What Does The Word Say?

Praise the Lord! On this past Sunday, I celebrated my spiritual birthday. I have been saved, satisfied and serving the Lord for 24 years. Glory! As I looked back over my walk with the Lord, I can recall times that I was not happy. I look at believers today and I can see that many are not happy. There is a revelation of a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is based upon circumstances. This is not a bad thing. If you get a promotion on your job, you are happy. If you receive unexpected income in the mail, you are happy. If someone does something nice for you, you are happy. If the sun is shining and things are going well, you are happy. Again, this is not a bad thing. However, what do you do when things are not going well? Joy on the other hand is a fruit of the Spirit. It is an inward contentment that is not based on circumstances. It is the result of the indwelling of the Spirit which is fueled by the grace, goodness and glory of the Lord. Psalms 16:11 says, "You ...

Well glory, today I will be sharing with you the final point in this series on O.C.C.U.P.Y. Until He comes. As we are about the Father's business in 2011 in understanding the kingdom of heaven, God is calling us to Y - Yield Your Will. The word yield means to surrender or submit as to superior power. It also means to give up, give over or give in. The meaning is clear, yet of all of God's creation, mankind struggles to yield. From Adam to current, every human born, except Jesus has failed in one way or another in this area of yielding. However, our will was created to yield. The greatest way we show love and submission to God is to yield our will to His. Just prior to Jesus arrest and crucifixion, He went to Gethsemane with Peter, James and John to pray. Matthew 26:36-39 says, 'Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and ...

Good morning! This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad, and so should you! I am excited about today's teaching in the series, O.C.C.U.P.Y. Until He Comes. This is the area where many times believers faint and give up. However, now is not the time to give up! We must put this leg of the teaching into practice. We MUST, P - P.R.E.S.S. When you think about the word "press," apply this acronym; Put Resolute Energy in Standing Strong. Isn't that powerful? That is what we have to do in the press! You may be caught between a rock and a hard place but you must stand firm in your faith knowing that nothing is too hard for God. P.R.E.S.S.! The thing that I love about the press is that it is the warfare of occupying, and warfare is good because we win! It is the area where we are faced with opposition while training to be about the Father's business. The enemy is prowling about seeking to devour those who are weak. The Word of God tells us to re...

Praise the Lord! This is an exciting time in the Lord! I continue this series on O.C.C.U.P.Y. Until He Comes with our mantra for the year: Understanding the Kingdom of Heaven. On March 3, 2011 I did a teaching on this subject, but today I am going to go a little further in order to emphasize the pragmatics of this topic. As I have said before, to understand in terms of biblical concepts means to submit to God's point of view on the matter. Prior to salvation, this was a foreign idea because the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God. However, if any man be in Christ He is new and can receive understanding from the Father. Proverbs 2:6 says, "For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding." This is good news because now if there is anything that we do not understand about the Kingdom, we can ask the Lord and He will give us the revelation (James 1:5). With that in mind, what area of your life are lacking understand...

Praise the Lord! In this third letter of this teaching I will be encouraging you to C - Contribute Time, Talent and Treasure to the Building of the Kingdom. IAAH! Contribute simply means to give. This is not a difficult word or concept to understand when looked through the lens of "my life does not belong to me." As a born-again believer we are servants of the Lord. The word "servant" describes one who is bound to do what he is told to do regardless of what he thinks about it. This may seem like a harsh term, but just reflect on Jesus who is our perfect example. On the cross He gave His life in obedience to the Father. He was teaching us how to give regardless of how we think or feel. God is calling us all to give three things which encompass every area of our lives. First He wants us to give our time to build His kingdom. He has given us time as a wonderful gift to live for Him. The enemy, the master of the flesh, daily works overtime to get us to be lazy and w...

Good Morning WDTWS bloggers. Yesterday you read about what it means to operate with a kingdom mindset. Today we will turn our focus to C - Consecrate Heart, Soul and Mind to the Lord. To consecrate means to separate or dedicate for service. In terms of consecrating the heart, soul and mind to the Lord, it bespeaks of turning over complete ownership of our lives to the Lord for His kingdom purposes. Romans 12:1-2 is a very familiar passage of scripture. It says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The word "bodies" in this verse is used in context of the OT sacrifices, which represents the totality of one's life and is depicted in a complete change of lifestyle. The ...

Good morning! Today we will pick up our teaching with the pragmatics of how to "occupy." I will begin with the letter "o." Practically speaking, in order to occupy you must learn to OPERATE with a kingdom mindset. Operate means to perform, function or behave. A mindset is a way of thinking that is fixed so strongly on a specific outlook that it does not see any other perspective. Taken together, these two words teach that as a born again believer, my behavior must reflect a fixed outlook that only sees things from God's perspective. This mindset is all about God's way of being and doing right (Matthew 6:33). Kingdom minded people know they can connect with God because they seek to know and be known by Him. Kingdom minded people filter every area of their lives through, "Does what I am doing bring glory to God and accomplish His kingdom purposes for my life?" Kingdom minded people are all about the Father's business. In other words, kingdom ...

Praise the Lord! God is calling us this year to come up and see things from His point of view. This can only transpire as we grasp an understanding of the kingdom of heaven. This is an on going process, but simply put God is calling us to submit to His was of being and doing right. This is not a difficult task. However, we will need the help of the Holy Spirit. As we allow Him to teach us, we will be able to see it as our Father sees it. I begin this teaching with an exposition of a message I taught at our church. I believe your life will be blessed and you will be practically equipped to occupy until He comes. Jesus said in Luke 19:13 "And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." Jesus also taught this parable in Matthew 25:14 which is similar to Luke 19:13. He said, "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods." Note...

Matthew 13:51-52 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 52 Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.” I like how the Wuest Translation says it: Have you understood all these things? They say to Him, Yes. And He said to them, Because of this, every man learned in the sacred scriptures who has accepted the precepts and instructions with reference to the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a master of a house, who is of such a character that he dispenses with hearty enjoyment out of his treasure-house, things new as to quality and also things mellowed with age by reason of use. Do you remember being a kid and your parents saying, "Do you understand me?" This was usually asked when you didn't do something that you were told to do, right? The reason they asked this question is because a certain task or...