True Freedom Comes From God Alone

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).  2 Corinthians 3:17 AMP

The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America declares that:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness;…”

The framers of our Constitution recognized that God alone was the Author of life, of freedom, and of man’s free will.  Liberty is the very essence of the Gospel.

Since God is the one who gives men freedom, there is no government that can legally give it to you – it is not theirs to give. Governments may claim to control your freedom, and therefore give or take it away, but they do not have that right. What kings and governments do is to put people into bondage and when they loosen up the restrictions, they call it freedom. Alternatively, they give you “freedom” inside their own controlled, narrow boundaries. None of this is true freedom.

In God’s eyes, the role of government is only to protect the freedoms of the people and restrict the freedoms of (imprison) those who seek to rob others of their freedoms by killing, stealing, or otherwise destroying. All the laws that they pass should be to allow people to freely conduct business and live their lives as they choose. In a world where every person was a true follower of Christ, there would be no need for laws, because everyone would govern themselves and their behavior by the laws of God. Everyone would love their neighbor and seek their best interests. No one would enslave or oppress another, and no one would be enslaved or oppressed.

Laws are made for lawless men. If you transgress the law, you become subject to it. If you are entirely submitted to the commandment of God, then the law is not applied to you. No one has the right to oppress another or to enslave another. God gave us no commandment to have slaves; however, when men, in their ignorance to the Gospel and the truth, took slaves, He gave commands for proper treatment of slaves. He even provided a Year of Jubilee – for the release of slaves. The fact is that slavery is a curse brought on by rebellion and disobedience to God’s laws.  As long as men curse God, slavery will continue. The only hope is another Year of Jubilee and Jesus is that Jubilee! You do not have to wait fifty years – you can have it now!

Here are some examples of the way that some people impose slavery upon others: to physically enslave men; to oppress and keep them in ignorance; to force them against their free will; to deprive them of compensation, or appropriate compensation, for work done; to prevent proper home life and training of their children; to fetter (restrict or restrain) the intellect; to make some dependent on others; to promote any inequality in rights contrary to the laws of God.

We see this slavery at work in our nations today. Banks and corporations keep people in slavery through debt. Their goal is not to help people find financial independence, but rather to keep them in debt and dependent on the system. When governments support people by helping them to own and run their own businesses, and by helping and encouraging them to earn their own living, then they are doing something good. However, when governments give people handouts on a continual basis, people become dependent on the government, and therefore are owned and controlled by them. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender (Proverbs 22:7 AMP).

People are enslaved through lack of education. In school, they are not taught what they need to know but only what the government wants them to know. This is happening in so-called “free” countries, and not just in ones ruled by dictators. If people do not know their history, they are doomed to repeat it. People know everything about the pop culture or their favorite athletic team, but nothing about what they really ought to know in order to stand up against tyranny. Governments enslave people when they hide things from the people; when they are not transparent and open; when they receive bribes to decide things in the interest of a few at the expense of the many.

When you cannot choose your own vocation, and someone tells you what job you will do, then you are enslaved. Around the world, there are many people who are overworked and underpaid and whose lives are controlled by the companies for whom they work. This is a form of slavery. Many people are so completely enslaved, even today, that they have no control even over their own bodies, and they are bought and sold as slaves.

Governments impose slavery upon the people, when they insist that they are the only ones who have the intelligence to govern and that everyone else is too ignorant to govern or even to question their decisions. It is a form of slavery to undermine the family. When the government has more control over a child’s life than the parents do, then that nation is enslaved. Governments impose slavery upon the people when they take control of the Health Care programs and decisions, and they begin to decide who may live or die. When governments can abort babies and prematurely kill old people, and handicapped or infirm people, then that nation is enslaved.

The main reason people are enslaved, is because they are ignorant of the word and the will of Almighty God. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6a NKJV). The reason that the Constitution of the United States of America, and the Bill of Rights, are such powerful documents is because they are based on the principles of the Word of God. As long as men acknowledge God in this nation, our country will stand strong. However, when men dishonor God, the guiding principles of our founding documents will no longer be able to stand, and the nation will fall to tyranny and darkness. It is left up to those of us, who walk in the light, to stand up for the truth and to bring others into the light, so that our people and our nation might remain truly free.

Touching Jesus

And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus, passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, 0 Lord, thou son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, 0 Lord, thou son of David.

 

And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

MATTHEW 20:30-34

 

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

 

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

LUKE 7:12-15

 

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

MATTHEW 9:35-36

 

And fifth, He healed people because of their faith. The centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 said, “Lord, You don’t have to go anywhere, just speak the Word and my servant will be healed.” Jesus marveled at the faith of this man who was not even an Israelite and declared that his servant was healed according to what he believed.

 

In Mark 5:25-34, the woman who had the issue of blood believed she would receive her healing if she could only touch Jesus’ garment. Jesus did not notice her touching His garment until He felt the anointing flowing out of Him into her, drawn out by her faith. Jesus told her that it was her faith that had made her whole.

 

Is healing always the will of God? And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy.” who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

 

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will.” be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

LUKE 5:12-13

God Takes the Foolish Things

I want you to see something about the anointing

of God upon individuals. God doesn’t choose whom we

would choose. God doesn’t look upon a person’s

qualifications. God doesn’t look upon their education.

 

God doesn’t look upon their stature. Their abilities in the

natural have absolutely nothing to do with Him placing

His hand upon them.

 

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many

wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many

noble, are called:

 

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to

confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak

things of the world to confound the things which are

mighty;

 

And the base things of the world, and things which are

despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are

not, to bring to nought things that are:

That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

1 Corinthians 1:26-29

 

A New Testament Example

 

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which

beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and

bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that

himself was some great one:

 

To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the

greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time

he had bewitched them with sorceries.

 

But when they believed Philip preaching the things

concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus

Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was

baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered,

beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard

that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent

unto them Peter and John:

 

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them,

that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

 

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they

were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

 

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received

the Holy Ghost.

 

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the

apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered

them money,

 

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever

I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

 

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee,

because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be

purchased with money.

 

Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy

heart is not right in the sight of God.

 

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God,

if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven

thee.

 

For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and

in the bond of iniquity.

 

Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord

for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken

come upon me.

 

Acts 8:9-20

 

THE HUNGRY HEART

Foundation Scriptures: Psalms 42:1-2, Psalms 63:1, Psalms 36:7-9, Psalms 34:8, Isaiah 55:1-2, Matthew 5:6, John 7:37-38, Revelation 21:6, Revelation 22:17

 

As the heart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God. 2 My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?  Psalms 42:1-2 AMP

1.  Spiritual hunger is the number one ingredient for revival and the only way to receive anything from God.

 

a.  Spiritual appetite is something that needs to be developed, cultivated, and protected. It determines how hungry you are for the things of God.

b.  As with natural things, your diet—what you put in your mouth—dictates what you will be, so it is with spiritual things. You are what you eat! If you eat junk food, that is what you will be hungry for—that is what you will crave. You will not have an appetite for the things that are good for you and nourishing to your body. As a result, you will be sick, have health problems and die prematurely. If you make a habit of eating good, healthy, wholesome food, you will have an appetite for more good food and your body will be healthy and strong and resistant to disease. You will live longer and will have a good quality of life.

     ?  Body: A healthy body: healthy heart; strong constitution; no health problems; etc. An unhealthy body: sickly; anemic; high cholesterol; heart conditions; cancer, pain; etc.

     ?  Spirit: Eating good spiritual food will produce a healthy heart—free, filled with joy and peace and all of the nine fruit of the Spirit. Eating spiritual junk food—giving in to the appetites and lusts of the flesh—will produce a sickly heart, filled with anger, bitterness, covetousness, strife, and all the 17 works of the flesh.

 

2.  What must you do to develop a hungry heart?

 

a.   Strip away everything that would clog up your heart, hinder you, and cause you to lose your hunger for God and for what is good.

b.   Take a critical look at how you use your time.

     ?   What is your daily routine?

     ?   How much time is wasted time: TV; movies; sports; friends; restaurants; Internet; computer games; etc?

c.   Get rid of spiritual junk food.

     ?   False doctrines

     ?   Wrong associations; bad influences

     ?   Wrong choices; wrong living

d.  Pray; spend time in the Word of God; meditate on the Word; be filled with the Spirit; be  led by the Spirit.

 

3.   Ask yourself: Am I hungry for God with a passion?

 

a.  If yes: protect your heart and your mind so you stay that way.

b.  If no: ask yourself what you must do to cut the spiritual junk food out of your life.

 

4.   Always: be humble; be repentant; allow God’s Word to correct you; make straight paths for your feet; God’s Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path.


O God, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is.  Psalms 63:1 AMP

How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of men take refuge and put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. 8 They relish and feast on the abundance of Your house; and You cause them to drink of the stream of Your pleasures. 9 For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.  Psalms 36:7-9 AMP

O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.  Psalms 34:8 AMP

Wait and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].  Isaiah 55:1-2 AMP

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Matthew 5:6 NKJV

Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 38 He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.  John 7:37-38 AMP

And He [further] said to me, It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I [Myself] will give water without price from the fountain (springs) of the water of Life.  Revelation 21:6 AMP

The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported, and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost.  Revelation 22:17 AMP

DON’T COME EMPTY-HANDED

Don’t Come Empty-Handed – Joyfully Give Your Freewill Offering
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 16 verses 10–17

Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give to the Lord your God, as the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and daughter, your manservant and maidservant, and the Levite who is within your towns, the stranger or temporary resident, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place in which the Lord your God chooses to make His Name [and His Presence] dwell. 12 And you shall [earnestly] remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be watchful and obey these statutes. 13 You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths for seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and wine vat. 14 You shall rejoice in your Feast, you, your son and daughter, your manservant and maidservant, the Levite, the transient and the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. 15 For seven days you shall keep a solemn Feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses; because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the works of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful. 16 Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. They shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed: 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.
Deuteronomy 16:10-17 AMP

1.  God asked them for a free-will offering

a. A freewill offering is an offering that is your choice—you decide what to give
b. Note: It is not called a free-will offering, because you have a choice on IF you are going to give, but
only because you are deciding WHAT you are going to give, when it is time to give
c. Your gift should be in proportion to the blessing of the Lord that you have received
d. You are to bring it to the place of worship with rejoicing—cheerfully and joyfully
e. Remember—remind yourself—where the Lord has brought you from so you will remember and
appreciate all His blessings on your life

2.  The Lord instructed us—His people—to come and worship Him with our giving—joyfully—as a celebration and a solemn feast.

a. The word, translated “solemn” here means: properly; to move in a circle; to march in a sacred
procession; to observe a festival; by implication—to be giddy. It is translated in the KJV as celebrate;
dance; keep or hold a solemn feast or holiday; to reel to and fro!
b. God promised—if you obey—to bless you in all your increase and in all the work of your hands
c. You are to give joyfully—in expectation of the upcoming blessing
d. Giving and joy go hand in hand
e. It is more blessed to give than to receive! (Acts 20:35)

3.  Verse 16 says, you should not appear before the Lord empty-handed

Do not come to worship God with nothing in your hand
You can’t give what you don’t have, but…
…every man (and woman) is to give as he/she is able, according to the blessing of the Lord

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:
The Feast of Tabernacles was “party-time”—a time to really celebrate all of God’s generosity and faithfulness! Not one of us likes to be taken advantage of or taken for granted. None of us appreciates a gift that is cheap, stingy, or given grudgingly. When that happens, what you want to do is just hand it back to the person who gave it to you. Why, oh why, do we think that God is happy with that kind of treatment? The tithe is not optional, but freewill offerings are. Both are essential. The tithe reflects your obedience to God. Your freewill offerings reflect your love for God. Get a revelation of how much God has blessed you, how much He wants to bless you, and how much He has promised to bless you, and you will really begin to enjoy generously and joyfully blessing Him back!

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
Why is it that when a minister of the Gospel stands up to receive the offering, people get either sad or mad? Why do they have a long face? This should be a celebration! We get to worship God with our giving! I guess there are just some things I don’t understand. It’s almost as though people treat God like a debt-collector. It’s giving; it’s celebration; it’s worship! Let’s not come with long faces—as if we are about to lose something —let’s come with celebration, thanksgiving and gratitude to honor the King!

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I thank you for all Your blessings, what You have done for me, and where You have brought me from! I come joyfully and I worship You with my giving for You have greatly blessed me.

ANSWERED PRAYER

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us about prayer

•    Let your requests be made known to God
•    Let God know what it is you want from Him. Don’t just think it – speak it.
•    Don’t be anxious. Rejoice.
•    Do it with thanksgiving. With gratefulness for what He has already done and a joyful expectation of what He is about to do.
•     God’s peace will protect your heart and mind.
•    You can go about your business, knowing that He is in control!

•    Single-minded
•    James 1:5-8 NKJV – If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
•    If you ask – ask in faith.
•    Do not be double-minded. If you allow doubts to sway you, you will be pulled in two different directions and the result is that you will be double-minded and unstable.
•    If you are double-minded, don’t be surprised when your prayers are not answered.
•    Every one is tempted with doubtful thoughts, but you can shut them down, allow faith to arise from your heart and stay steady until the answer comes.

Rodney Howard Browne shows us the importance of being persistant.
•    Be persistent.
•    First – know your rights!
•    Luke 18:1-8 The Message Bible – Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. 2 He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. 3 A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’ 4 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. 5 But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice — otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black and blue by her pounding.'” 6 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? 7 So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? 8 I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”
•    Second – Press in until you get it.
•    Some Christians don’t ask God for what they need because they think He would be bothered or irritated by their requests. Or maybe it’s because they actually don’t have faith in Him to answer.
•    Over and over, God has told us in His Word that He cares, that He listens and that He answers. When we wake up and get that revelation, we might actually start to ask in faith and receive what we asked for!
•    God expects us to be persistent in prayer and not give up until we get the answer.
•    The lesson of this parable is that if even an unjust judge will respond to a woman who knows her rights and won’t quit until she receives, how much more will our righteous Father work justice for His kids who stand on their rights in faith?

•    No vain repetition allowed.
•    Matthew 6:7-8 AMP – And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.  8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
•    Repeating the exact same word, phrase, or prayer over and over is not the answer. Repetition is just words – no faith is involved.
•    It’s persistent faith – not nagging words – that moves God.
•    Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
•    Ask once for what you want – then continue to thank Him and praise Him for the answer.
•    Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that if the devil comes with doubts – open your mouth and praise God – he will leave!

•    You do not need to pray long prayers.
•    Matthew 23:14 NKJV – Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
•    Long prayers cannot compensate for bad behavior.

•    Ask – expecting an answer.
•    Hebrews 11:6
•    NKJV – But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
•    The Message Bible – It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
•    Luke 11:5-13 NKJV – And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
•    Ask, and it will be given to you – everyone who asks receives.
•    Matthew 7:7-11 AMP – Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? 11 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!
•    Your Father in heaven gives good gifts to those who ask Him

•    Ask with right motives.
•    James 4:1-3 Easy-to-Read Version – Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. 2 You want things, but you don’t get them. So you kill and are jealous of others. But you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. 3 Or when you ask, you don’t receive anything, because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want to use it for your own pleasure.
•    Unspoken requests are not heard or answered. If you don’t ask then you won’t receive.
•    Selfish prayers are not answered either.
•    The Message Bible says you don’t receive because the reason you ask is wrong. “You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.” James 4:3b

•    Obey, ask and receive
•    All God’s promises are conditional.
•    1 John 3:18-24 NKJV – My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
•    Keep His commandments and He will answer your prayers.
•    John 15:7-8 NKJV – If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
•    When God’s Word becomes so much a part of us that it influences and directs everything we think, feel, say and do, then He will absolutely give us everything we ask for.
•    He wants us to be fruitful in every way.
•    Your fruitfulness and answered prayers bring glory to God.

ARE YOU BUILDING

Thoughts on Stewardship – Lesson 23 from Deuteronomy

Are you Building a Golden Calf or the House of God?
Foundation Scriptures: Deuteronomy 9 verses 4 – 16

Do not say in your [mind and] heart, after the Lord your God has thrust them out from before you, It is because of my righteousness that the Lord has brought me in to possess this land–whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is dispossessing them before you. 5 Not for your righteousness or for the uprightness of your [minds and] hearts do you go to possess their land; but because of the wickedness of these nations the Lord your God is driving them out before you, and that He may fulfill the promise which the Lord swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 Know therefore that the Lord your God does not give you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a hard and stubborn people. 7[Earnestly] remember and forget not how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness; from the day you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord. 8 Even in Horeb you provoked the Lord to wrath, and the Lord was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you. 9 When I went up the mountain to receive the tables of stone, the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I neither ate food nor drank water. 10 And the Lord delivered to me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them were all the words which the Lord spoke with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 And at the end of forty days and forty nights the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, the tables of the covenant. 12 And the Lord said to me, Arise, go down from here quickly, for your people whom you brought out of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them; they have made for themselves a molten image. 13 Furthermore the Lord said to me, I have seen this people, and behold, they are stubborn and hard. 14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under the heavens; and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they. 15 So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. And the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God; you had made for yourselves a molten calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way which the Lord had commanded you.  Deuteronomy 9:4-16 AMP

The Children of Israel were miraculously delivered from the land of Egypt and from the slavery that they had been under for hundreds of years. In this passage, God reminds them of where He brought them from – how He delivered them in the past and His plan for blessing them in the future, if they would obey and serve Him.

When the Israelites were delivered from their captivity, God brought them forth with an abundance of silver and gold. They stripped the Egyptians of their wealth. God did this to repay them for the stuff that was taken from them, and also what they were owed, during their years of slavery. It was God’s way of making the Egyptians make restitution. Then He wanted to provide for them and give them all they needed to start a new life in the Promised Land. He wanted to make sure that they had sufficient to take care of themselves, as well as a surplus, so that they could build the house of God.

Something happened while Moses was up on the mountain receiving the Holy Commandments of God for the people. He was gone for 40 days. They thought he was dead and because of the evil in their hearts, they decided to build an idol to worship. Even though they were taken out of Egypt, Egypt was not yet taken out of them, so a golden calf was made from the offerings with which God had blessed them.

This was not God’s plan. God’s plan was for them to use their gold, jewels, and precious stones to build HIS house! An idol could be money, a house, a car, sport, music, another person, or your own good looks! An idol is anything that we value above God, Himself. God’s plan is not for us to waste money on idols. God’s plan is for us to be blessed and to bless the house of God.

Pastors Adonica’s Thoughts:
People might not believe that they really have an idol in their life that is above God, but the best way to know is by taking a look at your money and how and where it is spent. When you get paid, what is the first thing you do with your money? If you are a Christian, and you do not set aside the tithe before you spend anything else, God is not first in your life – you have a golden calf in there somewhere consuming your blessing!

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:
The Christian church, today, is no different from the children of Israel. The fact of the matter is that the Lord has blessed us, and will continue to bless us, when we obey and serve Him. However, His blessings are not to be spent on temporary idols of the flesh or mind, but His blessings are for the building of His house and that which is eternal. Understand this one thing – you will either give for a golden calf or you will give for the building of the house of God – but you WILL give. Don’t build idols, build God’s house, which will remain forever.

Prayer and Confession:
Father, I pray that you help me to never take my eyes off Your house. Help me not to look away from Your beauty and be turned to idols. I promise you that I will focus on eternal things – for all the carnal things shall pass away, but eternal things will never pass away.

TAKE AN OFFERING

Thoughts on Stewardship
Lesson No. 14 from Exodus
Take an Offering Only From Those Who Have a Willing Heart!

Foundation Scripture: Exodus 35 verses 5 – 29

‘Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, and bronze; 6 blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair; 7 ram skins dyed red, badger skins, and acacia wood; 8 oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; 9 onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate. 10 ‘All who are gifted artisans among you shall come and make all that the LORD has commanded: 11 the tabernacle, its tent, its covering, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets; 12 the ark and its poles, with the mercy seat, and the veil of the covering; 13 the table and its poles, all its utensils, and the showbread; 14 also the lampstand for the light, its utensils, its lamps, and the oil for the light; 15 the incense altar, its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, and the screen for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, all its utensils, and the laver and its base; 17 the hangings of the court, its pillars, their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court; 18 the pegs of the tabernacle, the pegs of the court, and their cords; 19 the garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place — the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests.’” 20 And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. 21 Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. 22 They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD. 23 And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, goats’ hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them. 24 Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the LORD’s offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. 25 All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. 26 And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair. 27 The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, 28 and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. 29 The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the LORD, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the LORD, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done. Exodus 35:5-29 NKJV

1. God told Moses to take an offering from the children of Israel—only from those who had a willing heart.

a. Why did God do this?

b. He did this because God does not want us to give Him an offering out of compulsion—He wants us to give Him an offering out of our love for Him, just as He blesses us out of His love for us.

c. He gave them a choice to bring what they had—from the costliest of treasures, down to acacia wood, to goat’s hair. Every type of offering was needed for a different aspect of God’s house. Every offering was welcomed and received.

2. Verse 29 says that the children of Israel brought to the Lord a freewill offering—those whose hearts made them willing were the ones who gave.

a. Everyone whose heart was stirred, and whose spirit was willing came with something.

b. Many brought bracelets, earrings, rings, tablets, and jewels of gold.

c. God is looking for willing vessels—those who will come to Him and give to Him of their treasure, their time, and their talents.

N.B. Let us always be willing to give God our best.

Pastor Adonica’s Thoughts:

The Lord did not want anything in His house that was given grudgingly—with an attitude of unwillingness or resentment. He wanted only those things that were presented to Him with love and joy. Whatever you give—always give with a willing heart.

Pastor Rodney’s Thoughts:

I have often watched, with interest, as the offering is being received, at how people respond. Some people act like they believe they are giving to a man, or a church, or an organization and either expect something back from them or they give without willingness. I am sure that some only give so others don’t see them not giving. However, I have come to realize that people don’t really get the big picture—for some reason they don’t realize that it is God they are giving their gifts to when they give to His work and His Kingdom. They don’t realize that God sees what they are doing and even looks into their heart at their attitude and intent as they do it. Your giving is totally between you and God. Do it like God is watching. Do it with a willing heart.

Prayer and Confession:

Father I pray that my heart will always be willing to serve You and obey You. In my giving, I will worship You and I give my best to You. All that I have is Yours. I am Yours and my heart has made me willing!

THE LAW OF KINDNESS

A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman–who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. Proverbs 31:10 AMP

She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]. 27 She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.  Proverbs 31:26-27 AMP

There is such a thing as a virtuous woman. She is a woman who loves God and loves His Word. She has submitted herself to the Holy Spirit and she is strong in the Lord and the power of His might! It is a blessed and wise man who can find himself such a wife. She is more valuable and precious than any worldly wealth.

One of the things that makes her such a godly, wonderful, wise woman is the fact that she has control over her attitude and over her mouth. We always end up speaking that which is in our heart, so our heart must first be yielded and submitted to God. When she speaks, she speaks with kindness and graciousness – on her tongue is the Law of Kindness. The Law of Kindness is the Law of Love. Her mouth only speaks things that will bless and benefit others, even if it is a rebuke. She speaks the truth in love.

She minds her own business and does not poke her nose into other people’s affairs, but when asked, she speaks forth with skillful and godly wisdom. She gives godly counsel and instruction. She takes good care of her family and makes sure that their needs are met. She is not lazy and does not waste her time gossiping or complaining; neither does she listen to others gossip and complain. She is not manipulative, nor does she dwell on the negatives or feel sorry for herself. She enriches the lives of others. She is a woman to look up to.

For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life, 24 To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a loose woman. 25 Lust not after her beauty in your heart, neither let her capture you with her eyelids. 26 For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the adulteress stalks and snares [as with a hook] the precious life [of a man].
Proverbs 6:23-26 AMP

The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit [for ensnaring wild animals]; he with whom the Lord is indignant and who is abhorrent to Him will fall into it. Proverbs 22:14 AMP

A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin.  Proverbs 26:28 AMP

A loose, ungodly woman is another story entirely. She has no virtues. She does not love God or His Word. She has yielded herself to the lusts of the flesh and her carnal desires. She has given the devil place in her life. It is a foolish and doomed man who falls for her “charms.” There is no truth or wisdom in her mouth. Her heart is full of evil and her mouth is full of deceit. She is a flatterer and cares nothing for the man she is enticing. She is a user and a manipulator and thinks only of herself. The Law of Kindness is definitely not in her mouth! All kinds of negatives come out of her mouth. She will turn on you to destroy you, in a heartbeat. Her mouth is a deep pit! She is lazy and always looks for the easy way even if it means hurting or using others. A man may lust after her, but he will never be filled or satisfied. He will leave her presence emptier than before.

[The] women likewise must be worthy of respect and serious, not gossipers, but temperate and self-controlled, [thoroughly] trustworthy in all things. 1 Timothy 3:11 AMP

Your mouth can get you into all kinds of trouble if you are not careful. A woman (or a man), who wants to be used by God, must put a guard on her (or his) lips. Generally, women love to talk and interact with others much more than men. If they are not careful, they can say too much and end up hurting people. A mature person is a person who has control over their tongue. An immature person speaks before they think and speaks too much. We cannot lead others until we have some maturity in our own lives. The things that come out of our mouths are an indicator of our level of maturity and also of what is mostly in our heart. A person – man or woman – who is loose with their mouth is a person who cannot be trusted to minister to others or to have a position of authority in the Body of Christ.

Colossians 4:6 says that your speech should always be gracious and seasoned with salt so that you know how to answer any one you speak to. Proverbs 15:4 says that a gentle tongue has healing power and is a tree of life. Proverbs 12:18 says that the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Let us submit our mouths and our tongues to the Holy Spirit; let our minds and hearts be filled with the Word of God; so that we can be a blessing to the Lord and to those around us. Let us build up with our mouths and not tear down. Let us leave people in a better way that we found them. Let the Law of kindness be on our lips!

CONFESSION OF FAITH

Thoughts on Stewardship
Lesson No. 9 from Deuteronomy

CONFESSION OF FAITH FROM DEUTERONOMY 28

I listen diligently and pay attention to the voice of the Lord my God.
I am watchful to do all His commandments, which He commands me this day.
Therefore, the Lord my God is setting me high above all the nations of the earth.
All these blessings are coming upon me and overtaking me
because I heed the voice of the Lord my God:
I am blessed in the city and blessed in the field.
The fruit of my body is blessed and the fruit of my ground is blessed and so is the fruit of my beasts, the increase of my cattle and the young of my flock.
My basket is blessed and so is my kneading trough.
I am blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out.
The Lord is causing my enemies, who rise up against me, to be defeated before my face.
They may come out against me one way, but they will flee before me seven ways.
The Lord is commanding the blessing upon me in my storehouse and in all that I undertake.
The Lord my God is blessing me in the land, which He has given me.
The Lord is establishing me as a person holy to Himself, as He has promised me, because I am faithful to keep the commandments of the Lord my God and walk in His ways.
All the people of the earth see that I am called by the Name of the Lord and that His hand is upon me, and they are afraid of me.
The Lord is making me to have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of my body, of my livestock, and of my ground, in the land which the Lord promised to give me.
The Lord is opening to me His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to my land in its season and to bless all the work of my hands.
Therefore I will lend to many nations, but I will not borrow.
The Lord is making me the head and not the tail.
I am above only and not beneath.
I am blessed today and every day, because I heed the commandments of the Lord my God, which He commands me this day and I am watchful to do them.
I will not turn aside from any of the words, which He commands me this day—to the right or to the left—to go after other gods to serve them.
I am abundantly blessed, because I serve the Lord my God with joyfulness of mind and heart, in gratitude for the abundance of all with which He has blessed me.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and 47
Paraphrased from the Amplified Bible

PRAYER:
Lord, I thank you that obedience releases Your blessing. Lord, what You have planned for me is so much bigger than the plans I have for myself. I submit myself to You and Your word and I prepare my heart to receive Your abundant blessing and favor in my life.

Rodney Howard Browne bringing Revival to America

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