling what it feels like to have it.
Checks are in the Mail
Prophetic Word: “Checks Are in the Mail!”
On May 4, per God’s instruction, I began to declare and decree, “The checks are in the mail.” I was shocked to discover that Doug Addison, a well known prophet, gave the SAME EXACT word on the SAME EXACT day, literally. So I have continued to declare and decree it — that we’d see literal checks coming in the mail and finances coming from all avenues. I have the “word” posted on my refrigerator along the other word, “restore all in 2015”, and seeing them there, I declared them again today.
We already received one check in the mail, actually a letter telling us to expect it — a fair amount too. This morning, we received a second one — an actual check this time. Praise the Lord!
In this case, Missy (my wife) and I were discussing finances just this morning. We didn’t have enough money to buy some things we need this week, so we prayed. I declared that I expected to see literal checks in the mail as God promised and WHEN He does, we’d give a tithe off that money. So, I guess God gets His tithe and we get to get what we need. LOL Praise the Lord! And this, I declare and decree, is just the beginning! Thank you Father!
Praise God! He is a good God! Claim this for yourself! It is a word for the Body of Christ. Just begin to declare and decree, “The checks are in the mail,” and believe it! Expect to see God move bountifully on your behalf!
Here’s the excerpt I have on my refrigerator…
By Doug Addison:
March 4, 2015
The checks of repayment are in the mail.
This is the start of the seven-year cycle that is being broken from 2008.
God is repaying us for losses we have suffered over the past seven years.
Watch for repayment to come in many forms.
Not just money but in lots of different and creative ways such as: healing, favor, spiritual gifts and restoration of relationships. Prayers you have been praying for a while are going to be answered. Be open to the answers looking different than you once expected.
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten … ” Joel 2:25 NIV
Make a list of things that have been stolen or never came about since 2008.
This is a breakthrough year for us — those who have suffered losses over the past seven years.
Expect to see radical turnaround and changes.
Watch for sudden good breaks. Your case is being heard in Heaven.
You are going to move forward into this new season and the voice of the accuser has been silenced. This was a result of people crying out against those who are up for promotion.
This is a season of promotion. Don’t believe the lies or accusations of the enemy. Watch as Jesus steps up for you. But you will need to receive this by faith and get ready to move forward.
Shaking happening right now. We are going to see a lot of movement and shifting. This shaking is designed by God to get us back on track with our callings.
The shaking happening now is not judgment but it is going to open up the tombs that have held callings, gifts and anointings from the past.
Going to see deep revelation come and deeper intimacy. People who were thought to not be fit to encounter God are going to have radical experiences!
Focus on the promotions you are receiving and ask God to reveal the new assignments available to you now.
For God's Glory 