Persistence Pays Off

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Aug 152011
 

Luke 18 : 1-8
1. Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2. saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’
4. For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5. yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”
6. And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said;
7. now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8. I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
NASB

This parable is an answer to those who have asked God something and you don’t seem to get an answer. You think God is just holding out on you; God is blessing and answering everyone else’s prayers but not mine. This can seem to be the case unless we understand prayer. Look at what Paul wrote to the Ephesians…

Ephesians 6 : 18
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
NASB

Two words I want to really focus in on- perseverance and petition. These are key components to effective prayer. Let’s define them…

perseverance

  • steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

petition

  • a formal written request made to an official person or body (as a court or board)
  • a written document signed by a large number of people demanding some form of action from a government or other authority
  • a formally drawn request, often bearing the names of a number of those making the request, that is addressed to a person or group of persons in authority or power, soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit:

I cannot stress the importance of exercising this in our prayer life. You can’t be a lawyer and not know about making a “petition” and you cannot pray effectively without “petitioning”.  Look at the third definition for petition where it states “…soliciting some favor, right, mercy, or other benefit:” If you have ever had a prayer answered it’s because you requested something God had already spoken as being a right or benefit- or because He gave you favor or mercy. A petition is a legal request to a government or authority based on rights or promises- when we pray we’re making a legal request to God based on rights…

Matthew 5 : 7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
KJV

or benefit…

Psalm 103 : 2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
KJV

Psalm 116 : 12
What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?
KJV


Some may read this and at first think to themselves “I don’t have any rights… I’m just at God’s mercy because I am just a lowly servant who’s at His mercy.”
My reply to you would be the same as Job to His worthless friends, “What a help you are to the weak!”, he says sarcastically.

As a citizen you do have rights, why? Because that’s the way God setup His government system. Rights are for citizens and you have to understand your rights in order to have access to them. If God says in His word “blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” then you have to remind God of that in your prayers. He’s a King so if He says something it becomes law! So we pray…

“Lord, you see adversity coming against me from these individuals at work and the stress and humiliating situations I have found myself in; God I have shown mercy as my reaction to these things- I could have acted completely different in response to these events but I have remembered Your word “if I am merciful, I will obtain mercy“. So Father in Heaven I remind you of Your word and my right as a citizen- because I have shown mercy, mercy shall I obtain.”

Praise God! I’m telling you if you find yourself in need of a prayer like this and you petition God with your request in this manner, you will begin to see favor come upon you from those around you and even from those in positions of authority. God will turn their persecution into shame because you have laid claim to the right of mercy. THIS IS POWERFUL! THIS IS A TRUE PRACTICE OF FAITH!

Faith is the strength of your convictions, in the time of testing, that His word is true. That means no matter how bad things get, you believe His word and that it will prevail. If you can get understanding of this, trials will be something to weather rather than something sent to destroy you. God knows your benefits and rights… He’s the one that created them when He spoke them- He just wants you to believe His word enough, that you will remind Him of His promise and then wait for the answer.

Now back to my first scripture
Luke 18 : 1-8

1. Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
2. saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man.
3. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’
4. For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,
5. yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’”
6. And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said;
7. now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
8. I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
NASB

This is an area where we overlook much of the time. We expect to pray once and see results immediately. It’s OK to pray and expect- in fact the bible encourages this- but when you don’t see results and you know you’re in line with His word in your request- you must continue to petition. Jesus gave us this example about this widow woman. He says to continue and press in on the Lord for your request. If in the parable this evil man gave in because he didn’t want to be wore out by her constant pleas- how much more will God answer your request when you continue to request of Him your petition. IT EVEN SAYS WILL HE DELAY A LONG TIME TO ANSWER HIS ELECT YOU CRY OUT DAY AND NIGHT! WOW!

BUT when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth… That’s another article for another day…

Continue to request and petition day and night unto the Lord- He will answer. Don’t give up! I could go into the Jewish culture of how a child must ask his father three times to get a yes- but I’ll leave you with this to meditate on. But BE WARNED if you request and petition something of God day and night be ready to receive it. If you’re asking for direction, an answer, for God to use you, for your purpose- He’s going to give it you- so don’t ask anything unless you’re ready to use what He gives you.

-For The Kingdom

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Dominican Republic January 2011

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Jun 062011
 

In January 2011 we went to Dominican Republic to do mission work. Our focus this trip was on a small area known as “Little River”. We were able to feed almost 200 families and make a difference in many lives. Most importantly the gospel of the Kingdom was preached!

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The Wheat Must Die

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Apr 142011
 

John 12: 20-26
20. Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast;
21. these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”
22. Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.
23. And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
24. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
25. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.
26. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”
NASB

What is our priority in life?

What comes first in your life?

What is left undone so that we fulfill that purpose?

What personal desire is left void so that the most important purpose is complete?

Jesus states here: “…unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone…
Wheat grain is useful. Wheat grain is the leading source of vegetable protein in human food. Wheat is used for fuel, flour for breads, contains vitamins and minerals, and used in a variety of other applications. So wheat is not bad; in fact it’s second to rice in consumption.
But if an entire wheat harvest is consumed… then it can only bring out the potential that the one harvest of wheat has to offer… which is extremely limited! If it remains alone… that’s all you have. This is not proper management of resources.

Let’s say it’s the beginning of spring and a farmer has barely survived the winter with his rations of crops. He has remaining 100 vegetable seeds; he’s hungry now. He could focus on the present and boil the seeds and eat them, but the seeds only serve todays need… what about tomorrow? What about the summer or fall? If the farmer is smart, though he’s hungry now, he can plant the seeds and bring out the potential of the seeds. Each seed has an entire plant inside of it… with more seeds; and more plants. He has 100 of them! That’s a lot of potential. However that potential will not come to fruition just because it’s possible; it takes a commitment to work and delaying the ‘now’ for the ‘later’.

Back to the wheat, Jesus said unless a grain of wheat dies it remains alone. Wheat is good, it’s a need, but it must die to bring forth abundance. We have a lot of “wheat” in our lives. There are some things… yeah you can maintain and build up and ultimately have but is it the best use of your time? Is Kingdom purpose lacking because of this other thing? I know you like that television show, but turn it off and read the King’s word and discover something He wants you to know for His purpose. I know you like to sleep on Sunday morning, but let that wheat die and assemble yourself with believers and contribute your gift to others.

You get $1,000 dollars. $100 dollars by Kingdom law is automatically God’s. But if you decide… “I could do a lot with this wheat… I’m going to get a new outfit.” You have just chose that the maintaining of the wheat, what is in your possession right now, is more important than the Kingdom. The consequence of this decision is that what you have now, is the only thing you’ll have because you’ve excluded yourself from the Kingdom, from its rights, benefits and responsibility by claiming independence. What a tragedy… to trade the entire government of heaven for $100 dollars. That wheat doesn’t look so good now, does it?

Let’s look at the rest of the verse… “but if it dies, it bears much fruit. When the wheat falls to the ground and gets into the soil and dies it’s multiplying itself many times! This is amazing! God put every fruit bearing tree with it’s seed in itself, so it can multiply into many more. Man cannot recreate such an idea! If they could there would be petroleum farms everywhere reproducing an infinite amount of oil to burn for centuries to come… but they can’t. If I could I would be burying $1 dollar bills around my yard and waiting for the crop to come up and bring in a harvest of plenty; but I can’t. Everything God makes, He gives it the ability and the commandment to multiply. He gives it the ability to fulfill its purpose by serving its gift to the world… even you!

Let’s continue to the next verse… He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.”

You may love that wheat, it might be nice to have, to show off. But that wheat may be holding you back from a greater abundance. If you allow something to die, to lose priority, to go to 2nd or 3rd place in your life- it might be hard initially- but you will realize it wasn’t the sustainer of everything else in your life.

I like this next part “…and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.Now most religious people will say “You have to hate your life on earth in order to go to heaven.” This is completely incorrect and well… religious thinking. The word “world” here is translated from the Greek word “kosmos“. The “world” is not earth. Kosmos is not earth. Kosmos is the government body that is in place, the authority to which others are under subjection to, for constituting their affairs. So let’s break this down…

This world, kosmos, says its priorities are land, a big house, an expensive car, a tailored outfit and a big bank account. But God’s world, kosmos, says your priority is the Kingdom. (Matthew 6:33)
ATTENTION! Notice I did not say that it’s wrong to have land, a big house, an expensive car, a tailored outfit or a big bank account… it just cannot be your priority. In fact Jesus is telling us in Matthew 6:33 that it should not be. Jesus was not even leaving it to us to decide what our priority list should be… he clearly states (paraphrase) “Your number one priority, the most important thing in your life should be, do not put anything ahead of, this should not come second to, you must seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

That’s pretty straight forward, yes? We spend our time preoccupied with the wheat… Trying to get wheat, trying to gain more wheat, trying to add to the wheat we have, trying to maintain our current stock of wheat, trying to secure available wheat… And God is saying ‘Why are they working so hard for wheat? I know they need wheat- just seek my Kingdom first!’ Why? Read on… “…and all these things shall be added unto you.” We’ve got it backwards. We’re so busy trying to maintain scraps… if we’ll die to what this world, kosmos, says is important and has as a priority- “…will keep it to life eternal.” WOW! This is stating we’ll have it AND the other! In His kingdom is no lack, just quit trying to maintain “the wheat” in your life, use that time focusing on the Kingdom first and then all that other stuff it chases you!

Jesus loved life on earth. He loved it so much that in the garden He prayed “…if it’s possible for this cup to pass from Me then let it pass.” But first the Kingdom, His purpose. Jesus, God in the flesh, was doing what was a desire of His heart since Eden… fellowshipping with Man. However, Jesus knew that it would be temporary if He didn’t fulfill His purpose and pave the way for Man to be reconciled with the Kingdom of Heaven. So He, being the wheat, laid down His own desire, His own will and died… so that fruit could bear, His Children could be reconciled to life eternal with Him. Do you see this? I pray your eyes and heart be opened to this revelation. Wheat is good- Jesus desired to stay with the disciples, desired to live. But to maintain this wheat, He would only have them a little while and then they would be gone… then He would  remain alone… just like the wheat that didn’t die. But He chose against the immediate gratification, the temporary desire and died, beared much fruit and re-birthed a citizenry blessed of His Father to inherit the Kingdom of God! (Matthew 25:34) The desire He had still will be and IS… but will now be eternal… forever- without end… because He allowed the wheat to die.

Is there something in your life that has been put ahead of the Kingdom? You might not have put it there on purpose… but just because we say the Kingdom is first doesn’t make it first. We must examine our lives, our actions, our attitudes and our motives and line them up with the Kingdom FIRST. Let the wheat fall and the Kingdom be exalted.

-For The Kingdom

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January 27 2011

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Jan 272011
 

Hey Everyone!

Thanks to those who contributed to our mission work in Dominican Republic this year. I am working on a special project to send out to our partners very soon.

We seen God move and change lives. Liberty Ministries Church International and By Every Word went to Dominican Republic on the 17th of January 2011. We were there for 7 days to feed the hungry, clothe the needy, and preach the gospel of the Kingdom. Liberty Ministries will be there until January 28th- so continue to remember them in prayer.

I will wait to report on the numbers until after the remainder of the group has returned, but I will tell you the Kingdom of Heaven is impacting the island and we praise God for it! I will have lots of video and testimonies online soon.

-For The Kingdom

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Kingdom Faith

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Jan 142011
 

I am in the middle of reading Myles Munroe’s book “Rediscovering Faith“. It is an awesome read!
God started speaking to my heart not in the middle of the book, not on chapter 2, not on the first chapter nor the introduction… but during the preface of this book. One line stuck out to me and it was “Much of what we call faith today is simply convenient expectation!”

Let that sink in for a second…
One of the important things in prayer is having faith… but in what?

It’s important to have active belief by expecting what we prayed for… but on what basis did we ask? Here is where the fine line is of “kingdom faith” and “convenient expectation”.

Convenient Expectation
So you find yourself sick… well, who wants to be sick? It’s easy to pray to be healed and say “I believe I’m going to be healed, I’m expecting it because I prayed.”
It’s convenient to expect healing because the alternative is less desiring.
In a similar situation, it’s convenient to expect for money to come in when you are broke… right?

See convenient expectations are easy to believe for because it’s the best outcome to a circumstance. No one wants to say “I believe I’m going to stay sick” or “I believe I’m going to be broke every time a bill is due”. Convenient expectation believes based on what the person is willing to accept.

But again, on what basis? This is the key…

Kingdom Faith
Convenient expectation is expecting to be healed because it’s better than the alternative; Kingdom faith is expecting to be healed because…

Exodus 15:26(b)
“…for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”

KJV

I’m healed because…

Luke 11:2(b)
“…Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.”

KJV

I’m healed because…

Psalm 103:3
“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”

KJV

I’m healed because…

Psalm 147:3
“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”

KJV

Convenient expectation is expecting for money to come in because it’s better than the alternative; Kingdom faith is expecting money to come in because…

Deuteronomy 28:13
“And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:”

KJV

My need will be supplied because…

Psalm 37:25(b)
“…yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

KJV

Money will come in if I’ve managed what He’s given because…

Matthew 25:23(b)
“…thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things…”

KJV

I cannot be out of resources because my Source says…

Philippians 4:19
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

KJV

The government of Heaven has my back because…

2 Corinthians 5:20(a)
“…Now then we are ambassadors for Christ…”

KJV

PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GLORIOUS KINGDOM WHICH MOTH AND RUST CANNOT CORRUPT BECAUSE IT’S NOT OF THIS WORLD! HIS KINGDOM IS FOREVER AND FOREVER AND IT’S NOW AND FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON HIS NAME!

Whooo! Do you see the fine line?

Convenient expectation is better than the alternative… but Kingdom Faith stands on the Word of God and is the basis for the expectation because His word is the evidence for the unseen. Expect healing, expect financial breakthroughs- but with the evidence of God’s Word and not just because of convenience.

-For the Kingdom

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