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Showing posts with label skin. Show all posts

Saturday, December 24

God... Can These Bones Live Again?

These last few months have presented us with many wonderful opportunities to glorify our King Jesus Christ in a number of different ways. As we sat down to begin writing to attest to you how wonderfully The Trinity had both presented to us and led us through each assignment on the list, The Holy Spirit drew our focus toward two in particular.

       For starters, during the run-up to the elections we produced, packaged and mailed out packets containing a copy of our own "TTM Christian Voter Guide" along with a pocket-sized copy of "The Constitution of The United States". Especially leading up to election time, we as Christians and Americans are blessed with the priceless opportunity to bring attention to and promote the two most sacred "ancient landmarks" that we have been given as gifts by God: His Holy written Word and The United States Constitution. These two sacred landmarks are what Satan and his human accomplices are working frantically to destroy in the eyes of the American people, using tell-a-vision (TV), radio, online social media, print communications, and the like. Our "TTM Voter Guide and Pocket Constitution Campaign" is not simply another mailing, we view it as our ministry Team's return-volley against the demonic forces of Satan who are bent on the destruction of God's children and humanity as a whole from receiving The Truth, Who is in fact Jesus Christ. We pray, "Oh, Father God, In Jesus Christ's Holy Name, let each of us stand before You on that great and glorious day having given our all for the sake of spreading The Truth, Who is Jesus Christ, and for the fulfillment of Your dream for Your creation, in Jesus' Name we pray, Amen!"

        As a side note, please pray and fast with us that the great news of The Trinity that we share on social media will continue to increase in viewership, despite Satan's all-out war to blind the public to all we are doing to lead others in-to oneness In Jesus Christ. This includes the many messages we have posted on Pressin'IN Blog, on our Toward The Mark Podcast Channel, and have produced and released in both written and recorded media, all for the sole purpose of spreading the wonder-full Gospel of Jesus Christ and The Gospel He preaches.

     Now, here is the second thing that The Holy Spirit had illuminated to us. As you read this we pray that you will see why we have saved it for last.  As we have been in our times of prayer with The wonder-Full Trinity, I (Keith) have increasingly been shown something that we believe wholeheartedly is, not just a Word from God for Brenda and myself but is also, a Word from God for you. It all ties into my being asked some forty plus years ago to play and sing my original songs that our Father, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, and I had written together and performed for a crowd at The University Of North Carolina (UNC). An event that I have thought back on over the past six months in particular and thinking to myself: "Has my music and reaching folks in concert settings, like I have done on so many occasions in the past, served its full purpose?"

        As a result, I began asking our Father, if the platform of music that He had anointed me for at one time could ever live again. I asked if it was in His plan for my life to anoint me for a new season of musical fruitfulness, like He had done so graciously so many years ago. Within the same week of my asking God that question, as I was in prayer, I saw in my spirit Ezekiel's vision where The LORD carried him in The Spirit over a valley that was filled with "dry bones". The "bones" implying that many people had died there long ago, long enough for the flesh to decompose. "Dry" bones implies that the bones of those people had been there so long that every cell in them had died, clear down to the very marrow, which takes many, many years.

       We have a question for you. Is there something that God has shown you, something that has not come into fruition in your life yet? Is there something that you have been believing God for, with all of your heart, but it has not yet come to pass? Is there something that you have believed God for, something that could reach many for Jesus Christ, but, whenever you have tried to make it happen, you seem to hit a wall? Or, like me and my performing my songs, is there a passion, a vision you still carry, something you had done in years past but have recently been wondering if it could live again? 
Bren and I believe wholeheartedly that, as you read Ezekiel's vision, God is going to breathe His Holy Spirit, His Life, into whatever it is that you have prayed fervently to come into fruition.  
     Bren and I believe that God has held you in reserve until now for many strategic reasons. We pray, in The Name of Jesus Christ, believing, as you read Ezekiel's vision, that the very same Holy Spirit that filled those "dry bones" and raised up a mighty army from what was seemingly dead and gone forever, will breathe the Life of God in-to you and will raise up the vision you have carried for so long! Now, take a deep breath, relax, read slowly and listen intently for the still small voice of The Wonder-Full The Holy Spirit as you are reading...

       "The hand of The LORD was upon me, and carried me out in The Spirit of The LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of The LORD. Thus saith The LORD GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews (Vigorous strength; muscular power) upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am The LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said He unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith The LORD GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith The LORD GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel." Ezekiel 37:1-12

       We are here, in the time when God is calling us to stand up and speak to the armies of God in Christ Jesus' Mighty Name and by His Authority. Much like Abraham waiting and waiting for God to fulfill His promise to him of a son, many believers are in that hour after they have walked with our Lord faithfully but have grown weary on their journey. The Lord is calling all whom He has used in years past to "arise" and "advance toward" the fulfillment of God's dream for their lives. No longer will they be convinced by deceiving spirits saying, "That once-wonderful season when God was working through you, and all of what He put in you, is o-v-e-r." The Lord says to you...

        "What you just 'knew' was your 'hay day', the fulfillment of Your Father's Will for your life, was actually your Boot Camp, your time of preparation! NO, you are not finished... far from it! The time you have been praying for, been sowing for, and been working towards and waiting for has arrived! You have been in preparation for this hour! The lies you have heard, the fiery darts from the enemy that have come to convince you that your time is done, has in truth served to temper you and to set your resolve for what is at the door, for what I had designed and created in you from the foundation of My Earth." The LORD says, "I have allowed your bones to dry up, which takes many years, so when those who see Me breathe My Life INto you, they will know that it is Me that has chosen and prepared you for this hour! You will not be operating on your last season's anointing. You are not be propping up something that I use to do. You are moving forward in what I have raised up for you! I have prepared you for this exact time! My Mighty Army is being revealed now... and there is no force in hell or on the earth that can stop them! Now, step forward into the vision I have written and am birthing in you, and I will meet you there!"

       "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you (James 4:8)." That is His PROMISE to you!

       We pray that these words bless you greatly. We want you to know that we are standing alongside you in prayer, from now and through to the complete fruition of the wonder-full gifts and calling that our Father has created in you... from the foundation of His Earth. Thank you over and over again for standing with us, as we are daily working out all that God has worked in us for His glory! The marriage supper of The Lamb is on the stove! Can you smell it?

       Thank you for your love and friendship, especially in our collective efforts to glorify Jesus Christ day in and day out. We love you and pray for you that God blesses you beyond your ability to contain it all... for all you do, or have done already, that makes our work possible.

       "The LORD gave the word: great was the company of those that published it (Psalm 68:11)."


Your friends and servants in Christ Jesus,
    
To Show GOD BIG in a World that Sees Him small… 
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Wednesday, August 20

Are_Christians_Today_Too_Quick_To_Compromise

Are Christians, Today, Too Quick to Compromise?
"Well, Jesus drank wine!"

 "WHAT IS SIN?? When most people hear the word ‘sin’ they think ‘substance abuse, illicit sex, murder, stealing, and the like.’  The Truth goes much deeper than that! The word 'sin' is used to identify anything that separates us from God." - Keith

No matter how long we have been a Christian, we can always count on spirits of temptation doing anything and everything they can to try to lure us away from God and into the jaws of compromising situations, situations whose “reward” is always death or separation from God. This is, after all, the true definition of death itself! “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14)

Find this, and more, in our book, "Letters From The Front" on the TTM WEBSITE.
  Anyone who is in pursuit of an intimate relationship with God will be presented at times with opportunities to compromise that relationship. Much like Esau sold his entire birthright to his brother Jacob for a piece of bread, a bowl of beans, and something to drink, we have all had times in our lives when we have been enticed away from both God and our own inheritance in Him to pursue idols or little “g” gods. You know who and what they are: relationships with the wrong people; the selfish pursuit of prominence in the eyes of those around us; escapisms like drugs, shopping, pornography, TV, alcohol, etc. No matter how long we have been a Christian, we can always count on spirits of temptation doing anything and everything they can to try to lure us away from God and into the jaws of compromising situations, situations whose “reward” is always death or separation from God. This is, after all, the true definition of death itself! “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14)
     As Christians, it is of the utmost importance that we understand what sin really is. When most people hear the word sin mentioned, their first thought or impression is usually substance abuse, illicit sex, murder, stealing, and the like. It really goes so much deeper than that! Although these offenses are referred to as sins, they are only referred to as such because of their individual or collective abilities to, if committed, drive a wedge between us and God. I like to call “sin” what it really is, anything that separates us from our Heavenly Father! It really is that simple! If we truly cherish God and want to grow in our relationship with Him, we must learn that temptation is satan’s primary weapon in the war to lure us away from God. Did you know that one of the very first things that a new recruit in the Armed Forces is taught is how to recognize both his enemy and their tactics? The reason they do this is so that our troops in the field will have an advantage over their adversaries. This information not only gives our soldiers an edge in defending themselves, but it also gives them a strategic advantage when preparing to launch an offensive. Without this crucial information, our soldiers in harm’s way will most likely be defeated before they even hit the battlefield. It works the same way with those of us who are in God’s army. If we are going to be victorious in defeating satan’s attempts at separating us from God, then we must first equip ourselves with a “heart knowledge” of God’s Word, and then we must familiarize ourselves with what satan has in his divisive arsenal. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)
Please don’t take that statement out of context! The truth is, if we spend more time chasing demons around than we spend pursuing and spending time with God, we will eventually find ourselves in a “world of hurt!” On the other hand, if we passionately pursue God, learn His word, and obey His Word, everything else will take care of itself! If we do not, we will be easy prey when tempting spirits come a knockin’! “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Here is how Webster’s Dictionary defines “tempt”, “1) to entice or induce, as to something immoral, 2) to be inviting to; attract, 3) to provoke or risk provoking, 4) to incline strongly.” Tempting spirits work to manipulate each one of us into compromising situations. Just like certain species of snakes travel in pairs, wherever temptation is present, the opportunity to compromise our relationship with God will always be somewhere close by. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15)
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12) Simply put, temptation is what satan uses to present us with opportunities for compromise.
Now that we have laid some groundwork, let’s take a look at the main topic in the title of our message, the word “compromise.” Webster’s defines “compromise” as “1) a settlement in which each side makes concessions, 2) something midway, 3) to adjust by compromise, 4) to lay open to suspicion, disrepute, etc.”
The word “disrepute” is defined as “bad reputation; disgrace.” Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary edition defines “compromise” as “To put to hazard.” However, my personal definition of compromise is, “the act of trading or exchanging one’s relationship with God and His promises for a person or anything else that they feel is more valuable to them than He is.”
There are many potentially dangerous distractions in the world today. With lawlessness increasing in the earth at a staggering rate, we are seeing, as a result, compromise becoming a regular way of life for many who claim to be Christians; and frankly, the present condition of the Church confirms it. Things that were unheard of in the Church just two decades ago are now being practiced without remorse.
While Timothy was overseeing the Church in Ephesus, Paul wrote warning him that this would happen. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
When we compromise our relationship with God in any way, what we are doing is turning our backs on Him. We are actually saying that something or someone else is more important to us than He is. Not only does this hurt His heart deeply, but it also says to those who have heard you profess to be a Christian that God must not really be who you or His Word says He is.
“Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” (2 Samuel 12:14) I would like to share with you one such situation that I experienced, and will follow it up with a brief teaching on a related subject that for years has been a major stronghold in the lives of thousands of people in the Church.
One evening I was invited to dinner by the pastor of a local church who had heard a few of my songs at some point, and said that he would like to get to know me. I had met this person on several occasions in passing, and had heard through some friends that he was doing a good work in the community. Based on that information, I accepted his offer. Once we had arrived at the restaurant, we were seated for what I thought was going to be a very nice evening. We were about half way through the meal when he flagged our waiter back to the table. Much to my astonishment, he then leaned back in his chair, acquired a rather sheepish looking grin and proceeded to order a pitcher of beer. Knowing what I had heard about this person, I have to say that I was stunned. I found myself headlong in the presence of yet another professing Christian who was “too quick to compromise!”
I fought to maintain my composure as best I could and continued eating my meal. Within seconds righteous indignation began welling up in me to the point that my self control was being tested. As my Momma would have said, “I felt like I was gonna pop if I didn’t say something.”
I did the best I could to remain cool while all the time listening for the Lord’s approval to confront him. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
It was not until two days later that I felt a release in my spirit to talk with him about it. I then called him and asked if he would join me for lunch.
As soon as the Holy Spirit gave me the nod, I gently asked him this question. “As a Christian, and especially as a self-professed minister of the Gospel, why do feel that it is all right for you to drink alcohol?” As soon as those words left my mouth, I found myself on the receiving end of a bitter attack. Much like praying water on a wasps’ nest I very quickly realized that I had touched an area of compromise in this fellow’s life that he was not really interested in turning loose of any time soon.
Almost without stopping to breathe, he began hurling scriptures at me attempting to justify his actions. I sat there quietly and let him state his case.
When he had finished, with all of the love I could muster, I simply asked if he would be open to hearing my point of view concerning Christians and alcohol use. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)
Taking the defensive posture of crossing his arms, tightening his brow, and setting his jaw, he slid back in his seat obviously hunkering down for what he thought was going to be a major offensive. I then referenced several scriptures and asked him to share with me how he felt they could in any way be used to justify his or any other Christian’s consumption of alcohol.
After a brief period of time, it became increasingly clear that he could not Biblically justify his or any other Christian’s drinking of alcoholic beverages. Apparently frustrated, he then pulled out what I believe he thought would settle the matter — he said, “well Jesus drank wine.”
I knew at that very moment that I had been divinely presented with a wonderful opportunity to help him understand what has become a major point of deception, confusion and compromise for thousands of people who claim to be born-again Christians. What I shared with him is what I would like to share with you.
During the time when Jesus physically walked the earth, they had no way of purifying their drinking water. Because of this, they relied heavily on fruit juice as their primary means of safe and nourishing hydration. They also had no way of refrigerating or preserving juices that had been derived from their fruit harvest.
When they would extract the fresh juice from the fruit, they would store it in small leather sacks called wine skins. This “fresh” juice was referred to as “wine.” This is where many people in the Church today have been and are being terribly deceived.
In Christ’s day, the best wine was always the freshest fruit juice. For example, the first miracle that Jesus performed was actually turning water into wine or fresh fruit juice. Here is how John recorded the event:
And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. (This statement is a whole other story.) His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. (A firkin was about nine gallons.) Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. (All told there was about 162 gallons.) And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it. (They poured him a drink and gave it to him.) When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and  knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.” (John 2:1-10)
In other words, the governor of the feast was totally amazed at the fact that the juice was so fresh! It was as if it had just been picked and squeezed all within that same hour – when in a matter of speaking – it HAD been!
The society back then was for the most part very moral and would never even think of bringing strong drink or “the old stuff ” to such a sacred event. That would have been a devastating insult to all in attendance! Believe it or not, anyone who drank “old wine” or fermented drink was viewed by society much like we view someone who eats out of a dumpster.
On the other hand, today, in our present culture, things have become so turned around that wine is the name given to fruit juice that has gone bad through the process of fermentation. It is this fermentation process that produces the alcohol in it. It is of the utmost importance that we realize that there were varying stages of fermentation. In other words, each week that the wine sat in the bottles it would ferment more and more.
Due to the lack of refrigeration, the fermentation process literally began taking place during the first week that the juice was stored in the wine skins. The time that it took to ferment was in great part determined by the temperature at which it was stored.
Because the fruit harvest was done in the warmer part of the season, the wine skins would have naturally been stored in warm conditions. The longer the juice sat in warm climates, the stronger, or more fermented, it became. That is why the word wine was a blanket term used to describe the juice at each of its various stages of fermentation. For instance, wine that was three weeks old, would have developed a little bite to it; wine that was seven weeks old would have a bigger bite; and so on. Once it had come to full age, however, it was not to be consumed. When it reached that point, it was no longer referred to as wine, but was referred to as strong or fermented drink, and was to be thrown out! “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last (meaning when it has fermented) it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” (Proverbs 23:31-32) That scripture was a warning to stay away from the juice once it had sat around too long and had fermented or “gone bad.”
Unless you are on your deathbed, the Bible does not, never has, and never will condone the consumption of strong or fermented drink for the purpose of becoming, even in the slightest bit, mentally impaired! As a matter of fact, the only place in the scriptures where the consumption of strong or fermented drink was justifiably permitted at all was in Proverbs 31:6 where King Lemuel had recited a prophecy that his mother taught him. He said, “Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.” The heavy hearted were never permitted to drink strong or fermented drink; only the dying were! And that was simply for the purpose of relieving them of any pain they might suffer in the final days before they expired. Strong or fermented drink was NEVER intended to be used for any other reason!
Can you see how satan has been able to take advantage of the Church’s lack of knowledge concerning the consumption of alcoholic beverages. By keeping this a “gray” issue as he has, he has been able to corral untold millions of church-goers into a lukewarm life of compromise, hence destroying any ability they might have to conduct a pure and close personal relationship with God. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hosea 4:6)
It is time to wake up and realize that this is simply another ploy of our enemy to separate God’s people from God and all of the wonderful things that He has for them. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)
 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Ephesians 5:15-21)
Compromise in any form will always serve to ultimately cost us in our relationship with God! Whether it is alcohol, the abuse of street or prescription drugs, food, television, or anything else, satan is constantly working to get his foot in the door of our lives to ultimately impair our ability to hear the voice of our loving Heavenly Father. We must come to the place in our hearts where we know without a shadow of a doubt that, “there is nobody or nothing worth our relationship with Jesus!”




For more on this message, and many others, get your copy of our book "Letters From TheFront" and also see "TTM Teaching Index" on our website at TowardTheMark.com.   



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