Tag Archives: forgiveness

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Not All Tracks Lead You Home

Have you ever seen animal tracks on the ground and wondered what type of creature or creatures made them? As you begin to look at the tracks a little closer you notice how many toes each foot print had. As you notice how one set of tracks goes off in one direction and others in another and disappear in the distance, you can’t help but wonder where they were headed. We might even put a little scenario together depicting what may have taken place were all the tracks that went off in the distance could be head to. Maybe they were headed home.

I can’t help but think about our own lives in our walk in Christ. If someone was to look at our tracks on the ground, would they be able to tell what had happen to us or even surmise what type of situation we could been in or tell what we were going through? Some of us have so many tracks in our lives, many of which go in circles and others head back and forth on the same tracks or path, disappearing in the distance, never to be seen again. Even others mixing with even more tracks, ending up blending in multiples of other tracks. In some cases the tracks go off in a direction then stop and never move again. There is famous Christian work of art called “Foot Prints in the Sand,” depicting scenes two sets of tracks headed in the same direction then all of a sudden, there are only one set of tracks. It depicts you and Christ walking together, but later there are only one set of tracks. What does that mean? Christ is picking you up and carrying you the rest of your walk. As we look at our individual Christian walk and lifestyles or steps, are they even head home? Or are they head to an unknown destination of our own choosing? One needs to ask oneself if their tracks are headed home? Maybe you don’t know where home is, or maybe you’ve lost your direction, because you do know that not all tracks lead to home.

Do you remember the story of Hansel and Grettle? The trail of bred crumbs were left to lure the brother and sister to a trap disguised as a Ginger Bread House, decked with other goodies and edibles. Isn’t that indicative of what we do? We see little crumbs in our lives, leading us to a path we shouldn’t go to. When we get there, its so tempting we want to at least try it out. That is what Satan does to us all the time. He leaves a bread crumb trail all the way up to a sin we’re familiar with, which does not lead to the road of salvation or home, but to a destination of sin. We pick it up one piece at a time, and when we get to that point where that sin is right in front of us, we don’t see it as sin. Not all tracks lead home.

There was a song by Commissioned called “When Love Calls You Home,” and the chorus went like this:

For when love calls you home
Forgiveness embrasses a past you once owned
And all the mistakes that carried your name are gone
‘Cause that’s what happens when love calls you home

When Love Calls You Home – Chorus | Commissioned

Do these lyrics have a significance in your life? It did in mine when I found out that my home is not here on this Earth, but in Heaven. The Lord died on the cross for me that I wouldn’t have to worry about not making it home. When love calls you home, those are the tracks; the things that you’ve done; those are the things that are forgiven you.

We need to understand that not all tracks that we see in our lives lead us home. Sometimes we get confused on our walk/journey; maybe we can take shortcuts. By pass all “this” to get “there” quicker. But all of “this” is what we needed to get “there.” I don’t want to go to so and so because I don’t like it. But you don’t realize that you need so and so to get to your next stage in your walk. We have that kind of mentality in us that we reject the path that lead us in a direction that we are caught in a loop of infinity. Repeating the same sin, meeting the same people. Everything is not conducive in our walk to get where we need to get to. Its too late to experiment. God has a purpose for us and direction we need to go in. He’s calling us home. He’s not calling us to a party, He’s calling us home. How can we go home if we’re getting confused with some tracks? There are some tracks that go way out there.

If you don’t remember anything else I’ve talked about know this: you cannot do this alone. You can’t. Your walk is indicative of you, but God has placed helpers along your walk to bring you to your senses, in your walk. They may say things that you don’t like. Maybe there is a part of your life that needs to be corrected. They may say things and do things that will call you back to your knees in prayer. That person may be in your life to make you get on your knees. The Lord is trying to direct us home, and we keep trying to take the alleys and wrong directions and the Lord is saying what the Psalmist said:

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Psalm 37:23-25

Why not? Because the Lord is our helper; provider; our supporter; our righteousness. The Lord is with us in every time, anytime of our need; there for us at any place in our life; He’s there. So our steps are ordered by Him. Its us who get disordered. We want to do what we want to do. We’re sassy sometimes to the Lord aren’t we? He says He wants us to do something, and then we pretend like we didn’t hear Him. The Lord sometimes takes us through hard times and places in our lives that we don’t understand because we say “We’re children of God! Why do we have to go through slings and arrows?” Maybe because we haven’t gotten it yet. Sometimes we don’t see the tracks that God wants us to see because were too busy making our own. Or sometimes we try to step into other peoples tracks. We try to interfere with other peoples walk or follow the tracks of others. But God has another destination for them, so why are we trying to walk in their tracks?! So this is the reason why most Saints don’t operate in what they operate and where they should be because they are trying to follow someone else tracks. God didn’t make you to be someone else mold. He doesn’t want you to go following them, because your tracks are not going to lead where their’s lead. You have to go all the way back to where you started, when you’ve followed someone elses tracks and found that at the end you don’t like what you get.

How many people are plowing the same field that has been plowed over and over again— walking in the same tracks? We can’t do as the old folks back then. Why? Because in their time they were doing things concerning that time. We are in our time and we’ll experience according to our time. We want to live according to what someone else has done who made it through. We think that if we walk their path, we’ll make it through. No! God has a purpose for each and every one of us. He doesn’t need clones. There is a uniqueness about each of us, which needs to come forth so God can use you in an area. God chose you so you can reach certain individuals that others can’t.

People are watching your tracks in your walk. They’re watching how you go through this or that. They knew who you were, and who you are now. You won’t have to convince them. When you speak a word they will already be convinced, and you’ll save a soul. We have to be about what our walk is. Not someone elses walk or talk, but be what God has made us to be, and we better be good at what we do. God doesn’t have unskilled people in His Kingdom. If it doesn’t fit you, don’t be concerned about it. You have a purpose, and one of your responsibilities is to do your purpose the best way you can. Its the same with all of us. God is watching you and trying to bring you to another place. He’s the one who sits there and scrutinizes you in your walk. He’s watching.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Proverbs 14:12-17

The Word of God is the answer to everything in your tracks. What do your tracks look like? Can I really understand what a person is going through by their tracks? To a certain degree. You may not know mentally, but by their walk it delivers fruit, because people are known by the fruits that they bear. We know that an apple tree produces what? So a peach tree grows what? An orange tree grows what? The reason why I’m saying this is that you expect a tree to bear the right fruit. So if you are a Child of God, you should be able to exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit. You shouldn’t be going through turmoil where every time someone see you, you look miserable. This is the problem that most Saints are dealing with; they don’t know who they are. When you confront them, they say they are a Christian. Who died for you on the cross? People try to get you confused. Is it God or Jesus? God was on the inside of Jesus, and Jesus is on the inside of us via the Holy Ghost. The same which was in Him is in you, and greater is He that is within you than he in the world.

4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.6 Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.

Psam 25:4-7

Teach me thy paths! Those are tracks. We’re being taught the path. If you’re being taught, who is this Word good for? Everyone who would hear. You can’t make a person hear the truth. But you can live the truth around them, so that when you do, they’ll say, I know you, you can’t do that of your own, so they’ll give glory to God. This should be our testimony before God. Lord remember me, but don’t remember my youth because I was jacked up and acted as a child. You need to write these words down on the tablet of your heart, in your Bible, or on your cell phone. Put it down so that when you’re going through you won’t give up; so you’ll remember one particular thing: you’re not alone. Don’t ever think at anytime that you are alone. The Lord never meant us to go about doing this alone. We are helpers one to another. If you’re going through, you have sisters and brothers to call on. You are your own worst enemy.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7
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You Cannot Build on Dead Works

Sometimes people say “I will pick up where I left off” after they’ve been out for a while. Can you imagine if a building has been dilapidated and we clean the building up on the outside and inside, then we’ll take that building and connect it to that building so we can keep going on? Do you know what will happen when the first wind storm comes?

You can’t build on dead works. But if you have junk in your life and you never got rid of the junk, you can’t build a solid foundation on that, because as the junk’s being affected, you’re going to see it shake and quake. It will fall.

There are the things you never got straight; those are the issues in your life that you build another life on top of. Most people say its ok, because “I’ve put it in the past.” How many people know that your past will become your future? Its just like when people build on quick sand; after a period of time it will sink. Then after a period of time water seeps up into the building. You can’t build from dead works. You have to eradicate it and clean up.You have to be refurbished, so that when God places a load in your life of work, you can say “Lord I got this” and not “Lord its too much.” When Things are done everything comes to the forefront and the Lord gives it to you. You have a clean foundation that you can build on. A solid foundation. Amen?

Hebrews 6:1-12

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. 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. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

How many have heard of the word Ichabod? This is a very important word, which stands for “the glory has departed from that place.” In the case with Israel in 1 Samuel 4:21, it had departed.

1 Samuel 4:19-21

And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her. And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it. And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

You remember when the Children of Israel were traveling from land to land and they carried the Ark of the Covenant with them? They would set the Ark in the Holy of Holies in the temple. God would commune with the priest in the midst of a cloud. This was Gods way of talking to His people before the point where He became flesh. He would leave messages to them of what they should do with the people, etc. So the Ark was taken; removed from its place. When God leaves His power, His glory and presence are gone. Amen? So now here we have in our lives when the Holy Ghost leaves you the presence of God is not in you and if its not in your what is going on? Its Ichabod that is written on your life.

Some people have Ichabod written on their lives and they don’t even know. So they are building on a shaky foundation. They think of when they USE TO worship; when they USE TO dance. They’re building their whole spiritual walk on what USE TO be. You can’t build on dead works. You can’t build on dead works. You cannot build your Christian walk on something that you use to do. People will fight you tooth and nail and say “He was with me then so I know He’s with me now.” Let me share something with you: Satan is with us 24/7. The mocker; the accuser who has imps that can watch you to mimic your ways to give the impression that you are saved and filled with the Holy Ghost. Satan can make someone jerk, he can make them speak in another tongue. Satan can give you a joyous expression. He is the mocker and accuser, deceiving the bothers to spread the message of lies to other people. What happens to you if you don’t go to your job in 4 or 5 months? You won’t have one,. What happens when you don’t go to church in 4 or 5 months? We take it for granted with God. Its ok with God. You’ve heard what people say “God knows my heart.” He does. That is why He’s trying to tell you get yourself some teaching; some understanding. Because if not, then you’re going on yesterdays work, trying to build today’s future on yesterdays work. Well what’s wrong with that? If it didn’t work yesterday it won’t work today because new mercies God brings forth every morning. How many wake up every morning?

So its time for us to begin to let go of the old foundation, and clean it and prepare it for a whole new work. The Bible says greater works shall you do because Jesus is gone to the Father. You know what a greater work is? Us sitting here in a basement in Bedford, OH at 10 am, talking to a bunch of people in another country witnessing to them, instructing them and getting them together without having them there. They didn’t have the technical capabilities then that we do now. They had Paul, Timothy, Bartholomew, walking for days or weeks to get to one Church. There were seven churches. A greater work is when you can bring someone from the dead, or when thousands of people can be fed from one basket. But what has not been done is communication from one person to another in another country! The point is these are greater works they never conceived of then. What is another great work? Reaching people in the most isolated places in the world, that don’t have internet, Google, Facebook, Instagram; who can’t text or who don’t have anything. Greater work is when you get up out of your seat, go across the seas and talk to these people. The greatness is when the people receive it, and say they’ve heard and been asking their god to teach them and tell them the truth. That is why the word of God says the harvest is ripe, but the labors are few.

Ain’t nobody doing nothing, because were all in church talking about each other, going to dinner, self devouring, usurping authority, making people jealous of others and the souls are dying. If you allow the Word of God dwell in you richly, you’ll hear the Word of God say to you “there is a brother or sister who will come, go with them.” You’ll hear the voice of God. This is what we do when we hear the voice of God; We ask “is it real?” We’ll be able to hear the voice of God when we stop fighting with one another. Then you can testify to 5 people who heard it, received it, and got baptized in Jesus name. You never would have done that when you fuss and argue with yourself and other people. The work goes undone, but you still try to build on that foundation but you’ve never heard Him and haven’t seen Him in years. If you go out and try to witness to someone else, and you’re jacked up, what will happen?

Jesus said I want you to prepare a place for Me for the Passover. Go to the city, see a man…God will use others to get you to where you should be in Him. Jesus said go and tell them that the Father has need. Sometimes we say we don’t hear the voice of God. Well maybe we need to shut up for a while. I know what His voice sounds like to me, but it may be different for you. You need to find out how He will speak to you. God uses whom He will to get his point across to His child. Little kids will be used in this way. He wants us to get rid of that mentality of trying to go on…you’ve been wound forth last last 45, 50, 60, 70 years. You know how many people in the Church are wounded and they try to say something to someone about Jesus? They know absolutely nothing. If you’re not happy how can you tell that God is ecstatic? If you’re not delivered how can you tell someone else that He delivers. How can you say God is awesome and you’ve never seen His awesomeness. How can He talk to You? Does He have to take a number? This is what we don’t really understand. All the stuff in our past will, and has been, and can become our future.

The word build; to assemble; the way a thing is put together; pattern made up composition; in other words, the material used to build upon; to construct; building. If you’re building a new highway, do you build atop the old highway? No, you take out the old concrete, then level out the soil, then build anew. But we say, why can’t they hurry up and build that high way? If you go over that highway that isn’t reinforced, when you drive over it, you’ll be dead in rubble. They aren’t building on dead works, they are gutting it out and restructuring so they can build on solid foundation. Same with a Child of God, you can’t have all that mess in your life; you can’t carry all that baggage with you and try to witness to someone. You can’t build on anything in your life if you’re still going through other things in your life. If you haven’t been redeemed from the burdens and things in your life that are causing your to be weighed down, you can’t build on it. You don’t want to assemble something atop of shaky ground, you don’t want to pour into something that will leak out. You’re a bucket with a whole in it, because while your walking there is a trail. It could be a trail of devastation, where onlookers will say sister or brother has been though here with their leaking bucket.

We Look at the word Dead: lifeless, deadly; passes away.

We look at the word work:physical labour, effort, metal; physical, its work; time spent; time management.

You can’t build on dead works. You have to get old works out and ask the Lord to clean up the stench in you. What’s in the past is in the past, but my life isn’t connected with that. I’ve been forgiven, and given a new life, direction and focus, now Lord You show me what You want me to do, because now I don’t have all that mess in my ear anymore.

When the presence of the Lord has left a ministry, there can be no rebuilding on the foundation of which that ministry was building. That means the person who started cannot rebuild again. Because Ichabod is not only tied to that location, but that ministry. If they restart it, they are building upon an Ichabod foundation. It will not flourish nor be glorious even though they may talk about it. When the name of Ichabod has been written on your ministry its time for you to go out, go to another ministry and get cleaned up. Then it may be He will open the door for a new ministry and new direction. You can’t build on an old messed up situation. It has become dead.

You build on good foundation. Start afresh, start anew.

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Don’t Let Another Man’s Burden Become Your Test

People have a way of uploading to you their mess. We’ve been allowing people to download mess back and jack us up. The burden of them, what they’re going through becomes our test. Allowing people to put weights upon your life, and then wanting you to deal with it. They dump and dump. Some of us make good dumping grounds. If I dump usually its off of me. But now my burden becomes your test. We have our own to deal with. So if you have some dumping to do, don’t dump it on me. I don’t want the mess you’re in to become my mess. Burden, loads, responsibilities…When you grab a hold of something from someone else, it becomes your responsibility. I don’t want someone else cross to become my burden.

Burden: Greek word is baros meaning load, abundance, authority, weight. Anything pressing on one physical thing.

I understand what you’re going through, but when you take someone else burden it makes a demand on one’s life, spirit, resources, time…most people don’t realize that. When you look at a test. What is a test? Everyone has been to school. When you take a test its a critical examination and evaluation of ones trial. How many have done an evaluation on yourself? Did you find yourself wanting? Lacking? The point is…how often do we admit our failures to ourselves? I have come to the conclusion its a daily battle to exist and a daily war to walk upright before God. Daily. The Bible tells us no one knows what tomorrow will bring. One day you’ll be all together, with inspiration of wisdom, and you think wow, I must be going somewhere. Then the next day, you are miserable and think everyone hates you. The point is that one moment we’re this way, another moment were that way, but we don’t even realize there is a day-to-day life we lead, and live walk and breath. You cannot fix things that moment. You cannot fix things that day or hour or month. Even the world can’t fix problems because it’s not them who are fixers, they are causers.

How many have ever had an evil thought? Think about it, so the negativity in the air is also because of what you thought and did. So, this world is the way it is because of us. We have allowed another man or woman’s burden to become ours and we’ve spread that disease like never before. People use the term, “I hate your guts.” No one’s ever seen your guts, how would you hate someone you’ve never had a gut to gut relationship with? You walk away feeling proud, and then when you walk away you say “why did I say that.” Now you’ve taken over someones problem. Have you ever thought about why you hate an individual? Because it didn’t meet a personal need or physical awareness, because they kept you from being fulfilled by a thing. So you traded your love for hate. How could you love one moment and hate the next? Sometimes we don’t even have to say we hate, we just live a life of hate toward that individual. How many are carrying others burdens right now? How many are in a test today? Did you create that test?

When you look at a test scenario, evaluation of yourself, a lot of times we get mad at a person because it’s expressing who we are. We’ve painted a picture of us being something different, but the truth comes out of what we really are. When our mind has told us that we are what we made ourselves out to be, then we get mad at the person calling us out. Then we inspire others to see our point of view. When we set a trap for ourselves, the Lord tells us to love everyone. But Lord I can’t love someone who treated me bad, talked about me, stabbed me in the back, called me names…sometimes we’ll reap things we’ve done from a long time ago… thought we got away with it, when the Lord says He has a time for us. Then we don’t understand and say “Lord why me? I’m the one that loves You.” As you define love and relationship in your life, what are the elements you use to define love?

How many forgive people? The sort of prayer that says “Lord I forgive them for what they’ve done and what they’re doing.” When you allow the hardship and burden of someone else to become your difficult state, then they become a detriment to yourself. You may not have said it out loud, but you may have acted like it. Its like this…you speak things into existence. Out of your mouth you condementh yourself. And that is just after you sang “I could sing of your love forever.” When you come into the house of God, I don’t want you to leave the same way you came. Most come jacked up, broken, confused, and then whats next? Did I speak about trials earlier…if you didn’t get it right the first time…you’re going to repeat it. And it doesn’t come on a time schedule. It comes when you are doing everything you like under the sun. Weigh it before you say it. Before things come out your mouth out of hatred, anger, lust, even love, make sure you weigh it against the heart and mind of God. Don’t say anything out your mouth that hasn’t been checked. The words that come out of your mouth vibrate. Everything has a vibration to it and it is stored in objects. If you take the test of someone else upon yourself when no one asks you to, then if they get an F, you get an F. Don’t get mad when the result is not positive toward you. Don’t get upset and say “Lord that wasn’t my test it was their test.” The Lord will look at you and say “were you in agreement with them or did you entertain it?” Your test is your test. So if someone is in a test, say I don’t want your test. Your test is a mess. If you aren’t able to bear it, or go through your own personal test, how will you bear it? Another man’s burden will not be mine.

Galatians 6:1-18

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Don’t call someone out of their name, or say you hate their guts or say you can’t stand them. “Galatians 6:5 For every man shall bear his own burden.” “Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” When it says this, it doesn’t mean bear another persons sin. Your walk is your walk. If I see another person going through, I will help, but I won’t bear it. How do you help? By praying that God’s will be done in his life, not to grab it and try to work a will, but to pray that God’s will be done. So if you take on another persons burden in another way other than prayer, it becomes your test, and it’s not what God has given you. Now, you’re bearing another’s burden through prayer because its your brother/sister, don’t get involved. We get sick, they get well and we’re still sick. Don’t hold onto some else’s burden because if they go down hill, so will you.

Jonah was given a command to go to Nineva to preach to the heathen man. The Lord said that if he preached to them, they would repent. He instead took his burden to a great fish. He said swallow me! If you do then I don’t have to say what He has to do. You’d rather be swallowed by a big fish than to do what the Lord told you to do, then you deserve everything coming to you. But the Lord didn’t let that happen. So the fish spat him out. He made a 2 weeks journey in 2 days, and did what God told him. When someone is disobedient to God, don’t be around them, run. When a grenade goes off, does it make distinctions about whom it will blow up? No it blows up everything. So if God is after someone because of their disobedience and you are associated with them, you will take the burden too. Rather you should pray that God deals with them, that God delivers them from themselves.

Why do we go through for someone else’s mess? I want to go through my own trials, because its something I didn’t get right. I don’t want you to go through for me because I won’t get the point. I won’t get it if I don’t go through because the Lord takes us through to make us, not to break us. You can’t go through what another person goes through because God is dealing with them individually. You have to realize you help people better by allowing God to take them through. God is trying to let us know He wants to make us.

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Pushing Towards the Mark

Philippians 3

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

The Bible tells us to count it all joy when you enter into various temptations. During your walk in Christ, you will enter into situations that seem overwhelming. You will encounter individuals in your life, family friends, jobs or just with contact with individuals around you. People are very persuasive in what they believe. They will try to convince you to see this world the way they perceive it. When you don’t accept they will bring about statements of disillusionment. Isolate you, separate you and tag you with names and statements so derogatory to get others to think very negatively about you. They will say things like, “why are they serving a God no one has ever seen?” They will call you a conspiracy theorist. They will so called tag you on social media, give a hastag and say #unreal, #notbelievable. Because as it may be seen, this world knows that they are bound for Hell. To keep from facing that fact, they will surround themselves with individuals who will speak to their desires, not to their needs. When you’re surrounded by a lot of yes people, and no one to say no and challenge you or challenge your lifestyle, then you’re bound for disaster. The Bible says in the last days that people will heap to themselves teachers after their own flesh. In other words go to ministries that titillate your flesh and desires, groups or organizations that make you feel like you’re in control of your own life.

 

The Bible clearly states in Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

 

Don’t allow your past to become your future, what people say about you to deter you from your purpose in God.

 

The Bible says in Ephesians 4:1-3; 21-32

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

No matter what people try to say in saying you don’t have a clue, let them understand that your mind is not confused and you do know who you serve and you do understand that you have to put off those things that you use to be a part of, put away the conversations of that old man. I don’t care what people say about you, as long as you serve our Lord Jesus Christ, you will be talked about, provoked and challenged because you’re going against the norms of this world. Don’t expect the world to love you because they won’t. Your love is hidden in Christ Jesus. Don’t allow them to catch you acting the way you use to because then they can say you are a hypocrite. In simple terms, if you aren’t a duck anymore, quite walking like it and quite quacking. Because some of us have been convinced that the changing of your heart doesn’t mean the changing of your lifestyle. One goes with the other synonymously. How many of you have mentally gone to sleep after having been in a fight, an angry confrontation and put it off saying that they’re the one that had the problem? I say to you, you need to get that clear at that time frame, do not let a day go by because that day gone by will turn out to be days and those days weeks, and those weeks months, and those months years. There are some people who have been angry and upset with individuals for more than 10 years over a stupid matter, thinking they are justified by saying they were right. How will Jesus forgive you for your sins, when you can’t forgive each other? I say to you, renew your mind.

 

The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:2-5

 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 

Pressing toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus. We can’t allow these things to delay our calling in Christ Jesus.

 

Hebrews 12:1

2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

 

 

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You Need to Let it Go

Philippians 3:13

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.

Memory: The power or process of remembering.

If your not careful, your past may become your future. If you are being bound by issues of the past, then those same issues will cause you to be bound in your life in Christ. The only way to obtain forgiveness for these things that cause you to be bound is to place them before God. Not asking for forgiveness leaves it to harbor in your life, and show up in your personal relationships. For example at work, with your children or with your family.
We as a people, if things seem to be going good for our benefit, we tend to block out everything concerning our hurts pains and anguish, right out of our minds. Sometimes we will even hold memories against one another, for the purpose of manipulating or controlling; and such is sorcery. The greek word for control or sorcery is pharmakeia which is where we get our modern word for pharmacy. Pharmakeia equals drugs, magic and witchcraft.

1 Samuel 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee…

Many of us have been practicing witchcraft and sorcery unbeknownst to us. If you continue to do these things they become apart of you. And it becomes a cancer that you spread to others around you. Here are a list of things associated with sorcery:

1)You’ve heard the phrase “I hate you.” The word hate or hatred in greek is echthra, meaning hostilities and bitterness. When you see this it is contrary to being a Child of Christ.
1 John 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

2) Jealously. The greek word for jealously is zelos meaning heat, envy, indignation, emulation, or from the term zeal which means hot or boiled.

3) Dissension. Greek word for dissension dichostasia meaning division and sedition. This word is only mentioned in the bible 3 times in the new testament. Each time it talks about sin. Division and sedition are the tools that Satan uses often; bringing something or someone into your life that causes you to have second thoughts, and in Christ, you can’t have second thoughts. He tries to divide and conquer you for the purpose of breaking you down making you give over to his will. If you are overloaded  with stress, you cant reason, and aren’t receptive to wisdom beneficial to your growth.

4) Fornication. Greek word is pornia which is sexual impurity, and where our modern word porn comes from. It can be spiritual. This includes premarital sex, homosexuality or any sexual activity outside of the sanctity of marriage.
1 Corinthians 6:15-20

5) Uncleanness. Akatharsia meaning impure or foul; demonic.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

These are the questions you need to ask yourself:
a) In any situation, what is your response? Would it be pleasing to God or man? Colossians 3:23 “and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”
b) What would be the consequences of that situation? Galatians 6:1-18
c) Will it be a stumbling block to others? 1 Corinthians 8:1-10
d) Could you thank God for it? Colossians 3 emphases on verse 17
e) Would you be able to ask God to bless it? Proverbs 10:22
d) Would yo want to be doing this when Jesus returns?
f) Have you sought Godly council or advice?
If you answered no to any of these above, then you need to seek the face of God before you go any further.

In conclusion, it is for each child of God to walk out their faith in Him.