If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?–such as]

 

21 Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them],

 

22 Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines.

 

23 Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.] Colossians 2:20-23 AMP

 

When we were living in the flesh (mere physical lives), the sinful passions that were awakened and aroused up by [what] the Law [makes sin] were constantly operating in our natural powers (in our bodily organs, in the sensitive appetites and wills of the flesh), so that we bore fruit for death.

 

6 But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life]. Romans 7:5-6 AMP

 

You can be saved and still be a carnal Christian rather than a spiritual Christian. There is a difference between a carnal Christian and a spiritual Christian:

 

-Carnal Christians have not renewed their mind with the Word of God, or allowed the Holy Spirit to change them.

 

-They think, talk, and act, like the rest of the world and follow the world’s way of doing things.

 

-They allow their flesh and fleshly impulses to control them.

 

-They only function in the sense realm – what they can see, hear, touch, smell and taste.

 

-They only trust what they can see; they judge things by outward appearance.

 

-They try to keep God’s Law in their own ability.

 

-They try to control behavior without changing the heart.

 

-They try to serve God their way.

 

-They are afraid of God’s wrath.

 

-They do not have a revelation of God’s love for them, or His grace and mercy extended toward them, or the freedom that is available to them.

 

By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man–not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil. Proverbs 16:6 AMP

 

In contrast, the spiritual Christian has submitted themselves to the Word of God and the Spirit of God, to be taught and to be changed into His image:

 

-They have died to material ways of looking at things.

 

-They function not just in the earthly realm, but also in the Spirit realm.

 

-They trust the unseen – the Holy Spirit.

 

-They trust the Word of God.

 

-They know God loves them and they love Him.

 

-They joyfully submit themselves to God’s Word, obey God’s commands, and serve Him.

 

-They act on the Word, doing what it commands.

 

-They practice the love walk.

 

-They enjoy the liberty of the Spirit.

 

-They are not afraid of God or His wrath, because they believe His Word.

 

-They have a revelation of His grace and mercy extended to all who believe. -They think, talk, and act like Jesus.

 

-They have a revelation of their place in God’s family.

 

-They see themselves as God sees them.

 

-They humbly acknowledge that they are nothing without Him and that

 

He is always to be glorified and lifted up in their lives.

 

-At the same time, they are bold to stand up and declare and decree a thing, knowing that Heaven stands behind them to carry it out.

 

-They serve – not under obedience to the old code of written regulations – but under obedience to the promptings of the Spirit in newness of life.

 

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,

 

2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.

 

3 About the Ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

 

4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

 

5 Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter.

 

6 He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do.”

 

7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.

 

8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

 

9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.

 

10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

 

11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.

 

12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.

 

13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

 

14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

 

15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”

 

16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

 

17 Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate.

 

18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

 

19 While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you.

 

20 Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Acts 10:1-20 NKJV

 

Cornelius was an Italian, a gentile by birth, but he was a God-fearing man and also a generous one. Because the honor he showed the Lord; because of his continual prayers and his generous, consistent giving; he got God’s attention. God promised Abraham that through his Seed – Jesus – ALL the nations of the earth would be blessed.

 

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from: when you humble yourself before Almighty God and you seek him and act in accordance with His word, God will make a way to get to you and show Himself real and alive to you.

 

God had showed Himself to the Israelites and made them many promises. He had a special plan for them. He would use their nation to be a blessing to all nations through Jesus Christ of Nazareth, an Israelite by birth.

 

However, they did not appreciate this honor. They took God for granted and did not serve Him with their whole heart. Many of them were downright rebellious and prostituted themselves with foreign gods. They forgot that God blessed them by choice, not because they were anything special themselves. God’s grace extended to them was a privilege, not a right.

 

By the time Jesus was born, many Israelites were very religious – pious on the outside and rotten on the inside. They were judgmental and exclusive. They wanted God to be a respecter of persons, but God wanted to include ALL and so He gives ALL an opportunity to receive Him – not by works or by lineage – but by faith alone. Faith is the great equalizer – all men have the exact same opportunity to receive God’s precious gift of Life.

 

The Israelites wanted all of God’s favor for themselves, but they did not honor or serve Him. We must do the opposite – honor and serve Him and reach out to ALL men from every nation, on His behalf! Do not judge another man after the flesh. Do not exclude anyone. If any are to be excluded, let it be by their own choice. You share the Gospel to ALL men and give ALL men the same opportunity to receive the Lord. Jesus paid the price for every person in every nation!

 

When God showed Peter the vision and told him not to call common and unclean that which God called clean, He was not talking abut food, He was talking about MEN. God was thinking about the three men who were sent by Cornelius at the direction of the angel. God was thinking about Cornelius and his household – his family, friends, and servants. God was thinking about millions of people who now had an opportunity to receive the Son of promise.

 

God was thinking about you and me! For generations before Jesus was born, God had bided His time, waiting for this moment when people from ALL the nations would enter into His blessing by receiving new life through their faith in Jesus: faith the blood of Jesus; faith in His death, burial, and resurrection!

 

Through faith in Jesus Christ you are clean! Let no man call unclean what God has called clean!

 

 

Proverbs 6:19 says that God hates “he who sows discord (or strife) among his brethren.”

 

What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? 2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures. James 4:1-3 AMP

 

In the Body of Christ, strife between believers is caused by the sensual desires that are constantly warring in their own bodies. The root of strife is in the individual himself or herself. Most of the time, it does not occur to the person who is stirring up the strife that they actually causing it – they are convinced that it is the other person’s fault! Strife is caused when people are jealous of what other people have – they covet their blessings. If you pointed out to most strife-causers that the root of their desire to fight with others is jealousy and covetousness, they would probably be shocked and surprised to learn what is really in their own heart. If you are armed with this truth, you will be able to recognize when your carnal nature is being stirred up with covetousness and jealousy and you will be better able to stop it in it’s tracks, and even avoid it completely, by allowing the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to regulate your thought life and to help you overcome your own flesh in these areas.    

 

Cleaning up your life in this area is not optional – it is crucial. God commands that you face your sin and deal with it, because it will destroy your life and the lives of those with whom you war and fight. When you jealously covet another person’s blessings, you demonstrate that you have no faith in God to provide for you, too. There are two reasons you will not be blessed: one is because you don’t expect God to provide for you, so you don’t ask, and the other is that you are greedy and even when you do ask God for things, it is with a totally wrong motive. God cannot answer a prayer that is never prayed and He will not answer a prayer that is prayed with evil, selfish motives. When you behave like this, you just shoot yourself in the foot as far as God is concerned. If you want God’s blessing then stop being jealous of others, stop wanting what they have, be happy that they are blessed, start to find out what God requires of you, become a giver not a taker, find out how you can be a blessing to others, be motivated to be a blessing to others at all times, let your requests be made known unto God, and trust God to supply everything you need!

 

For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another. 14 For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. 15 But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).  Galatians 5:13-16 AMP

 

Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention. 3 Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]. 4 Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others.  Philippians 2:2-4 AMP

 

If you want to avoid strife and be blessed in every way you must be motivated by the love of God – you must know that God loves YOU and you must know that He loves everyone else, too: you must love God and love people as you love yourself; you must serve others in and through the love of God; you must walk and live in the Holy Spirit as a habit; you must be controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit; you must be sensitive to Him and responsive to Him; you must not give in to your carnal nature – do not gratify the cravings and the desires of your flesh; you must not be motivated by selfishness or contentiousness; do not be prompted by conceit or arrogance; you must have a humble estimation of yourself; don’t think of yourself as better than anyone else; think more highly of others than yourself; do not think only of your own interests – what you want and what you need; think about the interests of others; think about how you can help them and bless them. If we will love others, stop focusing on ourselves alone, and reach out to bless and to be a blessing, we will cut all the strife out of our lives and God will be pleased!

 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV

God’s people are a peculiar people. When we use the word peculiar, in the English language, we sometimes mean “strange” or “unusual” and, indeed, God’s people do sometimes seem peculiar to the world’s way of thinking. However, the word translated “peculiar” from the Greek New Testament, according to Strong’s Greek-Hebrew Dictionary, has to do, not with being strange, but with acquisition and, by extension, preservation. It means obtain, purchase, and/or save. Peculiar, in 1 Peter 2:9 AMP is rendered this way, “But you are…[God’s] own purchased, special people…”

If Jesus is your Lord and Savior you are chosen generation – a generation planned and ordained by God, hand-selected, and unique; a royal priesthood – you are not just a servant, but a son of God and a member of his royal family; a holy (dedicated), nation – set apart by God Himself; God’s own special, purchased (peculiar) people – you are His priceless, precious treasure! You have been purchased by God – with the blood of Jesus – and you now belong to Him, not yourself. He bought you and He has made Himself responsible for you.

Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name. 17 And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. 18 Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him. Malachi 3:16-18 AMP

The word “peculiar” in the Hebrew Old Testament means to shut up as in wealth being closely shut up or protected. If a person owns something precious or valuable, they will treat it differently than the stuff that does not have so high a value. They will put it in a place where it cannot be stolen or damaged. Some things are valuable because they are rare, some things are valuable because they are expensive, but some things are valuable because they mean something to the owner – they have sentimental value. In any case, most of the time, something is valuable only because someone believes it is valuable. In Solomon’s day, there was so much prosperity that there were silver dumps outside the city (1 Kings 10:21)!

God has declared you as valuable to Him – extremely valuable! You are God’s jewel. You are His peculiar – special – treasure. Not only are you precious to Him, but you are protected by Him as well. God has declared that He will protect you, preserve you, and save you. You are kept and guarded by God Himself!

Now therefore, if you will obey My voice in truth and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own peculiar possession and treasure from among and above all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. Exodus 19:5 AMP

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-14 KJV

God does not treasure or protect the disobedient. What causes you to become God’s treasure – His peculiar possession – is the fact that you have obeyed His voice and kept His covenant. You are purified by the blood of Jesus. You have been “decontaminated” from the impurities of this carnal world. To do His will and keep His commandments is your joy.

This day the Lord your God has commanded you to do these statutes and ordinances. Therefore you shall keep and do them with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being. 17 You have [openly] declared the Lord this day to be your God, [pledging] to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes and His commandments and His precepts, and to hearken to His voice. 18 And the Lord has declared this day that you are His peculiar people as He promised you, and you are to keep all His commandments; 19 And He will make you high above all nations which He has made, in praise and in fame and in honor, and that you shall be a holy people to the Lord your God, as He has spoken. Deuteronomy 26:16-19 AMP

For you are a holy people [set apart] to the Lord your God; and the Lord has chosen you to be a peculiar people to Himself, above all the nations on the earth. Deuteronomy 14:2 AMP

What makes a man or woman peculiar is the fact that they are set apart from the rest. They have made a deep commitment to God – His will and His ways. They are not bound by sin and death and they do not walk, talk, or act like people who are. They are a holy, consecrated people! They are free and they are blessed!

 

And whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offering to the Lord to make a special vow to the Lord or for a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock must bring what is perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish in it. 22 Animals blind or made infirm and weak or maimed, or having sores or a wen or an itch or scabs, you shall not offer to the Lord or make an offering of them by fire upon the altar to the Lord. 23 For a freewill offering you may offer either a bull or a lamb which has some part too long or too short, but for [the payment of] a vow it shall not be accepted. Leviticus 22:21-23 AMP

 

Anytime you vow a vow, anytime you commit to do something for God or give something to Him it must be the best you have, not the worst. Under the Old Covenant, it was a matter of law; under the New Covenant it is a matter of the heart; however God has always emphasized how important our attitude is in everything we do—under the Old and the New. God is extremely generous. He does not do things in a measured way; neither does He hold back His blessing; He always gives His all and His best. You are the one who puts the limits on God when you have a bad attitude and when you refuse to give your all, and your best, to Him. It is your choice to give God your best or to give Him your junk, but be forewarned that He will not accept your offering of junk. An unaccepted offering is the same—or maybe worse—than no offering at all.

 

But cursed is the [cheating] deceiver who has a male in his flock and vows to offer it, yet sacrifices to the [sovereign] Lord a blemished or diseased thing! For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and My name is terrible and to be [reverently] feared among the nations. Malachi 1:14 AMP

 

When you make God a promise to give God something that is your best and then you change your mind, God is not satisfied with your offering and does not receive it from your hand. It is an insult. Don’t think that He won’t notice or won’t care, because you could not be more wrong. Just how little respect do you have for Him? It is arrogant and stupid of you to try to deceive and cheat the Lord. He is not some stranger, who does not count in your life—He is your Father, the One who has always given you nothing but the best and who loves you with an undying love. What kind of ungrateful, spoiled brat child are you to give Him a blemished, diseased offering? What kind of a slap in the face have you given Him? You are cursed for giving God your rubbish when you committed to give your best.

 

If you return to the Almighty [and submit and humble yourself before Him], you will be built up; if you put away unrighteousness far from your tents, 24 If you lay gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brook [considering them of little worth], 25 And make the Almighty your gold and [the Lord] your precious silver treasure, 26 Then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God. 27 You will make your prayer to Him, and He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. 28 You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways. 29 When they make [you] low, you will say, [There is] a lifting up; and the humble person He lifts up and saves. 30 He will even deliver the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; yes, he will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands. Job 22:23-30 AMP

 

When you make God your precious treasure, you give Him His rightful place in your life; you delight in Him; you adore Him; you worship Him; you look to Him alone as your source and supply; you give Him both those things for which He has asked of you and the things which you have promised Him. All these things work together to get God’s attention and to cause His promise to you to be activated, and His blessing to be released onto your life. When you are faithful to keep covenant with Him and pay Him what is owed to Him—the things He has asked you for and the things you promised to Him—you will lack nothing. God’s favor will be upon your life. You have honored Him and He will honor you. You will ask for something and He will do it for you. He will even listen to you when you stand in the gap to pray a prayer for someone who is not deserving of His mercy. If you honor Him with your best, you position yourself as a person of covenant, a person after God’s own heart, and a friend of God Almighty, Himself!

 

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High, 15 And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me. Psalms 50:14-15 AMP

 

When you are faithful to keep your promises and pay your vows, God will be prompt and diligent to deliver you whenever you are in trouble. Then you will have yet another reason to praise and thank God.

 

In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12 Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praise to You and give You thank offerings. 13 For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living. Psalms 56:11-13 AMP

 

I place my trust in my God. When it is time to pay my vows, I do it. I do it cheerfully and willingly and I praise and honor Him. Because I honor Him by paying my vows, He delivers me. Because He delivers me, I praise, thank, and honor Him by paying my vows! It’s a glorious cycle!

 

Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. 13 And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. 14 But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. 15 But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. 16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16 AMP

You, who are born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit, have been separated from the world by the work of the Holy Spirit. You are no longer deceived by the lies of and/or blinded by the devil. Your eyes have been opened and you now see the truth. If you will continue in God’s Word, the devil will never again be able to blind your eyes. It is the Holy Spirit Who reveals to you all the wonderful things that God has done for and in you and all the magnificent gifts He has so lavishly and freely bestowed on you, so that you might comprehend them and also appreciate them. The more influence the Holy Spirit and the Word of God have in your life, the more aware you become of spiritual things and the more spiritual you become. Not religious—spiritual—conscious of God.

The person who is not born again, not filled with the Spirit, and who is not open to the Word of God, is carnal, natural, and non-spiritual. He cannot perceive the truth that is right in front of him—he is oblivious to things of the Spirit. The gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned, estimated, and appreciated. Because of this, they are meaningless nonsense to the carnal person and so he does not accept, or welcome, or admit them into his heart. Everyone who is spiritual can easily discern the carnal man’s state and his situation. Although the spiritual man discerns all things, no one can discern him—no one can appraise or get an insight into him. In other words, the spiritual man can see into the heart and life of a non-spiritual person, but the non-spiritual person cannot figure the spiritual person out.

In the same way, you don’t know everything there is to know about the Lord. No matter how much you learn of spiritual things, you will never know enough to be able to advise Him. That is just not your job or your place—it never will be. But when Jesus lives in your heart, when the Holy Spirit has burned the junk of the world out of your life, and when God’s Word has become alive in you, you grow to be more like Jesus every day. You begin to walk like Him, talk like Him, think like Him, see like Him, feel like Him, and act like Him. You have the mind of Christ; you hold the thoughts, feelings, and purposes of His heart. You are not God, but you represent Him to the world.

Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. 3 And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless). 1 John 3:2-3 AMP

I have heard a person say, “I have the mind of Christ, therefore every thought I have is from Christ.” This is not totally true. Your thoughts come from your head, not from heaven. You cannot trust every thought you have to be a godly thought. Sometimes the devil will place thoughts in your mind. Of course, you ought to resist and reject those thoughts! Remember that godly thoughts and inspirations come primarily from your heart—your regenerated spirit. The Spirit of God will speak to your heart—you need to train yourself to recognize His voice. Your mind, on the other hand, is a work in progress until you see Jesus face to face. When you see Him, you will be like Him, but until then, you are not perfect by any means. You need to renew your mind to the Word of God, regularly and consistently. You need to humble yourself and lay down your agenda.

As you yield yourself to Him, as you make yourself available to Him, to be used by Him, He will work in you and through you to do His will, and you can safely say, “I have the mind of Christ!”

 

Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?” 26He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?” 27He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence–and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.” 28″Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.” 29Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define “neighbor’?” 30Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. 31Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. 32Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man. 33″A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. 34He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. 35In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, “Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill–I’ll pay you on my way back.’ 36″What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” 37″The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” Luke 10:25-37 MSG

Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him). 1 Peter 4:9 AMP

Withhold not good from those to whom it is due [its rightful owners], when it is in the power of your hand to do it. 28Do not say to your neighbor, Go, and come again; and tomorrow I will give it–when you have it with you. Proverbs 3:27-28 AMP

Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood–being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2 AMP

Thank you to everyone who has donated so much to help our neighbors on the Gulf Coast, who have been so devastated by Hurricane Katrina. By doing this, YOU ARE helping your neighbor and taking care of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Keep believing God this week for doors to open to you to send more supplies to the Gulf Coast region. Extend your faith this week for favor with places of business to donate money towards the relief effort or goods that are needed so we can send in more trucks to the devastated areas. Believe the Lord this week to put you in the right place at the right time so you can be a blessing to your neighbors. You have the power within your hand to help your neighbor in their time of need. The Lord wants to use you everyday to help those around you, yield yourself completely to Him everyday and you can always expect the Lord to use you in a mighty way.

There will always be good causes that we can always donate to, but don’t wait for tomorrow – do what you can today. Don’t pass your neighbor by and wait until another day. Give what you have in your hand today and believe God to prosper you, so you might do more to help those around you.

All the commandments which I command you this day you shall be watchful to do, that you may live and multiply and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall [earnestly] remember all the way which the Lord your God led you these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and to prove you, to know what was in your [mind and] heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not become old upon you nor did your feet swell these forty years. 5 Know also in your [minds and] hearts that, as a man disciplines and instructs his son, so the Lord your God disciplines and instructs you. Deuteronomy 8:1-5 AMP

You might think you know what’s in your own heart, but you do not really know until you are humbled by your circumstances – by life! When everything else is stripped away, what is left is the essence of YOU! The hardest things you go through will be the things that define who you are. How will you respond? Will you be bitter or will you be better? Will you allow God’s word to govern your life; your choices; your circumstances? The sword of the word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword and will cut down deep on the inside of you and reveal the thoughts, intents, and purposes of your heart (Hebrews 4:12).

You can only change the things you are aware of. The Lord will cause your own heart to be revealed to you – so you can change, so you can grow, so you can make the adjustments, so you can make corrections to your direction – so you can walk in liberty and in blessing.

Unless you have suffered hunger, and been fed with manna, you may not come to realize that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. If you do not remember that God is the One who took care of you when you could not take care of yourself, then when He blesses you and promotes you, you will think that your ability and talents brought the blessing. You will forget God; you will forget what He has done; you will forget that it is HE Who gives you the power to get wealth and the power to succeed. You will think that you did it yourself and forget that God is actually the One who has empowered you to walk in blessing and success as a fulfillment of a covenant promise He made with you. You owe Him your appreciation.

The ear that listens to the reproof [that leads to or gives] life will remain among the wise. 32 He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding. 33 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:31-33 AMP

The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Proverbs 22:4 AMP

When you are going through hard times, and you want to experience a victory, you will need to humble your heart before the Lord. The attitude adjustments you get when you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God during the hard times – if you remember the lessons learned – will carry you through the good times. You need to humble yourself even more when you are prospering and succeeding, so that you do not become arrogant and lose what you have – or worse – lose yourself, by moving away from and then rejecting the Lord.

I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Philippians 4:12-13 AMP

Possessions, position and prestige are not the answer to all your problems. Some people are mad at God when they don’t have what they think they should have, as if it is His fault, but then they take the credit when they prosper and they forget all about God. These people are never truly happy or satisfied. Even when they have more than enough, they are not satisfied.

There are other people who rejoice, praise and thank God whether they have or not and God always seems to come through for them. These humble, thankful people do not think of themselves more highly than they ought. They know how to be abased and live humbly no matter what state they find themselves in, whether having more than enough or not quite enough, therefore they are always happy and joyful and they truly enjoy their lives and their relationship with the Lord.

I pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant me a spirit of wisdom and revelation, of insight into mysteries and secrets, in the deep and intimate knowledge of Him,

I pray that I would have the eyes of my heart flooded with light, so that I

can know and understand the hope to which He has called me, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints, His set-apart ones,

And so that I can know and understand what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,

Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,

Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named – above every title that can be conferred – not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.

And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church – a headship exercised throughout the church,

Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all – for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself.

 

Paraphrased from Ephesians 1:17-23 AMP

 

 

Because of my faith in Him, I dare to have the boldness, courage and confidence of free access

Because of my faith in Him, I can unreservedly approach God with freedom and without fear.

So I will not lose heart, I will not faint, or become despondent through fear,

Because of the greatness of this plan by which we are built together in Christ, I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named

I pray that He would grant me out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in my inner man by the Holy Spirit, Himself indwelling my innermost being and personality.

I pray that Christ, through my faith, may actually dwell, settle down, abide, and make His permanent home in my heart!

I pray that I may be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

That I may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints, God’s devoted people, the experience of that love – what is the breadth and length and height and depth of it;

That I may really come to know, practically, through experience for myself, the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience; that I may be filled through all my being unto all the fullness of God.

That I may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!

Now to Him Who, by and in consequence of the action of His power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams–

To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen – so be it.

 

Paraphrased from Ephesians 3:12-21 AMP

 

These are two powerful, spiritual prayers that Paul prayed for the Ephesians and they apply to every Christian. These prayers reveal the will of God for His children. In Hosea 4:6 God says that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. This is not because God’s will is hidden – it is in plain sight, openly revealed in His Word – but because His people do not take time to read and study His Word and then take it personally.

 

Confessing (speaking out) God’s Word will personalize it for you and make it a reality, first in your mind and heart and then in every aspect of your life. Don’t just do it as a religious ritual, but as you pray these prayers, listen to what you are praying and make them yours. If you will pray these two personalized prayers on a regular basis, then you will begin to walk it out in your everyday life and reap the wonderful benefits of the life, blessing, and power of the awesome Word of God, that is more precious than silver and more costly than gold!

For immediate release

 

Rodney Howard Brown Palm Beach Florida

 

View the pictures of the power of God hitting the building tonight in a powerful Holy Spirit crusade. Over 13, 700 decisions were made for Jesus Christ. Over 250 people hit the streets, inviting hundreds to visit Tabernáculo Internacional church and get touched. The crowds are expected to grow even more during the week as the FIRE of GOD sweeps through Palm Beach Florida.

 

The Great Awakening Tour is not just another Christian Conference.  This is a radical campaign to REACH a radical generation—to impact your community with the life-changing message of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Many precious people have been praying for God to touch your city and this nation. We believe that The Great Awakening Tour is an ANSWER to those prayers.

 

This is your time, for your city…for your nation to have an encounter with heaven!