Tuesday, September 18, 2012

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH
FAITH AND HOW IT WORKS
JESUS MARVELLED PT. 1
2 Corinthians 4:13King James Version
13. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak
The Spirit of Faith has two ingredients.1. Believe
2. Speak
Your voice is necessary. You must keep your speaker (voice) connected to your believer.
Many keep their voice connected to their Feelings.
Or connected to their Kin Folks opinion.
Or connected to their circumstances.
Or the traditions of men.
Or to the doctrines of churches
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

2 Corinthians 1:20King James Version (KJV)
20. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Mark 11:22-24King James Version (KJV)
22 . And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
 
 
Verse 22 Jesus said," Have faith in God."
And in verse 23 Jesus tells how Faith works. He could have said you figure it out. Said nothing. Or I’m not going to tell you how faith works. No Jesus told them and us exactly how faith works.
Verse 23 explains how faith works. 1. Whosoever shall say 2. Doubt not in his heart
3. Believe those things 4. Which he saith 5. Shall have whatsoever he saith
God has ordained that the Just shall live by faith. God is no respecter of persons. That means you get no special Deals. We do not get anything from God by going to church every Sunday, by doing good deeds, by your status in life, or if you have more things to do, but rather God is only moved by Faith. God does not work on brownie points, only Faith.
I was listening to a guy talk about his Family. He had several grown kids with families of their own. Now this man and wife had a home with a swimming pool. He had one rule. When the Grand kids were 1 ½ to 2 years old they were to learn to swim and he would pay for the lessons. One day one of the son’s and his family were over and their youngest son was about 2 years old. The man ask can young Joey swim? Oh yes he can was the reply. Show grand pa you can swim Joey. Joey jumped in and splashing around saying I swim I swim. The man noticed it was all in the shallow end of the pool. So he reached down grabbing Joey tossed him into the deep end. Joey sank like a rock. The man told his son you better jump in and get him he can’t swim. The son said you could have drown him. No said the man I just saved him. He is going to learn how to swim. I won’t always be here to save him and neither will you he must learn to swim so he will be safe around the pool.
That is the way many Christians are concerning Faith. Jumping around in the shallows thinking they know faith jumping around with their feet touching bottom. Let them get out a little into the deep and they start to sink. Someone must reach out and save them. They did not really understand faith and how it works. Many will blame God and think He is against them, however God is not the problem, they are the problem.
Just as Joey must learn to swim in order to be safe around a swimming pool, we must learn what faith is and how it works in order to be safe in this world. Safe from the curse of the law ( sickness, poverty, and all forms of lack) God is never our problem.

 Jeremiah 29:11King James Version
11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
God never has evil for us.
God has designed that we live by faith.


Hebrews 11:6King James Version
6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2 times in the bible Jesus Marvelled. That is He was in wonder and amazement. One of those times was recorded in Mark 6:1-6

Mark 6:1-7

King James Version (KJV)
6 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
4 But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Jesus is not so impressed with your title or your reputation as he is with your believing and your speaking.
Many people think God is going to do what he wants and what you think doesn’t matter. What you believe and what you speak matters.
Jesus marvelled at their unbelief. There is a cure for unbelief it is curable. Jesus started to administer the cure in verse 6. He went about teaching.
Jesus taught. There would be no need to teach if Jesus was going to do what he wanted and you had no part in it. Jesus would have just showed up and said gather around boys this is what I’m going to do up in here today.
He taught the Word. God sent his word and healed them and faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
We must be taught. Our faith can only go as far as our knowledge.
Believing Knowledge plus speaking equals results.
If you are not happy with what you have in life you better check what you have been saying. We have been framing our world with our words. If we do not like what we have then we must change our words and give voice to the world we want.
2 Peter 1:1-3King James Version

1. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Once we get Knowledge of God we can speak it out and obtain all things that pertain to life and godliness.
Jesus Marvelled at their unbelief. Doubt
There are 2 kinds of unbelief.
1. Ignorance
2. Unpersuaded to act
Many believe what they see over the Word of God. We should believe the Word of God over what we see.
2 Corinthians 5:7King James Version
7. (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Faith acts like the Word of God is true, and won’t take anything less.
What you see is fact. The Word is truth. Truth trumps Fact. Say sickness has gotten hold of you and you see in the Word that by Jesus stripes you were healed. You speak that word out and tell sickness Jesus took you out of the way and you must go. Make your stand and from that moment on every time you feel, see, taste, hear, or smell anything different you must speak to it and remind it that it has to depart because Jesus took care of it. Faith moves God, faith moves mountains, but faith won’t move anything until faith moves your mouth.
The initial act of faith is to move your mouth.


Romans 10:8-10King James Version
8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
YOUR MOUTH BUILDS THE ROAD THAT YOUR FAITH CARRIES IT’S MIGHTY CARGO OVER
 
IN PART 2 WE WILL LOOK AT THE SECOND TIME JESUS MARVELLED
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Sunday, September 9, 2012

THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH PT. 2


PART 2
THE SECOND TIME JESUS MARVELLED IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 8:5-13


Matthew 8:5-13King James Version (KJV) 5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
VERSE 10 WHEN JESUS HEARD WHAT THE CENTURION SAID HE MARVELLED. HE WAS IN WONDER, AWE, AND AMAZEMENT AT THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION.
REMEMBER WHOSOEVER WILL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH. NO DEALS NO SPECIAL CALLING, RATHER IT WILL WORK FOR ANYONE. ANY PERSON MAY BE CHANGED BY FAITH NO MATTER HOW THEY HAVE BEEN BOUND, OR WHAT HAS BOUND THEM. NOTHING PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SPIRITUAL, FINANCIAL, FAMILY, EMOTIONAL, SICKNESS, OR DISEASES CAN STAND AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD SPOKEN IN FAITH. THE DEVIL CAN NOT MAKE A BONDAGE THAT YOUR FAITH AND GOD’S WORD CAN NOT BREAK OFF OF YOU. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO ACCEPT WHATEVER IS GOING ON. YOU CAN CHANGE IT.
THE WORD WILL GIVE YOU DOMINION OVER DEMONS, DISEASE, AND CIRCUMSTANCES , BUT YOU HAVE TO LIFE YOUR VOICE.
WHEN THE CENTURION SAID SPEAK THE WORD ONLY JESUS MARVELLED.
WHEN JESUS TOLD THE CENTURION I WILL COME AND HEAL HIM MOST OF US WOULD HAVE SAID COME ON LET’S GO. I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW JESUS IS AT MY HOUSE. HEY JESUS CAN WE GET A PICTURE. THE CENTURION SAID SPEAK THE WORD ONLY.
" THE SPOKEN WORD IS AS GOOD AS A PERSONAL VISITATION OF JESUS." GOD HAS DESIGNED HIS WORD SO THAT HIS POWER WILL FIT IN THE MESSAGE. HIS WORD HAS THE SAME POWER AS HIM.
IT IS CALLED THE WORD OF HIS POWER.
Hebrews 1:3

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on highWHEN JESUS WAS TEMPTED IN THE WILDERNESS ALL HE USED AGAINST THE DEVIL WAS THE WORD. 
Luke 4:1-13
King James Version (KJV) 4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
NOTICE THE DEVIL DID NOT LEAVE AFTER THE FIRST TEMPTATION, RATHER HE KEPT LOOKING FOR A WAY IN AND JESUS KEPT SPEAKING THE WORD AND SOON THE DEVIL LEFT. 
 
1 Peter 5:7-10
King James Version (KJV)
7. Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
THE DEVIL WILL ROAR TRYING TO GET  YOU TO FEAR LOOKING TO DEVOUR YOU. RESIST HIM IN FAITH SPEAKING THE WORD AND HE CAN NOT HARM YOU.
THE FIRST TIME YOU DECLARE THE WORD IT MAY LOOK LIKE NOTHING HAS CHANGED BUT STAND YOUR GROUND. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GIVE IN AND RUN WHO WILL IT BE THE DEVIL OR YOU. STICK TO YOUR GUNS ALL THE POWER IS IN YOUR MOUTH.
THE WORD OF GOD IS A SPOKEN THING. IT DID NOT COME FROM A PEN. IT CAME FROM HIS MOUTH, AND IT IS MEANT TO BE SPOKEN.
THE WORD OF GOD WAS SPOKEN BEFORE IT WAS WRITTEN. THEN IT WAS WRITTEN SO IT COULD BE SPOKEN.
YOU CAN SILENTLY READ IT. YOU CAN THINK IT. YOU CAN KNOW IT. HOWEVER IT MUST BE SPOKEN. THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE SPOKEN
GOD’S WORD WHEN SPOKEN WILL UPROOT THE WRONG AND PLANT THE RIGHT. WHEN GOD WANTED EGYPT TO LET HIS PEOPLE GO HE SENT MOSES ARMED WITH HIS WORDS TO SPEAK.
YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR WORLD WITH YOUR VOICE AND GOD’S WORD.
YOU MUST ARM YOURSELVES WITH THE WORD OF GOD CONCERNING WHAT YOU NEED CHANGED OR STOPPED.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

DEVELOPING A MIND SET FOR WAR

DEVELOPING A MIND SET FOR WARSatan is a terrorist.
Anytime you enter a new zone, a new level in your life, a new level of ministry, you have entered a new Theater of Engagement. You can be doing the right thing in the right place at the right time, however never forget there is an enemy out there setting up obstacles, mines, and traps. He is limited to things common to man. He will watch and listen for a weak spot and set up ambushes for you.
As long as you let the Holy Spirit be your point man, your scout, your guide, and do as He instructs [ no matter how it sounds to your mind ( logic ) ]you will side step all those entrapments.
2 Kings 6:8-12 shows the operation of this in the Old Testament through the prophet, however as New Testament believers we are lead directly by the Holy Spirit

2 Kings 6:8-12

King James Version (KJV)
8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
 
The Lord through the operation Holy Spirit can guide us around the ambushes of the enemy

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Hi getting saved is the easy part.

Becoming a Christian is the easy part. Knowing what to do next is the hard part. If you believe Jesus took your place and made a way for you to become HIS righteousness. To exchange your sin nature for God's nature and become one of His children. if you have prayed Lord i know i fall short and need you and i believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are Lord and ask you to save me and become my Lord and Savior. Then you are now a new creation born of God. Many questions now exist that were not there before. Questions like "WHAT NOW ? WHAT'S NEXT ? WHO IS GOD THE FATHER ? WHO AM I TO HIM ? WHERE DO I START FROM HERE ?" Just to mention a few. Well sorry to say most churches do not answer these questions and many more that we need answered in order to live in fellowship with God, and to live a victorious life here on earth.
I would like to introduce you to many things you need to know about living a victorious Christian life. I have been in many churches that taught nothing beyond receiving Jesus as Savior. They did not really know the fullness of what being Redeemed really entailed. They were like a social club being ruled by emotions and senses, instead of ruling in the Power of God. Allow me to invite you on a journey into true Christianity. Starting with my testimony. I do not want you to go through what i went through, but rather to start higher and go higher through the knowledge i have gained through my experiences and the knowledge of HIM.

My testimony pt. 1

Hello everyone. My name is Michael. I have been a Christian since 1975. My experience in the church was bad, and not the way it should have been. It has been said that Christians shoot and bury their wounded. A lot of them do, because they have never renewed their minds and hearts to the Word of God. They call themselves Christians and walk in the world. The church I first attended was not teaching any thing helpful to a Christian, let alone a new convert, a babe in Christ. When I started going I was not a saved person. My girlfriend attended there so I went with her, and we got married, and continued to attend. I got saved in that church, only because of a group that came and ministered the Word of Salvation to us. Six months of sitting in services at that church and never heard any word on salvation. We continued there for about 2 years. Never were we taught the things we were to need to walk this new life. Nothing on Walking in Love, forgiveness, not taking offence, health and healing, miracles, authority in Christ, or anything we really needed at all. In 1977 we moved to another church that was teaching more of what was needed to live in this world as a Christian. Only they weren't living or walking the talk they were speaking. I got offended ....!!! Hurt..!!!! And unforgiving..!!!!! Which lead to a life of bitterness.. (What a waste) I continued to go to church, but it was out of duty not out of a heart of love, or being thirsty and hungry for righteousness and the kingdom of God. In 1982 We moved to a third church and sat there 18 years out of duty, sulking in bitterness, not able to walk in the calling on our lives to teach, preach, and sing the Word. One day in the year 2000 something happened that caused me to think and reflect on a statement that my daughter said about me. That day it all turned around for me. Angry and upset over what she had said, I sat in my study alone, when I spoke out loud to myself a question. I said, " what she said was true, so why am I getting so upset over it?" Just as I said that I heard a voice say," I'm glad you ask, now we can get this taken care of." What happened after that changed me from an unforgiving, bitter, unproductive, hurtful, not able to help others, into a minister of the Word, seeing people healed and set free, helping others find the way, helping others grow in the things that they need to walk in Victory in this life in Christ. I am doing my best with God's help to keep others from walking down that long wasted path i walked, being bitter and unproductive. God has us testifying of our past ( being like an open book ) and then teaching a foundation of what we need to live a Christ centered lives. How to deal with hurtful, unforgiving, offensive, unlearned in the scriptures, rejecting people. And not not becoming like that, but instead becoming one who walks in Victory and draws people to Christ. The day it all turned around in my life was awesome. The Lord just started speaking once that question left my lips. I am going to take you through that day and what the Lord showed me in the Word that transformed me from a loser to a winner in Christ. I will be talking about a dark past that I never really wanted to even remember let alone share with others. The Lord said to be an effective minister that I would need to be an open book, nothing hidden or covered up, in order to reach and help others. I told Him yes I can do that, so in the next blog posting I will go through my testimony of where I had been, and what happened on that day of the great turnaround, to where I am today. Then the Lord and I will start some foundation teaching and build on that, to deeper things in Christ. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. JOHN 10:10 ANYTHING THAT KILLS, STEALS, OR DESTROYS IS FROM THE DEVIL. AND ABUNDANT LIFE TO THE FULL COMES FROM GOD. Your brother in Christ Michael

testimony pt. 2

Testimony Pt.2 Many things happened from the time I gave my heart to the Lord until that turn a round day in 2000. As I stated in the First Posting the Christians, and Churches I attended were not teaching any substantial, meaningful, fruitful things pertaining to how to live a Christ centered life in this world. I was offended at them and found a church that taught more, but they didn't walk in it. I was more offended and found yet another church, where I spent 18 years pouting and drowning in unforgiveness and bitterness toward others. One day my daughter said a statement about me, and I got upset over it. When You live in bitterness even the truth will upset you. As I was sitting in my place of study thinking on what she had said, and rehearsing those words in my mind, I spoke out loud these words. I said, " What she said was true so why am I so mad and upset about it?" As soon as those words left my lips I heard a voice from deep within my heart say, "I'm glad you asked, Now we can take care of this problem in your life." All those years in church hearing the word but not living it was about to come to a head. That word was in me and God was about to bring it out and show me what I needed to do. On this day He turned my whole life around and launched me on a journey that amazes me.. First the Lord asked me if I remembered what my son had said his favorite scripture was. Sure I said it's Song of Solomon 2:15 which says, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." He said that I had walked in bitterness and unforgiveness so long that it was like a brother to me, and I let the little things set me off, and they were choking the life out of me. He then directed me to go to MARK 11:22-26 King James Version (KJV)Passage Mark 11:22-26: 22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. The Lord told me when it comes down to it without forgiveness nothing will work. First I had to forgive the hardest person in the world to forgive.( MYSELF ) and all the others I had ought against. He then directed me to this passage of scripture. Passage Hebrews 12:11-15: 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; The Lord said," Michael you have walked in bitterness, and you have defiled many. You can't progress and a lot of those you hurt haven't progressed either. " ( I'll come back to this point and tell you what I had to do to make it right.) There was one more set of scripture that the Lord took me too, that day, and it set me free so I could go back to HEBREWS 12:11-15 and do something about that root of bitterness, and those that I had defiled (hurt). He then took me to PSALMS 51:1-14 1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. THIS IS AN AWESOME PASSAGE I BROKE DOWN AT VERSE 10 Oh Lord what do I need to do. 1. Realize the things that I've done. 2. forgive others and myself and ask the Lord to forgive me. 3. Ask God to remove that root of bitterness from me. 4. Ask God to create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. I did all those steps and what freedom came over me.. Heaviness lifted. Was that all I had to do? NO I had to go back to all those that I had hurt and speak to then about my life and my new life and ask them for forgiveness, and bring a restoration to all our lives... ( I'll tell you about that in the next posting.) ...............Your Brother In Christ.............Michael

testimony pt. 3

TESTIMONY PT. 3 Hebrews 12:14-1514. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:15. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;As I stated in the last posting I had defiled or hurt many people as I walked in bitterness all those years. Asking the Lord to forgive and clean me up wasn't going to be all I needed to do. He told me I must go back to many of them and ask for their forgiveness. One very important thing He impressed on me was this truth. Many times we know we must go back to people and make amends or restitution. We charge out and find those people and talk to them and think, If they accept my apology great, and if they don't, well I tried. I did my best. No you haven't. The Lord told me to go to these people, but only when he told me to go to each one, and to listen for the words to say to them, and only say those words. He was working in their lives and only can we say we did our best is after we do it in God timing and with the words he gave us to say.Everyone hears forgiveness in different ways and words.The first thing I had to do was go to my wife and to my children and ask their forgiveness, because I was a mess for most of the kids lives. Then to about six other people from the past I must go. As I was weed eating the back yard on afternoon, the Lord began to speak to me about going to a man named Sonny. I said yea right he would probably shoot me if he saw me on his front porch. The answer was still the same you must talk to him. As i was trimming the yard I looked up and Sonny was coming cross the alley towards me. I shut the weed eater off and he ask me a question and we started talking. A miracle in itself. He was asking about some people that had moved into the neighborhood. As we talked I was listening for the right words to say concerning forgiveness. The Lord told me with Sonny the way he hears I'm sorry will you forgive me is in the word apologise. I said, Sonny we have had a problem for a while. I did some things that I shouldn't concerning you. He said, I know I've wanted to kill you for at least four years. ( It was bad between us ) ( real bad ) I said to him that I was not that person anymore. I guess he could see that word apologise was about to come out. He said forget it that is water under the bridge. ( He did not want to hear that word come from me because it would then take the burden off me and force him to make a decision concerning the situation.I told him no it is not water under the bridge, and I want to apologise for my actions of the past. He looked at me and stared at me for a moment and the said OK... We talked for a long time and have been like brothers ever since. He has asked me to watch his house when he is gone. My apology placed a choice for him to make. To accept it or to reject it. He accepted it and it was awesome. Whichever way he went in his choice to accept or reject my apology, I could truly say I did all I could do, because I listened for the words to say and said them. I didn't have to wait for when to go because he came to me. He was ready.One of the others I needed to go to came a little later at a store. The Lord said now is the time just go up to him and start talking as if nothing ever happened between you at all. ( He had a chainsaw cranked up and was yelling for me to come out of the house. He was mad at me for something I had done. I came out with a rifle and we then each went back into our houses. ) Bitterness defiles many and many had I defiled. It was bad in those bitter years. And now the Lord was telling me to just walk up and start talking to him as if nothing ever happened between us. He said this man sees forgiveness in that act of walking up to him and talking as if the past never happened. I did just that and stood in that store and talked and talked like had never missed a step .. In every case I went back to the people the Lord told me to go too. I listened and said what the Lord said to say. And all of them gave me the forgiveness I was seeking. We are all friends. I know you won't always get 100% good results like I did, but if you just rush into it and not listen for what to say and when to go you sure won't get 100% good results. Doing it in God's way and God's time is the only way you can say I did all I can do.I was restored in Christ and restored to the people I had hurt in the past. Now I needed to get back into the Word and get a foundation and build a good solid mature Christian out of myself and go on to teach others as God had called me to do.