EPISODE 113–GET UP AND STAND

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The title of today’s episode is: Get Up And Stand

It is not a shame to fall. Everyone has fallen and many will fall again. The enemy is always roaming seeking someone to trip. We only lose when we allow him to win. If you find that you have fallen, Jesus is there to pick you up. He will not leave you there, face first in the dirt. Unless you choose to stay there.

Prov 24:16-18 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

This doesn’t mean you have seven mistakes and on the eighth one God says “Sorry, I have already picked you up seven times.” Seven in the word of God means completeness. A just man always rises when he falls. The wicked will not always get back up.

We are not to be happy when we see someone else fall. It makes the Lord unhappy, because it means we are not walking in compassion and love. We are supposed to forgive our enemies. If we truly forgive them, we will have a heart of compassion toward our enemies. This requires the training of a runner. We have to condition ourselves to let go of offense. It takes a lot of practice and endurance.

Think about the track and field events. Runners train for a long time to be able to run their race. It is always hard to watch a runner fall. But the crowd will clap and be happy when they see that person get back up. It is an even bigger thrill when they start running again.

Another thing that makes for good drama on a movie is when the person that has trained and trained for the big race falls down close to the finish line. Another person comes and helps them up and they cross the finish line together.

That is what we are supposed to do if we see a brother or sister fall. We are to try to help them back up. It is important to finish the race. It is equally important to help others finish their race.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

We sometimes carry things that weigh us down. We do not even realize that we are carrying them, because we have pressed on with the weight as a part of our daily walk. The enemy wants to give us things that weigh us down. He likes to pile on hurt, offense, physical pain, sickness, false ideas about how God works. Satan even creates false religious ideas about Christ.

Many of the churches across the world need religion broken off of them. Far too long each group holds onto their ideas. Not God’s ideas, but man’s ideas. That is a major weight. We can set aside religion for a relationship. Jesus is waiting for us to draw close to him. He wants us to get rid of the distractions of this life, even our religion.

He is waiting to give us joy and connection to him and all he has for us if we can set aside our religious hangup. It is all about our relationship. No one else can help us with our relationship but Jesus. We have to spend time with Him if we want to strengthen our relationship. Set aside distractions and weights and spend alone time with Jesus.

It is time we get up and stand still with our hands lifted in heaven. God is near when we worship. The enemy wants us to fall and stay there. Jesus has other plans, he is there to lift us up.

First, we have to set aside every weight and sin. Then once we have laid down our weight and sin, we have to run the race that is set before us. What does “set before us” mean? It is whatever we have facing us today. Each day brings things we cannot control. But we can control how we react to them. We can lean on Jesus and ask how He wants us to move forward. He will empower us to run the race that is set before us.

In order to finish this race, we do not have to have it all figured out. We just have to have faith that Jesus is running with us. He will pick us up when we fall if we let him. Nothing will be impossible as long as we trust.

Many places in the word, God told his people to stand. There are times, when we need to wait for God to move. We cannot take the next step until God opens the door. Then we have to take the next step only when he opens the door. Until the door opens we are to stand on the promise that God knows what is best.

Look at the children of Israel. They stood by the Red Sea not knowing which way to go. God told them stand still and see his salvation. He parted the Red Sea and they could not even imagine what would happen just five seconds earlier. God made a way where there was no way. We are no different from them, He will make a way where there seems to be no way. Sometimes we have to stand on his promise that he has got us.

If we fall, we have to get up. If we come to a door or a place that we cannot move any further, we are to stand still and wait on God which is not easy. He has never let us down and doesn’t have any plans to start now. He wants us to finish our race so we can make heaven our home.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 112 — SPIRITUAL GARMENTS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: SPIRITUAL GARMENTS

Today I want to talk to you about our spiritual garments.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

I want you to take a mental trip to your closet or dresser drawer. Wherever you keep it, you have that old T-shirt or some other article of clothing that should have been discarded long ago. Something that just fits right or feels good when you put it on. It is comfortable.

We all have one or more pieces of clothing that we do not need. Why do we still cling to them? We can’t put our robes of righteousness over top of worn-out rags. We need to get rid of the old rags. I wonder why we cling to the filthy rags of the past. Is it because we are comfortable in the role? Have we gotten used to all of our baggage? Some would say that they hold onto their rags because they don’t want to embarrass God. Don’t we think God is embarrassed to see his children spiritually dressed as though he cares nothing for them? We need to put on the robe Jesus bought and paid for with his own blood.

Col 3:8-10 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

When we are saved we put off the old man and put on the new. Some have a hard time letting go of the old man, because they are used to being a certain way. The enemy will try to remind us at every turn about all the wrong we have done. He will try to entice us to put on that comfy old sweater of sin just one more time.

We have to be strong and close the door to the past. If we throw away the old clothes there will be nothing left for us to wear but our new ones.

The word tells us to put on certain things.

Col 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Notice some of the things we are told to put on happens to be fruit of the Spirit. Things like longsuffering and kindness. If we put on the garments that God gives us, we will not want to cling to our filthy rags.

Eph 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Do not allow others to be the ones to choose what you wear. Only you know who you are and who’s you are, a child of God. He has given us new clothes. It is our choice if we wear them or not.

At times in our faith walk, we get down. Things can press in from all sides causing us to have a spirit of heaviness or depression. This is a place the enemy wants us to stay. We cannot be effective if we are down and depressed.

Worship can lift us above the heaviness, if we change our focus from our problems to our God. If we enter his presence with worship and praise he will lift us out of our depression.

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

Put on the garment of praise for the Spirit of heaviness. We are told to put on the whole armor of God in the book of Ephesians. Which gives us the tools we need to be warriors in the army of the Lord.

But all of this can be summed up by getting rid of the old garments and putting on the new one, the garments that come from knowing Jesus. We are to put on Christ.

Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

What garment are you wearing?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 111- BECOMING SONS OF GOD

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HELLO WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: BECOMING SONS OF GOD

How do we know we are the sons of God?

Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

We often say we are filled with the Spirit of God. But do we listen to the leading of the Holy Ghost. The word says the Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth and righteousness. How can we be led by the Spirit? 1) Seek guidance daily through prayer. 2) Ask God to fill us with his Spirit or renew his Spirit within us. 3) Reading and studying the Word of God to understand God’s will. These things will help us to obey God’s command. Then we can walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the desires of our flesh.

We have freedom from satan’s bondage. We don’t have to be afraid of that bondage any longer. Jesus has set us free. If we are all led by the Spirit, we are the sons of God. If we are walking as the sons of God, why are there so many denominations? God would not lead you one way and me another. There is One God, and he has One Way.

Who is missing the mark? This is not an endorsement for any denomination. All have their issues and flaws. All are partially right, but none are fully right. I will not start explaining all that is wrong. This is about our desperate need to be led by the Spirit of God that is within us. If we do not walk in the Spirit, we cannot win the lost. We cannot become the unified Bride of Christ.

Witchcraft, Idol Worship, Devil Worship, New Age Spiritualism is on the rise because people are sick of church and church people. They are tired of the lip service; they want to see the love of God. They deeply desire a connection. When they suffer church hurt, they run to these false religions and evil spirits. They need to feel empowered and have some connection to a power bigger than themselves. In the absence of true connection to the real God, they are left with counterfeit spirituality.

God always creates things and the enemy tries to counterfeit what God created. The counterfeit is never worth what the original is worth. Take a dollar bill, the original dollar bill is worth 100 pennies. A counterfeit dollar bill is not worth anything, unless you can find someone that thinks it is the real thing.

Some religions are cults that brainwash people into thinking they belong. They prey on the weak and hurting. Until they are so confused that they don’t know what is right. They put their trust in a guru or man that calls himself a leader. Others are so concerned about “the church” that they put the needs of “the church” above their own. If they do not comply with “the church” they are shunned and treated as an outcast. I ask, is this love? Nowhere does the word of God say that the church bylaws are more important than the word of God. Man can put anything in their bylaws.

We would be the first to condemn behavior of publicly shaming a member of the congregation, not for a sin, but just bullying them because they can. Telling them because they are pastor that they control every aspect of their lives. This sound a lot like a cult, but it happens in some Christian churches. I ask is that God’s love? Are they being led by God?

On the other hand there is an opposite extreme. I am not saying we need to be like some that have watered down the gospel until there is barely a nugget of truth left, under the guise of acceptance. We are to love people and not their sin. But we will never win the lost with a condemning spirit or judgmental attitude. Are they being led by the Spirit? My bible says we should not judge others for their sin. We are to show them the love of God and help them turn from their sin. However, we need to be bold about what is sin.

I John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

The world didn’t know who Jesus was and they will not accept us either. We will be like him because we will see him and understand who he is. We will purify ourselves and walk as holy as we can, because we want to be led by the Spirit.

John 1:1-12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Jesus came to the Jewish people, and they didn’t accept him as the Messiah. A few believed and he gave them the power, through his Spirit to become the sons of God. It is our responsibility to reach the lost people of this world.

This is why we walk by faith or our belief in Jesus Christ. We do not walk by how things look. As we walk by faith, we will let the world see that we are the sons of God. Because we are led by His Spirit.

Until Next Time,

Be Bold, Be Brave and Keep Your God Focus

EPISODE 110- KEEP LOOKING FOR GOD’S HAND

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: KEEP LOOKING FOR GOD’S HAND

There is much in the Bible about the hand of God. He formed man from the earth with his hands. His hand will protect, bless and provide for his people. There is an anointing he gives with the touch of his hand. But on the other hand, there is punishment for disobedience.

We often talk about the love that was in those nail scared hands. He holds us upright with his hand and helps us to walk. Like a parent would a toddler. There is healing in his hands. There is also rath for those that will not heed his word.

Look at Egypt, they received punishment for their disregard of God’s words. Pharoah looked at Moses as an annoying cousin. He was not going to heed his word. Pharoah didn’t realize that Moses’ identity had changed and he was now a prophet of the real God. Moses told Pharoah that God said to let his people go. Pharoah refused, his pride and arrogance would not allow him to bend. While God was sending plagues with one hand in Egypt, his other hand, was a hand of protection over his people in Goshen.

I was inspired by a recent conversion with one of my prayer partners. She was talking about the story of Elijah, and how he kept sending his servant to look for a sign of rain. This was a sign of Elijah’s faith. He didn’t give up.

This occurred right after the showdown on the top of Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The one where God answered by fire. There had been a drought in the land, and everything was dying.

I KGS 18:41-43 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Then my friend said something that was encouraging to me, and I wanted to share it. She said, “That is what we have to do when we pray is keep looking for a sign that his hand is moving.” This is how we show faith. We have to be expectant of the answer. What if Elijah gave up after six prayers? What if at the third time he said within himself, well I’ll pray again but it probably won’t do anything? No each time he sent his servant out to look, he was expecting to see the answer.

God had just proved himself to the people that He was God, when He answered by fire. Then Elijah prayed for rain, he was expecting to see clouds. His servant finally came back and told him he saw a small cloud rise out of the sea like a man’s hand.

When we pray, we need to be looking for evidence that God is moving. If we don’t see it yet, keep going to look and see. Because one day we will see that cloud like a man’s hand rising up to bring our victory.

ISAIAH 59:1-4 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

Isaiah was telling the people of Israel. God’s hand is not short. Then he went on to say that he is not deaf. But because of their sin there was a separation. Many today are the same way. But they expect God to give them the desires of their hearts.

Some live their lives how they choose then expect God to bless them. They have one foot in the world and one foot in trying to follow God. The only thing about trying to walk that way is it will always cause you to fall. Only when we surrender to God and walk in His way will he give us the desires of our heart.

Psalm 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Sometimes, God is telling us to wait when we pray. Other times we need to check ourselves to make sure we do not have any sin in our lives. Pray and put them under the blood then make the request. Sometimes we have to be determined in faith and expect the answer. If we don’t see the cloud. Pray and go look again.

Because Israel followed after Baal, God allowed the drought. Once the miracle on top of Mt. Carmel happened, and they had made right their sin, God opened the heavens and let it rain when the prophet prayed.

It wasn’t just a little rain; it was an abundance of rain. God knew the land was dry and all the crops were drying up. The people needed water for everyday living. So, he sent them an abundance of rain.

We too can have an abundance of whatever we are praying for, if we look to God with expectation.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 109 — WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE?

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOUSE?”

2 John 1:9-11 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

A few verses before these listed speaks about how the spirit of the antichrist is in the world. Many will be deceived by this spirit. The only way we can guard ourselves against the spirit of the antichrist is prayer and study of the word. Right now, there are preachers and teachers out there deceiving many.

We are to love people and try to show them the truth. But as much as we are to walk in love, that is not license to accept anything coming and going. When the word says something is a sin, it is a sin. Some are afraid to stand up for the truth. They say it is not love to hurt someone’s feelings. Sometimes the truth hurts. Saving them from hell is love, even if it may initially hurt their feelings.

I am not saying we should jump on people and tell them they are horrible sinners. We can speak the truth in love and maybe gain them by planting a seed. But if we do not walk in love, telling them the truth, we will never gain them. They may not agree with us, but they will respect us for having the backbone to stand for what we believe; the truth of the word of God.

We should not open the door widely for them to share their false teaching. The word says do not receive them into your house. I think that could mean do not allow them to come into where you live (earthly house) and tell you some false thing. It can mean do not let them behind the pulpit of the church to spread false doctrines. But most of all do not accept their doctrines into your heart. Ask Jesus to guard the door to your heart from anything false.

We are to be ever vigilant to know the truth and to only follow Jesus.
I Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

There are other things that can corrupt our spiritual house. Sometimes it comes in the form of something on the television that we don’t agree with, but do not turn off either. When we don’t turn it off we are allowing it to penetrate our thoughts and mind. If we are strong enough in our convictions, we will stop the thing at our mind. It is when our heart dwells on it that we are in danger of accepting it as not that bad.

Well not that bad is not a standard to shoot for. Not that bad by what standard? If it is wrong by God’s standards then it is wrong. We can justify almost anything, if we think about it long enough. But it boils down to this, if it is wrong in God’s eyes, then it is wrong.

Sometimes we allow attitudes to creep in over time. Maybe we are not as vigilant as we once were to fight against the enemy. Great mountains normally do not crumble in a day. But over time, wind, rain, heat and cold can cause it to erode. Every now and then we need to take inventory and see what we have in our house. If we could walk through our spiritual house like we do our natural homes what would it look like?

Would everything be the way it should be, so that it looks like the pictures in a magazine or would it look like an episode of Hoarders. Stuff piled from the floor to the ceiling. Emotional baggage everywhere ready to fall at any moment. Most of us live somewhere in between.

But most people have a closet or two that is just junk we cannot part with, like painful experiences from the past. Bitterness, anger, possible hate, feelings of despair, depression, judgmental attitudes all are things that we need to toss out in the dumpster of life. This will help us to have the kind of house that Jesus would be comfortable occupying. After all, our heart is home.

We have cleared out the clutter, now what? Normally in the natural we try to organize that space to make it more useful. Allowing the Holy Ghost to have free reign to decorate, will help us to become more like Christ.

In Second Kings, there is a story of a widow who went to the prophet Elisha for help.

2 Kgs 4:1-4 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. 3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

The prophet asked her what she had in her house. Often God has already provided our answer. She was getting ready to say nothing then she said except a pot of oil. But at that point one little pot was not enough. If we are willing to give God what we have he can bless it and multiply it.

She felt like this trouble was going to swallow her up. But God turned it around with a miracle through the prophet Elisha. She barrowed many vessels then God allowed her to have enough oil to fill them all. When she finished there was still oil in her original pot. She was able to sell the oil and pay her debt.

She already had the answer to her problem in her house. It was the oil that was her answer. There was more than enough to save her household. Sometimes trouble comes our way. We do not think we can go on. We search and search for the answer. We need to be reminded that we have a pot of oil in our house. (The Spirit of God often referred to as oil in the word.) So there is not a problem too big that the Spirit of God (which dwells in our house) cannot see us through.

We need to be like Joshua and have determination to always follow God. The children of Israel were in a strange land just like we are strangers in this land. We are children of the most high king. We are just passing through this life. We cannot allow the things of this life to clutter up our house.

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

So I ask the question that Elisha asked the widow. What do you have in your house?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 108- WARNING-FOLLOW THE RIGHT JESUS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: WARNING: Follow the right Jesus

I feel the heaviness of God’s presence this morning as I get ready to do this video. I had a plan for a completely different word this morning. However, I was in prayer last night for a long time with a group of intercessors. God really impressed on us many things that I am still praying and working through myself. But I feel like I need to share the following warnings with you.

There are many religions around the world. Because deep within mankind is a desire to connect with a higher power. We long for a relationship with the God who created the heavens and earth. In absence of true understanding and knowledge of the One True God, people have created their own gods. These people that worship idols of gold need an encounter with Jesus.

There are many denominations of Christians around the world. Each denomination holds onto their version of Jesus. Some think that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three entities that share heaven. NOT SO, the devil believes in One God and trembles.

How many denominations have created false Jesus’. This church on this corner believes that he is so loving that he would not send anyone to hell. This one on the other corner believes that Jesus is a God of wrath and is waiting for us to make one mistake and he is going to pour out his wrath and turn us into a cinder. Some say one thing and some say another. How many of us have asked God?

There are many examples in the Old Testament where God poured out his rath. But he always sent warnings and gave chances for people to do the right thing. The word says his sheep knows his voice and a stranger they will not follow. Do we know his voice? Or are we following man’s ideas of Jesus? Do we believe what we have been taught, or have we questioned God for the direction that our feet need to go?

We are at a pivotal time, where the rubber meets the road. Lines are being drawn and decisions are being made about the future. I am not necessarily talking about our political climate, although God is going to take care of the evil in all the governments around the world. That is a subject for another day. I will say that if you study the kings of the Old Testament when the king did right in the sight of God the people were blessed and prospered. When the king did wrong in the sight of God the people suffered also. This is why we need to make sure that we have godly leadership in our government.

The coming of Christ is near, he will only come for those who are ready. He will only take those who belong to him. If we are not following the one true God, we risk being left behind. I wish I could make you see what I have come to understand by some recent events.

Let me try to explain this way. Satan goes to church too. He is out to deceive and will speak to people too. If he cannot keep us from attending church, he will send false teachers among us to deceive us. This is part of the spirit of the anti-christ that is in the world. Many people believe they are doing the right thing. They have sold out completely to an ideology about God. But are not sold out to God. They completely miss the boat with their man made rules and doctrines of man.

I felt this strongly when praying, God is warning and trying to wake people up.

Woe be unto those that are snakes lying in wait for God’s people. They will be thrown into the lake of fire.

I feel so strongly in my spirit that it is time to get on our face before God and ask him to search our hearts. David often asked God to search him. David was far from perfect, but God loved him. His love for God and his worship created a relationship.

God is not looking of perfect people that look on the outside to be a certain way. We have all been guilty of judging people by appearance. It is a human flaw. God knows the heart of each person. If we cannot understand our own heart and our own faults. How can we judge another? We have no right to sit in the judgment seat.

Samuel was guilty of judging the sons of Jesse when God told him to go anoint the next king. Samuel picked the one that was tall and looked strong. He looked like a warrior.

I Sam 16:7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

God knew that all the sons of Jesse would be trembling before Goliath. But he knew that deep inside the smallest of Jesse’s sons beat the heart of a warrior. God knew David’s deep passion to do God’s will. David had righteous anger that Goliath would stand in defiance of God. That gave him the boldness to go out and take down Goliath. But he didn’t do it alone, God went with him.

I said all that about David to make my point, you can’t judge a book by its cover. I have been dismissed like I didn’t know what I was talking about when I was 100 percent sure. I have been overlooked for promotions and have walked through some things that were hard. Simply because people judged me incorrectly. I am sure that everyone of you has a story or two about how you were misunderstood by man.

It is comforting to know that God sees all and knows our heart. This is how he can have grace for those that make mistakes. He can be that God of wrath for the disobedient. Many times I have heard people say, If your God is so loving how can he throw people into hell? God gives everyone a choice and ample opportunities to do the right thing. It grieves God when people will not obey, and he has no choice but to turn them over to their delusions and eventually to hell.

This is why I could not get away from warning each of you to ask God to search your heart. I beg you to let him lead you. He is coming for a unified bride that doesn’t have denominational boundaries. She will be a beautiful picture of God’s love and compassion. She will have a perfect heart, one that has searched for God’s heart. She will not be spotted by the world. Her sins will be under the blood and she will have ironed out all the wrinkles of man’s ideas of how she should be and will walk boldly in the love of Christ.

I want to leave you with a passage that we should all be praying:

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

I know this was a little heavier than most of my posts. But recent prayer time has led me to this place of feeling like God is wanting to move among his people. He is wanting us to yield a little more of ourselves and our will. He is wanting us to surrender the things we have held back. He is wanting to lead us into the fullness of what he has for us. We have been on the milk bottle long enough. It is time we grew up and got a hold of the meat of his word.

Take some time to seriously think about your life. Are you following the Jesus that died for you or man’s watered-down version of Jesus?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 107 — VESSEL

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CONGRATULATIONS TO DALLIE POLLARD FOR WINNING THE GOD FOCUS GIFT PACK GIVEAWAY!

The title of today’s episode: Vessels

Yesterday I spoke about sincere vessels. God has been dealing with me further on the subject of vessels. Webster’s dictionary defines a vessel as an object used as a container (especially for liquids). When I read that definition, the following verse came to mind.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, our of his belly shall flow the rivers of living water.

God has designed us all with a void in our lives. Many choose to try filling the emptiness of our vessel on our own. They think the answer is in a needle they put in their arm or a new relationship of the week. They turn to many other things that can destroy our vessels. None of these things can fill our vessel. They may distract a person temporarily from their despair, but the all leave an even deeper emptiness behind.

When we feel that deep emptiness, there is an answer; his name is Jesus and only Jesus. He alone has the power to deliver us from our despair. We normally think of sinners as bein the only ones that have a void in their life. Christians can find themselves empty sometimes, too. At times in our Christian walk, we have spent so much time pouring out our vessel to help others that we find ourselves empty.

Although we find ourselves empty, we are not as empty as the sinners of this world. We have peace to know Jesus is there. We can take some time to get alone with God, and he will open the tap and fill us up once again. A vessel is a container made to hold liquids. God designed us to hold living water (His Spirit). Without that spirit, we do not belong to him.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Without that living water, we will continue to be empty. Sometimes, we need to empty our lives of distractions so God can use us in a deeper capacity. We need to pray every day to be empty of our fleshly desires, hang-ups, selfishness etc and pray for God to fill us up so He can use us for his glory. The most awesome, fulfilling experience any vessel can have it to be used by God.

The world is tired of Christianity with its judgmental, self-righteous, self-centered people. The need to see sincere vessels is greater than ever. People want us to admit we are not perfect. They need to see that we sometimes make wrong turns. Then and only then will they understand about God’s unfailing love and overwhelming forgiveness.

Dear Lord, Help me to be a sincere vessel. Empty me of me and fill me with you.

Until Next Time,

Be Bold, Be Brave and Keep Your God Focus

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EPISODE 106–SINCERE VESSEL

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: Sincere Vessel.”

Jer 18:3-6 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

We want to be a genuine vessel. Sincere is something every Christian should be at all times. Webster’s Dictionary defines sincere as genuine, honest or real. Looking further I discovered the origin of the word sincere. It comes from the Latin word meaning without wax. In the Greek it means sun tested.

This word originated in Bible times to show that porcelain vessels were unblemished. During the firing process tiny cracks would appear. These second-rate vessels sold for less money. Dishonest merchants would sometimes fill the cracks with pearly white wax. To the naked eye they appeared to be unblemished, which would of course sell for a higher price. The only way a person could tell if they were wax filled or unblemished was to hold them up to the sun. This was called the sun test.

God is sometimes referred to as a potter and we are referred to as clay. Because he molds and forms our lives. We; however, have a flaw, we live within this flesh. We will never be perfect until we shake off this mortal shell and get our glorified bodies.

Sometimes during our firing process (trials of life) tiny flaws appear in us. Instead of God filling those cracks with wax he has a special covering which makes us unblemished, it is the blood of Christ. If we allow him to wash over us and recreate the flawed parts, we will be a sincere vessel.

If we decide to fill the void spaces or small cracks with the wax of sin, bad attitudes, dishonesty etc. We would never pass the “son” test. We can only be an unblemished vessel with the light of God reflecting in our lives.

Unblemished porcelain is a beautiful white. Just like we become when washed by the blood of the lamb. Porcelain vessels and earthenware are made of the same clay. The major difference between a porcelain vessel and an earthenware mug is the porcelain vessel is fired hotter. If you feel you are in the middle of a fiery trial it could be that God is turning you into a porcelain vessel.

With that being said, let us return to sincerity. We need to have an honest heart. We need to discover our own flaws and how to get rid of them. Covering them is never a good idea. Being a sincere vessel will help us to be a good witness. We cannot be a light if we are full of bitterness, jealousy, unforgiving attitudes and dare I say it, hate or judgmental attitudes.

There are a lot of vessels full of wax. These people can look good. They can walk the walk and appear to talk the talk, only God knows if their heart is sincere. Remember the vessels, they look identical, only the sun-test can reveal the one with wax. As we face tests and trials in life sometimes, we are allowed to face them to see what we are made of; can we walk the walk when the way is hard?

We need to learn to look at others through the “son” test with a sincere heart. Knowing that we all have come short. If we can learn to look at others with the love of God, suddenly they look like unblemished vessels. We can pass the “son” test by trusting in him with an honest heart. By walking with integrity.

I ask myself, “If someone were to shine a light on my life, would they find me to be a sincere vessel? Would they see that there is some wax that needs to be removed from my life?

People in this world are starving for Jesus. They are wanting to see Christians that are real, genuine sincere vessels. We need to allow the master potter to mold us and form us into a usable vessel.

2 Tim 2:19-22 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

We want to be vessels of honor, or sincere vessels. Those are the vessels that will hear him say, Well done my good and faithful servant.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 105 – BE HERE NOW

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “BE HERE NOW”

The enemy likes to take our smooth waters and make them stormy. He stirs things up to the point that we are hit with huge waves. Wave after wave beats against our boat. We often feel like the next big wave is going to capsize our boat. We are facing wave after wave of evil attack, but we have to be strong and keep our eyes on Jesus. We have to remember Jesus walked on the water, which means he is higher than the storms. It is up to us to ask for him to pick us up in his arms then we will be above the storms too.

Just because you are a child of God doesn’t mean there won’t be bad times. But God will give us strength in those times.

I want to share an article with you that my late husband wrote years ago. It is appropriate for what we are facing today. We cannot be overwhelmed by all the waves that are on the horizon. We have to face each one as it come.

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Vol 3 issue 10 Oct 2006

In a book by wilderness expert, Tom Brown, he talks about a concept called, be here now. He relates the story of a man in a kayak. While paddling along the Alaskan coast, he encounters a storm. The waves were huge.

They could easily capsize the small boat, made of balsa wood and cloth. The waves also completely blocked his view of the land. When asked how he survived his trial, the man replied, “I just did one thing, I knew I had to be here now.” The man went on to explain, the large waves were coming, one right after the other. If he worried about the coming wave, he could not focus on the one he was dealing with at the moment.

Once he got over that wave, he had no time to celebrate. If he did, the on coming wave would send him to the bottom of the sea. This concept of, “Be here now,” can also apply to our spiritual lives. Too often we h,old onto yesterday. The children of Israel had to gather manna daily. Yesterday’s manna was not fit to eat. (OK except for the Sabbath) With this in mind, let me also say that yesterday’s defeat should also stay in the past. Everybody stumbles in their walk. It doesn’t matter how or why. The important thing is to get up and keep going.

Psalm 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

Prov 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

This is where, be here now comes into the picture. It means, I am not going to let the devil use my past to destroy my future. I will put my past failures under the blood of Christ. I will live today for Jesus.

Remember just like the kayak pilot, on the storm raged sea, we can’t put the oncoming wave under us if we are focused on the problem behind us. Neither can we worry about how many waves are going to rise between ourselves and the safety of the shore. We have a daily walk with God.

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

Notice Jesus said, to take up our cross daily. He didn’t say take up your cross yesterday or tomorrow, but daily. Be here now can also mean taking advantage of every opportunity for service. How many times a day do we get a change to witness, or encourage our brother. Part of our daily duty is to not hill the wounded. It has been said, the only army on earth that kills its wounded, is the Christian Army. There is no room for a “pecking order” in the family of God.

Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

We all fight battles. Some battle chronic disease like Arthritis, others battle a different demon like depression or addiction. If one falls in that battle, we are to have compassion. We are to tend the wound, not kick them out of the choir, or some such thing.

I am not saying that we should just let anything go on without a second thought. But when a person is having a real battle; when they are really trying, we need to make certain, we don’t label that person a failure.

As children of God, our words have power. Use that power to heal and not hurt.

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

3 John 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

Remember the old quote, “Loose lips sink ships” Don’t use prayer requests as a for of gossip.

I Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

Most of all remember, life in this world is minute by minute and that is all we have, so be here now.

2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

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Think about when a storm comes, and the clouds make everything dark. It is always a good feeling to see the sunlight penetrating the clouds again. It gives us hope and knowledge that the storm has passed, and we are going to walk in the light. But if we are in a storm or in sunshine, it is good advice to be here now.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 104 — PETITIONING THE COURT OF HEAVEN

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v4wvs80-god-focus-this-morning-episode-104-petitioning-the-courts-of-heaven.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “PETITION HEAVEN”

I am going to talk today about petitioning the court of heaven. I have a friend who inspired me this morning with the story of one of her dreams. I will not go into details about the dream it will appear on her blog. She is a gifted writer and God uses her in many ways. She is also a prayer warrior. You can find her blog at: www.writinggodsvision.com

She inspired me to start thinking about the courts of heaven. In the times of kings, they would sit on their throne. They had a royal scepter that was basically a staff with a ball on the end of it. Many were gold with jewels encrusted on them. The purpose of the scepter was to signal to his bodyguards that someone could approach.

People were killed for approaching the king without his approval. This scepter was the ok signal to keep his bodyguards from swinging the large axes and beheading the person approaching the throne.

This is the dilemma that Queen Esther faced in the book of Esther. The king had not sent for her, even though she was queen, he could have let the guards kill her for breaking protocol. Because of their relationship and the fact that the king loved Esther, he extended his scepter. There was a relationship, we must have a relationship with the king if we expect His favor to be on our lives.

Heb 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

In other words, as Children of God we have a relationship with the king. We can boldly stand and petition the court of heaven. Because God sees us through the blood of Jesus. We have been given power over the enemy. God will restore what the enemy has stolen we just have to ask for it to be returned. He took your health, then petition God for restoration. If he is stealing your peace, you can ask for it back. If the enemy is attacking you financially, God can restore that too.

Prov 6:30-31 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy. We can ask God to restore to us what the enemy has stolen and he has to give it back. We just have to make a petition to the court of heaven that we want it back.

A petition is a formal request made to a court or governing body. It is normally in writing, but when it comes to petitioning heaven, it can also come in the form of prayer and supplication before God. If we obey God he will restore the things the enemy has stolen.

Mal 3:10-11 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

I think this means all the good things we do not just the money or first fruits. But if we are faithful to God and use what we have been given to bless the ministry and others, he will pour out a blessing that we will not have room enough to receive.

He will rebuke the devourer, satan and keep him from stealing from us. Whatever we do will prosper, because the enemy will not be able to touch it.

Luke 18:1-5 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

This is encouragement to be persistent. She didn’t give up on the first try she kept going to this unjust judge. God granted her favor and the judge gave her what she wanted. Not because he feared God or man, but because she was persistent.

We cannot pray halfway once about something and forget it. We have to boldly come to the throne and petition the courts of heaven. Spending time with God in praise and worship will go a long way to build our relationship.

Luke18:6-8 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

This tells us that God will avenge us speedily. In other words, God will punish the enemy by making him give back what he has taken from us. Just as the unjust judge restored the widow’s house to her.

The word avenge means to take vengeance on someone for a wrong. It is when you retaliate for a prior wrong. People often take vengeance on someone on behalf of someone close to them. Like in a lot of the old cowboy movies they would take vengeance on someone who killed their family.

Romans 12:17-19 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

We are to give everything to God and he will work it out for our good. We don’t even have to think about vengeance God has got that covered too.

Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. It is amazing to know that we can come boldly to the throne and petition the one true king. He will deliver us and avenge us. He will restore all the enemy has tried to steal.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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