"You must swear to tell the complete truth. Do you understand?"
The client replied that he did.
The lawyer then asked, "Do you know what will happen if you don't tell the truth?"
The client looked back and said, "I imagine that our side will win."
A Lawyer was briefing his client, who was about to testify in his own defense.
"You must swear to tell the complete truth. Do you understand?" The client replied that he did. The lawyer then asked, "Do you know what will happen if you don't tell the truth?" The client looked back and said, "I imagine that our side will win."
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Hugh, Below is the link to Quarantine Hymn #7 - WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS Thank you again for posting these. I hope they are a blessing to your audience. Have a great day, Laban Please Click Here to hear Laban's wonderful arrangement of "Wonderful Grace of Jesus" Wonderful Grace of Jesus - Quarantine Hymn #7 Wonderful Grace of Jesus, written by Haldor Lillenas in 1918, is one of my favorites. During this time of Corona... Love Forgives and Forgets Author: Anne Graham Lotz "Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8, NIV). King Solomon wisely admonished, “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends” (Prov. 17:9, NIV). One of the definitions for love given in the New Testament is that, “Love does not delight in evil. . . . It always protects” (1 Cor. 13:6-7, NIV). One of the greatest failures in the Bible was the apostle Peter. His most notorious moment of sin was when, after vowing that he would die for Jesus, he actually denied ever having known Him. And he denied Him not just once but three times. Yet God, in His mercy and grace, restored Peter so completely that he was given a prominent leadership position within the early church, opening the door of opportunity for the Gentiles to receive the gospel. And Peter, who understood the shame of failure and the humiliation of sin, encouraged Christians to “love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Blessings, Anne Graham Lotz Copyright © 2014 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org. Why COVID-19 Will Give Way to a 'Happily Ever After' Ending
Author: Mikel French My wife and I have been COVID-19-positive for five weeks now. Forty-six years ago, we stood face to face before God and loved ones and promised to love and honor one another in sickness and in health. The day I made that promise to Marsha, I was prepared to suffer through some cold symptoms together and maybe, if it got bad, the stomach flu. I certainly never expected this, just like I never expected getting cancer in my 50s. Let me tell you, you want to pick a spouse who will stand up to his or her vows the way Marsha has. She has stood by me and suffered with me—literally, in the case of COVID-19—through it all, and I am grateful and humbled by her love. But that's what love does, right? Even when our lives seem uncertain, love moves us to lock eyes firmly with our beloved and weather the storm together. No wonder the Scriptures use marriage so frequently to describe our relationship with God. Of the many examples in the Old and New Testaments, the book of Hosea is one of my favorites. On the surface, it is a little jarring. It sounds a bit like all of the "for worse" and none of the "for better." But in spite of its brutality, the book of Hosea is full of beauty. It is an incredible depiction of God's love for Israel—and us—and a poignant lesson in what happens when we keep our eyes and heart fixed on obeying God. It can be hard to do that in seasons like this. During my recovery, first in isolation at the hospital and then at home, there wasn't much I could do except watch the news. I am a news junkie, so this wasn't all bad—at first. Soon, though, it became clear that the news was less about giving helpful information about how this serious problem was getting fixed and more about fixing blame on someone. Twenty-four hours a day they broadcast accusations, controversy and even rumors of conspiracy, all cloaked in updates. This is nothing new to the pandemic. I've watched leaders in churches, businesses and even homes use this fear mongering, smoke-and-mirrors technique for years to escape taking personal responsibility or just the hard task of doing the right thing. When this happens, it's easy to find ourselves breaking our gaze away from the Father's eyes and focusing on their lies. We can be tempted to take steps to protect ourselves or our opinions instead of walking in lockstep with God and His Spirit, instead of trusting His love for us. Before we even realize it, we will have locked eyes with the problem and those claiming to solve it for us—and forgotten God's invitation to play a part in His plan of redemption for humanity. Hosea never forgot what God called him to or why. God loved Israel, but the nation was pursuing love in all of the wrong places. To help His people understand the depth and breadth of His love, God spoke to Hosea and told him to marry Gomer, a prostitute who, even after her marriage to Hosea, continued to look for love in all the wrong places. In spite of Hosea's devotion, Gomer left him over and over, chasing after men who did not want to take care of her, nor did they have the ability to do so. She ended up being sold as a slave. Each time, Hosea faithfully pursued his bride, restoring her to himself and even rescuing her out of her bondage, just as God promised to do for His wayward people. Hosea 2:14–23 is a beautiful profession of God's covenantal promise—His vows—to Israel: "'Behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her .... And it shall be, in that day,' says the Lord, 'That you will call Me '"My Husband," and no longer call Me "My Master" .... I will betroth you to Me forever ... in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy ...[and] in faithfulness'" (verses 14, 16, 19–20, NKJV). Related Articles 10 Pieces of Good News From Churches During COVID-19 Pandemic Survey Reveals How COVID-19 Has Impacted Faith Because Hosea remained faithful to God's call on his life, because he trusted God even when his circumstances looked bleak, because he resisted the temptation to place blame on Gomer for complicating his life and God's plan, eventually Gomer returned to him, wholeheartedly and of her own volition. I imagine the process was painful for Hosea, but I'm sure it was worth it in the end. What will happen when we choose to set our eyes on Christ and see His plan fulfilled in our lives and nation? What if we tuned out the fearmongering and trusted that God is up to something? What if we refused to engage with the politicking and finger pointing and focused, as Hosea did, on the same thing God is focused on: the lost, the Gomers among us? We are living in an extraordinary moment in history. I have no doubt that God is getting ready to open the doors of the church to the millions of Gomers out there who are realizing that without the love of God, there is no way to make it. I'm believing that when this is all over churches will have to stay open five to seven nights a week to receive all the people coming back to Him. That sounds to me like a beautiful "happily ever after" to humanity's love story with our Savior. And you and I get to be part of it! Hallelujah! You're beautiful. I see Jesus in you. Have a great week! [Mikel French has challenged spiritual awakening all across America, where many celebrations extended into multiple weeks, and has conducted celebrations in France, Sweden, Russia, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, Serbia, Germany, South Africa, Malawi, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Haiti, Japan, Singapore, India and Thailand. He conducted an outreach celebration in Manila, Philippines, reaching 200,000 teenagers with the book of hope. Through the generous support of partners, he has presented the message of Jesus Christ to millions of people in the nation of Russia through televised citywide soul-winning celebrations. Mikel considers it an honor to assist in conducting the annual pastor's conference, where thousands of pastors from Russia's 11 time zones come for training, teaching and equipping. Mikel and his wife, Marsha, reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma.] Faith Is the Antidote for Fear Author: Bob Shafer Mark 4:35-41 "And He (Jesus) said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:40). Most people accept fear as a normal part of life, but Jesus rebuked His disciples for being afraid. He didn’t accept it as normal. Also, we know He would never reprove them for something beyond their control, so fear is a choice. We don’t have to be afraid, and Jesus told us how. We can overcome fear by having faith. We don’t need to be insensitive to those who are experiencing fear, nor do we need to be ashamed if we feel afraid. Since fear torments (1 John 4:18), we should have compassion on others-and ourselves. However, in our efforts to comfort, we don’t need to embrace and promote fear as normal. That’s not what Jesus did. The “normal” Christian today would have said to the disciples, “That’s okay, boys, I know just how you’re feeling.” But Jesus said, “What’s the matter with you? Why don’t you have any faith?” The difference between Jesus’ attitude toward fear and today’s average Christian’s attitude toward fear is why so many of us are living far below what Jesus sacrificed Himself to give us. He died so we could be delivered from fear of all evil, and that includes poverty, sickness, death, and even being lonely. To Him, anything but a happy and victorious Christian life is abnormal. He wants us to live free from fear. Jesus made it clear that faith is the antidote to fear. Faith and fear cannot coexist. They are enemies and opposing forces. If faith is strong, it will cast out all fear. So we must always be building and strengthening our faith by reading and studying God’s Word. (Rom. 10:17.) Your faith in the goodness and faithfulness of God (Gal. 5:6) will overcome whatever you are afraid of today. Today’s Thought Faith is the antidote to fear. Today’s Prayer Lord I choose to put my faith and trust in You. I choose to believe that everyone of Your promises are for me. I know that You are good and faithful and You’ve not given me a spirit of fear. Therefore, I choose to rule over and take captive everything thought that tries to bring fear into my life. Thank You for the happy and victorious life I find as I place my faith in You. Prayer is requested for Rev. Faye Penland
By Rita Bates Jones Prayers uplifted for this Daughter of Zion. Prayers for total healing in the Name of Jesus. How well we remember the mighty revivals held by her and the late Betty Baxter. Only Heaven will reveal the souls won to the Kingdom! American Minute with Bill Federer U.S. Senate Chaplains & U.S. House Chaplains U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry C. Black was elected in 2003. Posted on the Office of the Senate Chaplain website (2020), Chaplain Black wrote: "Throughout the years, the United States Senate has honored the historic separation of Church and State, but not the separation of God and State ..." Three Secular Reasons Why America Should Be Under God Chaplain Barry Black continued: "The first Senate, meeting in New York City on APRIL 25, 1789, elected the Right Reverend Samuel Provost, the Episcopal Bishop of New York, as its first Chaplain ... ... Since then, all sessions of the Senate have been opened with prayer, strongly affirming the Senate's faith in God as Sovereign Lord of our Nation." This was a continuation of the practice of the Continental Congress during the Revolution, as Ben Franklin remarked in 1787: "In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection." On April 9, 1789, only nine days after the first Congress under the U.S. Constitution convened, both the House of Representatives and the Senate approved chaplains to open every session with prayer, paying them a salary of $500 each. On April 15, 1789, the Committee of Congress was composed of: Richard Henry Lee, Oliver Ellsworth, Caleb Strong, William Maclay, and Richard Bassett. They recommended: "That two chaplains, of different denominations, be appointed ... the Senate to appoint one, and ... the House of Representatives ... shall ... appoint the other ... Chaplains shall commence their services in the Houses that appoint them." On April 25, 1789, the Congressional Committee of Richard Henry Lee submitted the following resolution, passed in the Senate, and two days later passed in the House, giving instructions with regards the Inauguration of the George Washington as the first President of the United States: "Resolved. That after the oath shall have been administered to the President, he, attended by the Vice-President, and members of the Senate, and House of Representatives, proceed to St. Paul's Chapel, to hear divine service, to be performed by the Chaplain of Congress already appointed." The Annals of Congress give a record of the events on April 30, 1789, following President George Washington's Inauguration: "The President, the Vice-President, the Senate, and House of Representatives, &c., then proceeded to St. Paul's Chapel, where divine service was performed by the Chaplains of Congress." At the time of the Revolutionary War, many of the founders were members of the Church of England, or Anglican Church, which had the King as its head. After the Revolution, the Anglican Church in America went through the unprecedented process of becoming the Episcopal Church, which did not acknowledge the King, This process first began in 1784 with Rev. Samuel Seabury being ordained in Scotland, Then in 1785, the Archbishop of Canterbury ordained Episcopal Bishops Rev. Samuel Provoost and Rev. William White. Provoost had served as Chaplain of the Continental Congress, then the first Episcopal bishop of New York, and in 1789, he was chosen as the first Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. William White was the first Episcopal bishop of Pennsylvania, and the second Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. Bishop Samuel Provoost conducted George Washington's Inaugural Service at New York's St. Paul's Chapel -- the oldest public building in continuous use in New York City. Bishop Provoost had preached the first Episcopal ordination sermon, St. George's Chapel, New York City, July 15, 1787: "We are occupied in the ... most important business that can possibly engage the human mind ... that ... in the Hands of God, we shall be made the happy instruments of turning many from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Knowledge and Love of the Truth ... Lay no other foundation than that which is already laid ... upon the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, and him crucified ... Let us all unite our most strenuous endeavors, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ may run and be glorified, till the earth be filled with the Knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." From 1789 to 2020, there have been 62 Senate Chaplains, all of whom were some denomination of Christian: Episcopalian 19 Methodist 17 Presbyterian 14 Baptist 6 Unitarian 2 Congregational 1 Lutheran 1 Catholic 1 Seventh-day Adventist 1. Occasionally, members of other faiths have been invited to offer a prayer. The U.S. Senate Chaplain after World War II was Peter Marshall, who prayed: "Our liberty is under God and can be found nowhere else. May our faith be not merely stamped upon our coins, but expressed in our lives." Peter Marshall's son, Peter Marshall, Jr., together with David Manuel, wrote the best-selling book, The Light and the Glory, which traced the Hand of Providence in the founding of America. The Senate Chaplain and the House Chaplain together oversee the Capitol Prayer Room, located near the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. At its dedication in 1955, Speaker Sam Rayburn stated that the Capitol Prayer Room was for members: "who want to be alone with their God." On February 7, 1984, President Reagan addressed the National Association of Secondary School Principals: "God ... should never have been expelled from America's schools. As we struggle to teach our children ... we dare not forget that our civilization was built by men and women who placed their faith in a loving God. If Congress can begin each day with a moment of prayer ... so then can our sons and daughters." In 1986, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate Richard Halverson stated: "When Billy Graham comes to the Capitol, suddenly, the Senate and Congress are unimportant. To me, it's a miracle. Wherever Billy is, there is the Gospel of Christ." American Minute-Notable Events of American Significance Remembered on the Date They Occurred The first chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives was Rev. William Linn, a Presbyterian minister from New York. Unanimously elected on May 1, 1789, Rev. Linn was appropriated a salary of $500 dollars from the Federal treasury. House Chaplain William Linn stated May 1, 1789: "Let my neighbor once persuade himself that there is no God, and he will soon pick my pocket, and break not only my leg but my neck. If there be no God, there is no law, no future account; government then is the ordinance of man only, and we cannot be subject for conscience sake. Ephesians 2:4-10
4 But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. KJV Some great words to listen to here:
I read a while back a story of a visiting pastor who attended a men's breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country. The group had asked an old...er farmer decked out in coveralls to say grace for the morning breakfast. "Lord, I hate buttermilk", the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going. The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was growing concerned. Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour". The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable. Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen" Within that funny prayer, there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today. Stay strong my friends because our LORD is mixing several things that we don't really care for, but something even better is going to come when HE is done with it. AMEN! Joyce Meyer: Secrets to Maintain a Healthy Spiritual Heart Author: Joyce Meyer How are you maintaining a healthy heart, spiritually speaking? Heart Condition Once a year, I go to the doctor and get a check-up. And every time, one of the things they do is check my heart. A good, thorough exam will reveal if there are any problems that need to be addressed before a heart condition arises. I believe we need to do the same thing with our own hearts. Because the truth is, everyone's heart is in some condition. In fact, we have a responsibility to do this, as Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Frequent check-ups will enable us to identify and act on those issues quickly—both physically and spiritually. We can so easily get in the habit of doing life, just going through the motions, even when doing "Christian things," and not realize that something has crept into our heart. Some of those things not only affect us, but they can hurt or hinder others as well. The longer an issue, or heart condition, is left unattended, the deeper its roots go. Then it becomes harder and harder to deal with. But the good news is, we can prevent that with God's help. Testing and Guarding Your Heart In order to properly guard your heart, it's important to understand just what that means. When I talk about the condition of your heart, I'm talking about what's inside you—whatever it is that makes you do what you do. For instance, how many times have you said or done something you're not very proud of and thought, I can't believe I did that! Well, God allows some situations to happen to show us what's in our heart. It's like how, when I get my annual physical, the doctor checks my heart by running certain tests. Those tests are designed to discover if anything is wrong or confirm that everything is OK. In much the same way, God tests us to show us what's in our heart. He doesn't do it to shame or embarrass us. He just wants us to see what's going on so we can face our issues, deal with them with the help of the Holy Spirit and grow stronger in Christ. Our heart ultimately governs our behavior. So when we say or do something that "surprises" us, if we will get really honest with ourselves (and with God) and think about it, we will discover the root of that action. God is more interested in our motives—the why behind the what. Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." He is not looking at our outer actions as closely as He is looking at what motivates them. Because what's inside us is the root of what comes out of us. God is much more concerned that the things we do come from a pure, Holy Spirit-led heart. Motives Are Like Leaves The lesson of the fig tree in Matthew 21 gives us a good depiction of motives. At first, I couldn't understand why Jesus would curse a poor tree just because it only had leaves on it. But then I saw He knew that whenever a fig tree bears leaves, it means there is fruit under them. Jesus was hungry and that fig tree was giving the wrong message! Sometimes, in the midst of what we're doing, we need to stop and think about why we're doing it. Is it to be seen, to impress somebody, for the accolades—or is it because we really care? Get a Check-up We need to be sure we are doing what we do as unto the Lord and not for any other purpose. People in this world are spiritually hungry. And as Christians, it's not enough for us to go around displaying our "leaves," things that make us look like believers. We must bear "fruit" under those leaves. What is our fruit? It's love—loving people, helping them and giving—not only our money, but our time, our efforts and ourselves. People need to see love in action. Having a heart that's right with God is absolutely the best thing we can do for ourselves. That's why I encourage you to do a spiritual heart "check-up" on a regular basis. Have a meeting with yourself and be honest with yourself about your motives. Work with the Holy Spirit and He will help you keep your heart pure and in good condition so you can show others His love in everything you do. For more on this topic, order Joyce's two-teaching CD series Secrets for a Healthy Heart. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting joycemeyer.org. [Joyce Meyer is a New York Times' bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Your Battles Belong to the Lord (FaithWords). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit joycemeyer.org.] These Biblical Mysteries Tie an Ancient King to 2 US Presidents Author: Jonathan Cahn U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as U.S. Vice President Mike Pence listens during the daily coronavirus disease (COVID-19) task force briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 19, 2020. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Donald Trump is even a more visible presence in American culture today, with daily briefings on the health concerns plaguing the nation and the world. In his global hit The Oracle: The Jubilean Mysteries Unveiled, New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Cahn addresses whether an ancient king is linked not to one, but two, U.S. presidents. The Oracle not only makes these connections, but the book is full of spectacular mysteries and revelations that continue to stun readers worldwide. In The Oracle, Cahn opens up the Jubilean mysteries and a revelation so big that it lies behind everything from the rise and fall of nations and empires—even America—to the current events of our day, to the future, to end-times prophecy, and much more. The author writes that an ancient king holds the mystery of President Donald Trump and is also linked to President Harry Truman 70 years earlier. Cahn explains in The Oracle that God uses world rulers to restore Israel, including: King Cyrus, under whose leadership the Jews were set free from Babylonian captivity; British leaders Lloyd George and Arthur Balfour; President Harry Truman, who oversaw the decree in 1947 that returned Israel to nation status; and now, President Trump, who announced that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017. In fact, the name "Donald" means "world ruler," Cahn noted. Trump also referenced Cyrus' other American counterpart during the Jerusalem announcement when he said: "It was 70 years ago that the United States, under President Truman, recognized the State of Israel." President Trump not only referenced the Biblical King Cyrus, but also quoted him directly, stating: "Cyrus the Great, a leader of the ancient Persian Empire, famously said that 'freedom, dignity, and wealth together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity.'" "It was not only that the president had issued a public statement in which he spoke of Cyrus, but that he spoke words that had been attributed to the ancient king," according to The Oracle. "In other words, he wasn't only speaking of Cyrus; he was now speaking as Cyrus. The president and the king were joined together. And this took place before the act that would manifest the mystery of the two leaders before the world—the Jerusalem Declaration." The 70-year span between 1947 and 2017 is also significant, Cahn says. The Bible says that a decree about Jerusalem will occur at the end of a 70-year period concerning Israel. "When was Israel voted into the world?" Cahn notes. "1947. Add 70 years and it comes out to the year 2017, when Donald Trump issued the Jerusalem declaration at the end of the 70 years like clockwork. God is on the throne. Nothing is an accident. God has called us for such a time as this—isn't He amazing?" In The Oracle, Cahn takes readers on a journey to find the man called "the Oracle." One by one, each of the Jubilean mysteries is revealed through the giving of a vision to a traveler. The Oracle uncovers the mysteries of The Stranger, The Lost City, The Land of Seven Wells, The Birds, The Number of the End, The Man in the Black Robe, The Prophet's Song, The Man with the Measuring Line, The Matrix of Years, The Day of the Lions, The Awakening of the Dragon and many more. Ultimately, The Oracle will reveal the secret that lies behind end-times prophecy and the mystery of the end of the age. As with his other bestsellers The Harbinger and The Book of Mysteries, Cahn reveals the mysteries through a narrative. A traveler is given seven keys; each will open up one of seven doors. Behind each door lies a stream of mysteries. The reader is taken on a journey of angels and prophetic revelations waiting to be discovered behind each of the seven doors—the ancient secrets that lie behind the world-changing events of modern times—and revelations of what is yet to come. Jonathan Cahn caused a worldwide stir with the release of his explosive first book, The Harbinger, which became an instant New York Times' bestseller and brought him to national and international prominence. His next three books were also New York Times' bestsellers: The Mystery of the Shemitah, The Book of Mysteries and The Paradigm. He was named, along with Billy Graham and Keith Greene, one of the top 40 spiritual leaders of the past 40 years to have radically impacted the world. Called the prophetic voice of this generation, Cahn is a much-sought-after speaker and has been highlighted in the New York Times as well as in many national and international media. He has spoken on Capitol Hill, at the United Nations and to millions of people around the world. Cahn is known for opening the deep mysteries of Scripture and bringing forth messages of prophetic import. He leads Hope of the World ministry, an international outreach of teaching, evangelism and compassion projects for the world's most needy. He also leads the Jerusalem Center/Beth Israel, a worship center made up of Jews and Gentiles, people of all backgrounds, just outside New York City in Wayne, New Jersey. His ministry can be contacted at HopeoftheWorld.org and Jonathan Cahn Facebook. Visit TheOracleMystery.com. The Oracle is published by FrontLine, an imprint of Charisma House. Blessing Through Brokenness Author: Anne Graham Lotz "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:25, NIV). What is your reaction to that verse? Jesus is the One Who died for you and me! Surely He’s not saying you and I must die for Him! Death is a pretty big stretch from your daily prayer, “God, bless me indeed,” isn’t it? And it’s not nearly as full of wonder and excitement, and if we’re honest, personal profit. God wants to bless you and me even more than we could think to ask, but the power that produces the blessing comes through brokenness and death. And not just any death, but death by crucifixion. I will tell you honestly from experience that crucifixion is a slow, painful death to your self. It is impossible for victims to crucify themselves. Crucifixion is the result of our decision to yield ourselves to God as He allows various pressures and problems and pain into our lives. They are used to put us to death that we might be raised to an abundant . . . victorious . . . blessed . . . fruitful . . . powerful . . . Christlike . . . Spirit-filled life. And remember-after the Cross comes the resurrection and the glory! Blessings, Anne Graham Lotz Copyright © 2014 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org. Kenneth Hagin Prophecy: Jesus Is Coming for a Mighty, Blood-Bought Church, Not a Weak One
Author: Bert Farias/Lemmeth Hagin Columnist's Note: This is prophecy by the late Kenneth E. Hagin on Oct. 01, 1974, Longmont, Texas: Amid the present plague/virus and fear in the world and even among some Christians, the church needs to be reminded of this. "No, the time of the end is not yet. No, America is not doomed," I heard Him say. "No, judgment will not fall as yet. "Some have seen some things in the spirit and didn't know how to interpret it. They interpreted it as happening now. I didn't say it was going to happen now. In the spirit you see things in the distance—and even in another age. "When the church age is over, judgment will fall. But judgment will not fall upon the church. For the only judgment that the church will face is the judgment seat of Christ. They'll not face the judgment of tribulation." My comments: Pre-trib and post-trip arguments avail; I'm a proponent of both of them with a split church at the pre-trib rapture where some go and some stay; for more clarification on this go here and scroll back, then go forward to read the 12-part series I did in 2013. I received this understanding from my personal studies on a number of eschatology books of the late Rev. Gordon Lindsay, who was a good friend of brother Hagin. My understanding of eschatology may change as I continue to grow, but right now, that is what I believe is closest to the fullness of truth concerning the rapture of the church. "They'll not face the judgment of the enemy or the judgment of God, for they're protected by God. "And there is more to happen yet. There's missionary work to be done. And even the renewal that you call the 'charismatic renewal,' and the move of the Spirit in these last days—you have only seen a little. And there shall be those that stand before the leaders of this nation and work miracles. And it shall be even so as it was with Phillip, after he had baptized the eunuch that he was caught away and found in another city. And so one shall be in this city and television cameras shall be trained upon him. The reporters will say, 'He's here in Dallas, Texas.' And as fast as you can snap your finger, a television camera in Los Angeles...and there he is. Some will say, 'How did he do that?' It shall be the Spirit of God that shall catch him away. [My personal comments: I've always had that same conviction. How glorious! We need to think bigger than the present dark situation in our nation.] "And these signs and wonders shall become more prevalent. Signs and wonders have come here and come there. But they shall become more prevalent and more prevalent in these last days. 'And let not your heart be fearful, nor let it be afraid.' "For there shall, and on the scene he has already arisen [I believe he's speaking of President Trump, who was about 28 years old at this time. I can't prove that, so I'll just submit it to you for consideration. Keep reading.], one who shall respond unto the things of God and whose heart will be open toward God. "And your nation that seemed to be cut down to the roots, and the wild birds of the air and the fowls of the air came and roosted in her branches and did much disrepute unto the nation. Yet that shall all be repaired because this man shall say, 'I will walk in the way of God. I will trust also in Him.' And he shall be at the head, and many shall follow him. And the work of God shall be consummated that must be consummated in other nations before I come. [Oh, glory to God! Hallelujah!] "I heard Him say, 'Because, you see, The enemy shall not gainsay the work of the Lord.' And like a trumpet sounding across the valley, I heard His voice so strong and clear, and He said, 'I am not coming for a church, the body of Christ, that's weak, emaciated, sickly and underground, meaning hiding in fear [My comments: He is not speaking of the mighty underground church, because of persecution as in nations like Iran, but he's speaking of the mighty holy remnant of God who will rise up in this hour]. I'm coming for the spiritual giant that's alive and living, and working the works of God!' "So be not fearful, nor cast thy glance around about, and become askant. But look ye up unto Him, for He is the head of the church. And through the church, the head will manifest Himself. And men are the hands of the Lord, and the hands are in the body. And He shall stretch forth His hands to heal the sick, that signs and wonders shall be wrought in the name of the Holy Child Jesus. [GLORY! GLORY! GLORY!] "And two things shall shortly be made manifest unto the real people of God: 'One is further light and teaching and revelation in the area and realm of healing—physical healing, divine healing—that will be the key that will unlock the chain that has bound so many and they'll never more be the same.' [Comments: There was much teaching in the '70s and '80s on this that many of us need to revisit. I was a part of an apostolic team that received a mandate from God to carry the word of faith into West Africa in the mid-80s into the mid-90s. And I will be writing and ministering more on this in the near future]. We need this 'word of faith' (Rom. 10:8) especially in this time where great fear is abounding all over the world. "And then there shall come revelation...further light according to the Word concerning the miraculous, and the part that faith doth play. For faith is like the fuse that ignites the dynamite. "And when the explosion goes off, all can hear and see. But there was a fuse that had to be lit, and faith is the fuse. [Yes! Yes! Yes!] "And thou shalt be able to stand and to take a blackboard, like a teacher teaching mathematics and write out the equation and come up with the right answer. And any man or woman, boy or girl, standing or seated in that congregation will be able to take that equation, translate it into the spiritual realm and their faith will ignite the power of God. And they'll have an explosion in their home and in their community and in their church. "And it will be popping here and popping there; and it will be popping here and popping there; and it will be popping here and popping there. "So get ready for it. "And the curtain was closed. And into the realm of eternity I could no longer see. "And into the realm of eternity I could no longer hear. But I looked again into the realm of time, where you sit and live, and say with words from heaven above, 'These things shall shortly be, and shall shortly come.'" This song will fire you up! Listen to "Blood Bought Church" Note: Our books and articles are forerunners to the move of God, personal holiness and the return of the Lord. The fire of God and the fear of God are attached to them. If you feel like this article is valuable, please use the social media buttons below to share it. Bert Farias' books are forerunners to personal holiness, the move of God, and the return of the Lord. They also combat the departure from the faith and turning away from the truth we are seeing today. The Tumultuous 2020s and Beyond is his latest release to help believers navigate through the new decade and emerge as an authentic remnant. Other materials/resources are available on his website, Holy Fire Ministries. You can follow him personally on Facebook, his Facebook ministry page, or Twitter. Please be in prayer for Rev. Faye Penland. She has been admitted to Pelham Hospital with pneumonia.
Faye Penland is a well-know Pentecostal Holiness lady evangelist. Melvine's parents and the people of the Draper Pentecostal Holiness Church in Eden, NC loved to hear her preach, and were grateful for the revivals she conducted in their church. Our dear sister in the Lord, needs the hand of God to reach down and touch her and heal her of this pneumonia and any other complications. We pray for her in the Name of Jesus, our Savior and Healer. [This news has come from Don and Rose Gentilini, retired missionaries in Virginia, and Spirit Life Ministries (Upper South Carolina Conference).] Give Your Faith a Voice Author: Bob Shafer Today’s Scripture And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak" (2 Corinthians 4:13, NKJV). 2 CORINTHIANS 4:13 NKJV Every believer has been given a measure of faith. In order to see the promises of God come to pass in your life, you have to give your faith a voice. You must declare what God says about you in His Word. Those seeds of faith inside you are activated when you speak them out into the atmosphere. That’s why the Scripture tells us, “Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’” When you give your faith a voice and send forth the Word of God, the Bible says that He watches over His Word to bring it to pass in your life. Every word you speak is a seed. Don’t dig up your seed by speaking against your faith! Don’t allow words of defeat or negativity to come out of your mouth. Instead, water your seed by continuing to declare the Word of God. When you wake up every morning, thank Him that His promises are coming to pass in your life. As you do, you will see those things come to pass and live the life of victory God has prepared for you! A Prayer for Today Father, I praise You because You are a good and faithful God. Today I humbly come before You submitting my thoughts, my actions, and my words to You. Show me when I speak words of doubt, discouragement, and negativity so I can change. Help me to give my faith a voice by speaking Your Word daily. May my words and my thoughts be pleasing to You always in Jesus’ Name. Amen. Wake-Up Thought Words have creative power. When you speak something out, you give life to your faith. One of the best things you can do is take a few minutes every morning and make positive declarations over your life. Declare every day, “I am confident. I am valuable. I am one of a kind. I am a child of the Most High God,” I’m the top and not the bottom, I’m going over and not under”and you’ll see God release His promises for your life. A delight to read in this craziest of times
What Love means to 4-8 year old kids ... Slow down for three minutes to read this. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds: "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader, deeper, and more profound than anyone could have ever imagined! See what you think: "When my grandmother got arthritis , she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time , even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8 "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4 "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5 "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Mary -- age 6 "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4 "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him , to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 8 "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen." Bobby - age 7 (Wow!) "If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet) "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7 "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6 "During my piano recital , I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8 "My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6 "Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5 "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7 "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4 "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4 "When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." what an image) Lauren - age 4 "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross..' Mark - age 6 "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget." And the final one: And the final one: The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry." [During this quarantine due to the coronavirus, what can we learn from each other? Especially our children.] Romans 8:18-39 The 8th Chapter of Romans is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And He Who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all — how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, Who died — more than that, Who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. NIV [Editor's comment: With these words of instruction and encouragement from the Apostle, who in his right mind wouldn't want to love and serve Almighty God. I am so glad the Gospel was given to me when I was six years old, and when I understood it, repented, confessed my sins, and trusted Jesus for eternal life, and a home in heaven. Because of what I experienced, I wanted to tell everybody, and I took the message to all the neighbors in the block of where I lived on Division Avenue in East Lake, Birmingham, Alabama. What a Savior! I love Jesus and I am not ashamed to call Him my Lord. Do you know Jesus? Well, today is your day to receive Him. Call on Him right now. The Bible says, "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9, NIV).] Four Catholic men and a Catholic woman were having coffee in St. Peters Square.
The first Catholic man tells his friends, "My son is a priest, when he walks into a room, everyone calls him 'Father'." The second Catholic man chirps, "My son is a Bishop. When he walks into a room people call him 'Your Grace'." The third Catholic gent says, "My son is a Cardinal. When he enters a room everyone bows his head and says 'Your Eminence'." The fourth Catholic man says very proudly, "My son is the Pope. When he walks into a room people call him 'Your Holiness'." Since the lone Catholic woman was sipping her coffee in silence, the four men give her a subtle, "Well ...?" She proudly replies, "I have a daughter, slim, tall, 38" DD bust, 24" waist and 34" hips. When she walks into a room, everybody says, "Oh My God." How to Be “Undevourable” Author: Bob Shafer Today’s Scripture "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8). The devil doesn’t want you to be strong in the Lord’s love for you. Instead, he wants you to question God’s love for you. To accomplish this, one of his key strategies is to try to make you think that God is mad at you. God’s Word tells us that the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. This means that he cannot just devour anyone. He must look for those whom he can devour. Some of us are “undevourable.” There may not be such a word, but it certainly describes a great place to be when the enemy is on the prowl for his next victim. My precious one, you can become “undevourable” to the devil. The secret is found in the preceding verse, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). Can you see it? The secret to being “undevourable” is to be carefree and not be bogged down by anxieties and worries! It is to laugh a lot, enjoy your life, and to take no thought for tomorrow. To the legalistic mind, this sounds terribly irresponsible. However, in God’s mind, your greatest responsibility is to rejoice in the Lord always and to not worry about your past failures, your present circumstances, and your future challenges! Why? It’s because of what God’s grace has already done for you. And it’s because the One who has the power over death is caring for you and watching over you right this minute. If you want to see victory over the enemy’s attacks, then learn to relax, to let go, and to release every oppressive thought, worry, and care into Jesus’ loving hands. Believe with all your heart that He cares for you and that you are not alone in this journey. You have a constant companion in Jesus on this great adventure called life. Note that the devil walks about like a roaring lion. The devil is an impostor who tries to intimidate you through the impression that God is angry with you. Let’s be clear here: there is only one true lion and that is the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ (see Rev. 5:5), the King of kings, and He is not mad at you today. His wrath is directed at anything that seeks to destroy you. You are not the object of His wrath; you are the object of His love. So be strong in His love for you. That’s how you resist the devil who will have no choice but to flee from you! Today’s Thought I can let go and release every negative thought, worry, and care into Jesus’ loving hands. He is my constant companion on this great adventure called life. Today’s Prayer Lord Jesus, You alone are the one true Lion of Judah, King of kings and Lord of lords. Thank You that I can be “undevourable” to the enemy as I cast every oppressive thought, worry, care, and fear into Your loving hands. I believe that You are my constant companion and that the enemy must flee because You are with me and for me. Amen. The Cross of Obedience Author: Anne Graham Lotz "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24, NIV). Are you repulsed by the thought of crucifixion? I am. But I also know that when I look into the eyes of Jesus, I see a cross! And He has said to me, “Anne, if you want to be My disciple, if you want to follow Me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Me. Because if you want to save your life, you’re going to lose it in the end. If you choose to lose your life for Me, you will find it. For what good will it do you if you gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?” (Matt. 16:24-26, paraphrased). The cross that Jesus commands you and me to carry is the cross of submissive obedience to the will of God, even when His will includes suffering and hardship and things we don’t want to do. It is a willingness to totally, absolutely, irrevocably, and finally yield our lives to Him because we want what He wants more than what we want. Blessings, Anne Graham Lotz Copyright © 2014 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org. |