Promotion By Fire

Today I felt impressed to read Daniel chapter 3. Imagine my surprise as I started to read the portion of scripture where the three Hebrew children had been thrown into the fiery furnace!

Last week, at the Summons to Sacrifice, Bro. Gerald Jeffers made a statement, "Promotion Always Comes by Fire".

As I continued to read in that chapter of Daniel, I neared the end and verse 30 suddenly jumped out at me. It's simple words state "The the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon." What a tremendous example of three people who stood for their God, the truth and their calling, defying all the odds. They had to pass through the fire not once, but twice. Once in the fire they received anointing, and knew that the angel of the Lord was with them. Nevertheless, though in the midst of their impossible situation, God miraculously brought them out, and in the end divinely promoted them!

What an incredible truth this is! Let this be a challenge to us today, to stand even in the fire, and then see the salvation of the Lord!

Summons to Sacrifice

What an incredible unprecedented time in the spirit this week as we heard from the men and women, chosen by divine order, at Summons to Sacrifice. God totally orchestrated the entire event from open to close. It was prophesied that that place should be called the Place of descending, and truly it was.

If there was any way possible, I would tell you all of what transpired there, but for lack of time, space & simply no way to really convey it all, I will give you just a few highlights, from a few of the speakers.

Sis. Willoughby preached on the Eyes of God, and about not letting your mind be divided.

Psalms 28:3, his eyes will guide you.
Matthew 6:22-23 The eye is a lamp of the body, the window where light or darkness can enter. This effects your entire body!

If you get your eyes on the wrong thing it will plunge you deeper into trouble.

Don't let your mind be divided.

Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye.

______________

Gerald Jeffers

Ex. 8: 22-23

Outward holiness= outward expression of an inward possession.

2008 has been a time of losses. God has chosen this as a method of promotion.

Promotion must come by fire in this season.

IS. 61:1

Jesus wants us to be storm walkers

3 stands for completeness.

There is an increase of anointing but also an increase of storms.

Heb. 12:1-2

You must be able to focus on God in the midst of the storm.

He is going to promote by the flood.

Ps. 28:10-11

The greater the dependency the greater God can trust you and lift you up.

God's going to raise up people with anointed lives, not just anointed ministries.

FLESH CHECK!

This is the year of the rose. If you try to force the rose to open, you will damage it, or kill it.

The first rose is the rose of himself.

In seeing Him you become like Him.
God's going to open up your understanding.
Same flood will destroy people & promote others to the mountains. (Noah)
Prov. 14:26-27

Seek maturity not wealth.

Anointing rides on the back of confidence & faith.

If you have low self esteem you don't fear God enough.

Fear of God
Fear of Man
Fear of Failure

Rev. 21:7-8
Fearful & unbelieving were the 1st to go to the lake.

All sin comes from pride.

Low-self esteem is pride.

Ask God for the substance of the baptism that we have received.

_____________________

Morton Bustard.

Luke 13:30-33

Be careful what appeals to your ego cause its probably Satan.

How do you handle Harrod?

1. Consider the source.
2. Consider the spirit of the source. (wrong spirit, jealous spirit)
3. When you hear the bad news do not make a hasty decision. Sleep on it, give it time, Pray about it.
4. Do not make any decision based on fear.
5. Put things into perspective.
6. Never leave your future open. (the devil will take the reigns) Some of us have no idea how to get ahold of our future.

ie: I'm going to cast out devils, heal the sick, Today is the day I'm going to see miracles.

We are the church of the 3rd day - Resurrection.

If you're walking in the will of God, you will fulfill the call of God.

It Cannot Be! Not today, not tomorrow not the next day!

Communicate

Communication is the key to resolving many issues in life. If each us would think back over our lives and realize that the majority of our problems stem from non-communication or mis-communication, and then learn from those situations, we would eliminate many frustrations in our daily lives!

There are many verses of scripture that deal with these things. Recently, there have been situations in my own life, where I have not understood people, their actions or re-actions. But when it is all said and done, if you take the biblical approach, the Word continues to be true!

How can we better improve our intercommunication skills?
How can we live according to the Word of God when it comes to our words?

Following are some incredible scriptures that give us direction:


Be A Willing, Careful Listener
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" James 1:19

Don’t Interrupt The Person Who Is Speaking To You -- Hear Them Out
"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." Proverbs 18:13

Think Before You Speak
"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things." Proverbs 15:28

Proverbs 29:11 "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."

Proverbs 29:20 "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him."

How You Say Something Is Just As Important As What You Say
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25:11

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6

Timing Is Important: There Is A Time To Keep Silent & A Time To Speak
"A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" Ecclesiastes 3:7

"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Proverbs 15:23

Speak The Truth
"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another." Ephesians 4:25

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;" Colossians 3:9

Speak The Truth In Love
"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" Ephesians 4:15

"How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?" Job 19:2

What You Say Must Be Sound, Accurate, & Untainted
"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Psalms 34:13

"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:" 1 Peter 3:10

"Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." Titus 2:8

Avoid Using Filthy Language, & Language Laced With Innuendos
"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." Ephesians 5:4

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." Colossians 3:8

Do Not Quarrel or Nag
"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." Proverbs 27:15

"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with." Proverbs 17:14

"It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling." Proverbs 20:3

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32

Don’t Get Angry Or Respond In Anger, Keep Cool & Be Gentle
"He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly." Proverbs 14:29

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1

"By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone." Proverbs 25:15

Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"

When Verbally Attacked, Criticized or Blamed, Do Not Respond In The Same Manner
"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men." Romans 12:17

"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:9

When You Are Wrong, Admit It & Ask Forgiveness -- Do Not Try To Shift The Blame
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another…" James 5:16

"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight…" Luke 15:21

"And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." Genesis 3:11-13

When You For Forgiveness, Forgive And Then Don’t Bring It Up Again In The Future
"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Make Every Effort To Understand The Other Persons Point Of View, & In Love Make Allowances For Differences of Opinion
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;" Ephesians 4:2

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

With these simple truths, our lives will be enriched daily! God is an awsome God! His WORD ever powerful! And His mercy endureth forever! I am so glad I know HIM!

Slovak Festival

What a great time at the Slovak Festival in Sugar Creek! I met some guys that play the accordion and have a small band. SWEET! I'm hoping to get them to come out for Missions Conference!

The Weekend

This weekend was positively amazing! Saturday was a very busy day! I woke up very early in the morning to begin baking for our Missions bake sale we were having on Sunday. YUMMY! Smells of banana bread, poppyseed bread, zucchini bread and cherry pies filled the air! How delicious to think about, just the thought makes my mouth water! But alas, I didn't try a one of them! No! I resisted the temptation and the devil DID flee from me! About 30 loaves of bread, 2 cherry pies and several bags of Puppy Chow later, I finished.

My work was not done tho! I was rushing out the door to get my head on straight for outreach! And wow! What an outreach we had! There were 11 of us, walking the streets of downtown Kansas City passing out fliers, talking to people and praying around the area. God is good! We managed to get several contacts and I believe that our "100" is not too far away in Jesus name! That particular area is a primarily Hispanic one, as we are gearing up for the Holy Ghost service in September which will be in conjunction with our Annual Missions Conference. God is going to do the miraculous!

After having a great time of it, there were some of us that went over to the Slavak Festival in the Sugar Creek area of town. Incredible time there as well. We are diligently trying to reach out to the Eastern Europeans of our city. Once again, I must say, that I do believe the Lord is going to help us to reach them!

He said if we go, He would go with us, lead us, direct us, guide us! And I have found it to be true!

Sunday morning, I had the privilege of taking care of the Samoan Church in the absence of Sis. Amy! Wow! She has done an amazing job, building the church from the ground up! God is good! There were many visitors there and we give praise to the God for the move of God that was in that service!

Sunday night was a bitter sweet time. The transition was finally made and the Medinas are now the Hispanic Pastor. I will continue as the Multi-Cultural Pastor but not doubling as the Hispanic Pastor. The church since it's inception has been an incredible learning experience, and has had it's ups and downs and times of revival, and times of not so much revival. But I believe that God is going to do a quick work in the Hispanic Community. There have been many seeds sown, and now God is going to give the increase. Now that it is finally here, I will miss it greatly. But I know that God has other things in store for me. I positively cannot wait to find out what that is!

Inspired

Today, I have become inspired again to keep up with my blog, so I am going to endeavor to do so!

Inspiration that comes from above! Today, I am inspired to tell you about all of the wonderful things that the Lord has done in my life, and in the lives of others around me! I only wish I could stand on the roof top and shout it, in the town square and proclaim it, on my cell phone declare it! JESUS is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me! I am in love with HIM!

My friends, today, I truly hope that you find HIM to be the friend that you long for, the companion that you search for, the hope of your life, the love of your life, the strength of your life. Jesus is all of that and more!

I love Him!

Proverbs 18:24
...and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Amazing Video of Jerusalem Feast of Pentecost