Biblical Teaching

It’s Time for the TRUE SONS of God to Arise – Barbara Potts

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“Thy Kingdom come… on earth as it is in Heaven.”   We pray it – but are we doing it?  Is our focus in life merely trying to “be a good Christian” or to reveal the Kingdom?

Paul identified a group of people that all of creation is waiting to see:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.  –  Romans 8:18-19

Jesus said some amazing things in John 14, beginning at verse 12:

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. …23  “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

We are called to be awesome!:  We are called to do the works that Jesus did; and even greater works!  —  We are called to pray with the expectation of answers! —  We are the habitation of the Most High God!

For several years I have been on a journey of discovery about who we are and what we have in Christ, and how to reveal the Kingdom as a “son of God” according to Romans 8:19.  Positioning is the key here. Ephesians 2:6 tells us that we are raised up together with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places.  The reality is that all we have in Christ in the heavenly places can be manifested on earth – now.  Jesus didn’t die just to win our salvation, but to give us The Kingdom.  He said, “I am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)  We enter by the Door of salvation and then we go to and fro in the Kingdom!  Salvation is just the first step into a whole new life!  We need to pursue life in the fullness of what Christ died to give us.  Luke 12:30-32 tells us:     

Your Heavenly Father knows your every need and will take care of you.  Every day He will supply your needs as you seek His Kingdom passionately above all else!  So don’t be afraid, dear friends, Your loving Father joyously gives you His Kingdom-realm with all its promises!  (The Passion Bible)

Let me give you a little Kingdom analogy to put this in perspective.  My husband and I love to hike.  When you are hiking in mountain country sometimes there is a long hike just to get to the foot of the mountain. This hike along the trail to the mountain affords you a beautiful, yet limited, view.  And then as you are making the ascent, you are so focused on where to place your foot that you only see what is directly ahead of you.  When you finally reach the summit and turn around to see from whence you have come, it takes your breath away. A whole new vista is opened up to you that was there all the time, but which you could not see from your earthbound vantage point . This is life in the spirit that reveals the Kingdom!  I feel like most of my Christian life I have been hiking along the valley and now I am climbing the mountain.  I am not talking about having a “mountain-top” experience in the traditional sense. I am talking about gaining a Kingdom perspective that lifts you out of the natural and into the supernatural, out of time and  into eternity, out of  limitation and into “nothing is impossible.”

This is how Jesus lived on earth.  As He was the Kingdom personified – so should we be!

Paul tells us in Colossians 3:1-5 (The Passion Bible) 

Christ’s resurrection from the dead is your resurrection too.  This is why we are to yearn for all that is above for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power; honor; and authority!  Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm. Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God as you live within the Anointed One…. And every time Christ Himself is seen for Who He really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with Him in His glory!

As we are one with Christ, all that flowed out of His life should flow out of ours… Jesus commanded the elements, walked on water, exercised authority over demons and sickness, made Himself invisible and walked through crowds, saw inside of people’s hearts,  accelerated time,  turned water into wine, multiplied bread and fish, and raised the dead!

Our instructions are to PRAY: “Thy Kingdom come … on earth as it is in Heaven…” (Matthew 6:10) and to DO:  “Most assuredly, 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.”  (John 14:12)

Only a supernaturally living people can accurately reflect the image of a supernatural God. —  Those who transcend earthly constraints to access the heavenly realm to bring the reality of  the life of His eternal Kingdom here on earth – now – as it is in Heaven.

“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”                                      

May the sons of God arise!

The Crowd and the Crown (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

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In conclusion to the messages regarding the “crowds” that come against us in life, I submit this word to you. We are to not only bring words of encouragement, but at times, we are to sound the alarm, which is released as protection and to bring an awareness. As we are coming out of this time of quarantine, know it is a time of passing over and we do not want to take any of the baggage of the latter day with us. It’s a new day, it’s to be a new way…a coming out of the wilderness and entering into our promised land. My prayer is that this will encourage you, while awaken you.

“A stampede of a variety of crowds are coming against My people in this hour to cause them to lose faith, to lose courage to stand up against the battle that is being waged against them. But I release this alarm to cause My people to awaken to the reality of the pressure of these crowds and to understand the significance of this hour.

The purpose of the crowds of the enemy is to lead My people down paths that I did not intend them to follow. The enemy desires to bring condemnation upon My people at the place where they have stopped and compromised, saying “Look at where you are! Look where you have failed.” But know this, the enemy is a liar! I will always have a plan of redemption for you, a plan to bring you back to My plan of life for you.

There has been a distinct attack of compromise and lethargy that has come against My Body. Be wise My people. Do not conform back to this world, but be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Follow the leading of My Spirit in all matters of your life. The price is too costly to submit to compromise… to remain complacent…to not recognize the lateness of the hour. For the enemy will attempt to bring one thing and then another to slowly move you from your place of abiding in Me. Just as a pioneer who would wander away from the camp would be open game for the enemy’s attack, so also will you be if you move from the place I have called you to stand.

Hear what I say to you this day. Know that the enemy is very subtle. His suggestions always sound good. They always have, but know he is a deceiver and a liar. There is not truth in him for he comes to steal, kill and to destroy. But I have come to bring you life and life abundantly!

Press on My children for I have the victor’s crown waiting for you. Know that I am for you and not against you. I have given you all that you need for the battle. I have overcome the world and you are more than a conqueror because of the victory that I have won for you. Walk in it. I have given you the power and authority to walk away from the crowds that seek to draw you from My best for your life.

I have a place of peace for you and in this place, you will see clearly – where you are to go and what you are to do. Receive My strength today. Receive My grace today. I love you and I call you an overcomer! You can do all things through Me, the OVERCOMER who strengthens you!”

The Call is Coming. Are You Ready? – Frank Work

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I was praying one morning this week and this is what I felt the Lord was speaking to me about the urgency of the body of Christ rising up and taking their place on the front lines.

The Holy Spirit is speaking. The Holy Spirit is moving. The Holy Spirit is empowering the saints of God. We need to stay focused on His word, His heart and His love. It’s so easy to stray away from our focus of Him when we get caught up by fear, panic and confusion. My belief is that one of the greatest silent killers of our faith has been our inability to discern truth. When we find the truth of God’s heart on a situation, we can find peace. When we look for truth from other sources, i.e. television, social media, newspapers and so on, we start to stray away from the truth that the Holy Spirit is trying to infuse us with.

“Well Frank I listen to this pastor, or this prophet or this evangelist and they say…”

I say let’s make sure we are lining up what they are saying with the word of God. I say, let’s make sure we aren’t straying away from the precepts of what God is trying to tell us through His word. Let’s not be a body of believers who are swayed by every wave of teaching (Ephesians 4:14), but we are being transformed and renewed daily by our time with the Lord. That we are testing every spirit

1 John 4:1-3

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”

That we haven’t become stagnant in our faith because of the recent isolation from one another. That Jesus is with us, and for us. Hebrews 12:1 tells us “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Let that sink in to the very deepest parts of your spirit. That we are being rallied to the front lines, that we being called in to our destinies. That we ARE the light of Christ that goes forth, by the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, into the enemy’s camp to set the captives free in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord of Host!

Our General and Commander is calling! The trumpets are sounding! The host of heaven are yelling their battle shouts! Will you join them? Will you be saints of God that He has called you to be? The Lord told Joshua to be strong and courageous 3 times. I will respond three times. Say it with me!

YES LORD!

YES LORD!

YES LORD!

Living In the Fullness of the Kingdom – Barbara Potts

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In a sentence, God’s Kingdom is where His government rules and His supernatural life is manifested. 

     In Matthew 13:11, Jesus said: “It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom.”  Jesus personified the Kingdom. He spoke the Kingdom, He lived the Kingdom, and He demonstrated what life in the Kingdom should be like: Jesus commanded the elements, walked on water, exercised authority over demons and sickness, made Himself invisible and walked through crowds, saw inside of people’s hearts, accelerated time, turned water into wine, multiplied bread and fish, and raised the dead!  This was the Kingdom manifesting on earth.  

     For a number of years now I have been on a journey of discovery about who we are and what we have in Christ and how we are to manifest and proclaim the Kingdom as Jesus did. The truth is: because the cross defeated the curse that came as a result of Adam’s sin, we are opened to a whole new realm of living! Galatians 3:22 tells us: 

“Jesus is the Savior who brings the Kingdom realm to all who believe.”

     I would like to share a little Kingdom analogy that has flowed out of my experience of walking in and declaring Kingdom realities: 

My husband and I love to hike. When you are hiking in mountain country, sometimes there is a long hike just to get to the foot of a mountain. This hike along the trail to the mountain affords you a beautiful, yet limited, view. Then, as you are making the ascent, you are so focused on where to place your foot that you only see what is directly ahead of you. When you finally reach the summit and turn around to see from whence you have come, it takes your breath away. A whole new vista is opened up to you that was there all the time, but you just couldn’t see it from your earthbound vantage point. This is life in the Spirit that reveals the Kingdom!

 I feel like most of my life I have been hiking along the valley, and now I am climbing the mountain. I am not talking about having a “mountain-top” experience in the traditional sense. I am talking about gaining a Kingdom perspective that lifts you out of the natural and into the supernatural, out of time and into eternity, out of limitation and      into “nothing is impossible.”

      This is how Jesus lived on earth. And since Jesus, the Creator of all that is, lives inside of us, should we expect anything less? 

     As Paul reminds us in the letter to the Colossians: 

Christ’s resurrection from the dead is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the place of all power; honor; and authority! Yes, feast on all the treasures of the heavenly realm and fill your thoughts with heavenly realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm. Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away in God as you live within the Anointed One … . And every time Christ Himself is seen for Who He really is, who you really are will also be revealed, for you are now one with Him in His glory!   Colossians 3:1-5, The Passion Translation 

      Seated with Christ in heavenly places, at one with Him in His Glory, declaring HIS KINGDOM COME AND HIS WILL BE DONE. This is to be our life in the Spirit!

     This is how we proclaim Heaven to Earth prayers. This is how we are going to demonstrate the Kingdom of Power and Light against the increasing darkness that is coming upon the world in these last days. Only a supernaturally-living and speaking people can accurately reflect the image of a supernatural God and bring the reality of the life of His eternal Kingdom here on earth — now — as it is in Heaven!

Preparing for the Lost Lamb – Niki Wright

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I saw a vision a few nights ago in the middle of the night. It was Jesus carrying a lamb around His neck. I read Luke 15.4-6 TPT.

4–5 “There once was a shepherd with a hundred lambs, but one of his lambs wandered away and was lost. So the shepherd left the ninety-nine lambs out in the open field and searched in the wilderness for that one lost lamb. He didn’t stop until he finally found it. With exuberant joy he raised it up and placed it on his shoulders, carrying it back with cheerful delight! 6 Returning home, he called all his friends and neighbors together and said, ‘Let’s have a party! Come and celebrate with me the return of my lost lamb. It wandered away, but I found it and brought it home.’”

I felt like He was showing me that we need to prepare our hearts for those who are coming home to Him. For us to be ready to be like the Shepherd and be joy filled to carry them in our hearts. Bringing them back home and celebrating them. 

“With exuberant joy he raised it up and placed it on his shoulders, carrying it back with cheerful delight! 6 Returning home, he called all his friends and neighbors together and said, ‘Let’s have a party! Come and celebrate with me the return of my lost lamb. It wandered away, but I found it and brought it home.’”

With exuberant joy. With cheerful delight. 

Are we ready to join with Jesus in carrying those who are so different than us in our hearts and help them back home? To carry them with exuberant joy and cheerful delight? I feel like the Father is saying it’s time to prepare for this.  As we start to emerge out of quarantine sometime in the hopeful, near future, I pray our hearts are able to see each heart as a child of His.  That we can look past our differences and let our light of His love shine through our hearts to them.  That the walls that may have been there before the pandemic would be broken.  That we will make time to pray for people and carry them in our hearts with such joy!  Sometimes we are to be that person that remains in one’s life to speak life and truth and be of support.  There will be a day where many will be coming back home.  Let’s be ones who are ready to find them and help them stay the course and carry them in prayer and encouragement.  Then, have such celebration when they are back home with Him!

In doing this we also need to protect our hearts from jealousy.  As like in the scripture of the prodigal son we can get jealous of those who come home and get so much from the Lord.  Let’s allow the Father to remind us of who we are in Him and not allow our minds to entertain jealousy even now so that we will be prepared for those who will be returning to Him and be so overjoyed when they receive His love and blessings!

Father, prepare our hearts even now to see each person as your child.  Each one a treasure no matter what they believe or how different they are to us.  Open our eyes to see and know which ones we are to join with you in carrying.  Let us intentionally turn our hearts to them and pour out His love in abundance.  Let us be ones who have exuberant joy and cheerful delight to carry them with you.  As they truly repent and turn their hearts to you let us be with them in our hearts and speak encouraging words and support them.  Let us truly celebrate them coming home to you without jealousy.  Dig deep into our hearts now and deal with any jealousy so our hearts can be ready.  Thank you Father for your faithfulness!

In the Process of the Mundane, the Spectacular Happens – Frank Work

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In the process of the mundane, the spectacular will happen. So don’t give up and don’t lose hope. Every day is a new day in Him. Every day is a new and bright opportunity to know a little more of the character of Jesus. In Him all things are made new, and that includes your new day. So don’t be surprise in the middle of your day, when you’re feeling as though you’re walking with lead shoes, and the world is spinning slower, in that very moment, I believe something wonderful can and will happen. Something that will enrich your spirit, and bring joy to your heart. Remember what King David did when he thought all was lost? When the city of Ziklag was burned to the ground and his family carried away? He responded by strengthening himself in the Lord, then he petitioned the Lord to seek His council and guidance. We can do the same, and even more. 1 Sam 30: 6-8 speaks of what David did;

6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

For we have the power of the most High residing within us. His Holy Spirit is alive and active and continues to move and intercede on our behalf. Strengthen yourself in the Lord, find solace in the shadow of His wings. Take joy in knowing that the Lamb of God, whose blood cover each of us, is rejoicing with our heavenly Father, that one day we will enter into paradise with Him. For those that know Him as Lord and Savior, will have their names written in the Lambs book. Rejoice I say and look to your Savior and Redeemer. Repeat His mighty name! Let the words flow and resound through the onslaught of the enemies attacks. Answer the enemy’s plans with worship and praise! Praise Jesus! Praise the Lamb that was slain! Praise the Lover of our souls! Praise the Holy One of God!

Spiritual Seasons: Which One Are You In? (Part 2) – Frank Work

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We continue our teaching on spiritual seasons with Autumn and Winter. Also I would like to point out that these examples are more general in nature than exact. Your walk with the Lord is different than mine, and you will view the world you live in differently. My only hope is that these examples will you give a path to start on, in which you can continue your journey with the Holy Spirit and He can give you wisdom on what your spiritual seasons look like.

During spiritual autumn, our spiritual growth will be shrinking back but the demands from us increase.

It is interesting that the greatest harvest of fruit comes when the tree is heading for a season of rest.

-It is incorrect to say that a person in spiritual autumn does not have God’s anointing; God anoints all the spiritual seasons.

-On a personal level, during spiritual autumn you may be feeling a need to return to the basics of the faith, or a new commitment to the spiritual disciplines of fasting, praying, solitude, individual worship and devotion; things which in themselves, seem to produce little fruit but are essential for our Christian walk.

– In ministry, you might have to cut back your commitment. There might be external factors like time commitments due to family, work, etc.

-Winter. Spiritual winter is the most uncomfortable time for many Christians, especially in the western church.

– In our western society, we tend to value people based on how much they produce. If you don’t believe me, look at who gets recognized in the western church. Usually it is the people that seem to live at church and are committed to many different activities. This work=value culture is not Godly and it is wrong to applaud people who are over committed as much as it is wrong to applaud people who are under committed. God values people, not works and we should to… but that is another discussion.

-Spiritual winter is like the Sabbath. Let’s talk about Sabbath rest. It is not doing nothing. It’s not taking a break from God. During the Sabbath, God instructed people to keep the rest holy to God and reflect on the things that God had done for them. God says in Lev 23:27 we must “deny” (NIV, NASB) or “afflict” (KJ, NKJ) ourselves when observing the Sabbath. What would be denied?

-Whatever keeps our minds from reflecting on God’s good deeds and keeping holy attitude before God are the exact things that we must deny.

-They might include watching TV or reading that novel. They could include sports or shopping. They might even include catching another bible study or getting involved with another ministry. We need to discipline ourselves to stay connected with God during our rest because our natural inclination is to wander spiritually when we are in a season of rest.

-During spiritual winter, it is normal to feel like God is not hearing our prayers or speaking to us. We may feel like we are having a “wilderness” experience.

-We may feel like our ministry is unfruitful and assume it is dying. But during winter, there is no fruit bearing and it is a time or spiritual rest.

-In winter, reflect on God and God’s faithfulness to you and maintain an attitude of reverence before God. It is God’s perfect order that all creation rests periodically.

-God thinks so highly of rest that on the seventh day of creation, He rested too.

-When we don’t rest, we’ve made our service an idol above God. When we squirm away from spiritual winter, we squirm away from Godliness.

Spiritual seasons are not spiritual conditions of the saint nor a way of measuring Godliness.

God ordains spiritual seasons to provide the greatest spiritual fruit bearing and the greatest spiritual growth.

-God’s seasonal plan includes periods of growth and periods of rest. Recognizing the season you’re in and responding appropriately to that season, is the best way to insure continued spiritual growth and a life that bears Godly fruit.

Also spiritual seasons apply to a congregation as well as the individual. Knowing what season our congregation is can really help in understanding how we should direct our worship and praise in song and prayer.

Should Women Keep Silent in the Church? (Part 2) – Gary Florence

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Let’s go ahead a pick up where we lift off shall we. I was sharing about the word is the same yesterday, today and forever, actually that is not even in the bible. In Heb. 13:8 it says “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”. I realize that according to John 1:1 it talks about Jesus being the word. There were many situations when I would argue about the word being the same, I actually was talking about the bible and the 66 books that is in it. I would say that the 66 books of the bible are the same yesterday, today and forever. Then one day I was reading something and was challenged on it. Moses was told by God if a son was disobedient to his parents and they couldn’t get it resolved they were to go to the elders and stone him. I don’t’ know about you, but I don’t read those types of headlines in the newspapers anymore.

He was also told that they were to circumcise their male children on the eighth day. Can you image in this day to tell the people working at the hospitals “We will be back in 8 days to have a child circumcised.” Here is a little tidbit concerning why God had them wait till the eighth day. That was when the vitamin K was at its highest level in their body to help with the clotting of the blood. Now a days they can just give them a shot.

Here is one from the New Testament. If somebody would come up to us and say that they sold 2 dozen Easter eggs for the building project but they only sold 1 1/2 dozen. Should we then like Peter with Ananias and Sapphira call down the judgment of God and strike them dead? So I need to ask myself a question, “Is the Bible the same yesterday, today and forever. I have discovered when just grabbing scripture out of context and applying them into the culture of our days that there is somethings we need to do. When need to ask “Who wrote it”

“Who was it written to” and “What the historical context of that day was.” The next time we get together we are going to apply them to Paul’s saying of should women keep silent in the church. Some of you might being thinking to yourself “I just want to know your answer so I can either hit my hot button or not.”

This is one reason why we have to dig a little deeper so we are not taking scripture out of context and throwing it into someone’s face. Trust me it will be worth the wait. In the meantime start your own bible study and read Acts 19: 22-28, this will give you a jump start for the next time we meet.