Pastor Chuck Salvo

Holiness Fruit of God's People “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ God has called all who would follow Him to be holy Holy-set apart different from the world No turning back, Don’t be like Esau Fornicator or profane-treating Gods business with no importance if we should despise our privileges as Esau did his birth-right, and renounce our religion, it would be impossible to recover what we had lost. There would be no possibility of changing the divine decision in the case, for it would be determined forever. This passage, therefore, should not be alleged to show that a sinner. “cannot repent,” or that he cannot find "place for repentance," or assistance to enable him to repent, or that tears and sorrow for sin would be of no avail, for it teaches none of these things; but it should be used to keep us from disregarding our privileges, from turning away from the true religion, from slighting the favors of the gospel, and from neglecting religion until death comes; because when God has once pronounced a sentence excluding us from his favor, no tears, or pleading, or effort of our own can change him. The sentence which he pronounces on the scoffer, the impenitent, the hypocrite, and the apostate, is one that will abide forever without change. This passage, therefore, is in accordance with the doctrine more than once stated before in this Epistle, that if a Christian should really apostatize it would be impossible that he should be saved; Esau took a position for granted and that is very dangerous “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” II Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.” Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Because of so great a salvation We are called to holiness and denial of flesh which is the ways of this world “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV ‬‬‬‬‬ “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Rendered powerless “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” II Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ As believers we are to put to death self, which is a brutal, violent act from believers who once lived in disobedience. The modern church has become a social club for what will God do for me in 2023. How can me serving God serve my needs? Remember behind idolatry is an actual demon that receives the worship. So we as Christians are to make sure we are putting to death the desires of the devil not using God to get actually what we want. Holiness is not to be sacrificed on an altar for self preservation. He called believers to be disciples, followers! A disciple a follower that would be led to oppose a system that hated God. A system, a breath that opposes the will of the living God. Therefore the only way to stay true to the living God would be to put to death carnality. Apathy and compromise have become the idols of the American Church! Your enemy—-Apathy-Lack of interest or concern, especially regarding matters of general importance or appeal; indifference. Lack of emotion or feeling; impassiveness. Want of feeling; absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement; insensibility; indifference.

Practical Christianity 3 Obedience “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” I John‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Obedience is proof of knowing God “Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.” Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Learn God's ways and paths Life or death is up to us Blessing or curse “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.” Psalms‬ ‭32‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ God's ways first of all are death to self “Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Our desire last are contrary to God's ways. Everyday living must be submitted to God Believers obey in daily living Working “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother." II Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭15‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." I Timothy‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Gambling Love one another Gambling disregards responsible stewardship and the work ethic and involves gain at someone else’s expense. Gambling tends to distract us from actually taking the steps to improve our situation through education, new job, harder work, or new opportunities. Deep down there is a side to us that thinks that all of the wrongs in our lives could be corrected with a big win in the lottery.“If only I won the lottery, I wouldn’t have any more problems.” Even casual gambling is poor stewardship, because that money could go toward something good, like feeding the poor. Instead it’s going toward nothing.There should be no place for even casual, “recreational” gambling in the life of a Christian. Any money, however small, spent on gambling, brings along with it the greed, illusions, and sinful desires that accompany those who gamble large amounts. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or hismanservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exodus 20:17) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10) Giving Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:24) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.(Philippians 2:3-4) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5) Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) Proverbs 3:5 Trust the Lord!

Practical Christianity 2 Applying Gods ways into our daily living! Words and actions A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 2:24-25) Applying Christs ways into our relationships “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John‬ ‭13‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ By love they will know you are His “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Tender- soft or delicate in substance not hard or rough Having a mannerism or mercy toward others Always cutting people slack “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭44‬-‭47‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Friendships • A relationship between a man and a woman must begin as a friendship. • The key to all relationships is communication. • Communication can be verbal or non-verbal. • About 80-90% of all communication is non-verbal. • Women describe friendships in terms of feelings and relationships. • Men describe friendships in terms of activities and accomplishments. Dating and Courtship • Three questions to ask yourself before you go on a date: o What am I trying to accomplish? (Are my motives right?) o How am I going to accomplish those goals? o What are the boundaries I am setting ahead of time? • On a date, are you more concerned about your own happiness or about focusing on the other person? • God’s plan for your life may be for you to be single. (1 Corinthians 7:7-9) • True love is not a feeling; it is a commitment to wanting the best for another person, even at your own expense. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) • As a relationship develops, be careful to recognize the difference between love and physical attraction. • Compatibility is never properly tested by living together. o No commitment = inability to fully trust the other person. o Wrong test = often viewed as mainly sexual compatibility. o People who live together before marriage have an 80% greater chance of divorce than those who didn’t. • The key in a relationship is to love and respect the other person rather than using them. • In a relationship, we all need to establish no trespassing zones. o NTZ’s could also be called the “I will not’s!” o Everyone needs a set of godly standards for conduct. o Call them the “unshakable unbreakables.” • God designed physical contact between men and women to be progressive—it takes tremendous discipline to stop in the middle. o Holding hands can lead to kissing. o Kissing can lead to inappropriate touching. o Inappropriate touching can lead to a sexual relationship. • Be very cautious of promises made during courtship. • Be very cautious of personality and conduct changes observed during courtship and engagement. Marriage • Never marry someone with the thought that you can change them. • Very often, marriages unite people with different temperaments. o One is a thinker and the other is a feeler o One is an extrovert and the other is an introvert o One is structured and the other is more free- flowing o One is intuitive and the other is sensing o One is judging and the other is perceiving o One is a night person and the other is a morning person • The most frequent cause of marital conflict is money. o How to spend it o Saving and giving o Financial accountability to each other • Marriage must be “ours,” not “yours and mine.” • Marriage is forever; divorce is not an option.

Practical Christianity “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Practical Christianity is simply practicing being Christ like in all areas of our life A man leaves his business in the hands of someone to look after things while he is gone. When he returns, he asked the one he left in charge, did you get my letters and read my instructions? Yes, he replied I received them, and I read them. How could it be that this man received the letters and read them, and the business was in such a mess. It is because he read them and did not do anything. What good are reading the letters if you are not going to do anything. “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬-‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Practicing being Christ like…. In words and actions A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1) May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 2:24-25) Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. (James 1:19-21) But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. (Matthew 12:36) “But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.” I Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Practicing be Christ like “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.” I Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil,” Isaiah‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬

Yom Kippur 2023 The Day Of Judgment Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement or the day of Judgement! Holiest day of the Jewish Feasts! The priest would be allowed to enter the Holy of Holies one time a year to atone for the people’s sins It was to be taken seriously as if not the priest could die behind the veil as he entered It is a dress rehearsal feast It is the second coming of Jesus where the wicked are judged Wicked, judged at Christ’s return “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ During Yom Kippur the Jews would read from the book of Jonah Why? Because Yom Kippur or the day of atonement was about repentance Like Jonah who ran from God and tried to ignore his own fault Finally confessed his fault and threw himself in God’s mercy Like Jonah, we often try to cover up our weaknesses and mistakes Like Jonah, we, upon loading the ship, look like we have it together “I’m Good” At Yom Kippur we’re reminded that we are anything but holy We look over the sins that haunt and do not try to cover them up as Adam and Eve covered their shame. The Day of Atonement is about our being able to openly bring our failings to God so that He can remove them. In English, atonement has also been coined “at-one-ment” because it makes us at one with God. A sacrifice for sin is necessary in order for us to have this “at-one-ness” with the Lord “And the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.” Leviticus‬ ‭16‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ We are to confess before a holy God our weakness and seek His atonement We believe that though God sees right through our hearts like He saw through Jonah’s, He still loves us. And Yom Kippur is a chance to celebrate how He has dealt with our sins and healed us through the gift of atonement. 1 John 1:9 “if we confess” God’s plan is not to judge us with the wicked we will escape his day of wrath “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,” Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ “But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.” Jeremiah‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬

Dress Rehearsal, Our Preparation “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Feast of Trumpets will one day kick off the marriage supper of the lamb ‬‬in Rev 19:7-10 John begins to see heaven rejoicing in his vision as he see the marriage supper of the land about to begin Marriage customs of Jesus day point to the plan of God These wedding customs had three major parts. First, a marriage contract was signed by the parents of the bride and the bridegroom, and the parents of the bridegroom or the bridegroom himself would pay a dowry to the bride or her parents. This began what was called the betrothal period—what we would today call the engagement. This period was the one Joseph and Mary were in when she was found to be with child The second step in the process usually occurred much later, when the bridegroom, accompanied by his male friends, went to the house of the bride. If he came in the night, he and his companions would create a torchlight parade through the streets. The bride would know in advance this was going to take place, and so she would be ready with her maidens, and they would all join the parade and end up at the bridegroom’s home. This custom is the basis of the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13. Matt 22:1 a king throws a wedding feast for his son Good and bad King came to see the guests-inspect A man without a wedding garment An exclusion from the marriage supper Throw that man to outer darkness This parable was about preparation for the marriage Matthew 25 10 virgins In order to understand this parable, we must remember that here is an allusion John 14:1 Jesus shares of His leaving and returning I go to prepare a new lace for you! In a marriage a father during the betrothal would prepare a home for the new couple. The disciples would know this custom. Be prepared Marriage supper The Lord has gone to prepare a place! For 2000 years souls have been being invited in While we live we are preparing our lives for. An eternity with the King “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”. II Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Becoming more like Jesus! “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” II Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ ‬‬ People who practice certain things will not enter or inherit the Kingdom (1 Corinthians 6:9-10), and even Revelation lists those that aren’t invited to the party (Revelation 21:8). “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” I Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”. Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ The secret to escaping condemnation (and, more importantly, being in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb) is to stay in Christ, walking by the Spirit and be ready for the trumpet sound! “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, And in Your favor our horn is exalted.” Psalms‬ ‭89‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Hidden Day! “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭41‬-‭44‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ Jesus was approaching Jerusalem and what was happening was hidden from them because they didn’t recognize the time of His visitation The 5th feast of Israel is called the feast of Trumpets Yom Hakeseh – The Hidden Day / It was ‘hidden’ because they didn’t know the exact day it would begin due to the fact that it is the only feast that starts on a new moon. Thus it was a two day feast because they didn’t want to celebrate it on the wrong day. Concerning Rosh HaShanah, the Jews would typically say “Of that day and hour no one knows.” Yom Teruah - biblical name is this! A worldly view from Babylon is that this is their new year! A diabolical attack to cover or conceal its true purpose kind of like Easter would to the resurrection “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.” Leviticus‬ ‭23‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Because was the first day of moon cycle no one new the exact day it would appear Matthew 25:36. No one knows the day nor the hour Therefore this feast was hidden, it would cause the seeker to be prepared as he awaits the revealing of the moon in order to celebrate If one was not concerned or distracted he would not prepare The coming of Messiah 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.” So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.” Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice.” Exodus‬ ‭19‬:‭13‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:50-52) Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long psalm 89:15 “Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For you will be covered with the morning dew, and the earth will bring out the departed spirits. (Isaiah 26:19) Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.” (Malachi 3:16-17) “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.”Acts‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. (Psalm 27:5) Stay alert ““Be on guard and stay constantly alert [and pray]; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who when he left home put his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and also ordered the doorkeeper to be continually alert. Therefore, be continually on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— [stay alert,] in case he should come suddenly and unexpectedly and find you asleep and unprepared. What I say to you I say to everyone, ‘Be on the alert [stay awake and be continually cautious]!’ ” Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭33‬-‭37‬ ‭AMP‬‬‬‬‬‬

I Should be disqualified...But God! “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am. I Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ By the grace of God I am what I am! Like Paul when we look at our past is disqualifies us from any sense of demand that we may place on God! We have no room to think we are deserving! Paul said I am the least Paul said I am not worthy Unworthy before God of anything “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ John 8:1 woman caught in adultery Before she was caught she wasn’t thinking about being guilty or worthy But when she was caught and when she was going to have to be made accountable fear gripped her soul Why was Paul not worthy? Because He persecuted the church Paul said He was not worthy of a position of an Apostle in the church because He persecuted the church The devil will always bring up your past sin to try to disqualify you from your place! I am the least, I am not worthy, because! But! The grace of God! The grace of God overrides Paul’s guilt! Paul battled his guilt daily His guilt for his past plagued him and would have paralyzed him if he would have believed it But instead he trusted in the grace of God Grace comes thru the death of Christ Jesus I am what I am! “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” II Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ I am what I am A new creation in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Christ has made me! “Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Paul said I am what I am by His grace Your past does not define your position Only through unbelief can we be disqualified When we believe the doubts and do not trust in Christ's grace I should be disqualified, but I am what I am !

Ignoring the Holy Spirit God has given us His precious Holy Spirit to be with us and bring into our heavenly home. Holy Spirit is to be honored and never ignored. Subtle advances from the enemy destroys the life of the branches as the enemy desires to get us separated from the vine “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” I Corinthians‬ 3:16 “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”Romans‬ 5:5 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God.” I Corinthians‬ 2:12 “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” II Corinthians‬ 1:22 Holy Spirit is in you to guide you in the culture of heaven and to bring you to your eternal dwelling “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; John‬ 6:13 Many ignore the Spirit within them and do not give Him the proper honor Ignore-to refuse to pay attention to: to be ignorant of or not be acquainted with “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah‬ 7:12 Ignore is to rebel against the Spirit Rebel-reject or resist or ride to arms against one’s government A rebel- one who does not like rules or authority and shows this by behaving differently from society A person opposed to a political system in their country We are called to proclaim Gods culture on earth through His Spirit God a jealous God “Take heed to yourselves, lest you forget the covenant of the Lord your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the Lord your God has forbidden you. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy‬ 4:23-24 “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth." Deuteronomy‬ 6:13-15 “But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.” Joshua‬ 24:19-20 Consequences of ignoring the Holy Spirit “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them." Isaiah‬ 63:10 Christians can grieve! ‬‬“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30‬ “Do not quench the Spirit.” I Thessalonians‬ 5:19 “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29‬ LED by the Indwelling Spirit “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” Psalms‬ 143:10 Matt 4:1 Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,” Luke‬ 2:25-27 “Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” Acts‬ 8:29 “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Acts‬ 10:19-20 “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts‬ 13:2 “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.” Acts‬ 16:6-7 “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.” Acts 20:22-23‬ Gal 2:20 No longer I!

The Person of Holy Spirit The 3rd person of the Godhead is the Holy Spirit and is so precious that to sin against Him holds great condemnation “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark‬ ‭3‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭26‬-‭29‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Moses tells the people of the Holy Spirit Exodus 23:20 I am going to send my Angel. Just like Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬ ‬‬ Jesus says he will send the Spirit..“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. John‬ ‭15‬:‭26‬ ‬‬ “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.” John‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Jesus came and provided atonement and then leaves so Holy Spirit can come and provide power! “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” I Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” I Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Strong jealous for Holy Spirit within believers “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” I Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬ ‭‬‬‬ Holy Spirit is in you and precious to the Father! “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭26‬-‭29‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” John‬ ‭6‬:‭63‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Zechariah 12:10 Spirit of supplication “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ John 16:13 Spirit of Truth “If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” I Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‬‬

Clipped Wings! Wing clipping is the process of trimming a bird's primary wing feathers or remiges so that it is not fully flight-capable “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.” Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭2 ‬‬‬ Reverence-Humility and Obedience “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭8‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Full of eyes front and back and their wings has eyes around and within This should be inscribed within every believer to have a continual gaze upon the Lord with continual reverence and at the same time continual humility and always a readiness and passionate obedience to the promptings of the Spirit Eyes before them to behold Christ and His Glory Eyes are meant to see! Eyes behind them to be guarding against the enemies of God trying to rob such great revelation of God The Revelation vision adds eyes to this revealing, warning us of end time temptations Temptations are sly and subtle Seemingly to the one under them if they are on the verge of sleep will fall into enemy hands These eyes beholding the glory are a sign of eyes that can see and not blinded. We are called to never loose sight of His throne Compromise will blind “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”. II Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Revelation‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‬‬ Because of their attendance to this great revelation they could not stop serving through obedience. Obedience was as natural as breathing They inhaled the breath of God and exhaled obedience As long as you are beholding Him you can never stop. There is no rest! You never retract! Go backwards! Backsliding is blasphemous “Do not quench the Spirit.” I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Quench-to put out or extinguish or suppress Quenching the Spirit is a manifestation of lost sight of the throne The Spirit brings life John 6:63 Suppressing the Spirit is to not walk in Obedience to the Spirit which takes place through fleshly appetites overriding our spirit because of our faint vision of the throne. Our loss of reverence and humility clips our wings to fly!

The Latter Rain “Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you— The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.” Joel‬ ‭2:23-24‬ ‭NKJV ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ I would like to paint upon the heart and mind through the Word Of God that the latter rain will be greater than the former “Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.” Hosea‬ ‭6:3‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ There are two rains talked about in the Word! Prior to the Lord's return will be a latter rain “‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭11:13-14‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication;.” Zechariah‬ ‭12:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ House of David is the church Spirit of grace-a fresh conviction and expression to live holy and separated Spirit of supplication-‬‬The word supplication is never used in the Bible except to denote a cry or prayer that is vocalized. In other words, it is not private or merely a meditation. Supplication has to do with the voice! The Hebrew word for “supplication” signifies "an olive branch wrapped with wool, or some kind of cloth, waved by a supplicant seeking peace or surrender." These were called “branches of supplication.” Simply put, they were flags of surrender. They signified a cry of total, unconditional surrender. We have been promised a latter rain prior to the return of Yeshua! What does this outpouring look like? “I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” Jeremiah‬ ‭31:14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Satiate-to satisfy fully or to provide someone with more than enough Satiate the soul They will come in this endtime harvest and be satisfied “Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the Lord— For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, And they shall sorrow no more at all. “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.” Jeremiah‬ ‭31:12-13‬ ‭NKJV ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ There will be Abundant joy Job 8:21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughing and your lips with rejoicing Ecclesiastes 10:19 a feast is made for laughter John 10:10 life more abundantly Acts 2:19 a sign in the earth below. Cannot God give signs or does a person feel we are to have no expression when God touches His people? “When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad.” Psalms‬ ‭126:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ In this latter rain outpouring there will be expression. A total deliverance from the oppression of the age. Demonic powers have placed a blanket over peoples lives and their emotions. Many are sick in body and in mind and peace and rest have left them. But this latter day rain will revive them! It will be like nothing this world has ever seen. To the natural mind it will be uncomfortable. To the religious mind-flesh. There will be expression because when we are liberated there will be expression when in His presence. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried(had to be expressed)to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” Isaiah‬ ‭6:1-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation‬ ‭4:1-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.” Daniel‬ ‭7:9-10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Clouds and darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Psalms‬ ‭97:2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.” II Chronicles‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Anointing! Needed for Serving! “But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.” Acts‬ ‭28:3-5‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬ God has called all humanity to walk in the supernatural. The anointing makes the difference. It separates Gods people from the world. The devil hates those marked with Gods anointing. What is the anointing? Anointing is the burden removing and yoke breaking power of God. Anointing is what empowers a man or a woman to function supernaturally. Anointing is that which enables you to do supernatural things. God's ability on your inability Exodus 30:25. “And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony;” Anointing oil was used to set apart unto God as holy “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us.”. II Chronicles‬ ‭29‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ The anointing covers us and keeps Gods wrath from us. It marks us! It is the oil! “that no flesh should glory in His presence.” I Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has given them up to trouble, to desolation, and to jeering, as you see with your eyes. For indeed, because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword; and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity. “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.”. II Chronicles‬ ‭29‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Prophet and kings were anointed for service! Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. “and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 2 Kings 2 Elisha Desired a double portion of Elijah's anointing. Duet 21:7 says, “he shall acknowledge the firstborn … by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.” The firstborn son was to receive twice as much of an inheritance as any other son in the family “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” IJohn‬ ‭2:20‬‬‬‬‬‬ 1 John 2:27 the anointing you have received from him “I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him. “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted.” Psalms‬ ‭89:20-24‬ ‬‬‬‬‬ “It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” Isaiah‬ ‭10:27‬‬‬‬‬‬ We are anointed by God to: Be delivered from devils to live holy Commune with God ‭witness ‬‬‬‬‬ Lay hands on the sick Engage the culture and make a difference.

The Anointing! Needed for Serving! “But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.” Acts‬ ‭28:3-5‬ ‬‬‬‬ God has called all humanity to walk in the supernatural. The anointing makes the difference. It separates Gods people from the world. The devil hates those marked with God's anointing. What is the anointing? Anointing is the burden removing and yoke breaking power of God. Anointing is what empowers a man or a woman to function supernaturally. Anointing is that which enables you to do supernatural things. God's ability on your inability Exodus 30:25. “And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony;” Anointing oil was used to set apart unto God as holy Prophet and kings were anointed for service! Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 2 Kings 2 Elisha Desired a double portion of Elijahs anointing. Duet 21:7 says, “he shall acknowledge the firstborn … by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his.” The firstborn son was to receive twice as much of an inheritance as any other son in the family “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” I John‬ ‭2:20‬‬‬‬ 1 John 2:27 the anointing you have received from him “I have found My servant David; With My holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand shall be established; Also My arm shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. I will beat down his foes before his face, And plague those who hate him. “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him, And in My name his horn shall be exalted.” Psalms‬ ‭89:20-24‬ ‬‬‬ “It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” Isaiah‬ ‭10:27‬‬‬‬ We are anointed by God to: Be delivered from devils to live holy Commune with God ‭witness ‬‬‬ Lay hands on the sick Engage the culture and make a difference.

Send Me! “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Isaiah had a Vision Vision communicated a blue print and had purpose Isaiah saw the exalted King He saw Seraphim with 6 Wings He saw their reverence and humility and their desire to serve “If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses. Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Don’t backslide The effect of Isaiah’s vision pricked his heart of his own personal sin! Isaiah’s experience caused him to repent and confess and his sin was burned away Fire is purifying The coal was taken from the altar Christ on the altar and then the Fire of the Holy Ghost purifies the believer This experience caused Isaiah to be ready for service God seeks volunteers Christ died for our sins which should cause men to say what do you want from me? Galatians 2:20 No longer I Prophet then commissioned after he accepted and cried send me But it wasn’t to do great things but actually prophecy that Israel would sink deeper into sin To some more susceptible souls his message would be a true divine voice, rousing them like a trumpet, and that effect was what God desired; but to the greater number it would deepen their torpor and increase their condemnation. If men love darkness rather than light, the coming of the light works only judgment. Isaiah here’s God say they will be judged and destroyed as a nation but then hope. A stump would be left and from that stump a messiah Our response to the vision of God is obedience despite the garbage that comes with it Jesus for the joy set before him endured the cross Through much tribulation we enter the kingdom “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”. Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬

Burning Ones “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” Isaiah‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Seraphim-burning ones or flaming ones Their burning appearance were intended to signify, 1st, Their nature, which is bright and glorious, subtle and pure; and, 2d, Those qualities of fervent love to God, and zeal for his glory and service, which they possess. “Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire.” Psalms‬ ‭104‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ They had wings of Reverence They covered their faces These burning creatures when they were confronted with the Divine nature were impressed to cover their faces because of a light so great as if they in comparison had no light at all the Christian danger is to weaken the sense of the majesty and splendour and separation of God from His creatures. Confidence to come into the presence by the blood but at the same time a reverence and fear of the Lord We must not loose our reverence in our confidence These angels cried Holy! They realized their comparison and cried out! As the 24 elders in Revelation fell on their faces If a Seraph hides his face should not we Reverence is toward God and then humility is my view of me in light of that reverent Wings of Humility The wings of these Seraphim did not hide their feet from the all seeing eyes of God “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭7‬-‭12‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ it was the instinctive lowly sense of unworthiness that folded them across the feet, even though they, too, burned as a furnace The nearer we get to God, the more we shall be aware of our limitations and unworthiness, Pride of our fiery position is only because we have lost sight of the throne of God Isaiah beheld The Lord and cried out Woe! Everything looks black beside that sovereign whiteness Wings of service With two the Seraphim flew Served him with enthusiasm, passion, joy Whoever comes into the presence of this Holy God will sense an impulse to cover his face , to cover his feet and an overwhelming impulse to run and serve Not to fly is sin “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.”. I John‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ We have a higher calling than the Seraphim! They were not redeemed as we have We should serve with greater passion than they “O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds. I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people, In the courts of the Lord’s house, In the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!” Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ We worship not only crying out Holy but we run in obedience Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you. Duet 5:33 1 Peter 4:10-11 - “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Galatians 5:13 - “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Send me was the cry of Isaiah In His presence There is joy beyond measure And at His feet Peace of mind can still be found And if you have a need I know He has the answer Reach out and claim it, you are standing on holy ground As I walked through the door, I sensed His presence, and I knew this was the place where love abounds For this is the temple, Jehovah God abides here, and we are standing in His presence on holy ground

Blood Purifies the Worshipper Everything I offer God outside of the blood is offensive “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”. Hebrews‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ The blood clothes us with humility A cry for the blood is an admittance that one needs cleansing which in turn is a humbling of oneself “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Even our worship must be clothed in the blood or it is offensive “And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error(irreverence); and he died there by the ark of God.”. II Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’” Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Humility cries out because you know you or your works are not enough Faith must be In The cross “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,” Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬-‭25‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ All are guilty before God and faith in the blood cleanses the conscious of the worshipper David’s guilt kept him from the building the tabernacle “but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.” I Chronicles‬ ‭22‬:‭8‬-‭9‬‬‬‬ “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Come Down From That Tree” (Luke 19:1-10) NLT Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Part I Now you might not be in a tree right now, but you're just like Zacchaeus...you're watching from a distance. You're spectating. You're on the back row. You've heard about the miracles. Your family members & peers have told you about this man Jesus. You've heard the testimonies. But for some reason you're just not fully convinced. You're hesitant or cautious. You're afraid to jump in. Maybe you're insecure. I'm sure Zacchaeus was insecure about his height. He probably was told all his life you're too short, and as if that wasn't enough, he had people that hated him because he was a tax collector and people despised tax collectors back in those times. But also he felt conviction as well, especially finally coming face to face with this Holy man that they called the Messiah, the Son of God. In the verse we see Zacchaeus confessing his sins to the Lord without the Lord even pointing them out. We see repentance, which is the key ingredient for salvation. The Lord wants you to come to him just as you are, no mask, no pretending and with all humility. Stop watching and start living. You see, when Zacchaeus went up the tree, he was an observer, when he came down, he was a participant! Part II ☆Showed an illustration of being an observer versus being a participant. Some of yall have been coming to this church…..service after service, week after week, year after year, and you're still just an OBSERVER. During praise & worship, just observing, not participating. Jesus is wanting to come and be a guest in your home and when I say your home I mean YOU. Are you not the temple? Today, the Lord is saying...when are you gonna come down from that tree? Part III John 10:10 Jesus said… “I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly.” Matt 7:7 says… “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” You can't keep hanging in the tree, you can't keep sitting in your seat, you can't keep staying in your comfort zone, you can't keep watching other people get blessed, get healed, get breakthroughs, come down from that tree and experience it for yourself! Some of us have been at the same level of faith for 5, 10, 15 years. At some point we gotta get pass needing Pastor to pray for you or Deacon Rudy to lay hands on you. LAY HANDS ON YOURSELF!!! Now there could be many reasons of what is still keeping you in the tree. Fear of man, not feeling worthy, or possibly the fear of failure. None of those are valid reasons for not climbing down. When Jesus calls you...its for His glory, not yours. And once He calls you...that's when the real journey begins! 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” So I ask you...are you ready to come down?

What You Do With The Truth Matters In Acts 24 we read of Governor Felix whom Paul would stand before to give a defense against those who had him incarcerated for sedition Sedition-conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of a state or a nation Paul was preaching Jesus is King Felix-Felix and his brother had been favourite slaves of the Emperor, and so had won great power at court. At the date of this incident he had been for some five or six years the procurator of the Roman province of Judaea; and how he used his power the historian Tacitus tells us in one of his bitter sentences, in which he says, ‘He wielded his kingly authority with the spirit of a slave, in all cruelty and lust.’ His wife Drusilla, he drew away from her husband, and his court was filled with blood and drunkenness Paul is brought before the court, he knows the lifestyle of those before him and uses the opportunity to not only defend himself but does not sugar coat it to bring conviction to his hearers. Never allow fear of man to deter the message or water it down “Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”. I Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭1‬:‭17‬‬‬ Unlikely people can stand before us to speak truth Here God speaks to Felix and Drusilla to stop them in their madness and sin through Paul a prisoner Jesus puts mud on blind man “The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”. John‬ ‭9‬:‭30‬-‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Felix puts off the first account with Paul and on a second occasion with his wife Drusilla hears him talk of Righteousness, self control and the judgment to come Righteousness-Paul is sharing with people who knew nothing of these topics Right with God. There is a God that we must be right with Paul would place the medicine directly on the soar. Self control-those before him had committed adultery yet Paul talks to them about lustful sin and our responsibility in the culture not to take off our reservations but to refrain from them Judgment to come-all will be judged in the future. It is a natural thing for justice even in this life for order etc. How much more in eternity? Felix trembles at Paul’s words “Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, “Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.” Acts‬ ‭24‬:‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Hearers only are not saved but those who heed the words of this gospel ““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ When is the gospel convenient? Conscience, then, was not dead for Felix , but its voice was silenced by the will which would not listen; he shows a certain measure of respect for him, but he postpones acting “till a more convenient season,” and so becomes the type of the millions whose spiritual life is ruined by a like procrastination The gospel of Jesus demands action! Demands allegiance!

Looking Beyond “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ What are you focused on? Focus-The distinctness or clarity of an image rendered by an optical system. Whatever you’re focused on will manifest in one’s life whether good or bad Genesis 30:29 Jacob was focused and placed even objects around him to keep him focused Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the sheep 30:41 ““And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted.” Genesis‬ ‭31‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Your focus will determine what’s in your heart “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs‬ ‭23‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Focus not on things that are seen but on things that are beyond what you can see Kingdom treasure Provision Healing Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven Dreaming is looking beyond For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Subject to change We must look at preceding verse “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” II Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Speak what you see beyond “And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,” II Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬

The Majestic God The reality of God is shown to us all around! Truthfully is doesn’t take far to look to see that God is real. Unless of course you shut your eyes. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” Psalms‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Firmament-the arch or vault over the earth and sky that separates the earthly realm from what is beyond. “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.” Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭22‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬ “For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land.” Psalms‬ ‭95‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ We are to meditate on who He is and as we do can anything become greater than He? “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions— This great and wide sea, In which are innumerable teeming things, Living things both small and great. There the ships sail about; There is that Leviathan Which You have made to play there. These all wait for You, That You may give them their food in due season. What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good. You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; May the Lord rejoice in His works. He looks on the earth, and it trembles; He touches the hills, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord. May sinners be consumed from the earth, And the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Praise the Lord!” Psalms‬ ‭104‬:‭24‬-‭35‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ No excuse “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,” Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” Psalms‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ This majestic God created me and you “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭14‬-‭18‬ ‬‬‬ “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,” Psalm‬ ‭8‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬

Ignoring the Holy Spirit “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” I Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God.” I Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” II Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Holy Spirit is in you to guide you in the culture of heaven and to bring you to your eternal dwelling “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; John‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: “Where is He who brought them up out of the sea With the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them, Who led them by the right hand of Moses, With His glorious arm, Dividing the water before them To make for Himself an everlasting name, Who led them through the deep, As a horse in the wilderness, That they might not stumble?” As a beast goes down into the valley, And the Spirit of the Lord causes him to rest, So You lead Your people, To make Yourself a glorious name.” Isaiah‬ ‭63‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ ““Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice; do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your transgressions; for My name is in Him. But if you indeed obey His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off.” Exodus‬ ‭23‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ Many ignore the Spirit within them and do jot give Him the proper honor Ignore-to refuse to pay attention to: to be ignorant of or not be acquainted with: “Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Ignore is to rebel against the Spirit Rebel-reject or resist or ride to arms against one’s government A rebel- one who does not like rules or authority and shows this by behaving differently from society A person opposed to a political system in their country We are called to proclaim God's culture on earth through His Spirit Consequences of ignoring the Holy Spirit “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; So He turned Himself against them as an enemy, And He fought against them.” Isaiah‬ ‭63‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬ Christians can grieve! ‬‬“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Do not quench the Spirit.” I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ ““You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭51‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬

Heavenly Mindedness “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” II Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ The pursuit of the righteous is a pursuit for a kingdom that you cannot see. It is a kingdom within and is a kingdom in which you know will one day become a reality. So much so that nothing would ever get you to break away from it. “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” II Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”. Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Jonathan Edwards said, “It becomes us to spend this life only as a journey toward heaven . . . to which we should subordinate all other concerns of life. Why should we labor for or set our hearts on anything else, but that which is our proper end and true happiness? In his early twenties, Edwards composed a set of life resolutions. One read, “Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can.” Unfortunately, many believers find no joy when they think about heaven. I think God wants us to ponder not simply where we go when we die, but where we will live with Christ forever. Scripture tells us we should be “looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). God has not abandoned His original design and plan for humanity to rule the earth for His glory. One day, He will reverse the curse and restore what was corrupted by sin. He will come down to dwell with His people on the new earth, bringing His throne, and heaven itself, with Him (Rev. 21:1–4; 22:3). No wonder Scripture makes clear that the one central business of this life is to prepare for the next. What we need is a generation of heavenly minded people who see human beings and the earth not simply as they are, but as God intends them to be. Knowing that our destiny is to live as redeemed, righteous people on a redeemed, righteous earth with our righteous Redeemer should be a powerful incentive to call upon His strength to live righteously today. “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬

Blinding Power of Pride Pride has blinding power! It blinds us from the reality of our true sinful state and opens our lives up to sin and compromise. Compromise will bring destruction. As we are about to see in The life of the great King Solomon he started out strong and ended bad. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬ “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.” Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬ Solomon’s beginnings Son of Bathsheba 1 Kings 3:3. Solomon loved the Lord God appears to him “At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”. 1 Kings‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Wealth of Solomon 1 Kings 4:20-end Solomon begins to build the temple of God/God's instruction “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.” 1 Kings‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Solomon’s work force “Solomon also had 70,000 burden-bearers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hill country, besides Solomon’s 3,300 chief officers who were over the work, who had charge of the people who carried on the work.” 1 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Solomon completes temple and God shows up “And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.” 1 Kings‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Solomon’s 2nd visit. “As soon as Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king’s house and all that Solomon desired to build, the Lord appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon. And the Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you have made before me. I have consecrated this house that you have built, by putting my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time. And as for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my rules, then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ But if you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land that I have given them, and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight, and Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. And this house will become a heap of ruins. Everyone passing by it will be astonished and will hiss, and they will say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ Then they will say, ‘Because they abandoned the Lord their God who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt and laid hold on other gods and worshiped them and served them. Therefore the Lord has brought all this disaster on them.’” 1 Kings‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Kings and queens overwhelmed with Solomon’s wealth and prosperity “Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.” 1 Kings‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Solomon’s divided heart “Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.” 1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Why did t Solomon repent after the 1st or even 2nd foreign wife? Why was He not listening to his conscience? 700 wives and 300 concubines “He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods.” 1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Bad decisions didn’t cause problem immediately but when he was old Pride's results do not show up many times until years later Solomon confronted by God “And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.” 1 Kings‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ God's Word to Solomon was spoken early on and expected to be upheld We easily forget God showed himself twice to him yet he quickly forgot God and was lured into bondage by his sinful choices Comfort and pride led to his downfall. Do not allow God's blessing to give you permission to fall away

Pride Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23–24) LGBTQ community has labeled June Pride month Pride-A sense of one's own proper dignity or value; self-respect…..Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association……Arrogant or disdainful conduct or treatment; haughtiness. Is Pride a good thing? “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.” Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.” Proverbs‬ ‭8‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.” Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Today in our culture mankind has elevated this month to shake its fist at God and to declare its independence from God and Gods commandments. For the LGBTQ it is a declaration to be free from morality and to be as you feel you are Pride attacks conviction, guilt for perversion. Pride attacks shame that is natural to shameful behavior As the breath of this spirit is released through the earth and welcomed rather than resisted it gives way to destruction. You do not get to pick and choose what evil spirits come with it. A breath of evil has blanketed the earth and now the earth is also plunged into a breath to be independent of the Living God is a greater measure Believers who obviously would fight against any evil attempt of wickedness will find themselves tormented in their minds because these demons have been released over the earth. Pride is an enemy to a follower of Jesus As seriously dangerous as pride is, it’s equally hard to spot. When it comes to diagnosing our hearts, those of us who have the disease of pride have a challenging time identifying our sickness. Pride infects our eyesight, causing us to view ourselves through a lens that colors and distorts reality. Pride will paint even our ugliness in sin as beautiful and commendable. Jonathan Edwards…It is by spiritual pride that the mind defends and justifies itself in other errors and defends itself against light by which it might be corrected and reclaimed. The spiritually proud man thinks he is full of light already and feels that he does not need instruction, so he is ready to ignore the offer of it.On the other hand, the humble person is like a little child who easily receives instruction. He is cautious in his estimate of himself, sensitive as to how liable he is to go astray. If it is suggested to him that he is going astray, he is most ready to check into the matter. Spiritual pride takes many forms and shapes, one under another, and encompasses the heart like the layers of an onion: when you pull off one, there is another underneath. Therefore, we have need to have the greatest watch imaginable over our hearts with respect to this matter and to cry most earnestly to the great Searcher of hearts for His help. He that trusts his own heart is a fool. Signs of pride in our own hearts Fault finding with others -Spiritual pride causes one to speak of other persons' sins, their enmity against God and His people, or with laughter and levity and an air of contempt, while pure Christian humility disposes either to be silent about them or to speak of them with grief or pity. A harsh spirit-proud persons to speak of almost everything they see in others in the most harsh, severe language. Putting on pretense - Spiritual pride often causes persons to act different in external appearance,He does not try to set himself up to be viewed and observed as one distinguished, as desiring to be accounted better than others — despising their company or conformity to them — but on the contrary, desires to become all things to all men, to yield to others and conform to them and please them in all but sin Takes offense easily-Spiritual pride takes great notice of opposition and injuries that are received and is prone to be often speaking of them and to be much in taking notice of their aggravation, either with an air of bitterness or contempt.Pure and unmixed Christian humility, on the other hand, causes a person to be more like his blessed Lord when reviled: quiet, not opening his mouth, but committing himself in silence to Him who judges righteously. For the humble Christian, the more the world is against him, the more silent and still he will be, unless it is in his prayer closet, and there he will not be still. Presumption before God- work out salvation with fear and trembling Hunger for attention-Another effect of spiritual pride is to make the subject of it want attention. People often tend to act in a special manner as though others ought to take great notice and regard of them. It is very natural to a person that is very much under the influence of spiritual pride to take all the respect that is paid to him.If others show a disposition to submit to him and yield in deference to him, he is open to it and freely receives it. It becomes natural for him to expect such treatment and to take much notice if a person fails to do so, and to have an ill opinion of those who do not give him that which he feels he deserves. Pride is hungry for attention, respect, and worship in all its forms. Maybe it sounds like shameless boasting about ourselves. Maybe it’s being unable to say “no” to anyone because we need to be needed. Maybe it looks like obsessively thirsting for marriage — or fantasizing about a better marriage — because you’re hungry to be adored. Maybe it looks like being haunted by your desire for the right car or the right house or the right title at work: all because you seek the glory that comes from men, not God. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23–24)