Evil Spirits: Hidden in Plain Site – Can you regognize them?

Have you ever been driving down the street and noticed this – the passenger in the vehicle next to you has his or her feet hanging out the window or sticking up on the dashboard. As I began to see this more and more it was revealed to me that this action is controlled by an evil spirit. To the non-believer, one might say it is just a fad and a harmless thing. However, as Christians we know that fads do not just happen. Until our Lord and Savior returns to snatch us away, we must always realize there is a constant war between the forces of darkness and light. As the little god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4), satan and his fallen angles uses their demonic influences to control entire groups neighborhoods, cities, nations and more. Sports, music, fashions and other entertainments are just a couple of outlets that are used to control the minds of their followers.

But what does this have to do with people with their feet in the window. Well ask yourself, why are they doing this and why are so many falling in line with them. As innocent as it may appear, these people are being controlled by something. Some force is compelling this particular group of people to do this. Is it God or is it Satan?

We want to know what you think?

Faith To Believe

Recently, our church was faced with a situation that was totally out of our control. Our lease was given to someone else and the landlord gave us 30 days to find a new location. Talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place. Ahhhh, but if that ROCK is JESUS, that’s is a place I would love to be in.

Some situations are only meant for God to handle. As men we are inherently designed to want to take care of the problem; to handle the situation…to save the day. But this was one of those situations that only God could handle.  To make a long story short, we met with the landlord and our lease was extended for 2 more years. There were no tricky words we could say, nothing any lawyer could do…NOTHING! The heart of the landlord was in the Lord’s hand and he turned it for our good.

God will always make a way for his people. If you are in a situation that seems overwhelming and out of your hands, place it in God’s hands…and he’ll make a way!

Are you under construction?

Driving through a construction zone can definitely lengthen your commute time. Sometimes traffic slows down to a complete stop and then creeps along as you watch the minutes tick away and you become later and later to that important appointment. In addition, don’t get a traffic ticket within a construction zone because the fines will double and your pocket book will be that much more miserable.

Isn’t it amazing that when God is working on your life, it seems like everything comes to a complete stop. Not only with you, but also with those around you who expect you to always be on point. When God is at work, he does a complete work. As a result, everything in your life that can be shaken will be shaken and those around you are effected as well. One reason is because God is interested in you being whole in every aspect of your life. Sometimes, it may seem like the work is not necessary and comes along at the most inopportune times. Whenever there’s construction work on the roads we travel frequently, most of us can testify of saying, “man, they’re always tearing up the roads”, especially when it slows us down. However, when the work is complete and the roads are smooth, we are quick to reap the benefits of the work that was done. Although God’s work is never inopportune, and always on time, when God has finished the work in our lives, not only are we better but those who rely upon us also benefit because we are now spiritually operational.

The hardest thing about construction is to accept that the work must be done. So embrace God’s construction zone, obey the signs and let God work!

Six Degrees of Separation

Six Degrees of Separation

They say that we are all connected by six degrees of separation. In other words, you know someone (1) who knows someone (2) who knows someone (3) who knows someone (4) who knows someone (5) who knows that person (6).

Question: To what degree do you know God?

Typically, our society is set up by this model of separation. Most companies have a chain of command in which employees must follow. You just can’t go up to the CEO’s office and walk right in to talk to him or her. No, you have to talk to your immediate supervisor, who informs the manager, who informs the director, etc.

Again, to what degree do you know God? Do you have to go to your Pastor to get to God? Do you have to go through your mother, grandmother or aunt to get to God? Hmmm, what about the television preacher…do you have to go through him or her to get to God? No! You can go DIRECTLY to God at any time. God has the ultimate open door policy in which EVERYONE has access. Isn’t that amazing? Wow! Even Satan has access to God – although for a season (see Job).

The point is that, as a believer, you have immediate and unlimited access to the Father at any time. The veil has been torn down and the Holy of Holies is accessible for you today…right now!

Today!

Today is a day that the Lord has made.  Will you rejoice in it?

In the Midst of Jesus…And not get a Blessing!

The story of the woman with an issue of blood is quite familiar to most of us. The bible tells us that this woman had this issue for 12 years. During that time she spend all of her life savings on physicians and couldn’t be healed. Wow! Can you imagine spending all of your money on the best doctors and technology, only to walk away in the same condition and with the same issue.

Well, we all know how the story ends. The woman pressed herself through the crowd that was surronding Jesus and touched the hem of his gament. With that touch…with the faith that she had…the bible says that she was healed. In fact, Jesus had to ask, “who touched me”, because he felt virture leave from him. His disciples thought it strange for him to ask that question because of the multitude pressing up aginst him.

Ahhhh, now here is the question. Why didn’t ANYONE else get healed or receive what they needed from Jesus as they pressed up against him? I’m sure many of the people who pressed up against him, touching him, were in the need of something. Hmmmmm, as we apply this thought to us today, we can see how Jesus could be in the midst of a church full of people – all having their very own issue of blood, and none of them receive anything or get healed. Have you ever been in a church service when the Spirit of God was so evident and people still walked away in the same condition they were in when they walked through the door?

Hmmmmmm, Selah!!!!!

Are you in Bondage?

If something has to be a certain way for you to operate or function, you are in bondage…you are not free! Sometimes the smallest of things get us all upset and ruin our whole day or mood. Come’on, you know it is true if someone cut you off on the road and by the time you get to work you’re still mad. Not enough…okay, remember the last time you were at a restaurant and the waiter took to long to bring your meal, drink or whatever? What did you do and how did you feel? And let’s not discuss the few choice words you said when they got your order wrong….lol!

All of these scenarios are real and true for many of us. And no, we are not any less of a Christian because we got a little upset in the moment. However, we do want to take some time and look at ourselves and ask, “why am I so mad” about this little thing? In all these things, God is still in control. In fact, it just may be the Lord trying to show us how we really are.

Now isn’t this ironic…as I am writing this post, I recieved a call from a salesperson who was tring to sell me a service. I spoke with him a couple of weeks ago and low and behold, he calls back today. What significance does his call have with this post? Well, I declined the service and he asked what would it take to gain my business. After I told him he said there was no way. I told him that I couldn’t afford what he was offering and while I was talking he hung up in my face…WOW! All I could say was “really”!

Your Heart and the Word of God

Do you know that the Word of God is powerful? The last time you read the Word of God, did it strike you? Could you feel the power when you were reading it? The Word is exactly what it says it is…it is quick and powerful and it doesn’t change. If it is not affecting you like it should, it is possibly because the condition of your heart is not right?

The bible tells us that the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. When we talk about the heart, we’re talking about your emotions, desires, and your will. As a Christian, you do not want to act or react according to your emotions which always seem to be guided by the situation. When we’re happy and in a good mood, everything we do or say seems to be positive. Even when we are faced with a challenge at home or work, and we are in a good mood prior to that situation, most of us handle that situation totally differently than if we were in a bad mood. Oh, but if we’re in a bad mood or have a bad attitude, our reactions are typically harsh, brash, rude or direct.

As a believer, we want to be controlled by the Spirit of God and not our emotions. We want to be able to hear the Word and do what it says, regardless of our emotional state. That is a part of dying to ourself. No, we don’t want to become robots without any feelings. Once we die to our own selfish desires, emotions and will, we can be filled with God’s love, God’s desires and yes….God’s will. At that point, we can truly love, have Godly desires, the passion of Christ and so much more. At that point we can truly hear the Word of God and react to it and know that it is indeed quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword.

The Five Fold

Ephesian 4:11

The five-fold ministry giftings are designed to get you to where you need to be in the Lord.  We are here to encourage you, warn you and admonish you in order to prepare you to stand before God. These mighty men and women of God are commissioned by the Lord to speak into your life to build you up, to bring completeness in your life that you may be whole.

What’s the Difference

What is the distinct difference between Christians and non-Christians?  Recently, I heard a few Christian brothers talking about a Jazz concert that was coming to Austin. They were so excited about this Jazz concert. In their minds, there wasn’t anything wrong with going to a Jazz concert. Most Jazz music is not typically known for cursing, raunchy lyrics and all of the other things that we Christians shouldn’t listen to. Question – Is there anything wrong with these brothers going to this Jazz concert? For some, the answer is no. However, for others the answer is a resounding YES! Why?  It is not the music in and of itself. It is the influence the music may have over these brothers. In reality, Jazz music (or anything else) should not be able to control or influence a Christian in the same manner in which it controls or influence a non-believer. Ask yourself, if the very thing you’re about to do or experience has more influence over you that the Lord Jesus Christ…now should you do it?