FAITH FREEDOM FIRE

     Hebrews chapter 11 has been quoted many, many times for many, many years.  These verses have been used to show the faith of those in the Old Testament, who, no matter what situations opposed them in the natural, they served a good God and stayed upon His direction to the very end of their lives.  They were faithful because they knew God is Faithful and True.

     These verses have been used as a sort of "standard" that we should use or try to attain in our walk with God.  I have heard many messages from very wise and anointed men AND women and have enjoyed them and let their words be sown into good soil.  Until recently I saw these verses in the same way they did, so I have to say that I agree but I also disagree.

     I have also heard these verses used by anointed men and women to state that even though these mighty men and women listed here prayed for something, God ultimately said "no" but they continued to stay in faith.  This message, while I love and deeply respect the speaker, I disagree with, that is not the what this chapter is saying. They will often use verse 39 to back up their message.  

     Let me insert verses 37 - 40 and then continue with what Holy Spirit showed me what He was saying through the writer of Hebrews.  Verse 37: They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (38) (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. (39) And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised. (40)  because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. 

     If you will notice verse 40 says it all, they could not be made perfect apart from, apart from what, apart from Christ Jesus.  Their faith couldn't make them perfect, the Law couldn't make them perfect, nor could what they died for make them perfect; the only Perfection was and still is Jesus Christ.  He had not yet come into this world, died upon the Cross nor resurrected from the dead to be seated at the right hand of the Father always making intercession for those who would receive.  He is the Promise they were all waiting for, and still today He is the Promise every heart cries out for in this world. 

     The writer of Hebrews was saying that Jesus was and still is the only Way anyone can be perfected in the eyes of God!!! Before Jesus came into this world, perfection was unattainable, He is the only Way for reconciliation back to God. 

     Please hear me, my nor any other man upon the face of this earth, will always "do" perfectly, that is not my statement, but in Christ Jesus I am made complete in Him. (Colossians 2:10)  The word "complete" here is the same word used for perfect in other places.  On the Cross before Jesus breathed His last breath and He surrendered Himself to death,  He BOLDLY declared "IT IS FINISHED." This word "finished" is the same word as "perfected".  Therefore He could have easily been declaring "It is perfected."  Once again I will reitterate, what we do is not always perfect but we are always being changed from faith to faith and from glory to glory while Holy Spirit is bringing about the change needed within that is in line with who God declares we are "in Christ Jesus."

     Maybe while reading my first paragraph here, you may be wondering why, I would even slightly disagree with those who say that those of us today should try to to attain the same faith as those of old, well here is my reason.  Those of us who are in Christ have been given HIS FAITH, therefore, His faith is greater than what they, those of the Old Testament,  could attain.  They had great faith, and even in the showing and standing, their faith is greater than what some of us have at this moment, but I tell you the truth when I tell you within you lies a greater faith than what they could ever have, through Christ Jesus and His overflowing grace, your faith is still growing constantly, revealing itself on the outside as it lies on the inside.

     Love, whomever may be reading this, maybe you've been standing in faith a long time for a certain promise, and haven't received your answer, let me remind you of 2 Corinthians 1:20; "For AS MANY as are the PROMISES of God, in Him (Jesus) they ARE yea and in Him Amen (so be it), unto the GLORY OF GOD by us."  The word "yea" in Greek means - "A SRONG YES", and the word "promise" means - "a pledge and a Good  Assurance".  So please hear these words, if you ask anything according to God's will, He gives you a "STRONG YES" and a good assurance, that He is faithful to YOUR amen.  If Christ Jesus has made a promise either in showing it to others while He walked this earth or by taking it upon Himself by His wounds or on the Cross, He is faithful to perform it and you have His faith to receive it.

     Christ spoke this in John 16:33, "In this world you will have tribulation; but be (this is a position you take) of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  The word "overcome" here means - "The source of success".  See Him always as the Source that will bring success to all that you have been praying about.

     My final word I'd like for you to take into your heart and help strengthen your faith is this, "Don't let the outcome of another's situation become the faith you receive through."  You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus!!!!  Love you all, any comments or prayers ALWAYS welcome.

Recently while reading these verses in John 15:12-14 which Jesus spoke : This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends, IF you do what I command.  These verses were also regiven by John being inspired by Holy Spirit which are found in 1 John 3: 16-18: We KNOW love by THIS, that He (Jesus) laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethern. But whoever has the world's goods and sees his brother in need and closes his HEART against him, how does the love of God abide in Him?  Little children, let us NOT love with WORD or with TONGUE, but in DEED and in TRUTH.  These verses have hit home with me because I myself am going through an unknown place with God.
 But THIS I KNOW, His promises that He will never leave me nor forsake me and that HE sticks closer than a brother stand true still today, therefore I will stand on His promises.  I have only written a few poems in my life and that was only when I was made to in school, much less ever let anyone read one but this one was birthed today while I was reading these verses.  My prayer is that it will inspire someone to be a friend as Christ commanded us to or that possibly someone can relate to this that He gave me to share.  So very timidly I share this, so here goes:

WILL YOU?

Will you stand with me when I'm in a valley? or only on the mountain? when I am dry or just a flowing fountain?
Will you stay in my life even in this unknown place? or is it only those very few who deserve your mercy and your grace?                        
Will you bring Christ's Light in the midst of my despair? or is it only for you with none to spare ?
Will you be my legs when I have none to find? or the crumbled earth beneath me? even if it's only in my mind?
Will you sit with me in silence knowing no words should you speak? or must you have a scripture because that makes you meek?
Will you have tears that mix and join with mine? or lend your shoulder when my neck has no spine?
Will you lay down your life? the Greater Love of a friend or will God have to choose another because you He could not send?

I was recently given a GREAT opportunity at the new church my husband and I attend (Wings Community Church), to give the testimony of my healing. It was a true healing from Almighty God not only of my physical body but also a beautiful healing of my soul (which is still in the process, I might add).  I thought I would put this taped message on the blog, especially for those who are sick or dis-eased in any way.  As I say in this testimony a dis-ease means to be separated from rest, God's beautiful rest which He has promised to those of us who are in Christ Jesus.  So I will make this short but I will encourage anyone who is feeling down or depressed or apart from God's promises in anyway, to listen, it will take approximately 30 minutes, but I believe it will be an encouragement to you.  I also believe that Holy Spirit has annointed this because He was very present and very strong in our midst Sunday.  I also  want to encourage anyone who is ill, or separated from Christ Jesus' rest, for whatever reason, and you would like prayer leave me a comment and I will pray for you or with you personally.Since my healing I have seen many people who were dis-eased in some way miraculously healed.  I love you and I know God loves you.

Technical note: The free hosting service that I used for my mp3 file requires a 1 minute wait before it will allow you to download.  http://www.webfilehost.com/?mode=viewupload&id=5358207

  This message that I'm about to give is for those who are hungry, truly hungry for more of God.  It is for those who know, that there is more for us who are "in Christ Jesus", and yet not seeing it.  This message is for those who are frustrated beyond description at "church as usual" and yet even feeling guilty (even though there is now no guilt or condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus) for having these feelings.  It is also for those who have been out in the wilderness or what seems to be a dry place for quite a while and not understanding why you've dwelt there for so long.  If this is you, oh child of God, rejoice in where you are and what you have been going through because God is about to bring you into your destiny!!!  Holy Spirit recently taught me and showed me why the Body of Christ has been going through this.

  First I would ask you to read Matthew 4:1-17, I won't take the time to type it all and would ask that you read it for yourselves, and as you are reading those verses and while you are reading this, ask Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and insight as He gave it to me.  

  If you will notice these verses say that after Jesus was baptized in water and also in Holy Spirit, He, Jesus, was led by Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights (or a season).  Of course Jesus didn't give in to the temptation and used the Word of God to defeat the devil.  As He was COMING OUT OF THE WILDERNESS, HE WAS HUNGRY!!!!  This all happened because God the Father had planned it to be so, even for Jesus.  Sometimes man says that it is our own fault, or we've something wrong and that is why we  are going through these things, but I say God has a greater good in store for us, and we go through these things because it is His divine plan.  (I'm not saying or even suggesting sickness or diseases as God's divine plan I don't believe that, even though He'll use that along with your healing for His glory, but I'll save that for another day and I want to stay on this subject.)  All of this happened BEFORE Jesus began His ministry of teaching AND demonstrating the Kingdom of God in word and POWER.

  What are you saying you may ask?  Well I'm glad you asked, this is what I'm saying.  We His body have been in the wilderness, we've prayed and fasted, we've been tempted by the devil and most of us have used the Word of God and have stood fast and still we haven't been seeing those things that Jesus promised.  Maybe we've seen them here and there but we've not experienced them as we should, we've not been able to reach as Jesus promised, "The works that I do you shall also do, AND EVEN GREATER WORKS, you shall do."  

  Generation after generation after generation have believed and prayed and fasted and still not done the greater works in the measure that God promised. There is a reason for all this, the season God appointed for these things to take place hadn't come yet.  He appoints every person ever placed on the earth to be here for a certain time and reason, with a plan and a purpose. I must say that those who fasted and prayed in past generations who didn't get to see what is about to take place in this generation will receive the same rewards as those of us who are about to truly give the Kingdom of God in the fullness of Holy Spirit.  They, those who prayed and fasted for these things to come, laid the foundation that our generation will walk in.

  Holy Spirit also showed me that those who have been given the opportunity to walk in a measure of His power and have seen the sick healed and have seen the dead raised and have seen so many give their lives to Jesus Christ have been like the Elijah's and the Elisha's of the old testament.  It was only given here and there, but the day's of the Elijah's and the Elisha's are over, or let me say it this way, those who have been those "Big Names" in the Christian community are not going to be the minority any longer and the only "Big Name" will be Jesus the Messiah and Savior, there will no longer be only a few, who walk and move in the signs, wonders, and miracles. The same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus, He Who lives in those of us who have received Christ as our Savior, will fall upon the Body of Christ in even greater power and with a greater fire than seen in past generations and will emerge us, the Body of Christ, in greater unity and love and will enable us to proclaim Jesus Christ in word and demonstration and walk in His glory daily and it will be seen and given all across the earth. I hope this has others as excited as I am!!

  If you will notice you will hear so many people state that they are hungry for God, for His Presence, for His glory to show up.  I tell you the last thing that happened in the verses in Matthew, before Jesus started His ministry, He was hungry.  The body of Jesus was hungry, even though He was hungry in the natural, we as His Body are hungry in the supernatural and I believe we are about to emerge and display The Kingdom of God in true love and  in ways that have never been seen or in a volume that has never been seen on this earth before, He saved the best wine for last.

  I have many more things that I could write regarding this but I do a much better job in talking than in writing so I'll leave you all with this, stay strong and stead fast in Christ Jesus, and know in the deepest parts of your knower, that all you've been going through, and all the while that  you've been hungering for more of God, you've not been alone, God has purposed and planned and set you apart for "A Time Such as This", also NEVER lose your hunger or your passion for wanting more of God.  Love you all!! 

Anyone who watches the news can see that in the natural these are uneasy times, but I want to remind all of those of us who are in Christ Jesus that we are in this world but not of this world.  God's resources are LIMITLESS, and I want to encourage every child of God that He is our Resource, our Blesser and what is impossible with man is possible with God.  There are certain principles or laws in His Kingdom that He wants us not only to know but to live by.  

When I say the word law, you may automatically think of religious laws or the laws of Moses but I'm not only talking about those,  I'm talking about those things that God has promised if you will, He will, that give and IT SHALL BE GIVEN, pressed down shaken together until it overflows principle.  I want to give one of these principles that Holy Spirit has been teaching me and it has to do with giving away what God has given to me.  God is a Giver, He is the Greatest Giver ever, we can never match what He has given to all who will believe, and that is His Only Begotton Son, our Savior, Jesus.  Jesus is the Word, or the exact Image of God our Father, and He came not only to take away from those who would receive, every curse upon Himself, but He also came to GIVE LIFE, abundant LIFE.  Every where He went, for those who would have faith and believe, He gave.  Therefore since "it is no longer I who lives but Christ who lives within me" this should be part of our lifestyle also.  The idea of being a giver has been taught mostly on money or natural things, while it does include money and things in the natural it also pertains to those things that are supernatural or things that our eyes maybe can't behold. This idea of giving has been taken way over to the side of what you will receive if you give finances to this one or that one, or for this ministry or that ministry.  I'm not EVEN GOING TO GO THERE, that's someplace I don't even go because I'm not going to judge what they have been told by God or if they haven't been told certain things by God, but what I am saying, always use His Wisdom by praying what to give and once again by being led by Holy Spirit.

So I reach out to you with this teaching as I have been taught (and still trying to learn and walk out daily).  When I receive a blessing or gain the knowledge that everything God has given me is a blessing, I'm not to count it as only my own, where or who it goes to, I'm to be led by God and release it freely and my main objective is "freely you have received, freely give (Matt. 10:8) not what am I gonna get out of it.  Let me give you the example He gave me, and yes it's in the example of money 'cuz  that's how He showed me.  If I have been blessed with $1200.00 and He leads me to give away $500.00 I'm not even to take into consideration that I have $700.00 left.  I don't count what I started with, gave away or what I have left.  The principle in the Kingdom of God is, give and it shall be given. (A good example is found in Matthew Chapter 6)  This is not only in finances, it is in everything God has blessed us with whether in the reach of our hands or the depths of our hearts.  I'll say it again, this does not only mean in finances. These principles apply to every area of God's grace and blessings bestowed to us: Love, Forgiveness, Mercy, Kindness, Joy, Peace (all of the fruits of Holy Spirit), Gifts of Holy Spirit and material blessings.  I have been blessed to be a blessing. As I said before we are not to consider even who the person is, whether they "seem" rich or "seem" poor.  Christ said to give to the poor, while someone may be rich financially, they could be poor in spiritual matters.  I'm not even to consider if they deserve or don't deserve something, God knows more than we do He is to lead us. Another principle in this is don't wait to start until you receive.  I promise you, you have something right now to give away. 

 Maybe your saying I have no money to give, no food to give, I'm barely able to make it.  I ask you, have you been blessed with forgiveness, then GIVE AWAY forgiveness to someone or even yourself, have you been blessed with mercy, then GIVE AWAY mercy, do you have a mouth, then GIVE AWAY kind words, do you have lips, then GIVE AWAY a smile, do you have arms, then GIVE AWAY a hug.  I'm telling you, you have something to Give.  Maybe it's in the area of His gifts, music, encouragement, teaching, etc.  But start with what you have been given a good example Jesus gave on this is found in Matthew 25:14-28.  God has given you something to bless someone else with, let your main objective be in the giving for His glory.  Keep your heart settled there and watch as His blessings overflow and "He will meet ALL of your needs according to His riches in glory don't look at what you don't have or what your getting ready to lose (maybe even a job), look at what you have right now and start there. GOD IS FAITHFUL and He will show Himself faithful to those who will believe and stay steadfast in Him. So I remind everyone who is reading this He is our Supplier and the Multiplier of all we give away.  Love you all, hope you were encouraged!      

Jesus spoke to His disciples (including all of us today) and said "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the WORKS themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, HE WILL DO ALSO; and greater works than these he will do; BECAUSE I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, SO THAT THE FATHER MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON." (John 14: 11-13, my own emphasis in caps). Jesus only did and spoke what He saw His Father do and speak, He had Heaven's perspective at all times. 

What is Heaven's Perspective, only God's will.  The disciples said to Jesus, teach us to pray, Jesus answered "Pray, then, in this way: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name, YOUR KINGDOM come,YOUR WILL be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as WE ALSO FORGIVE our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver  us from the evil one. For YOURS IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER. Amen (Matt. 6:9-13, my own emphasis in caps). This is how our Christ, our Redeemer  lived, moved and even breathed moment by moment upon this earth.  Since He is the Firstborn of many, and the Head of His Body, He has taught and shown us how to live, move and even breath in our season upon this earth empowered and being led by Holy Spirit.  When we come across sickness, diseases, depression, oppression, demonic influence of any type that comes into  our lives or the lives of our families or even in those we don't know, what do we do?  I believe it's easy, we get Heaven's Perspective, or "on earth as it is in Heaven".  What did Jesus do, only the will of God our Father, He brought the Kingdom of God to earth as it is in Heaven.  Religious Philosophy continues to have us wait for our someday in heaven, or the glory train mentality of just hang on until, I think that mentality causes us to miss His promises that we are to live out and give out while we're here on earth.  Do I put my treasure here on earth, absolutely not, like others I long for my heavenly home, to put on my heavenly suit, to forever be in the presence of my Savior, what a GLORIOUS time that will be and to see those who have gone home before me but until that time comes I have been commissioned from Christ Himself to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, etc., in other words have Heaven's Perspective and do the will of Christ in the power of Holy Spirit by faith. 

 When you find yourself in a situation that does not align itself with God's Word, pray and bring God's will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven, in other words Heaven's Perspective. Amen 

To everyone or anyone who reads this blog I pray that you will be blessed.  My prayer is that you will ALWAYS see Jesus and believe that as Christians we are called to spread His gospel and to give The Kingdom of God every where we go in the power of Holy Spirit.  I don't want this to be a place of criticism or judgement, my belief is that there is enough of that in this world and since we are in this world but no longer of the world we are therefore called to give His love and to live His love.  I'm not a theologian, nor will my grammar and spelling always be correct, I just want to give Jesus.