The Exodus - Saved For His Glory

Have you ever had your back against the wall,  having no other choice but to deal with what is coming at you?  Most people are afraid of confrontation, they would rather ignore, or try to back away. We don't fess up easily, we play the blame game, finding excuses, trying to dodge the bullet.  We would rather pretend that our past hurts didn't happen than face them.

God guided Moses to lead the children of Israel the long route away towards the Promised Land for He knew that they would return to Egypt if they had opposition to face.  They were being set up for Pharaoh was coming back after them and because of the Red Sea they would have no other choice but to face their enemy.  It is one thing to be delivered from our enemy it is another to defeat our enemy. Our battle is not ours but the Lord's, He is our deliverer and He is the one that puts the enemy under our feet.  We need to confidently face opposition trusting that God is with us and will see us through.

Salvation is just the beginning, now we are to be shaped into the image of Jesus Christ, which is a lifetime process, called the renewing of the mind.  Our main battle is with our head, changing our worldview to heaven's view, seeing from above rather than beneath.  We cannot be fully delivered until our faith in God frees us from fear of the enemy.  So the children of Israel needed to not just leave Egypt but to see Pharaoh and his army drowned in the sea.  They needed a major shift in thinking before they could move forward to the Promised Land.  Until we believe we can change, the process can never begin.  A lot of us are living in defeat all because of our mentality.

Exodus 14:31 "When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him.  They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

The enemy is defeated when he no longer has a hold on us.  When all doors are closed, we have forgiven, and asked for forgiveness from all those who have wronged us and we have wronged ourselves.  We have nothing left to hide, no area of darkness, then the light of His glory can fill us to over flow.  Just like mined gold we are going through a process until we come out as gold.

Moses is a type of Christ, for he delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt, just as Jesus is the one who delivers us out of the world.  Moses led the children of Israel to places where they were tested just as the Holy Spirit does with us.  Our soul is like a field, for seeds to be planted and produce crops, all weeds must be removed from the soil.  So the children of Israel after rejoicing from being delivered from Pharaoh and his army were now led to Marah.

Marah - Bitterness

There is always a deeper reason for why we are complaining about something.  What triggers anger is what needs to be examined in order to find the root of bitterness and through surrender allow God our gardener to uproot it.  We blame others for our misfortunes due to past painful experiences, creating a wall of distrust, that makes trusting in God difficult to attain.  Until we get to the point of crying out for help, God our deliverer cannot heal.  

Many of us probably think that loving God is not a problem, it is loving people that is sometimes difficult.  But, to love God is to love His people.  If our past hurts from others holds us from obeying God's command to love others, then our love for Him runs short.  To be faithful to God is to be faithful to love people.

It was at Marah that God set the standard to test the children of Israel on their faithfulness.  It was upon their response that would determine if the same diseases that he sent to Egypt would affect them.  

How far will our love go?  If we have limitations we can just know tests will follow, and be repeated until we pass the test and are willing to share God's love with anyone at anytime.  This is what sets us apart from the world, God's love.  If we are not set apart from the world then the results of being separate from God fall on us as well.  Once we pass the test we are rewarded.  What held back God's promises are null and void, as times of refreshing come.  

Wilderness of Sin - Temptation

We may find cleaning a house hard, some things just need to be thrown away, but the memories attached to them make it difficult.  God is cleaning our house but it is not a solo job, He needs our cooperation, what we are not willing to let go of, He will not throw away.  

Have you ever had a friend pry into your business, asking you the questions you don't want to ask yourself?  Some of us have very few friends because of this, it may be the reason some don't get very involved in church.  Well, God is all about getting in our business, for when we committed our life to Him, we gave Him the right.  Friends are there to look out for us, to be hard on us when we need it, because they truly care.  God wants us free from our past, He wants us to fully enjoy Him, He does not want our house to remain dirty at all.

The children of Israel though they were slaves to sin enjoyed eating good food.  They didn't like the sacrifices they were having to make on this journey.  They forgot how miserable they had been and why they cried out to God in the first place.  It is amazing what people have done for temporary pleasure.  God is about preparing us for eternal reign with Him, yet we often can only think about our bellies.  If you want to find out how ugly the flesh is starve it for awhile.  God is trying to take us to a place where we are no longer slaves to sin, where temporary things are not what moves us.  Marah was about water, Sin was about food, God wants to be our main source for nourishment.  

The scriptures tell us that bodily exercise does good but it cannot compare to spiritual food.  Jesus said His food was to do the will of the Father.  When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness all things are added.  When we put God first everything else will follow.

As leaders we often get the blame, but as God told Moses the people are not complaining against you but Me.  We cannot take it personal, in the process things get ugly, it is necessary, but lessons will eventually be learned.   God gave the people want they wanted, He proved to them that He will provide.  

We need to see through the delusion, what was in our past cannot compare to what God has in our future.  We cannot expect to go further in the process if we are looking back questioning if we would rather be in the world.

In application: Let us repent for aborting the process, being unfaithful, and ask God to bring the fire, burning out bitterness and removing temptation, setting our eyes straight, and giving us a willingness to face whatever is necessary in order to move forward in being formed into His image. 

Administering Deliverance - Life Lessons from Moses pt. 2

Have you ever began to help someone and thought "what did I get myself into?" Helping people get delivered from the enemy is not for the lighthearted.  The enemy will not go down without a fight.  If we are going to help someone we must be willing to be in it for the long haul.  It is good to start off well but winning teams are those that can finish well.  We must count the cost before we begin something, it is dishonoring to make promises and not follow through on them.

Moses went before Pharaoh and demanded that he let the children of Israel go.  Pharaoh's response was, "who do you think you are," instead of granting Moses command he increased the labor upon the Jews to an impossible degree with severe punishment that followed if they didn't meet the quota.

Have you ever prayed and matters got worse?  The enemy does fight back, he doesn't back down, victory is ours, but it takes consistent faith through persistent prayer.  I've seen boxing matches that had to be fixed, for the winner was so clear, yet the decision was contrary.  We are in a fixed fight, all we have to do is make it to the end of 12 rounds and not bow out, and victory is ours.

The enemy will turn up the heat of difficulty, with the hope of discrediting us among our peers, where we become the blame target, that through discouragement we may drop out.  We must be trained in the art of spiritual warfare or we will not be able to stand.  We need to be able to handle adversity, keeping our eyes on God's promises, with the understanding that a long battle is sometimes necessary for the full effect of God's greatness to be seen.  We must realize the domino effect of our decisions, for if a leader gives up, the people that look up to them will do the same.  Leaders decisions may be questioned but if they can remain steadfast and unmovable like Moses was with Pharaoh, loyal support will take place.

God's ways are not our ways, neither His will our will, it is okay to question Him, as long as we are willing to listen and learn.  The long showdown with Pharaoh was necessary, for each plague represented an object of Egyptian worship, and it was the necessary agent for the people to know that "He is Lord."

We cannot allow the voice of the majority to sway us from the voice of God.  Godly strength is seen when we are not moved by anyone or anything, but Him.  We must understand those in need of deliverance are weak from years of bondage, they need us to stand strong like Moses in the face of the enemy and demand that he let God's people go.  Persistent, Holy Spirit driven prayer, spoken with authority, cannot be denied.

Have you ever witnessed a sales person trying to sell something who you knew didn't believe in what they were selling?  It lacks authority, it is timid, not believable.  The enemy may strongly oppose us but if we believe we have the victory, then nothing will persuade us, and we will speak authoritatively, demanding what God promised until we get it.

Have you ever settled for less than what was best, or sold something for below it's worth value?  It never satisfies!  God does not compromise, what He has promised, He will deliver, as long as we refuse the enemy's pleas and bargains.  There is no partial deliverance, it is either all the way or no way.  We must see our deliverance and those we are delivering through.

Pharaoh got so tired of Moses that he didn't want to see him again.  We should be so persistent in prayer, so bold in action, that when Satan sees us coming, he runs.  We don't need to give Satan hardly any regard, he is a defeated foe.  As long as we are abiding in Christ he cannot do anything.  This does not mean to take him lightly, we must remain on guard, for he is waiting just for a moment where our shield is down, and he will run back in.

The children of Israel were finally allowed to get out of Egypt but it was short lived for Pharaoh said forget this, I'm going after them again.  Panic set in but Moses full of faith led the children of Israel through the Red Sea as complete deliverance finally came.

Next week we will learn that it is one thing to experience deliverance from the place of Egypt (salvation), it is another thing to be delivered from the Egypt within (the process of discipleship).

The Rescued - Life Lessons From Moses pt. 1

In this fallen world we find ourselves in need of rescue often.  Some of us like myself needed to be rescued from the very beginning.  My mother was diagnosed with severe schizophrenia and was in the cult group hare krishna when I was born (which is a miracle itself considering legal abortion).  I have a picture of me with a shaved head in the backyard of there facility in Seattle, WA around the age of one.  The cult planned to have me sent to India where the religion is based as I was seen as a "special child," whatever that meant.  My grandmother snuck into the facility abducted me, took legal custody, and I was rescued, sounds like a movie, huh!  Maybe this was the spark that gave me the desire from young to make a positive difference in the world.

In Egypt during the time of Moses due to the threat of population growth amongst the Jews, every male born would be murdered.  When hiding Moses was no longer an option he was placed in a basket in the Nile River with the hope that somehow someway he would survive.  Miraculously, He was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter, and still able to be nursed by his mother, and raised in Pharaoh's palace.

The initial years of a new born are of utmost importance in shaping there tomorrow.

Moses could have lived comfortably in the Palace,  denying the hardship of his people, but he had an inner drive that he was saved for a higher purpose than living for himself.  So as he matured and began to witness the cruel treatment of the Jews by the Egyptians he responded.  In our youthful zeal we lack the ability to control our emotions so our response is often extreme.  Moses in trying to do good did wrong, and now had to run from the law.

One cannot settle in the present if they are still running from the past.  Humility is learned through trial and error.  How many mistakes will we make before we choose to rely on God?  It is better to turn ourself in than to keep running from the law.  The consequences of breaking God's laws cannot be rectified with grace until we repent and surrender.

When Moses heart was open God was revealed.   Most people need a personal encounter with God like Moses had with the burning bush before they start walking out there purpose.  As God is revealed, we begin to understand why we have been through what we've been through, and how it can all be used for good.

The biggest struggle with believing God is being able to see beyond yourself.  If our current identity is based on our past mistakes we live with an inferiority complex.  No matter what God says we will find an excuse as we limit ourselves to what we are not.  Until we can acknowledge God as I AM, our faith will be crippled by fear.   Faith is not to be in ourselves but in Christ alone.  If God says it, He can do it, enough said, questions answered, Amen.

Not everything God reveals to us is for us to do.  We are part of a team, the body of Christ, each one with special gifts and abilities that together in Christ we can do all things.   Before we step out, we need to step in.  A team cannot develop without practice for how strong the team becomes will determine what opposition they can handle.  What we are capable of doing depends on who we are aligned with.
God gave Moses - Aaron, to be his spokesman,  since Moses faith wavered when it came to public speaking.  Some of the greatest speakers such as Benny Hinn, T.D. Jakes and Moses have had stuttering problems.  God strength is seen as we rely on Him in our weakness.  But, If we doubt, we will do without, if we believe, we will receive.

Another area of doubt is limiting what we can do by what we have.  Whatever we have been given as long as we walk by faith it will be magnified to what ever is needed.  God used the staff of Moses as the instrument of signs and wonders that would deliver His people.  Whatever we place in God's hands is no longer little.

The process of rescuing the world?  1.  It starts with God transforming the individual.  2.  It spreads to the family.  3.  Through the family, the church.  4.  Through the church, the community.  5.  Through the community, the nation.  6.  Through the nation, the world.

We cannot expect to rescue others until we first our rescued ourselves, next week in life lessons with Moses we will move beyond being rescued to becoming a rescuer.



   

Wrestling with God - Life Lessons From Jacob. pt. 2

Jacob and Laban (Gen. 29-31) 

Moving Beyond Our Past

God forgives us of our sins but that does not mean that our past choices won't make the present difficult.  The golden rule applies to all, how we treat others will be how others treat us.  Jacob had used others to get what he wanted now he was getting used himself.  The only way to get through some problems is simply accepting the consequences of our past, trusting God, and waiting for Him to deliver us.  This time of waiting is when our character is changed from who we once were to who we now are in Christ Jesus.  The longer we live in denial of our past, the longer we remain the same.   Fire burns, but it is the necessary agent to make us come out like gold,  so we must embrace God's refining process.

God's blessings flow over to all those within our household, family members might take advantage of us over and over again if we allow them.  We must allow each one to walk in obedience for themselves.  There is a time and season for everything.  We can be a blessing to others but once that blessing is now a curse we must choose to separate.  Support can be very helpful during time of transition, but if someone gets comfortable with receiving freely and no longer advances forward then what was supposed to help someone now has crippled them.

Jacob learned to recognize he had many more advantages under the blessing of God than the disadvantages he had apart from Him.  The wisdom God gave Jacob through a dream helped him find a solution to the dilemma of Laban refusing to let him go.  He tricked him in a way that he could not be found guilty of doing wrong.  When we have been made ready and all present lessons have been learned, God will show up in the face of our enemies, and be our deliverer, all we have to do is trust him.




God has given us a way of outwitting our enemies.  God's blessings make us rich, we don't need to scheme to get wealth, but be obedient to His purposes.

Jacob and Esau (Gen. 32-33)

Necessary Conflict

Have you ever responded to a situation out of fear, making rash decisions, and then prayed?  To assure a problem will end well, prayer should be established from the beginning.  Approaching God in humility is key to getting His response.  We must understand God does not owe us anything it is by His mercy that He promises us any good thing.  There is always a strategy to win if we give ear to the victorious one.

We all have certain battles where we have difficulty trusting God.   We wrestle with Him whether to do it His or our way.  These are often areas where the wound is deep, the scar is long, the pain goes on and on.

Gen. 32:24This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”27“What is your name?” the man asked.He replied, “Jacob.”28“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”29“Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.30Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 


Jacob had struggled with man but his real issue was his struggle with God.   Have you ever wondered why a crisis is being prolonged?  God is able to deliver us immediately but that is not always what is best, for some lessons take time to learn.  Until we have fully surrendered our heart to God issues will

continue to remain.  We must go beyond faith in God to relationship with God.  To go beyond receiving handouts to having face to face encounters.  We may have scars from the past but instead of them making us bitter they should make us better as reminders of what God has brought us through.

Have you ever feared conflict with someone but when the time came to confront them it wasn't nearly as big of a deal as expected?  Walking with God makes it so much easier to walk with man.   As we grow in our relationship with God we begin to see others through His eyes as well as others begin to see His reflection in ourselves. Jacob said he saw the very face of God in his brother Esau and Esau was friendly towards his brother and they both went their separate ways in peace.

Jacob to Israel (Gen. 35)
Transformed - Transforming

Do you ever hear stories of your past and it is as if you were a different person?  Well, spiritually we are,  I am a brand new creature in Christ Jesus, old things have passed away and all things have become new."  God transforms us to transform others.  Jacob got his household in order, by removing pagan idols.  He brought everyone to Bethel the house of God and built an altar.  God spoke to Jacob there renaming him Israel, declaring that he will establish a great nation, even nations.

Jesus has commanded us in Matthew 28:19 like God commanded Jacob go and disciple nations.  We are Bethel, the house of God, the world is His altar, the place where we lay down our lives as a living sacrifice.  As we are transformed transformation takes place around us.

Wrestling with God - Life Lessons from Jacob pt. 1

Wrestling With God pt.1

Life Lessons from Jacob

Survival of the Fittest
Though we may not believe in Darwin's evolutionary theories, we can still be influenced to a degree by hearing the concept's taught in school from young.  We may believe in God but only really turn to Him when all else fails.

We are born into this world separate from God as the result of the fall.  We are taught how to survive in the world, how to eventually be independent of others.  Life is about striving to get ahead, working hard by the sweat of our brow, to find success.  Most careers are highly competitive, we become good at something and soon find out someone else is better.   We may get on top, but then we deal with those below us trying to pull us right down.  It is obvious why so many of us struggle with stress, anxiety, and fear! 

The biblical character of Jacob should be one that most of us can relate with.

Stolen Birthright - Gen. 25:27As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. 28Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob.29One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry.30Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”)31“All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.”32“Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?”33But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob.34Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

Life Is Not Fair

In this fallen world we have disadvantages, we may feel it is our family line, race, physical appearance, disability, rejection, etc.  It is easy to find an excuse why we fall short.  Many people we can blame, many reasons we can point out.  People usually have much more to complain about than to rejoice in.    

Jacob was born in a time where the firstborn was favored above all others.  He was a twin but Esau came out first, yet it was prophesied that Jacob would receive the blessing.  The cultural tradition nullified Rebecca and Jacob believing the promise of God.

Favoritism

Have you ever had a parent show more favor towards another sibling?  This creates jealousy that leads to anger and rage.  Favoritism creates pride in the one receiving it and resentment in the ones that don’t.  It is easier to relate and spend time with those whom share common interests.  My oldest son Elisha loves basketball so the two of us play ball often which is a bonding time.  Israel and I share less interests so I have to make an effort to spend time with him doing something I don’t really enjoy.  

Jacob from the beginning had to try to earn Isaac’s love for Isaac loved Esau because Esau was a hunter.  Jacob had to plot and scheme to steal what was Esau’s for he was at a disadvantage.  Those whom feel they are at a disadvantage often do whatever it takes to get ahead, which bring with it shame and regret.

Stolen Blessing - Read Genesis 27 (Jacob steal’s Esau’s blessing)

Those who do others wrong to get ahead live in fear that it will come back to haunt them.  It is hard to enjoy something that came at the expense of someone else’s rejection.  Satan’s agenda is to steal, kill, and destroy for he has been cast out of Heaven, losing everything, so he has to deceive us so he can steal back what he lost.  We become pawns of Satan when we don’t trust God, we think we serve ourselves but we really serve Satan.

 Generational Blessings - Read Genesis 28 (Jacob dreams of the stairway to Heaven)

God had promised Abraham that He would bless His offspring continually.   God has a way of getting a hold of those who are running from His promises.  If we have a family member who seems to not get it regarding the call of God on their lives, just keep believing and confessing God’s promises in prayer.   They may not listen but God will reveal Himself in one form or another.

God revealed himself to Jacob through a dream.  God opened Jacob’s eyes to the reality of Abraham’s blessing that Jacob has direct access to heaven, that he is not alone, the angels of God are at his disposal, God will protect and provide for him, and be with him forevermore.  Jacob awakened to the reality of God and was forever changed.  He anointed the place naming it Bethel the house of God. 

Spiritual Awakening

Let us awaken to the reality that we are anointed by God and have become the temple of the Holy Spirit!

We too often operate like Jacob striving and conniving, operating in survival mode, rather than trusting and believing, operating in faith mode.   

Jacob made a vow to God if He would protect and provide for him, he would follow suit and serve Him.  He set up a memorial declaring everything you give me, I’ll return a tenth to you. Money is a determining factor regarding trusting God.  The tithe is an act of faith acknowledging God as the source of all.  If we limit our obedience to what is in our wallet, we will never have enough.   This world revolves around money, if we limit what we can do to our wallet, then we will be limited to the conditions of this world and closed off from the blessings of Heaven.

Abraham - Taking Hold of What is Promised

To Walk With God Series

Abraham - Taking Hold of What is Promised

Broken Promises

One thing we all have in common is broken promises.  People promise a lot but often fail to deliver, creating mistrust in the hearts of those affected.  The key to moving forward is who you’re connected with.  Fear because of mistrust cripples us from advancement.  We refuse to open up and share our heart and therefore stay distant.  God moves through His body so this isolation due to mistrust prevents us from moving forward with God.  Until fear which is the opposite of faith is removed we remain the same, for we stay disconnected from God’s body, the church.

The worst thing to do as a parent is promise something and then not follow through, for it leaves a scar, and each time it occurs, it deepens.  A scar not treated gets infected, becoming a disease, and what is infected spreads.  Hurting people, hurt others.

God unlike imperfect man, fulfills what He promises.  Yet, many don’t attain what He promised because of unbelief. For the necessary ingredient to taking hold of what is promised is Faith.  Abraham the father of Faith is the greatest Old Testament example to help us overcome fear and grow in faith.  Let’s study in depth His journey.

Faith Lesson #1 - Separate from ungodly attachments.

Gen. 13:8-9 Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have fighting between us, between your shepherds and my shepherds. After all, we’re family. Look around. Isn’t there plenty of land out there? Let’s separate. If you go left, I’ll go right; if you go right, I’ll go left.”

There are people in our lives especially family who will fight against us to keep us from moving forward.  We may lose something by going our separate ways but in time we will gain much more in return.  We will continue to have lot’s of unnecessary problems until we stop enabling those God is trying to teach a lesson. 

Faith Lesson #2 - Once we are free we begin to see.

Gen.13:14-17After Lot separated from him, God said to Abram, “Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I’ll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I’m giving it all to you.”

Have you ever cleaned a room and discovered things you forgot you owned.  As we begin to become free from our past we begin to see how our future is.  God wants us to have a multi-generational vision.  He wants us to see so beyond our lifetime that we are no longer caught up in daily trivial concerns, for we see the bigger picture.

Faith Lesson #3 - Never let closed relationships go beyond recovery.

Gen 14:13-16A fugitive came and reported to Abram the Hebrew. Abram was living at the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and Aner. They were allies of Abram. When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken prisoner, he lined up his servants, all of them born in his household—there were 318 of them—and chased after the captors all the way to Dan. Abram and his men split into small groups and attacked by night. They chased them as far as Hobah, just north of Damascus. They recovered all the plunder along with nephew Lot and his possessions, including the women and the people.

God desires all people to be saved.  He will lead us to extend helping hands during crisis with the hope that salvation will occur. There is a time and season for everything.

Gen. 19:29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain. 

Faith Lesson #4 - What we cannot let go of has a hold on us. 

Gen.14:17-20After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and his allied kings, the king of Sodom came out to greet him in the Valley of Shaveh, the King’s Valley. Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine—he was priest of The High God—and blessed him:

Blessed be Abram by The High God,

Creator of Heaven and Earth.

And blessed be The High God,

who handed your enemies over to you.

Abram gave him a tenth of all the recovered plunder.

The tithe was established under Abraham not Moses, meaning it is a principle of faith not law.  We can argue all we want about giving, but bottom-line those who don’t give are not blessed.  Giving comes from an attitude of gratitude, in which a tenth is a good place to start.  We don’t give to man we give to God.  The hand of God is the living church.

Notice that Melchizedek was king of Salem. That is the city of Jerusalem. "Salem" comes from the Hebrew word meaning "peace." That would make Melchizedek the "King of Peace" (Hebrews 7:2). The Hebrew name Melchizedek itself means "King of Righteousness" (Hebrews 7:2). The same individual is mentioned in Psalm 110:4. Speaking prophetically of Christ, David stated: "The Eternal hath sworn, and will notrepent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." This verse is quoted again in Hebrews 5:6, 10.

Faith Lesson #5 - Faith means to “Just Believe!”

Gen. 15:1After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I’m your shield. Your reward will be grand!”

2-3Abram said, “God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I’m childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?” Abram continued, “See, you’ve given me no children, and now a mere house servant is going to get it all.

4Then God’s Message came: “Don’t worry, he won’t be your heir; a son from your body will be your heir.”

5Then he took him outside and said, “Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You’re going to have a big family, Abram!”

6And he believed! Believed God! God declared him “Set-Right-with-God.”

How far we go with God will be determined by how much we are willing to believe.  We are simply made righteous by believing.  Once we believe we can now receive.  

Faith Lesson #6 - What is done in fear creates a door for the enemy.

Gen. 16:9-12the angel of God said, “Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse.” He continued, “I’m going to give you a big family, children past counting.

From this pregnancy, you’ll get a son: Name him Ishmael;

for God heard you, God answered you.

He’ll be a bucking bronco of a man,

a real fighter, fighting and being fought,

Always stirring up trouble,

always at odds with his family.”

There are consequences to our actions.  Once we open the door to the enemy, we have brought forth an unnecessary war.  Peace will no longer come easy.  Every advancement will come with a great fight.  Fear and faith are at odds, the enemy will constantly throw arrows of fear, the shield of faith must always be in rightful position or great trouble will follow.  Just look at the history of Jews and Muslims.

Faith Lesson #7 - Remain in Covenant Agreement.

Gen. 17:1When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. 2I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.”

3At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him, 4“This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!

7“I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

The Mark of the Covenant

9Then God said to Abraham, “Your responsibility is to obey the terms of the covenant. You and all your descendants have this continual responsibility. 10This is the covenant that you and your descendants must keep: Each male among you must be circumcised. 11You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you.

Covenant Understanding.

1. Remain Faithful, live blameless - free of guilt; not subject to blame; "of irreproachable character"; "an unimpeachable reputation.”
2. God guarantees to give us what He has promised.
3. Take on a new identity.  We now have the legal right to use the name of Jesus.
4. The covenant blessings are passed down to my descendants, in which God will confirm.
5. We are responsible to obey the terms of the covenant by being set apart.
6. The entire household.   Singled out but obligated to pass on.  

Gen. 18:17“Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. 18“For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 19I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”

Faith Lesson #8 - Our Faith Grows as it is tested, and with it comes promotion.

We must remember “it is only a test.”  Wherever there is lack of trust, lies fear.  To grow in faith takes removing fear.  Many of our tests are in the areas of what we have difficulty surrendering.  

Gen. 22:1Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.

“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”

2“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Gen. 22:15Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven. 16“This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies.18And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

Abram - Letting Go, Moving Forward!

Abram - Letting Go & Moving Ahead!

• Genesis 12:1 (MSG)

---

Read Gen. 12:1

How far we walk with God will be determined by what we are willing to leave behind!

Whenever we seem stuck in one place we need to ask ourselves what do we need to be free from?

The less we carry the further we go.

The hardest area to be stripped from is family traditions and responsibilities.

We are now part of a new family, a new kingdom, we have given our rights to God, He is our Master, He is our Lord, He directs our steps. So if He says go we go! We can never run against our Heavenly Father and win. If we want victory in life we must run with Him.

Read Genesis 12:2-3

What we let go of cannot compare with what we gain.

I once wanted to be famous, live the American Idol dream. I thought pursuing an acting career would be the way. I longed to be in front of huge crowds where people basically worshipped me. I wanted fancy cars, gorgeous women, and huge homes. Is it worth it though to gain the whole world and lose our soul? We see so many famous people messed up, they didn't understand what they had to do to fulfill their dreams, many sell their souls to the Devil.

It is false humility to try to be so little that we never allow God to become great. God did not save us to remain hidden in the shadows. He has saved us to make Himself known. We may have a timid nature but when the Holy Spirit fills us we are bold. We need to stop holding back and holding onto our gifts. He has blessed us to be a blessing. We don't even have a clue how great God is until we start stepping out in faith.

Read Genesis 12:4-6

Have you ever had someone in your life you tried to help but then couldn't get rid of?

We cannot help everyone, we are only obligated to obey God. Who we are helping could be those who will only slow us down keep us from our ultimate destiny.

Some people come with a Lot of baggage that only God can strip away, when we interfere we are expected to do what only God can do, and we just simply can't. A lot of our headaches are from our own well doing. It is easy to let our emotions especially regarding family members to disguise the true voice of God. We must learn to submit everything to God and let Him guide us no matter how we feel.

Application: Ask Holy Spirit is there any baggage I need to unload?  Ask Holy Spirit if you have a Lot in your life you need to detach from?

Are You Any Different?

Are You Any Different?

• Genesis 6:5 (MSG)
• Genesis 6:6 (MSG)
• Genesis 6:7 (MSG)

---

In the dating world, guys often try to convince girls that they are different than other guys, proving their sincerity by initially showing commitment. Yet, often it is just a front,to gain emotional attachment, to make it easier to get what they want.

In the Christian world, Christians often try to convince the world that they are different, "not like the other hypocrites." Yet, often it is just a front, for once the price of commitment is learned they begin to slowly back off.

We maybe good at acting, but God knows the heart whether it is good or evil, He sees through our charade. 

We are now going to look at the biblical character of Noah who was truly different from those in the world.

* Read Genesis 6:5-10

Has your life ever been so out of control, that you felt so sorry for yourself, you wish you didn't exist? From government research done in 2009, over 8 million people over the age of 18 struggle with suicidal thoughts, over 2 million planned to commit suicide, and over 1 million attempted it.

God, Himself got so tired of how out of control and evil people were, He was sorry He ever made them and planned to destroy them. But, God liked Noah for he was different. Noah was a man of integrity in his community for he walked with God. God can change his plans for just one person that is close to him and we are eternally grateful for Noah for God used him in his redemption plan. 

One of the required characteristics of a leader described in 1 Timothy is integrity in the community. We've all known people that are two faced, they are one thing in one place and another somewhere else. People can be good chameleon's they adjust to their environment. Employers are now using social networks to find out more of the character of the person they are considering to hire. Some people may think this is an invasion of privacy but these networks are public domain. It would be wise especially in church circles to assure someone is a good witness of integrity in their community before placing them in church leadership. Those who walk with God consistently reflect him in all aspects of life.

Read Genesis 6:11-22

I have heard stories from those involved in the restoration process from Super Storm Sandy where people are just now asking for assistance, but at this point it's too hazardous to even try, so they have to say, "sorry nothing can be done but to demolish the home and rebuild." 

This was the state of the earth in Noah's time, totally corrupted, beyond repair, the only plan was to basically start over. This is what was revealed to Noah in this passage, how God was going to use him to restore the earth. 

No matter how well we clean a room, even if we don't use it, with time, it will need cleaning again. There is something we don't see called dust that we can't keep from forming. Until the new heaven and the new earth comes and we receive our new bodies, sin will remain and restoring will be needed. Can God call on us as He did with Noah to be His agent in the restoration process as described in Acts 3:21?

God's plan He spoke with Noah was bigger than what the natural mind could perceive. There had not been a flood before, a boat had never been built, and to be able to gather two of every kind of creature is way beyond, yet what made Noah so different is he believed God no matter what He said. The more we get to know this Big God the more our faith grows and the bigger the plan's He reveals. 

I encourage every one of us to go closer, dig deeper, be different.

Enoch - To Be or Not to Be!

People, being polite often ask,  how are you doing?  Often, we just respond, fine!  But, if we happen to be in each other's presence for a longer time, we feel obligated to tell them what we've been doing.  See, our value system as American's is determined by our productivity.  So we make ourselves busy, or convince others that we are, so we can feel worth!

God created us for fellowship, no matter what we do or how busy we get, our inner man is not satisfied unless we are in right relationship with Him.  God doesn't reward us for what work we do for Him, we are rewarded for simply being with Him, for our righteous deeds are as filthy rags apart from Him. God has gives us free will, it is our choice to be with Him or not to be.

Enoch is the ultimate example apart from Christ of someone who chose to be in continual fellowship with God.  Let's look at the few passages of scripture that describe the life of Enoch.

Genesis 5:22 Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.  23 So all the days of Enoch were 365 years.  24 And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him]. [Heb. 11:5.]

We have all experienced close relationships, where commitment is made but not followed.  We have had loved ones walk out, leaving us broken.   With enough broken relationships, hardness of heart develops, where we are afraid of commitment because we don't want to experience pain again.  Many of us will only go so far with someone and if things get too close we distance ourselves.  As long as this is true, our relationship with God will be the same, "in and out, up and down, no consistency!"  We may say we love God but we don't live it.

Enoch walked in habitual fellowship with God, meaning continual, consistent, committed.  It was more than a one night stand, or a fling.  God is about habitation not just visitation.  He doesn't just want to stop by now and then, He wants to move in, to dwell in our hearts.  Enoch became so close to God, so filled with Him, that who he once was became hidden, and who God is became seen.  It went beyond God dwelling with Enoch to Enoch dwelling with God for he was taken up.

Being should always precede doing.  For when we walk with God, He will lead us, and He will do great things.  Yes, this brings us to a place of humility, for we cannot take credit for anything.  The earlier we discover the reality that apart from God nothing else matters, the less of a pretender we have to be.

When I wanted something from someone I would say whatever was necessary and pretend to mean it.  In Jude 1:1-13 we are cautioned to beware of the danger of false teachers.  Those who use the name of God appearing to be righteous but only care about themselves, deceiving people for their money.  They are gifted, talented, smart but have no godly character.

Jude 1:14Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones 15to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

The bible says God desires that we would all prophesy.  To grow in prophesy simply takes growing in relationship with Him.  God sees and knows all.  As we grow in God we grow in our ability to see and hear spiritually.  We pick up things we cannot perceive with our natural eye or ear.  So as our relationship with God deepens we should expect the gift of prophecy to develop as well!

Enoch is prophesying of a multitude of people set apart bringing conviction to the world because of God's holy presence upon them.  We have historical testimonies of individuals but never a multitude. To see this prophecy fulfilled we must choose to follow in the footsteps of Enoch.

Hebrews 11:5 Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God. [Gen. 5:21-24.] 6 But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Let' choose now to increase our faith by earnestly (seriously) and diligently (persevering) seeking to know God in a more personal way.

To Sin or Not to Sin that is the Question?

* Gen. 3:1-5
 
   Have you ever heard a message that was completely distorted from the original?

   The more something is spoken to others the more the intent of the message is lost.  We have all experienced being accused of saying something we did not say, or having our words twisted to mean something totally different than what we meant.

     Don't you wish that people would come to you to insure what they heard was really true!

There are certain things you don't reveal to children until they are mature enough to handle it.  Yet, how can we protect our kids when others don't hold the same standards?  How do we respond to our kids when they ask a question that we don't want to answer just yet? 

I used to hang around people I knew were not good company.  They knew how to get the worst out of me, to convince me to do things I knew I shouldn't.  I tried to avoid them but they just knew when to show up.  

When God is not acknowledged, Satan is at the door.  Satan does not create evil, he distorts truth. As long as God is not present we are open to deception.  

* Gen. 3:6-13

Evil always looks good initially.  But, we quickly know what we did was wrong because we feel shame and want to cover it up.  We may try to convince ourselves it is no big deal but then why do we feel so guilty.  We may blame whom we think is at fault, but who pays the price for a crime, all those involved.  To be a witness and stay quiet brings the same severity of punishment.  

If we feel uncomfortable around someone suddenly it is the inner witness that we did them wrong.  It is amazing to hear of those who have cheated on their spouse yet lived together as if nothing was wrong?  When two people really love each other and have become one flesh they feel each other's pain and know when they are separated.  How can we Christians sleep with the enemy by following his lies and still parade around church as if everything is fine?

As long as someone has things to hide,  they are living a lie, and are bound to Satan, who can now use them to distort truth and deceive others.  We must beware of those who have no accountability and avoid allowing anyone to get personally close to them.  Just because someone is gifted and talented does not mean they are free.  The truth sets one free!  Those who are open and honest, transparent, are those that reflect the mirror image of Jesus Christ.  

* Gen. 3:14-24

Have you ever felt your life is an endless cycle of misfortune?  This is why we long for vacation, so we can escape the daily struggle of work and relational hostility, yet it is never enough.  So we long for Heaven, the hope of an eternal vacation where all our problems are forever gone.

The result of sin is separation from God, but through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the wall has been torn in two, the curse can now be broken through faith in Jesus Christ.  The Garden is now being restored, not in Eden, but in our heart.  God has extended His hand and if we choose to grab hold His blessings come simply by walking with Him.

Transparent - Adam & Eve

http://www.praisetabernacle.com/wednesday-nights.html

In The Beginning....

The Dominion Mandate

• Gen. 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground."
• True Life Purpose
• Made in the image of God to be like Him.
• Called to reign over creation.
• To be fruitful and multiply.
• To fill the earth and govern it.

• Gen.2:15The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
• Life Lessons
• What God has entrusted into our care we are called to tend and watch over it.
• Our stewardship will determine our increase.
• Love must be tested so choice must be given.
• God the creator has made nothing but good.
• Evil is that which is good being used for wrong.
• All knowledge separate from God is distorted.
• All evil can be redeemed to it's original intention as our heart becomes pure.

• Gen.2:18Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”21So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22Then the LordGod made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.  23“At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh!  She will be called ‘woman,’  because she was taken from ‘man.’”24This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. 25Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
• We Need Help?
• We were created in need for one another.
• Man and woman are incomplete without the other.
• The joining of man and woman signifies the joining of God and the church in mutual partnership.
• A relationship can only go as far as it's level of transparency.