Prophesy with love

1Co 14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
1Co 14:2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

 

Follow after charity, pursue love, run after love, let love be your highest goal! Everything is to be done in love and the gifts of the spirit are motivated by love. The Spirit works in us to do the will of God as servants who love the Lord and through the power and grace of God we love others through our gifts. The greatest gift is the gift of prophecy, hearing from God and speaking from God. Prophecy  is for edification, exhortation and comfort.

 

Many are hurting and need someone to care. Prophesying  often sounds personal and for the hearer. God speaks a word and the message is delivered. God is love, so his word comes from the maker, the creator and the source of love. Often people just want to receive comfort, but in their seeking for comfort they can block the word of God by their critical and suspicious attitude. No one who reads this has that attitude, but many do. They seek to suck the life out of others and then they are suspicious and critical in their need. They need to back off and let God minister to them personally. Sometimes the Lord will send someone to edify, to build up and to strengthen. To be built up we need to hear from God and remove the hindrances to be able to receive a message. The one hearing should hear with understanding, not to argue or to accuse, but with a humble heart. Many have been hurt and do not trust people, but if they refuse to hear God through prayer and Bible reading, often they will not hear from someone sent to edify them. We are to be ready to hear from God not to be having a pity party. Worse yet there are those who never read the Bible who will follow anyone without having spiritual discernment. We must have discernment in this time of deception.

 

I tend to look for solutions to problems. Exhortation from God is for instruction, encouragement or correction. Encouragement is one of the most needed gifts. Often the encourager needs encouragement too. Do not forget to encourage the one who gives out words of encouragement. We are to encourage our self in the LORD as did King David. Encouragement requires seeking to hear from the LORD and then doing what we hear to do. If we know to do something, then we are required to follow in obedience. Seek to love others by speaking God's word to build up, not to tear down. Lord help me to speak your word as directed by the Holy Spirit.

Eaglewings Ministries

Psalm One

Psa 1:1  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 
Psa 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 
Psa 1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 
Psa 1:4  The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 
Psa 1:5  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 
Psa 1:6  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. 

We need to be careful where we walk, our manner of life, for we are to walk in the Spirit of God and not the counsel of the ungodly. Ungodly counsel comes from the thinking of the world, we are to have the mind of Christ.

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 
1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 
1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

We are not to stand in the way of sinners;  We are not to stand with those who speak evil, who condone evil, who organize to do evil. We must stand for Christ, the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6) We are not to sit continuously with the scornful , the arrogant, the boastful mockers; we hear too much of this. Get up and leave.

Delight yourself in the LORD! Meditate on His Word, day and night and be planted as a tree by the Living Waters. Fear not the evil of this world. Immerse yourself in the presence of the Lord; be blessed and a blessing. Our roots are planted in the kingdom of God. We abide in the Branch and receive our life by being connected to Christ Jesus the vine as living branches bearing fruit. Abide with Him and then we shall flourish and avoid foolish talk.

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 
Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 
Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 
Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

We abide in our Lord Jesus Christ and need only ask him for his wisdom and he will guide us. Lord help me to put off all the contamination of the world, my negative thoughts and to depend upon you for all I do and say, all in the name of Jesus. Thank you for loving the unlovable.

Eaglewings Ministries

King Asa - beginning and end

King Asa's beginning

 

1Ki 15:9  In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah,
1Ki 15:10  and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.
1Ki 15:11  And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as David his father had done.
1Ki 15:12  He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
1Ki 15:13  He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron.
1Ki 15:14  But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the LORD all his days.

King Asa's end

 

2Ch 16:7  At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, "Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you.
2Ch 16:8  Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand.
2Ch 16:9  For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars." 2Ch 16:10  Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in the stocks in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties upon some of the people at the same time.
2Ch 16:11  The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.
2Ch 16:12  In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.
2Ch 16:13  And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.
2Ch 16:14  And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.

 

In the end of his life he punished the LORD's messenger, and he himself soon died. We all will die, but will we be faithful to the end? We cannot please God by ignoring him. We must learn to seek him and to trust him until the end. Looking good before men is not my goal. My success depends on my obedience to God.

Eaglewings Ministries

Only a dream?

In the Summer a group called the Shasta Brass comes together, a sextette, that plays the old hymns of the faith at various churches. I have been putting together arrangements for the different instruments using a music writing program on the Internet and the hymn books. Last week the man who organized the group fell and broke his arm and injured his forehead. Our prayers are with our injured brother in the Lord for a complete healing.  The leader is down, but the group will continue. If the Lord opens a door we should continue. I see the enemy attacking the leaders in our Christian gatherings. We need to support them with prayer. It is important that we continue with the vision God has given to us.The Angel of the LORD spoke to Zerubbabel to continue with the rebuilding of the temple, because the LORD was with him. If the LORD is in it, it will be successful.

Zec 4:6  Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.

Last night I had a dream, just a dream. I was at a restaurant or banquet and the host or head waiter appeared to be friendly, but there was something wrong with his spirit. I saw him pat the back of the head of a person and he imparted some controlling device. Soon he had a cult following, even a man of God that had served the LORD in missions for many years. He was about to pat me in the back of the head when I resisted and was awakened. Well I thought of the mark of the beast, and how it may be received unexpectedly, but there would be no escape; your mind would be under the control of the devil. Looking at the dream I think that we are sometimes unaware of the effects the world has upon us. We must not give our minds over to the world's ways and thoughts. Jesus said that there would be false Christ's and people believing lies and delusions.

Luk 18:7  And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
Luk 18:8  I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

We overcome by faith. We are to ask the LORD for help and be close to him. Will we drift away into the world or will we continue in faith? Faith requires hearing God's word and obeying. 

Rom 12:2  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Rom 12:3  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 

Jas 4:4  You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

Jas 4:5  Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? 

Jas 4:6  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Jas 4:8  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

Be alert and stay in the word of God.

Path to success

Psa 127:1 .... Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 

When we wish to go forward, first we pray for the LORD's blessings. If a door closes, it is of the LORD. We must discern if we are to continue in a path that has obstacles in the way. The LORD can overcome all obstacles, if we are walking with faith in him and led by his Spirit. If we know that we are in the will of God, then we continue. The world opposes the things of God, but we overcome the world.

1Jn 5:4  For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 

Sometimes those we respect , even those in the church will ignore or have little interest in what we do. Is it of the LORD? Does he want you to continue? Look to Jesus, He is your commander. I remember when I started my Photography business, it was a step of faith. The LORD had to bless it or I would fail. My mother thought I was wrong to quit my job as a cabinet maker. However after years of continuing, she thought it was good. We often must let go of something in order to follow the path God has for us. This requires faith and the assurance that it is the right way. I had come to the time when my mind was on two paths; to continue where security was in a job I wanted to leave. Or a path where my heart was leading me. This was not a flippant idea, it was something  I had been preparing for. Often a new path requires preparation, in skills and in finances. I had to make a choice and I knew I needed God to make a change.

Jas 4:6  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 
Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 
Jas 4:8  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 
Jas 4:9  Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 

Any positive path must begin by faith in God and his provision. Is God your help? or are you doing your own will and hoping that God will not interfere with you? He gives you the desires of your heart, if your heart is seeking him first.

Eaglewings Ministries

Questions about the unforgivable sin

Gary, I Have some questions about this...(Unforgivable sin)

There are two Scriptures that I wonder about, are the sins described the unforgivable sin?

They are Hebrews 6:4-6  and  Heb.10:26.  

Heb 6:4  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

By their fruit you will know them.

Heb 6:7  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
Heb 6:8  But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

I have seen people who said that they were once Christians, but they no longer believe in this. Most refuse to return. It is a dangerous thing to choose to fall away. Some people I have met on the Internet are always being saved, by several different people,over and over again. Were they ever truly saved? Or had they tasted a little of it and rejected it?

I myself was healed by God, saved miraculously, but after a heartbreaking divorce, I left the faith, yes even at times in my bitterness renouncing Jesus. But after 8 years, I returned and got into the word and never strayed again. I know that he was with me even as I was backslidden, because I could do things that I could not do before salvation. Yes, you can deny Jesus, but not from start to finish, for then you are denying the power and wooing of God through the Holy Spirit. My oldest brother was saved and Baptized but died having not attended church for many years, but he never denied Christ. I am hoping that he is saved with Jesus. Once saved always saved.

Mar 3:28  Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
Mar 3:29  But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

You may speak against Jesus, and repent and still be saved. But those who say the work of Jesus was of satan, they deny him and the way we come to him by the power of God through faith. I see hope for every living person. We pray and witness, for God is able to save, but some are too proud and stubborn.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

We are not to condemn anyone, that is the LORD's job. Again, by their fruits you know them. Salvation is not to be taken lightly.

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Our work is always to seek to restore people to God, not to condemn them. But we must warn them as well. It isn't a world of self esteem, but a world full of sin needing Jesus.

Finally, isn't it true that all sins are forgiven, past, present and future,  once we come to Christ Jesus?   Or is denying Jesus and going back to the world of unbelief, even for a short time, the unforgivable sin?  I have never denied HIM and know that HE changed my life when I first came to Jesus, but we all sin, even after receiving Jesus -- in thought, word, or deed, true?

All have sinned, and probably most have denied Christ Jesus, yes even after salvation. It is the devil's work to get us to deny Christ and to kill us. We must not allow this. I still believe that once we are truly saved that he continues to save us. Why tempt God by disobedience? Little by little we are to be more and more like him.

Luk 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Good questions  and I do not pretend to have all the answers. Jesus we seek, for he has all wisdom and will show us the secret things.

The unforgivable sin

Unforgivable sin? Is there anything that God cannot forgive? There is only one sin that will not be forgiven, and that is the rejection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way to be forgiven, His blood was shed for our sins and he died and was resurrected to eternal life. This secured our salvation. We need only believe that He did this for us.

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.(NLT)

All have sinned. No one person is worse than another if you come to Jesus, humbly seeking him with a desire to be cleansed of all evil and sins, Jesus is able to forgive even the most vile sinner. There is nothing that he will not forgive if you come to him earnestly seeking forgiveness. With this is the accepting of Jesus as our Lord, our master, our savior, our Great High Priest, our advocate to declare us not guilty before the accusations of the devil. God loves you and he loved you so much that He sent Jesus from heaven, God in a human, to be our way to return to fellowship with God, our father and creator.


2Cor 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

You become a new spiritually alive person. Your future is everlasting as a son or daughter of God. You shall be with Jesus forever.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Eaglewings Ministries