THE BEGINNINGS OF A NATION CHANGED!

I hinted in my last post about churches that are beginning to gain momentum.  Where people really do believe that they can change a nation.  Churches breaking out of the "mold" so to speak.  Churches that are more concerned with what is going on outside the walls than in.  Churches where people understand that the church is not a building, but it's really the people who are trained and equipped to take the good news of Jesus outside the four walls with boldness.  Tonight as I watched this video I was reminded of a passage in Luke 10 where Jesus sends out disciples into the towns and villages.

"He (Jesus) told them, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest therefore, to send out workers into the harvest field.  Go, I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.'"(Luke 10:2-3, niv)

"Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God has come near you.'" (Luke 10:9)

Tonight I am confident that the workers are increasing quickly in numbers.

Boldness is rising up among God's people.  Ministry won't always be easy.  Sometimes it is really hard indeed, but we are not to grow weary in doing well.  Sometimes........................ministry can be really fun, though, as you will soon see.

This video is of "The City."  A church in a small town of Geneva, Ohio.  A church that meets in a small town, but has big visions of how to get out of the box in bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth.  Churches just like "The City" are beginning to spring up all around the nation.  Together, these churches will bring the power of God back into a nation that has lost its morality.  Is your church making an impact?

Since this event this church has received cards with notes such as, "Thank you for helping me to find my way back to God," and,  "I had lost my faith a long time ago, thank you for helping me to find it again."  Those are just two, but the others are similar.







All glory to God,
Mark S.

"THE INSANITY OF GOD"

I was thinking tonight about how we are beginning to see things happen in this country that even a few years ago would have seemed unimaginable to happen in America.  This is what I am hearing in my spirit tonight.

 For a long time now the devil has been okay with the church in America.  Sing a few songs, listen to a message, go home and forget about church until next week.  Why would the devil want to mess with that?  For a long time now the church and Christians in general were no real threat.  Add to that how we learned  to dabble in sin when nobody else was watching.  Or so we thought.  I don't need to name those sins.  They are flashing through your mind right now.  That's why we've seen no real persecution in this country.  There hasn't been a need for it in the realms of darkness.  There's been a need for it in some other countries.  In other countries people are willing to die for Christ, and some do.  People are persecuted for their faith.  The strange thing about that though is that when that happens, churches in those countries keep growing.  They keep getting stronger.  That sounds crazy.  That's insane.  But that's just how it seems like it's supposed to be.  Look at the first apostles.  The more they were persecuted the bolder they got and the more people they won to Christ.  The church grew daily.

I'm reading a book right now and I love the title.  "THE INSANITY OF GOD."  God surely is insane by the worlds standards.  And I hope that in the coming years; I hope it's started now, I want people to look at me and see the insanity of a man when it comes to being passionate about God and His kingdom.

 Now...........things are beginning to change.  Pockets of churches in America are actually starting to take on their God planned roles in this country.  We are getting serious about the Gospel and opening doors to the kingdom of Heaven.  And satan is getting mad.  He is unleashing demons of darkness to bring chaos and deception and confusion.   The United States has been a fun playground for him, but as the church is awakened out of it's long slumber the play ground is slipping away.  The filthy scum will fight as hard as he can to keep his grip on this country.

And that makes me mad.

The Bible tells me that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force.  It's time to get violent.  I'm not talking physically violent, but it's time to stand violently strong spiritually against the things that are against God.  If you've been lukewarm in your faith it's time to stop.  The times are telling us this.  Study the Word to show yourself approved before God.  That's scriptural.  Start spending hours in prayer instead of minutes.  That alone will cause hemorrhaging to happen in the darkest domains.  Be violent in your quest for the things of God.

And don't you dare even think about fearing the devil when he attempts to bring chaos.  Yes the thief does want to kill, steal and destroy, but DO NO FEAR.   Dare to think about what will happen if the church takes it's rightful place in history and stands according to the precepts of God and refuses to compromise.  There would be incredible power behind the church.  It would be backed by power God and His kingdom and when that happens my friend.......................

.                             THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL against that church
                                                      and a nation will be changed.

                                                        THE INSANITY OF GOD!

Advancing the kingdom,
Mark S.

"GOD WON'T GIVE US MORE THAN WE CAN BEAR".................Really?

Over the last few weeks I've been asked by our pastor to preach a couple of times.  Sometimes I think that many of us who preach, or occasionally preach hope that we can present something that will have a "wow" factor, or bring some new soul shaking experience to all who will be listening.   The truth is if we just allow the Lord to decide what He wants said, we don't have to be concerned over such silly things.  I also tend to get excited about the miraculous and supernatural, especially since over the last couple of years I've been able to witness an increase in both.

In getting ready to preach these last two times God seemed to speak to me and tell me to not get so hung up on those things.  He reminded me of the passage in Luke where after Jesus had sent out the seventy to testify and minister on His behalf,  had returned to Him with joy and rejoicing that even the demons obeyed them.  If I can paraphrase, to me it's like Jesus basically said to them with a smile, "Hey guys listen.  When you follow me, those things will just automatically  happen.  That's the way it works.  After-all I saw satan fall from heaven.  Instead get excited that for all eternity, your names are written down in heaven!"  As I was reminded of that passage it was as if the Lord was saying the same thing to me.  "Stop getting so excited about miracles.  Instead remind people of how much I love them.  The rest of that stuff will follow.  Don't worry about it................lol."  (Okay, I don't remember Jesus saying "lol" to me, but I pictured  Him looking at me and smiling in a way that He almost "laughed out loud.)  So the last two times I spoke I simply talked about God's love.  His deep love for mankind.  His deep love for you.  I also spoke about Jesus saying to "love one another, as I have loved you."

There is a verse found in Ephesians 2:10 that speaks of how we are God's workmanship.  When you take a deeper look at the word "workmanship" you will see that it was taken from a greek word spelled poeima.  (Poy-a-mah)  This hints at something that has been made by a master craftsmen; an artisan if you will.    Picture an artist, or maybe the potter carefully shaping and molding his prized piece of work or art.  That is how God created you and formed you.  You are God's most prized piece of art and because of His love for you.... His creation.... He brought balance to your life by sending Jesus to redeem you back to Him!  For those who write poetry you can think of it in this way, too.  You were God's poem!  Take the "i" out of that greek word and you have "poem" with an "a" on the end for added emphasis!!!!!

"Jesus loves me this I know;
for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
we are weak but He is strong!"
Yes, Jesus loves me....yes, Jesus loves me.....yes, Jesus love me.......the Bible tells me so."

WOW!  You have to love the simplicity of the good news of Jesus.  As I spoke on the love of God I saw people being ministered to, blessed and encouraged.  I have to say that the last two messages were two of the best received out of all the times I have spoken.  I've received more encouraging comments the last couple of weeks than I think I ever have and it's all because of God and His love being felt.  It wasn't anything special about me, I was just God's vessel, and that makes me smile.

There is something else that I want to bring out here that I spoke about last time, too.  God is a good Father.  He only wants the best for you ALL THE TIME.  Yes, there are times when, like all kids, we need to be corrected.  Something in our lives may have us out of alignment with the ways of the Lord.  When that happens, Abba wants to get us back in alignment for the purpose of us becoming more like Jesus.  Sometimes He uses the Holy Spirit to convict us of something that needs to be changed in our hearts and lives.  God loves us.  He loves us more than a godly father here on earth who raises His children to become good people.

But listen, God DOES NOT pile a bunch of stuff on us just to test us and take us to an almost breaking point.  God is not an abusive Father.  I don't think it's coincidence that along with these messages of God's love that I've also heard people saying over the last few weeks about how life has become so hard, or how problems just keep piling up.  I've had friends say that God just doesn't seem like He wants to help or care. Along with that frustration often comes a famous phrase or comment.  I've  heard it and you have, too. Maybe you've even said it yourself.  "BUT THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD WON'T GIVE ME MORE THAN I CAN HANDLE," or "PEOPLE SAY THAT GOD WON'T GIVE US MORE THAN WE CAN BEAR."  It makes it sound like our God just slams and piles stuff on us to see how far He can push us to a breaking point and then He will take His foot off.

I'm just going to say it.  That kind of thinking is NONSENSE and where in the world do people get that?  Sadly, I think that sometimes it comes from some well meaning man standing in a pulpit.  If you tell me it comes from the Bible, I will tell you that you better read your Bible in context.  The closest thing that I can find in the scriptures, and I'm pretty sure this is where that craziness comes from, is in 1 Corinthians 10:13. If that's the case that entire chapter needs to be read.  That entire chapter deals with temptation and how the Israelites gave in to temptation when they were in the wilderness and many of them died as a result.  The lesson in that chapter is to not give in to temptation and end up sinning.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.  God is faithful and He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear; but when you are tempted He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."  (New International Version)

There is nothing in that chapter that speaks of how when all the kids are sick and the bills aren't paid and your goldfish have the measles that it's God giving you a bunch of stuff to see if you can make it through or not.  Sometimes you need to recognize where that stuff is really coming from and every time you need to stand your ground and remind yourself that you are a man or woman who belongs to the Kingdom of God.  Sometimes you need to also be violent in your prayers and faith in reminding the devil as to who you are in Christ, too.

Our God, our ABBA, is One to run to for help when these things happen much like a 4 year old runs to his daddy and the safety of his arms for safety, care and love when something has scared or hurt him.

Now listen, I know that things happen.  Sometimes the stuff of this life is hard and it can try to beat you down, but that isn't God and that isn't the message of Jesus.  It is the thief who comes to "steal, kill and destroy."  Please don't get him and God confused.  Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."  (John 10:10, NKV)

If you are going through the fires, please find caring people who will stand with you and see you through it.  If you don't have anyone, let me know.  Don't go through it alone.  I have email.  I see comments when they come in.   If you need me to pray with you, let's pray, but you are God's most valuable piece of art, His poem, His workmanship.  God sees you as a man, or a woman belonging to His kingdom.  He wants you to have the confidence that you see yourself in that way, too.

You are an over-comer, because you have a God who was willing to die for you.  There is no greater love.

......................................"Yes, Jesus love me.................................."

If you aren't feeling loved today, you need to watch the video I am embedding.  You need to watch for  the picture of Jesus hanging on the cross.  You need to allow the words to soak deep into your soul.

I, too, love you my friend,
Mark S.