Pastor Chuck Salvo

What’s it Take to Follow Jesus Jesus calls all who desire eternal life to Follow Him Eternal life- Ecclesiastes 3:11 says God has put eternity in our hearts “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John‬ ‭11‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.” 1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ The opposite of life is death “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” II Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ So those He calls to eternal life He calls to Follow Follow- to go after or proceed from behind, to go after in pursuit “And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭18‬-‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Two entirely different responses to the call of Christ! The first–an enthusiastic response saying “I’m all in.” The second- an apathetic compromising response to expose the individuals true spiritual condition The first responder was saying “I’m all in” or “Let’s do this!” Notice he wasn’t asked to follow but on his own Assumed invitation The Lord discerns a superficial commitment that must be exposed such is the person called but a Rash Disciple Acting without due consideration and results in excessive haste The Lord discernments were met with an appropriate response. The Lord knows the heart and this man sounded like one who speaks without counting the cost. He most likely has seen the miracles and wonders and wants to be a part of it. Jesus brings reality to his confession As His follower a person will not be met with comfort many times. “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭25‬-‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ Following Jesus will cost! Comfort! What are you seeking? Pleasure? Success? Followers focus on Jesus despite whatever the cost may be This scribe was most likely very sincere and resolute Many resolutions (firm and determined) for religion are produced by sudden conviction, and taken up without due consideration; The second responder was hesitant Excuses are met with an immediate response from the Lord as if to say “there is no excuse for not following me now! This one was asked by the Lord to Follow! Luke’s account said the Lord asked this person to follow and was told to preach the gospel “Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭60‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ He was called by the Lord to an assignment and the call was met with excuses Luke 14:15-24 many made excuses All the reasons that are given come to one and the same thing-viz. occupation with present interests, duties, possessions, or affections. There are differences in the excuses which are not only helps to the vividness of the narrative, but also express differences in the speakers. One man is a shade politer than the others. He puts his refusal on the ground of necessity. He ‘must,’ and so he courteously prays that he may be held excused. The second one is not quite so polite; but still there is a touch of courtesy about him too. He does not pretend necessity as his friend had done, but he simply says, ‘I am going’; and that is not quite so courteous as the former answer, but still he begs to be excused. The last man thinks that he has such an undeniable reason that he may be as brusque as he likes, and so he says, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come’ and I do not make any apologies. So with varying degrees of apparent recognition of the claims of host and feast, the ground of refusal is set forth as possessions in two cases, and as affections in the third; and these so fill the men’s hearts and minds that they have no time to attend to the call that summons them to the feast. Excuse- man had bought a field. The field would not run away. It would still be there tomorrow If the first of the persons here invited had had so important an affair to transact as the purchasing of a farm, or the second the buying of five yoke of oxen, or the third the marrying of a wife, and if these affairs had come upon them unexpectedly, the very evening they had promised to spend at their rich neighbour’s house; but especially if these affairs could not have been delayed without missing the opportunity of doing them, their excuses would have been reasonable. But none of all these was the case. The farm and the oxen were already purchased, and the wife was married; so that the seeing of the farm, and the proving of the oxen, were pieces of unreasonable curiosity, which might easily have been deferred till next morning. And with respect to the new-married man’s pretending that he could not leave his wife for a few hours, it was such an excess of fondness as was perfectly ridiculous; not to mention that he ought to have thought of this, when the invitation was sent him the preceding day. Wherefore, their refusing so late to come to their rich friend’s supper, on such trifling pretences, was the height of rudeness, King Jesus makes the invitation to follow Him and it must be met with utmost sober conviction with sincerity “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭44‬-‭46‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬

Going Deeper Matt14:22-32. Peter walks on water Peter sees Jesus doing the supernatural and wants to join Him Jesus did not rebuke him for his desire to walk on water he encouraged it Peter responds to the invitation but when he gets out into the water he gets distracted and fails The Lord rebukes his doubt Peter wanted to move in another deeper dimension Our walk with God is progressive Progressive-moving forward, proceeding in steps, continuing steadily by increments I was saved, being saved and will be saved. I was delivered, I al being delivered and I will be delivered. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” II Peter‬ This is not saying we are adding these things. God adds them as we give all diligence to. God works the work but only if we are diligent Add to; or, minister unto; or it may be a metaphor taken from the ancient way of dancing, in which they joined hands one with another, thereby helping and holding up one another. Faith is here set forth as the first grace, and which (as it were) leads up, the rest following it, and attending upon it, yet all in conjunction one with another. Faith is set in the first place as the prime grace of a Christian, the foundation and root of all other, as being that without which nothing else can be pleasing to God, Hebrews 11:6. But we do grow into a more mature believer knowing how to discern “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter‬ “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, Hebrews‬ “Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” Luke‬ “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”Colossians‬ Our progression should be moving forward, going deeper Ezekiel 47 There was no spring in the literal temple in Jerusalem. Although at the outer gate only “trickling” (Eze 47:2), the water gets every 500 m a lot deeper. So much that Ezekiel would need to swim because he could not stand anymore (Eze 47:5) The trees this water would nourish produce fruit every month (Eze 47:12) God's people rebelled and God says They have left even me [Jehovah], the source of living water, in order to hew out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that cannot contain the water.’ – Jer 2:13 Jesus says ours lives depend on his water that flows from the throne “Everyone drinking from this water will get thirsty again. Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty at all, but the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life” – Joh 4:13, 14 everything will live wherever the stream goes – Eze 47:9 And it must come to the sea [Dead Sea]. It being brought forth into the sea itself, [its] water is also actually healed. Swarms of living creatures will be able to live wherever the waters flow. There will be an abundance of fish, because this water will flow there. The seawater will be healed, and everything will live wherever the stream goes. – Eze 47:8, 9 As we learn to go deeper with God His life giving water will heal every area in our life and joy unexplainable will manifest in the believer.

Do You Love Me? Jesus made many statements about love for Him “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” Deuteronomy‬ ‭10‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! Psalms‬ ‭31‬:‭23‬‬‬ “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “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 We are commanded to love God because it is for our benefit I command you today for your benefit. Deut 10:13 It’s just the way it is. You can’t force love but there is a truth written in stone and that is that God know that if we do not love Him we will not be full of true life What does that love look like? Are we as fallen humanity capable of that kind of love? Jesus was raising followers that would love Him! Peters declarations of love- “Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.” John‬ ‭13‬:‭36‬-‭38‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Peter was the first to openly confess who Jesus was “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Peter did say He would die for Him! Peter had heard the sermons and the words of Jesus therefore came to that conclusion “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬-‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ Peter heard these words of Jesus and was making a declaration to Jesus that He would stick with Him to the death. Jesus calling to Peter and to all is a love that is greater than all. “But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭33‬-‭34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ “Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.” Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Peter's betrayal “Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭54‬-‭62‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ Jesus raises front the dead and has a conversation with just Him and Peter “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” John‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Do you love me more? Do you love me more than food? More than your job? More than the money you make? Peter would have run into a burning building to save his wife or kid but when it came down to it he would not for Messiah until He did! Prior to the resurrection Peter didn’t really know the love for His God What did Messiah request from His followers? To love God more than Mother or Father , Son or Daughter even one’s own life Do you love God more than these? More than even a son or daughter? Sooner or later we will be called to such a decision To love God over all is the only thing and it will cost you everything Love more that your own life. Peter told he would die for messiah. John 21 Jesus was humiliated and so will we. Matt 27:27 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”John‬ ‭15‬:‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬

Personal Growth of the Kingdom! “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Matthew Harmon’s commentary says “The believer must realize that one does not drift towards godliness. It only comes through intentional efforts using the means God provides, all the while trusting in God himself to produce the desired growth in His timing.” Work out- cultivate what’s already there Reverent fear and trembling “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” I Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Paul’s letter here to the Philippians in a whole is about pushing forward the gospel personally. It’s about growing not getting saved. Paul wants them to know that even though it appears that he is shackled to Rome, in reality, God has wisely shackled Rome to Paul. (Christianity.com) We must begin to perceive that we are not shackled to our circumstances but they are shackled to us. Rome was shackled to Paul not the other way around and God uses the power of God in Paul to spread the gospel . Cultivating our lives starts by perception of whose we are and how we are slaves to Him Philippians says we are to work out or cultivate Philippians 1:27 let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ Phil 2:5 let this mind be in you…as it was in Christ Became obedient to the point of death on the cross Cultivating our salvation in light of the text is making sure self stays in a grave and we surrender to a slave for Christ. Slavery accompanying suffering is many times what this looks like Many today want a resurrection without a cross We want to control people and not serve people We want to promote ourself and not prostrate ourself We seek prestige and position rather than lifting up the lowly and despised Galatians 2:20. I have been crucified, no longer I A preacher once said-The center of the word revival has the letter I in it. Cross out the I and you’ll have revival. Self-centeredness is the greatest enemy of the Christian life. All is not well, so long as the center of your personality is occupied by that little god I. Revival begins by putting a line through the I which is at the center and turning it into a cross ALL OUR DECISIONS should be made as followers of Jesus. We do not have a mind on it or an opinion on it. We surrender to His ways on it Because I’m a slave] Phil 1:1. Opens with Paul saying he is a bond servant Romans 1:1. Again. Bond servant Titus 1:1. Again Philemon 1. Says he’s a prisoner of Christ James, Peter and Jude We are a people called out by God, made a people for Himself We are called to mature in Christ Mature Christians stop pointing out other peoples sins and start confessing their own Mature Christians watch their own words and know when not to speak Grow less dependent on themselves and more dependent on Christ Add to their faith “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” II Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭11‬ ‬‬‬

Do you have Eyes to see? 2 Kings 6:8 Elisha sees something his servant cannot see. His servant was trying to tell him the seriousness of the present reality. Elisha’s servant sees a great army and responds accordingly that they’re in trouble 1 Kings 17:8. The widow recites to the man of God the reality of her situation that she is going to die Matthew 8:23 Jesus in a storm and the disciples are seeing it as the end Genesis 18:10. Sarah laughs at the thought of bearing a child, but is anything too hard for the Lord? All were looking at the present circumstances to dictate their forward motion What was the Lords response to these four instances? Start with Sarah Is anything too hard for the Lord With the disciples in the boat they said they are perishing Lords response- why are you fearful? Widow of Zaraphath- 1Kings 17:13. Man of God starts by saying Do not fear! Elisha’s servant see trouble and the man of Gods response in 2Kings 6:16. Do not fear ! Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. It is time for the body of Christ to start to SEE and understand who they are in Jesus. One sees through the eyes of the super natural and others through the natural. One cannot understand the other. Two opposing sides. 1John 4:4. Greater is He that is in you Acts 1:8 you shall receive power Unbelief is a crime in the kingdom of God Isaiah 7:9 if you will not believe you will not be established Like 18:8. When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth Numbers 23:8. How will I curse whom God has not cursed? There is a war of world views in the body of Christ just as much as in the worldly way (Prophetic Word) In the body of Christ both believe in God but one way is going on with God and the other will fuse into the way of the world thus separating the two. One is a way of faith and the other is an intellectual belief. One is led by God and the other by the mind of man. Isaac and Ishmael/Promised seed and seed of the flesh Jarius! Only believe. Mark 5:35. Video Matt 19:26. All things are possible Luke 1:37 with God nothing is impossible Mark 9:23 if you can believe all things are possible Mark 11:24 whatever you desire when you pray believe you have received them and you shall have them

The Strength to Conceive A woman’s period is her body’s way of releasing tissue that it no longer needs. Every month, her body prepares for pregnancy.The lining of her uterus gets thicker as preparation for nurturing a fertilized egg. An egg is released and is ready to be fertilized and settle in the lining of her uterus. If the egg is not fertilized, her body no longer needs the thicker lining of the uterus, so it starts to break down and is eventually expelled. Every month the egg awaits a seed! Egg is fertile between a 12 to 24 hour period so every month the egg comes out looking to be fertilized If there is no conception of a seed it is absorbed back into the body and the uterus walls thin out and blood is shed The seed the egg desires has within itself the genetic make up of its possessor “Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ The DNA of the seed The egg every month wants to be fertilized It wants to produce, multiply. It will reproduce a portion of itself in the earth to give glory to the creator 23 chromosomes from both Chromosome-A linear strand of DNA and associated proteins in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells that carries the genes and functions in the transmission of hereditary information. The baby to be produced from the egg and the seed will take on the characters of both parties “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.”1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ We have all been crafted by God to be eggs awaiting the fertilization of the seed of God for without it there is no salvation “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”John‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Our lives are crying out to be fertilized There are other eggs in our lives seeking the DNA of God God gives us kids, visions, purposes of God which awaits Gods seed so it may multiply We await the seed because we want to see Gods glory revealed in the earth. So month after month we cry out for conception Once Conception takes place we then trust God to bring about the child. Nothing we do can speed up its process We conceive by faith “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Conception takes place by faith but we first must have a mature egg to receive the seed The seed will die if it finds no egg. The seeds desire is for a mature egg to hold the seed If the egg is not mature it will be unable to hold the seed causing the offspring to be miscarry So the condition of the egg is crucial to the survival of seed! Matthew 13:18. Sower Bear fruit and produce The farmers job is to tend the crop not create the crop. Once he plants the seed he lets the process go forth. A child takes 9 months Elephant 2 years Once conceived you cannot hurry the process of incubation of the seed within the egg No length of prayer or Bible will speed up the process. Once we conceive of Gods vision or purpose or plan we wait “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.(or until the process of incubation ). See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”James‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Also even if the crop should perish the farmer still does seed he does not stop or throw in the towel. Keep presenting yourself consecrated unto God for His seed to be planted so the people around us can enjoy the blessing of God

Weeds in the Garden The last thing someone wants in their garden is weeds. Weeds are understood to be those plant species of herbaceous nature that make it difficult or impossible that another expressly cultivated species can grow, develop or reproduce in their best conditions. In other words if weeds are in the garden they will attack any other species trying to grow within that same garden. Weeds also multiply In 1920 there was only a few cases of Knap weed. In 1985 over 5 million acres In Idaho, Skeleton weed was found in a few plants in 1954. In 1985 there was 4 million acres Northern California in 1985 Yellowstark thistle was located in over 1 million acres. Within 10 years over 10 million acres Weeds spread violently in a garden, ESPECIALLY IN A UNPROTECTED GRADEN Weeds will cause a garden to not look like a garden at all Weeds left at the side of a house begins small From the moment that you were born the enemy began to plant weeds in your life Good news - If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. The old is gone behold all things become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 In the midst of this garden, God planted a flower. This platform here represents your life and mine. The moment you were born the enemy has planted weeds. Rape-incest-abortion-rejection God is in the midst of a garden full of weeds. God comes in and plants a flower Flower-the kingdom of God The kingdom is hidden because of the weeds but the kingdom will grow “Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened." Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Phil 1:6 He that began a good work 80k children abused every year /weeds planted but Jesus comes to plant a kingdom The devil is afraid of the kingdom! 1 John 3:8 seed of God in you will destroy the weeds God wants the weeds ripped out “But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Are you leaving the weeds in the garden? Are you a witness to the kingdom? Like a flower we are to radiate His glory in the midst of our garden “O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.” Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭15‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬ “So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.” Psalms‬ ‭79‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Act 1:8 you shall receive power Through God's power He crust clear out the weeds so the flower of His Kingdom can shine Excuses we make because of our weeds My daddy this or my momma that! Genesis 2:8 the Lord God planted a garden and told him to tend it and to keep Keep it free from weeds A plant which is not intentionally sown. You didn’t mean for it. It’s not fair. But God gave you power to remove Sin causes weeds “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ This garden represents our lives. The moment we are born the devil begins to plant weeds in our lives but a flower has been planted Responsibility to tend and keep God must do it. From the root You will try to cut it out but God must uproot it I’m trying not to cuss trying not to Weeds will grow back if you don’t get it to the root John 15. Apart from me you can do nothing Homosexuality is rampant perversion. Weeds have taken over Must allow the power of God to come to rip out the weeds Dramatic situations can cause weeds. We must identify the weeds which are killing the flower of Christ's kingdom. Cry to God! How to get rid of weed? Song of Solomon - catch for us the little foxes that spoil. Do what you were told today so you can overcome tomorrow Act of will! Pray Bible church There must be God in us to remove the weeds. We must trust! Fear, insecurity have got to go! God is planting a kingdom in the midst of a mess so His glory will be known. Psalm 119:9. Give heed to His word If you are my disciple, obey Zachariah says “It’s not by might not by power but by my spirit says the Lord “

Persistent-Refusing to give up or let go; persevering obstinately. Insistently repetitive or continuous. Existing or remaining in the same state for an indefinitely long time; enduring. Mark 7:24-30. Vs 26. She kept asking Matt 7:7. Ask, seek and knock D.L. Moody wrote Jesus cannot be expected to answer runaway knocks. He has never promised it. I mean to keep knocking, knocking, until he cannot help opening the door. Too often, we not get mercies door and then run away, instead of waiting for an Entrance and an answer. We act as if we were afraid of having our prayers answered. A great many people praying that way, they do not wait for the answer. Our Lord teaches us here that we are not only to ask, but we are to wait for the answer, if it does not come, we must seek to find out the reason. We are to ask with a beggars humility, to seek with a servants carefulness, and to knock with the confidence of a friend Unanswered prayer should be followed up with a why? Where am I missing it? “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” John‬ ‭14‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”John‬ ‭15‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” I John‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Hindrances to prayers “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” James‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” I John‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Prayer that works “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’” Jeremiah‬ ‭33‬:‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Luke 18:1-8. Unjust judge When The son of man comes will He really find faith on the earth?

The Death of Self “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 Put to death carnal appetites “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ The revival message encourages believers to take responsibility for fleshly behavior, comparing their old man to an old filthy garment that must be willingly put off and exchanged for the new man who can only be renewed through relationship with God There is personal responsibility for the death of a carnal man God does the delivering and empowering but there are things He commands and if we obey we will have authority over our flesh “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭‬‬‬‬ Vs 16 says let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Personal responsibility to read and memorize the word Jesus knew the word in His conflict with the devil and temptation “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;” Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Serious and zealous prayer Matt 6:5. When you pray “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Then they said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise those of the Pharisees, but Yours eat and drink?” And He said to them, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.” Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Jesus fasted 40 days. Matt. 4:2 Moses fasted when meeting with God “When I went up into the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water. Then the Lord delivered to me two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them were all the words which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. And it came to pass, at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the Lord gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have acted corruptly; they have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made themselves a molded image.’ “Furthermore the Lord spoke to me, saying, ‘I have seen this people, and indeed they are a stiff-necked people. Let Me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.’ “So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire; and the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God—had made for yourselves a molded calf! You had turned aside quickly from the way which the Lord had commanded you. Then I took the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes. And I fell down before the Lord, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin which you committed in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which the Lord was angry with you, to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me at that time also.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭9‬:‭9‬-‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Moses fast was in preparing to meet with God and then for intercession for a people Exodus 19:9. Consecration in reverent fear of God

Christmas | 12.25.22 | Sunday AM | On Fire Christian Church

Burden Bearer “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬. A burden bearer!‬‬‬ Bear ye one another's burdens - See the note at Romans 15:1. Bear with each other; help each other in the divine life. The sense is, that every man has special temptations and easily besetting sins, which constitute a heavy burden. We should aid each other in regard to these, and help one another to overcome them. It denotes any weight which presses heavily on the body or the mind, as toil, suffering, responsibility, anxiety. “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ We are to help those carrying a load not push them down while they’re carrying it ““Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Noah’s sin Genesis 9:20 Shem and Japheth demonstrated godly concern for their father and covered his disgraceful state This is bearing with a brother or sister We can maintain our moral conviction without giving in or compromising I don’t condemn but I cannot give permission in my home Christian Artists condoning homosexuality by allowing a same sex marriage on their farm This artist said Jesus you’ve just narrowed it down to two things love God and love people A Christian can maintain their conviction and love people. Bear the burden of another! A life of prayer and intercession is carrying a burden. “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,”. Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Paul for a moment in his life was quick to exclude someone but later in life wanted that person around. Barnabas was willing to lift the Burden of John mark and because of that Mark matured and became a great asset to Paul. “Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” Acts‬ ‭15‬:‭36‬-‭41‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” II Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Paul was quick in his stance on Mark, Barnabas was willing to lift a burden and great comes out of it. Paul was willing to overlook an offense and great comes from it.

Sleeping With the Devil | 12.18.22 | Sunday AM | On Fire Christian Church 1. Deuteronomy 32:1-17 (Read). They sacrificed to demons, not to God.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬ a. ‬‬The devil desires to be worshipped i. “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭8-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬ b. In Deuteronomy they were warned not to bow down and worship idols. Idols are nothing but demons desiring to enslave the human i. “What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” I Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ ii. Who were the ones sacrificing to idols? 1. Those who were in covenant with God 2. Idols are actually demons spirits with personality 3. Deut 32:17 they were actually worshipping a demon while they thought they were worshipping God 2. Exodus 32:1-9. Israel worships Golden Calf a. They said this calf was God b. They bowed to idol and the fruit of their behavior was proof of their worship i. A persons life will manifest destruction if they are bowing to an idol. It will take on the character of the idol demon they are bowing to ii. “Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Exodus‬ ‭32‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ iii. Molech – demanded child sacrifice and in return would promise future children to be blessed 1. “And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.” Leviticus‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ 2. They bowed to the lies of a demon and that demon brought destruction to God’s people 3. Baal and Asherah- Sun and Moon gods and their lure to commit worship was sexual appetites c. The flesh has desires and demons offer satisfaction to that lust but there must be an exchange and that is a bowing down which takes place when we take what the demon is offering 3. All sin is a bowing down to an idol which if not dealt with and repented of will lead even a believer to idolatry a. Martin Luther said that idolatry is not one sin among many but the very basis of every sin. b. Should believers therefore not have an understanding about sin and actually when we do sin be cut to heart that we actually bowed down to a demon? 4. Pride-Lust-Greed these sins sum up the devil and all devils can be summed up within these three a. They are demons and as Christian’s we are to flee the worship of demons b. Pride- Ananias and Sapphira wanted to look good at any price c. Lust-Sampson-he desired things he should have. That demon put him in bondage d. Greed-Balaam God told him not to go with the enemy to curse Israel but He did. His Greed caused him to compromise i. teaching or doctrine of Balaam is the view that Christians can—or even should—compromise their convictions for the sake of popularity, money, sexual gratification, or personal gain. It’s the attitude that treats sin as “no big deal.” 5. “For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.” Psalms‬ ‭96‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ a. Idols are demons who desire worship through yielding to their characteristics and then give temporary treats in exchange for control over the persons life b. ““No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ i. Mammon is commonly thought to mean money, material wealth, or any entity that promises wealth, and is associated with the greedy pursuit of gain. 6. Jesus says you CANNOT serve both! a. Because behind the sin is a demon b. Greed is a demon c. Gossip is a demon d. Sexual sin is a demon e. “‘Or if a person touches any unclean thing, whether it is the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean livestock, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and he is unaware of it, he also shall be unclean and guilty. Or if he touches human uncleanness—whatever uncleanness with which a man may be defiled, and he is unaware of it—when he realizes it, then he shall be guilty.” Leviticus‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ 7. Christians are not called to be sleeping with the devil a. “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 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? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬

I Have A Roommate “I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭AMP‬‬‬‬‬ Christ lives in the believer and has moved in! “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 Jesus has moved into our lives, our minds, our family life. Every aspect of our being. Jesus comes in with His Own will. Two Wills now abide within the believer “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭50‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ For two people to live together it takes the power of God. How much more the living perfect Jesus dwelling within the believer expecting the utmost perfection from you and I? Vs 20. No longer I! But Christ! A true believer is on a quest to surrender his will to Jesus! No longer where I want to work or what I want to do or where I want to live. You have a roommate! “Come now [and pay attention to this], you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and carry on our business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air]. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and we will do this or that.” But as it is, you boast [vainly] in your pretension and arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” James‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭AMP‬‬‬‬‬‬ I must crucify my will, and my desires ““I can do nothing on my own initiative or authority. Just as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just (fair, righteous, unbiased), because I do not seek My own will, but only the will of Him who sent Me.” John‬ ‭5‬:‭30‬ ‭AMP‬‬‬‬‬ “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but that I [give new life and] raise it up at the last day. For this is My Father’s will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.” John‬ ‭6‬:‭38‬-‭40‬ ‭AMP‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to completely finish His work.” John‬ ‭4‬:‭34‬ ‭AMP‬‬‬‬‬ Our roommate moves in with a will and a purpose! Jesus said His food was to do His Will and finish His Work. Our only passion should be to do the same “Teach me to do Your will [so that I may please You], For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalms‬ ‭143‬:‭10‬ ‭AMP‬‬‬‬‬ Our lives should be consumed with His purpose and will. We are not to be consumed with this realm but with Christ “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” I Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ His Will personally and then between our spouse our family our work our church. Vs 20 I now live by faith of the Son It’s His faith in and thru me! 3:13 He redeemed me from the curse to the blessing

Raze Devils or They Will Raze You! 1. Raze: to destroy to the ground : demolish raze an old building 2 a : to scrape, cut, or shave off b archaic : erase razer noun Synonyms annihilate cream decimate demolish desolate destroy devastate do in extinguish nuke pull down pulverize rub out ruin shatter smash tear down total vaporize waste wrack a. The moment we get saved the fight is on. Jesus has destroyed the devil in our life but that does not mean there will never be another battle. The battle has just begun b. Old habits of sin must be crushed under the cross of calvary i. “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” I John‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ 2. Our old nature will always try to resurrect. We have a job to align with Gods power to destroy the old man through faith. a. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ i. In Mumbai in 1970 the inspectors only did a surface inspection and not a deep inspection. They ignored small rust which caused the bridge in time to collapse killing 6 people and injuring 31 ii. If we do not RAZE the enemies of our souls and play with them they will RAZE us iii. Many Christians only do a surface inspection when deep cleaning is needed iv. What you don’t deal with today will destroy your life tomorrow b. “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ c. Unclean spirits can operate through any type of sin. A shady business dealing will open a door. When person sees they got ahead and no consequence they feel they’re in the clear. Until God says it’s payday. That payday may be in this life 3. The Bible is clear those who do not destroy areas they should will be among us a. “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ b. “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” I Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ 4. You RAZE all areas that the Holy Spirit reveals a. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ b. Matthew 13:18 parable of sower i. Vs. 22 BECOMES unfruitful! ii. How could someone hear the word and it not change them? 5. They heard the word as we did a. Some left rejecting that word immediately b. Some received it with joy and when it got tough ran off because of persecution c. Some received it but it was among other things/thorns. Cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches and he becomes unfruitful d. We must hear it and obey it e. We must not treat lightly any sin for the smallest sin can turn into a tragedy and people get hurt 6. “But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the Lord; and be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers‬ ‭32‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ a. This chapter begins with an instruction to the children of Israel from Moses that they must fight for their brothers in Israel , if not their sin would find them out b. Some of us think this message is for someone else when it’s for you. We think we’ll I’m not like this guy who is a thief. c. Is your heart for souls? Are you connected to God's vision and connected to see it come to pass? That is our assignment here! God calls people to be a part of a ministry vision and expects all members to see it through. i. Your blessing and ability to RAZE devils is connected to your obedience to the vision ii. Upon this rock I’ll build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it iii. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.” Psalms‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭‬‬‬‬

Chuck Salvo | 12.7.22 | Wednesday PM | On Fire Christian Church Demonic Parasites 1. A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host. There are three main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites. a. Demons can live in or on a person b. Tonight God is going to free people of parasites that are feeding on you. 2. Protozoa are microscopic, one-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature. They are able to multiply in humans, which contributes to their survival and also permits serious infections to develop from just a single organism. Transmission of protozoa that live in a human’s intestine to another human typically occurs through a fecal-oral route (for example, contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact). Protozoa that live in the blood or tissue of humans are transmitted to other humans by an arthropod vector (for example, through the bite of a mosquito or sand fly). 3. Helminths are large, multicellular organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye in their adult stages. Like protozoa, helminths can be either free-living or parasitic in nature. In their adult form, helminths cannot multiply in humans. 4. Although the term ectoparasites can broadly include blood-sucking arthropods such as mosquitoes (because they are dependent on a blood meal from a human host for their survival), this term is generally used more narrowly to refer to organisms such as ticks, fleas, lice, and mites that attach or burrow into the skin and remain there for relatively long periods of time (e.g., weeks to months). Arthropods are important in causing diseases in their own right, but are even more important as vectors, or transmitters, of many different pathogens that in turn cause tremendous morbidity and mortality from the diseases they cause. 5. “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”Matthew‬ a. Matt 9:32. Demon caused person to be mute b. Matt 10:8. Heal The sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons 6. The blood of Jesus heals

Jesus Tempted 1) “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”James‬ 2) Matt 4:3 command stones to bread/Jesus turned water into wine a. Just because you have the power to do something doesn’t mean you should Devil tempted Jesus with physical needs b. Ex 16:2-7. Problem is when we stop looking to god to supply and trust in our ability and not God's. c. Often we are ready to go to any length just to get on the good side of life, where it’s all a bed of roses with the glitter of prosperity and the pamper of comfort. d. John 6:26. Many make decisions on their belly e. Tempted by the devil in mind then in natural. No where in Bible does it say it is wrong to turn stone to bread i. We must not get love the wrong way. A youth boiling with hormones will wonder why he should not give full freedom to his sexual desires; and if he is unchecked by custom, morals, or laws, he may ruin his life before he matures sufficiently to understand that sex is a river of fire that must be banked and cooled by a hundred restraints if it is not to consume in chaos ii. . This highest of all physical gratifications you were designed and created to enjoy. It is as natural as it is appealing. It is given of God to make us like God. And Satan has certainly capitalized on a divinely ordained appeal. But it is not yours without price. Not instantly. Not conveniently. Not with cozy corruption of eternal powers. It is to be earned, over time and with discipline. It, like every good thing, is God's right to bestow, not Satan's. When faced with that inherent appetite, a disciple of Christ must be willing to say, "Yes, but not this way." In time, with love, after marriage. f. Satan is still employing the same tactics today, urging believers to turn the stones upon which God intends to make, promote and bless them into breads of momentary comfort, superficial pleasure and good feelings. g. At every juncture when God brings us face to face with let’s say, a little lack of money, almost instinctively we feel a compulsion to borrow some money, or get it by any mischievous means (like sending exaggerated and cooked-up newsletters) just to get out of that moment of lack. h. If we are lonely, the first response is to find company, no matter who it is and the thought of turning the loneliness into an opportunity for solitude just doesn’t resonate. i. Every time stones surface in our life, we are so eager to make bread out of them and this keeps us small, ineffective and unable to impact the world around us. j. This is a tendency that makes us want to quickly find an escape route out of a difficult experience that brings us discomfort. k. We fail to exercise patience and lean more into God letting him accomplish the purposes for which He allows us go through such moments. l. The scriptures do not tell us to actively take on pain, adversity, exclusion, lack and hardship but to keep an open heart and spirit to them when the Lord releases them into our lives. m. We must resist the temptation to turn every stone we encounter on our journey through life into bread. n. When we’ve come to a difficult place in life, it pays to hold on, to take a step back and to ask, “What’s in this for me Lord?” And then to say, “Be it done to me according to your will.” 3) Matt 4:6 throw yourself down a. Matt 27:42. If he is the king let him come down from the cross b. Devil appealed to Jesus pride 4) Matt 4:9 all these kingdoms I will give you if you will fall down and worship me a. John 6:15 make Jesus king by force b. Selfish ambitions c. Devil was offering Jesus a shortcut to glory d. The lottery. Get rich quick. A lawsuit. Sue happy e. Brown noseing to a promotion 5) Jesus overcame all temptations by obedience to God

Compelled 1 Samuel 13:8-12 Saul feels compelled to do something Compel-To exert a strong, irresistible force on; sway. When someone wrongs us (or our spouse or our children), we feel compelled to give them a piece of our mind. When someone disagrees with us on the internet, we feel compelled to lash out against them in a tirade of comments. When we are called out for sin, we feel compelled to say we’re sorry, but not compelled to repent and rid our lives of that sin. Just like Saul had consequences, there will be consequences for us if we feel compelled to go against God’s commands. Even if we feel like we’re doing what’s best—what’s right, even— breaking God’s commands brings consequence. Saul didn’t learn his lesson, and just a few chapters later we read of another blatant disregard for God’s commands. Instead of utterly destroying the Amalekites, he spared the choicest animals and their king. His justification was that they were going to offer these animals to God. No amount of rationalization could make his actions acceptable, though, and Samuel tells him plainly, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD?” (1 Samuel 15:22). God desires that we obey His voice. He desires that we bend our will to His. He desires that we sacrifice self and let Him lead our lives. He doesn’t desire that we do what seems right or what we feel compelled to do for His service. He desires that we follow Him. Abraham felt compelled to lie down with his servant instead of waiting on Gods promise Genesis 15:1-4 heir of your own body After 10 years of waiting he gets compelled David felt compelled to number his army 1 Chronicles 21:1-4 The first thing we should glean from this episode is that it was Satan who provoked David to number Israel. In other words, numbering Israel's army was done because the adversary Satan was tempting David. That is a very important thing to remember because it explains much. The second thing to consider is David's reason for doing this was, “that he may know it.” In other words, his own delight or pleasure was what induced him to do this. These are the keys to understanding this sin. God allowed David to be tempted by Satan because Israel had taken their eyes off God as their ruler, fortress and provider. We read in previous chapters how they had begun looking to themselves for strength. Even as they had pressed Samuel for a king that would be just like the nations that were around them, they weren't satisfied. This illustrated that they had forsaken trust in the Lord and forgotten that He alone was their sword and bulwark. And David too momentarily took his eyes off the Lord and looked toward Israel's own ability to provide a host as their strength. By God declaring that Satan provoked this census, we know that David's purpose for numbering the men of war was that he might delight or glory in Israel's own might or resources. Yet this sin was not David's alone, because God Himself informs us that He allowed this numbering because of Israel's sins. Thus it was God who had removed His normal restraint of sin from David, and it was because of the judgment He would upon Israel for their continuing sins of pride and vanity. 2nd Samuel 24:1 • “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.” God moved David in the same way that He hardened Pharaoh's heart. Not that He made David sin, but that He took away his hand of restraint of sin in him, and David's own human pride and vanity does the rest. God tempts no man to sin (James 1:13), but neither is He obligated to restrain any man from his own sin. And here God takes full responsibility for bringing this judgment upon Israel. For by removing his hand of restraint from David, He “allowed” Satan to provoke him to this error. Without God's hand of restraint on believers as they live out their lives in this world, they would all be as lawless and wicked as the unsaved people are. It is only "God in us" that keeps us from succumbing to our diverse sin nature in the lusts of the flesh. Compelling times can be avoided through prayer and intimacy with God. Lead me not into! Stay needy upon the spirit

Eternal Life “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”Acts‬ The death of Jesus is ever so important in our faith but without a resurrection we would be dead in our sin “And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” I Corinthians‬ John 20:11-31 Mary at the tomb and sees Jesus‬‬ “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”John‬ Believing not only in His atoning death but His resurrection is necessary What does His resurrection mean for us? Life! The property or quality that distinguishes living organisms from dead organisms His resurrection produces eternal life! “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”John‬ “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.”I John‬ “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”John‬ “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”Romans‬ “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”John‬ This life comes only through the Son of God “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”Matthew‬ “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”Acts‬ “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”I John‬ “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”John‬ The weeding out of liars! “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”I John‬ “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.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”John‬

Never Forget! Forgetting! Is it not human nature to forget! Forget-To be unable to remember (something). To treat with thoughtless inattention; neglect. To leave behind unintentionally. As God's creation we forget and need to be reminded We must take time sometimes forced time to remember where we were and what God brought us from Being truly thankful stems from remembering “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.”Psalms‬ Verses 9-11 Vs 13-16 I will not forget your word! The unimportant and often mundane things in life rob us of remembering. Mundane means the worldly as contrasting with the heavenly Vs 37 turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in your way Vs 120 my flesh trembles for fear of you and I am afraid of your judgments Vs 128 I hate every false way Vs133 let no iniquity have dominion over me How to remember Vs147-148. I rise before the dawning of the morning and cry for help; I hope in your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I might meditate on your word “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”Jeremiah‬ ““As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” 1 Chronicles‬ Never forget “That they may set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments;”Psalms‬ “And the covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods.”II Kings‬ “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”Proverbs‬ Sin will cause us to enter a state of apathy sending us down a road ‬‬of self! A consumed state where self centeredness causes a person to forget the blessings they truly have and take their attention off of Gods provisions. We become unthankful for the simple things in life Being Thankful 1 Thessalonians 5:18 be thankful In all circumstances for this is the will of God for you “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Colossians‬ “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; Colossians‬

His Sword Bathed in Blood! “having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck,” I Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬ Paul is making a declaration that some have rejected the sound teaching of Jesus and because of this their faith suffered shipwreck No one started out believing they would ever shipwreck in their faith The truth is, that people make shipwreck of their faith by not keeping a good conscience. They love sin. They follow the leadings of passion. They choose to indulge in fleshly appetites Barnes commentary says: “People become infidels because they wish to indulge in sin. No man can be a fleshly believer, and yet love that gospel which loves purity of life. If people would keep a good conscience, the way to a steady belief in the gospel would be easy. If people will not, they must expect sooner or later to be landed in infidelity. Shipwreck didn’t just happen. A coarse was set out, the boat left the dock with the intent to get to the other side The rejection of a good conscience sent the ship in a direction that could not be retracted Judas started out of the bay and ended shipwrecked Vs 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander set out and ended up shipwreck The idea is these men rejected conscience and through it overboard Ananias and Sapphire shipwreck Galatians 5:9 a little leaven Many start out in their quest but misunderstand the mission of Christ and then begin to follow their own mission not using Christ as the compass but their own ideas which have taken on the form of diety! The reason for such rejection of conscience They loved their lives more than God, no one would admit this but through sometimes years of testing the truth will surface “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ To keep our conscience sensitive to His prompting one must fight agreement with demonic thought. James 4:7 resist the devil and he will flee God is righteous in judgment! Should the righteous God allow a rebellious person who does not have His best interests in mind, one who does not want Him to rule over their lives, should that person not be judged? Should the judge especially not judge him whose faith has shipwrecked? “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”John‬ ‭12‬:‭47‬-‭48‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ I have been told to warn people of what is coming! Yes the first time Jesus came He came not to judge but to save The next time He comes He comes with a sword intoxicated with vengeance against all who reject Him from being King May we His people never forget what we have been saved from. We have been saved from the wrath of the lamb and the sword bathed in blood ““For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; Indeed it shall come down on Edom, And on the people of My curse, for judgment. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, It is made overflowing with fatness, With the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.”Isaiah‬ ‭34‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ ‬‬bathed in heaven-prepared, sharpened, The Hebrew word רוּתה rivetâh, from רוה râvâh, means properly to drink to the full; to be satisfied, or sated with drink; and then to be full or satiated with intoxicating liquor, to be drunk. It is applied to the sword, as satiated or made drunk with blood, For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries. The sword shall devour; It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood; For the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice In the north country by the River Euphrates.”Jeremiah‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭‬‬‬‬‬‬ Barnes commentary-The idea here is, however, not that the sword of the Lord was made drunk with blood in heaven, but that it was intoxicated, or made furious with wrath; it was excited as an intoxicated man is who is under ungovernable passions; it was in heaven that the wrath commenced, and the sword of divine justice rushed forth as if intoxicated, to destroy all before it. To whom does this judgment fall? Edom descendants of Esau Jacobs brother. Jacob was of the promise Isaac was the child of promise and Ishmael was of the flesh Isaac had twins-although both sons came through the promise seed of Abraham one of those sons shipwrecked and was judged Edom represents those who come from faith but have shipwrecked their faith,have turned back “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. For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.”Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Isaiah 34 chapter “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”. I Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ “My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.”Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭120‬ ‭‬‬‬

God Has Secrets 1. Before the foundation of the world the Lords plan was to replace the 1/3 of heavens angels who fell with Lucifer with a people who would be purchased with His own blood. Those people would then have a special relationship with God and be different the all other people on the planet! “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”I Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”Exodus‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.”Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭23‬-‭28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬ Dwell in a secret place only known to the recipient 2. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Secret place!- Kept hidden from knowledge or view; concealed. Not expressed; inward.Given to keeping one's thoughts and activities unknown to others; secretive. Does God have secrets? Matthew 13:11Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted Deuteronomy 29:29“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law Colossians 1:26that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints Luke 8:10And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand There are conditions to His secrets! Psalm 25:14The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him,And He will make them know His covenant. To those who walk in obedience to the Lord “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalms‬ ‭91‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ 3. Dwells-To live as a resident; reside.To exist in a given place or state.To fasten one's attention on something, especially moodily or persistently: synonym: brood. 4. There a many secrets the Lord wants to reveal to His obedient children. One is the secret place of His presence The secret place is for those who fear Him, walk in obedience and long for that place. Dwell. A track record of pursuing of resting of delighting! Years of obedient pursuit through thick and thin! “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— For your love is better than wine. Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth; Therefore the virgins love you. Draw me away! We will run after you. The king has brought me into his chambers.” Song of Solomon‬ ‭1‬:‭2 ‬NKJV‬‬‬‬ Intimacy 5. The reward of dwelling In the secret place Psalm 91 you shall abide under His shadow Abide-to remain in a place ““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭‬‬‬‬

When Wicked Men Rule! Throughout history we have had wicked rulers. Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong communist China (1958-1962 killed 45 million people a total in life of 65 million. How are we as believers to respond when wicked men rule? We are in this world but not of it. We are to make an impact and even get involved politically, if possible, but our eyes are to be on the one and only King Jesus Matthew 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2 What describes a wicked person? People in a position to enact laws that are contrary to Gods principles are wicked We presently have politicians who have taken money from people to push their agendas that are contrary to God. Such as abortion and sexuality issues How are we as believers to act in times when wicked rulers rule? “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Who was Paul talking about? In his letter to the Roman’s “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.” Romans 13:1 NKJV Many Jews were still looking for a militant Messiah to lead them in revolt against the hated Romans. Paul must have known that if the followers of Jesus became a political movement challenging the authority of Caesar, the Roman army would crush, if not annihilate, the nascent Christian movement Out of love for his Lord and his fellow man, Paul would not lead his flock to certain slaughter. The way Jesus handled them He came to do His mission and when taken captive by government here is His response…. “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” John 18:36 NKJV He was in this world and not of it Satan is the god of this world and while his operation may be here God is not ignorant nor caught off guard by his plots “But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King. When He is angry, the Earth trembles; the nations cannot endure His wrath.”(Jeremiah 10:10) “Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.” For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth Drain and drink down. Psalms 75:5-8 Remind-God raised up the Assyria to come against his people and Babylon against the south. Many Christians will not accept the premise that a God of love destroys nations when they become decadent and degenerate. (Ezekiel 14:12-21) Notice what the Lord said to Ezekiel:“ ‘Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its men and their animals, even if these three men – Noah, Daniel and Job – were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,’ declares the Sovereign Lord. . . . ‘Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its men and their animals, as surely as I live,’ declares the Sovereign Lord, ‘even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.’”(Ezekiel 14:13-18) According to the Bible, the longevity of a government is determined by its commitment to moral principles God has dictated. When a majority of people abide by these principles, God blesses that nation with prosperity and longevity. He sends the Holy Spirit to prompt honest hearted citizens to be good neighbors. The Holy Spirit helps people make good decisions because good decisions bring good results for individuals, families, and ultimately, the nation. To ensure continuity for oncoming generations, God also raises up good leaders and the result is a good government that prospers and endures. This is why King David wrote:“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance. From Heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on Earth– He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse[a symbol of military might]is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”(Psalm 33:12-19, insertion mine) Governments are very complex organizations. In fact, they are so complicated that men cannot manage a government on their own. Of course, a man or woman can rise to the position of a king, queen, dictator, or president, but only with God’s approval. God sets kings up and takes them down according to His higher purposes. Sometimes God will raise up a king to serve as a destroyer of other nations only to destroy that king and his nation when they pass the point of no return. (Jeremiah 25:9-12) “Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the Lord, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations. Jeremiah 25:9 NKJV Sooner than later, the “sword” is going to come again. World War III will occur. Tensions are mounting. Nations are preparing for war. Secret alliances are being made. Military spending has increased. And now, for the first time since World War II, Japan and South Korea are building missiles for protection. India is seeking to purchase submarines that can carry missiles. Iran is developing its military prowess as fast as possible. Israel is perfecting its use of drones. China, Russia, and the United States are in an arms race and North Korea is defying the world’s nations. Like it or not, World War III is coming; and when it does, millions of people will die. Meanwhile at home, the United States is suffering from paralysis. The leaders are fighting each other. They are bogged down with complex domestic problems and cannot get anything done because they cannot agree on a solution. Partisanship has created a do-nothing legislature. The U.S. is facing large, complex problems so expensive that no one can offer a good solution. Many governments in the world are in a similar or worse situation. According to the Bible, the longevity of a government is determined by its commitment to moral principles God has dictated. When a majority of people abide by these principles, God blesses that nation with prosperity and longevity. He sends the Holy Spirit to prompt honest hearted citizens to be good neighbors. The Holy Spirit helps people make good decisions because good decisions bring good results for individuals, families, and ultimately, the nation. To ensure continuity for oncoming generations, God also raises up good leaders and the result is a good government that prospers and endures. This is why King David wrote: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance. From Heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on Earth– He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse[a symbol of military might]is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.”(Psalm 33:12-19, We must trust God! That’s what we do when wickedness is rampant. We trust! Through faith we survive! That is our testimony!

A Christian Soldier When a person enters the Kingdom of God, he is set free from the shackles of satanic power and brought into the Kingdom of God. There are principles of operation In This new kingdom Principle-A basic truth, law, or assumption. A rule or standard, especially of good behavior.The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments. Soldier- one who serves in an army So therefore we are brought out of one kingdom and brought into another “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians‬ Let’s learn how this lnew kingdom operates “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”Revelation‬ “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,” Ephesians‬ “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” I Peter‬ As we can see God sees the end of a thing and works backwards “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; Ecclesiastes‬ “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’Isaiah‬ So faith is now the language that God wants to teach us. Faith is how we communicate in this world. The waters and elements and healing are attracted to faith “For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”Romans‬ “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”Galatians‬ So God sees the end of a thing and then Walks it out by faith to see it manifest in this realm Christ who for the joy set before him endured the cross. Heb 12:2 Abraham-“Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”Genesis‬ Joseph-“So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” Genesis‬ 1 Samuel 1 the story of Hannah David anointed King at 16 didn’t have that role until he was 30 You have to see it first-you will be told the impossible and asked to BELIEVE it. “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,”I Timothy‬ SEE THE END AND WORK IT OUT BACKWARD Every decision is based on the end of a thing.

An Influencer Influencer-meaning of INFLUENCER is one who exerts influence : a person who inspires or guides the actions of others; often, specifically : a person who is able to generate interest in something (such as a consumer product) by posting about it on social media “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ We have been created for someone “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ In other words I was created to influence others and in so doing I bring God glory thru good works “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 ‭8‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Created with purpose to spread a kingdom! Look at those who realized they had purpose despite their situation Esther-parents died, raised by her uncle, forced to be with a king, yet knew she had a great purpose Joseph-betrayed by his bothers, sold into slavery, lied on thrown into prison yet knew he had a greater purpose Jesus-sinless life, raised the dead etc yet even on the cross He trusted in The Fathers plan. To His death a seemingly defeat yet in Gods purpose His life still influences the world I have been created for Gods glory! “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Lucifer’s Deception For anyone of us in this place, it is nothing short of a miracle that we are no longer under the control of and bound into the devil’s web of lies. All of humanity, at one time or another, was under the control of satan 2 Corinthians 4:4. Satan is the god of this world. Humanity in and of itself cannot set themselves free. Deceive, mislead, delude, beguile, means to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness. Deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessnes. Jesus came to set us free from the prison of deception and the lies of the devil. John 14:6. I am the way, the truth, and the life! For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” I John‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬ Humanity has been blinded and cannot see the truth. 2 Corinthians 4:4 – Satan has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. Symptoms of being blinded! You assume there is no God or you assume that your good deeds will prompt God to accept you. You assume you are not on the road to hell although you refuse to trust Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Refusal to believe in the resurrection of Jesus You assume your good deeds can make up for your bad deeds. You fail to believe that the blood of Jesus can only wash away your sins. You take the coronavirus warnings more seriously than Jesus’ warnings, that unless you repent, you will spend eternity in hell. Repentance is the door “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬ Jesus sets us free from Satan’s deception