The Principle of Enduring

How to stop spiritual attack!

2010-08-04T09:25:00.000-07:00

First know you are under attack. Symptoms include:

1. A lack of desire to read the Word, Pray, Worship and Attend Church
2. You feel weak and you have lost that cutting edge.
3. You feel like retreating and doing nothing for God.
4. You feel like isolating yourself
5. You spend your time upset and worried
6. You get edgy and irritable. You are no longer walking in the Spirit.
7. You start blaming others for what’s going on in your life
8. You start murmuring and complaining to God for what’s happening

Causes of an attack can come from:

1. You are causing too much trouble to the kingdom of darkness.
2. You are compromising in your walk with God therefore giving the devil legal access
3. You have been playing instead of praying. You have been entertaining the flesh too much.
4. You are walking with someone who is living in compromise putting yourself in the line of fire.
5. You have disobeyed the last thing God told you and now you have lost your way.
6. At times there are uniform attacks against the body so it’s not just you it’s all believers
7. Natural heartbreak and wounding will cause and entry way for attack if we retreat instead of getting prayer.
8. Unforgiveness!

How to stop an attack and win the battle

1. Don’t stop feeding your spirit!
2. Don’t isolate yourself get around some who is on fire for God!
3. Fast: Food, Entertainment, Friends and get alone with God.
4. Repent if you have compromised and stop sinning
5. Get prayer from someone who will listen and help you through
6. Worship Him! Depression is a spirit called heaviness. It will leave through worship.
7. Get godly counsel. There is safety in a multitude of counselors.
8. Submit to God and humble yourself; resist the devil and he will flee.

Prayer:
Father, I humbly come before you, I submit my will to you and ask you to forgive me if I have sinned against you. I forgive those who have hurt me and pray for those who have despitefully used me. I’m asking that you strengthen me and that every assignment from hell would be cancelled against my life, ministry, purpose or your plans for my life. I break off all witchcraft, discouragement, depression, oppression, despair, sickness off of my soul and spirit. I command every lying spirit to be silenced in my mind. I am loved and I’m a child of the King. God is still on the throne and he will never leave me nor forsake me. I’m asking you Lord for wisdom for you have given me the mind of Christ. There will be no temptation that will overcome me because sin has no dominion over me. I am the head not the tail. I’m above and not beneath. I walk according to the principles of God’s word and I’m skilled with my sword. No weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that rises up against me I shall condemn. God blesses me in all things because he favors me. As in matter in fact I’m so favored that people can’t help but giving to me, giving me promotions and opening doors of opportunity to me. I’m not limited by circumstances, the economy, my abilities, my lack of skills, or anything else; I will prosper even as my soul prospers! I’m a walking revival and the heavens are open over me. These signs follow me everywhere I go: I lay hands on the sick and they recover. Enemy strongholds are broken over people’s lives and the captives are set free in the mighty name of Jesus. Miracles are released into people’s lives and they hear the Word of the Lord when I speak. People are drawn to the light in my life and I’m a walking tabernacle of His Presence. My faith level is so high that there is nothing that is too hard for my God. Every obstacle and giant in my life is removed that I may fulfill the purpose, destiny and will of God for my life. My family sees God’s mighty outpouring in my life and they are moved to respond to God’s conviction. For me and my household shall be saved! Whenever I’m around people they are being convicted of righteousness, sin and judgment. The love of God draws them and moves them to surrender fully to God. Scores of angels surround my life and protect my life, home, cars, health, family from any attack of the enemy. There is a ripple effect that my life is causing that will cause others to do the same until this nation returns to God with humility and power. God’s people are walking in unity, love, humility, holiness, hunger, transparency, and will not think twice about laying their lives down for God’s kingdom. The enemies of America are being tormented out of hiding and their strongholds destroyed by the mighty name of Yeshua. This nation is returning to the godly precepts that it was founded on and will be called a Christian nation again. I declare that every idol, false religion and stronghold of unbelief is broken over America. Our troops are supernaturally protected as we come under God’s blessing now and walk in obedience to God’s Word. Father your word declares that the heart of the King is like a river and you determine its course…I pray that every leader or person of position in this nation will be moved to worship the one and only true God; Elohim. Whatever you must do to break the strongholds of the flesh and will over our government, the church and in your people please do so that we may be a godly testimony among the nations. I humbly ask you for all of these things in Jesus name, Amen.
Jaziz Hallas

Running the Race Like An Olympian

2010-02-24T12:38:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 9:24-27Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

In reading this passage this morning one thing comes to mind, “Strict Training!” When I read this word this morning I thought about Olympic training. There is a lot of sacrifice that goes into Olympic training. There is the discipline of the body. Getting up early for training to practice the same moves over and over again until perfection is achieved. Then there is developing a winning mindset that no obstacle is too big to overcome the current pressures to quit in the midst of hardship. Finally, having a heart of a winner involves the integrity to run the race fairly and according to the rules of the game. When our heart, mind and body are in agreement great things can be achieved!

How much greater things can we do for God when it is His Strength, Grace, and Power that helps us in our hardships! There is only one thing that can hold us back from becoming Olympians in the faith; “Lack of discipline.” If we are to compete or run this race we must go into strict training. What does this mean? It means hours in the word becoming skillful in the use of our sword, getting up early to pray being strengthened in the Spirit and spending intimate time with the Father being bathed in His Presence. Most of us know this and are ok with this. However, we have failed to do is to discipline the other parts of us like our body, mind, and heart.

Some of us have a difficult time disciplining our body in the areas of fasting. In other words we can pray but we can’t give up a meal. Can you imagine an Olympian being out of shape from eating too much! How about a runner who smokes? Do you think he could win if he ate pizzas at night and watched TV instead of trained his body? Yet, we allow ourselves to be undisciplined in the way we eat, our lack of exercise and our time in front of the TV. Sometimes we only give God a five minute prayer and watch hours of TV without realizing it. You will never become an Olympian for God if this is your lifestyle. I’m just going to preach to myself here too and keep it real. What good would it do you if you were a great preacher and died of a heart attack because of the way you eat? Jesus would probably ask you why you went home so early when he had so much for you to do. Just because we are not under the Judaic laws of eating doesn’t mean we throw out all wisdom in our eating. When Jesus said, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat,” it didn’t give us a license to eat whatever we wanted without any consequences to our health. Acts 11:7 This particular scripture is actually God’s dealings with Peter on accepting the Gentiles that He would later make clean through the blood of Jesus.

I used to think that God abolished the dietary laws of the bible in this scripture but I have seen the wisdom in those laws in modern science. When God commanded the Jews not to eat shellfish, shrimp and things that crawled on the bottom of the ocean; I thought it was legalism. Now I know that science has found that shrimp causes high cholesterol and that shellfish are filters for the ocean. More people are killed by being poisoned by these sea creatures. He also commands us not to eat bottom feeding fish. Where does all the pollution of our oceans end up? In the bottom of the ocean where those fish eat. We continually read about the unleavened bread. Yet we eat leavened bread all day long. This is yeast. Yeast causes all kinds of sickness in our bodies. Yeast is an organism that spreads in the body and causes fatigue, infections, weight gain, mental confusion and other symptoms that are confused for diseases. A little leaven (yeast) leavens the whole lump. I believe that this is not only a spiritual thing comparing yeast to sin but a principle that was based on the nature of yeast in our bodies. I don’t know why I’m writing about this but some of you may be asking God for a healing. Most of us need to go back to biblical dietary laws to stop recurring sickness. Amen, that’s for me. We can’t run to God every time we eat a gallon of ice cream and cookies so he can heal us of sugar diabetes if we are not going to get rid of our destructive eating behaviors. We are Olympians remember? Once in awhile a treat is ok but not while you are in training.

Finally, Paul says he makes his body a slave. If we don’t start making our bodies slaves in a disciplined fashion we will end up slaves to sickness, weight and lethargy. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’m even convicting myself. I hope you all receive this with the love I meant behind it all. Let us search out the scriptures regarding these dietary matters and I’m sure we will find the wisdom of God for our everyday living.

For dietary laws: You can read Leviticus 11

Exodus 12:20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.’”

Are you an angry prophet?

2009-11-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

Just the other day I received an angry letter from a Muslim. They had gotten my e-mail from an e-mail list included in a message that was forwarded to a bunch of people. The e-mail that was forwarded to me was about how two Muslims got elected to places of prominence within the White House and it was compared to letting a fox into the hen house. Of course the person of Muslim descent was very offended and hit their reply all on the e-mail list to let us know how they felt. As I read this letter I became very convicted about how we spend more time criticizing the Muslims than we do in reaching them. Our American bias towards Muslims and the gay community has kept us from even wanting to reach them. I replied to this Muslim letting them know that our proper response should be to love our enemies and pray for them.

As I pondered about this the Lord led me to read the book of Jonah. We often dismiss this book as a children's story with little or no relevance to our adult lives. However, we couldn't be more wrong. Jonah hears the call of God to go to the city of Nineveh and warn them. ¹ Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ² “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” ³ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD....Jonah 1:1-3

See what people don't understand is that Jonah had a biased view of the people of Nineveh and refused to even preach to them. If you read 2 Kings 19 you will find out that Nineveh was the city of the Assyrians. They were Israel's enemies and were often at war with them. Nineveh though was built by Noah's grandson Cush son of Ham. Genesis 10:8-12 So here we have long distant relatives who over the course of time had become quite wicked and God was fed up with their sin. Jonah's disobedience of course causes problems for everyone on the ship he is fleeing on and finally they toss him out of the boat he gets swallowed by a fish to be spit out later. Our disobedience not only affects us but everyone around us. Jonah finally relents warns Nineveh and to his surprise his enemies repent!

Jonah 3:10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.
Now Jonah is angry because really deep down he was secretly wanting to see the destruction of his enemies. How can God have mercy on such a perverse and wicked people? Jonah then explains why he didn't want to go to Nineveh in the first place. "I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm" Jonah 4:2 Wow! Jonah knew that if preached his message that there was a possibility that Nineveh would repent and be spared. This of course doesn't keep Jonah from sulking in anger all day long.

So that Jonah could see things from God's perspective he raises a plant that shelters Jonah then dies over night. Jonah of course is sad that the plant died as it no longer was there to provide shelter for him; so God uses it to explain his heart to him. ¹⁰ But the LORD said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. ¹¹ And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?” Jonah 4:10-11

After reading the story of Jonah I realized that many of us have an angry prophet attitude. We secretly wish for our enemies to be destroyed rather than to see them saved and delivered from destruction. Our bias towards certain groups keep us from reaching them. We often think well "they deserve what's coming to them." I think we forget sometimes where we have come from. Some of the people we see in church today were some of the people we look down upon now. In reference to our world now; many of us would rather see the end of the world rather than preaching repentance to our nation so that God would relent from His anger. This Jonah complex keep us from interceding for the lost and crying out for our nation. Some of us have no concern for the lost because we are already going to heaven so we feel that our job is done here. Worse, some of us are so convinced that we will not go into the tribulation that we have not prepared ourselves or bothered to prepare the people will love to stand the before the Judgment seat of God. This is a selfish attitude. This is not God's heart.

Let us pray. Father forgive us for being angry prophets and having bias in our hearts. For disobeying the call to go into the highways and byways. For allowing our anger towards certain groups; to keep us from reaching them for you. We choose to forgive those who have come against our nation, who are being used by the devil and those who are in authority who are pushing the agendas of Satan. We choose to pray for those who are hurting us God. Please reveal our hearts and remove any attitudes that our contrary to the love of Christ. We pray that you would relent in your anger towards our nation for turning away from you. We pray that our nation would return to it's Godly heritage. Give us a plan for reaching those we don't understand and that perhaps we fear. Help us see those around us the way you see them. Holy Spirit shed the love of God in our hearts, in Jesus name. Amen.

America Return To The True Gospel!

2009-10-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

America,
This gospel which we preach is not the gospel that Jesus preached. What we preach is powerless and ineffective. It has a form of godliness but has no power. How do I know this? The church is full of adultery, idolatry, perversion, materialism, and prayerlessness. It goes about doing business as usual while the world perishes around her. We have become complacent and tolerant of sin in our churches. We have allowed homosexuality in the pulpits of America. We have trampled over the precious blood of Jesus in the name of grace. We have been indulgent and unwilling to pick up our crosses to die to our flesh. We are lukewarm for we still do not walk in the love of God. We have allowed humanistic thinking to solve the problems in our churches apart from the finished work of the cross. We have been lifted up in knowledge and pride has filled our hearts saying we are in need of nothing. So now tell me America do you still think you don’t need God? For once you enjoyed the bountiful abundance of God’s blessing but now God has sent leanness to our souls. Now we eat out of the pig troughs of this world because we have left the holy habitation of our God. We have allowed the rulers of this world to tell our God to leave our country while we sat at our potlucks totally unconcerned about the outcome. Tell me America when will you realize that your only greatness is the Lord God who rescued you from the religious persecution of Britain. Did you not come here to have the freedom to worship Me? You have allowed the inhabitants of the land to pollute the true gospel of Jesus Christ and you have taken up their idolatry. Don’t you know that every empire that has fallen; has fallen from within? America, cry out and repent for the sins of this nation for the blood of millions of children, for the rampant perversion, for the idolatry of money, for being in adultery with this world, for your prayerlessness, for your lack of power and denying your Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Repent for those who don’t know me are more diligent about sharing their false man made religions then you are in sharing Me. Repent, turn to me that I may make you the great nation you once were. Choose this day whom you will serve!

If it doesn't have a pulse leave it alone

2009-10-15T05:15:00.000-07:00

Recently I came across a veteran who had fought in the War World II and was part of the invasion of Normandy. The invasion of Normandy also referred to as "D" day was the largest sea borne invasion in history. The allied forces had gathered on the shores of France which were Nazi (German) controlled to break up the stronghold of their enemy. Unfortunately, due to some miscalculations on the weather the troops suffered major casualties. They couldn't see due to a dense fog on the coast the water was deep and many drowned just getting to shore. They were gunned down as the Germans waited for their arrival. As bodies lay all over the beaches of Normandy it was the job of the medics to seek the living among the dead. They went from body to body checking for pulses and assessing whether the soldiers would live or die. Since they too were in the line of fire they had no time to stop and move the dead bodies; they simply left them there. No time for rites or funeral arrangements they were in the middle of a battle and for their own survival they had to leave what was dead to save what was living.

I heard this from the Lord...In this next season if it doesn't have a pulse leave it alone. You can not afford to stand over that which is dead and mourn over it. Move on. If that relationship is dead... move on. If that person is dead (to God)... move on. If a vision is dead... move on. Your past is dead... move on. You can't afford to stare at a dead corpse because you are in the midst of battle and in the line of fire. Don't give it any more time, thought, or energy. You will need all the energy you need in the coming days. Don't be a foolish and give your oil to those who refuse to prepare themselves in the presence of God. Matthew 25:8-9 ⁸ And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’
The bottom line is: To survive in these last days you will have to attend to which is living and leave that which is dead alone.

Preparing His Bride

2009-10-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

This is the Word of the Lord that came to me…
In the last days there are only two things you should be focused on…
1. Preparing yourself for His coming 2. Preparing others for His coming

Sitting in church once a week does not necessarily prepare you for the return of Christ. If you aren’t being challenged to live holy and being prepared to hear “Well done good and faithful servant; you are not ready.” If you are attending somewhere where you are not being prepared for His coming realize you are sitting in warm waters and run to a place where things are hot! If you are lukewarm God will spit you out of his mouth.
Revelations 3:15-16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

If you are still allowing trafficking in your mind; you are not ready.
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

If your eye be evil; you are not ready. What does your eyes look upon?
Matthew 6:22-23 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

If you have no oil at his appearing; you are not ready.
Matthew 25:6-12 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’

If you think you can minister for Jesus and live like the devil; you are not ready.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

If you still get angry and curse at others; you are not ready. You are in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:21- 22 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

If you ignore the cries of the sick, imprisoned, hungry, and the thirsty; you are not ready.
Matthew 25:44-46 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

If you are not obeying the command of Jesus to “Go into all the world”; you are not ready. No one needs to send you or commission you. Jesus has already done that.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

If you hate your brother and hold unforgiveness in your heart; you are not ready.
1 John 4:20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

If you refuse to do what God tells you, use what’s God’s given you; you are not ready.
Matthew 25:26-30 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

If you only live to work and lay wealth on earth for yourself; you are not ready.
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (mammon means money)

Does this sound judgmental? The bible tells us that we should judge ourselves lest we be judged with the world.
1 Corinthians 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

It’s time to get baptized in fire!
Matthew 3:10-12 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Jesus is coming back for a bride without spot, wrinkle or blemish. Not for a bride that is cursing, drinking, smoking, gambling, lusting, hateful, mean, uncaring, covetous, greedy, prideful, selfish, and is having an affair with the world. You wouldn’t marry someone like that so why would Jesus?
Ephesians 5:26-28 That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

God gives grace to the humble.
James 4:6-7
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
“ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Revelations 3:18
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

If this has convicted your heart and you wish to be prepared for His coming please reply to this e-mail or contact us at jazhallas@yahoo.com
We will live streaming on Thursdays at 7 pm Adorning His Bride
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-living-room0

All things are permissable but are they loving?

2009-09-14T07:39:00.000-07:00

1 Corinthians 10:23 Amplified All things are legitimate [permissible--and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

This morning as I was getting ready to start my day when a Yahoo news caption caught my eye. Kanye West grabs mic from Taylor Swift. Curious I decided to see what all the fuss was about and as I watched the video that was posted online. I was shocked to find out that Kanye West had grabbed the mic away from Taylor Swift while accepting a VMA award. He simply jumped on stage to let everyone know that he thought Beyonce had a better video. Taylor Swift stood there not knowing what to do. The audience booed Kanye the rest of the night. Though Kanye did nothing illegal it was incredibly rude and hateful to Taylor Swift.

There is a trend that I am seeing more and more in our country and it is this: Let's use our freedom to do what we want regardless of who it hurts or offends. The constitutional freedoms that our forefathers worked so hard to afford us and our military has worked so hard to defend have been used as an excuse to be hurtful to others. Unfortunately, many people use the freedom of speech as an excuse to use hateful, prejudicial, sensual and rude language with no regard to who they are offending. Jesus was clear though in Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Reason #1 Not all things are profitable: It makes our spirits weak when we indulge our flesh.

This is not limited to the secular media but also to the church. For we have used the grace of God and our freedom from sin as an excuse to live a self indulgent lifestyle. A far cry from the disciplined lifestyle that Jesus and his disciples lived. "To be a forerunner in the last days you must live a fasted and prayerful lifestyle. "I once got in a discussion with a "Christian" online on why they should not be befriending women online who were half clothed and who clearly where there to lure men to their porn sites. He claimed that he was ministering to these women and I had no right to judge them. I told him that children were also on myspace and could see all that was on his myspace profile. Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. I will agree that there is no law against being on myspace but is your time online and the places you are going are they building your spirit. While it may be permissable to watch TV is it something that is going to edify our spiritual life. Is what you watch a stumbling block to your children? Do you watch rated R movies in front of your children? Is your conversations with others clearly depict you as a child of God? Or do people hear you curse, gossip and tear others down? Do you meditate on violent games and violent movies. You say it doesn't affect you but you carelessly do it front of others that maybe are trying to overcome a gang lifestyle. I know for me that too much TV makes me weak. What's your kryptonite? More importantly, do you know what makes others spiritually weak?
Reason #2 Not all things are permissible: If you violate the conscience of others you violate the higher law of love. 1Corinthians 10:²⁴Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor].

An ongoing dilemma in the church is that of drinking. I hear people say that they only drink a glass of wine with dinner. If that's true that may be permissible but...if you are drinking every night and can't go to sleep without it or your prescriptions now it falls under bondage. See whatever we can't go without has already mastered us. If you can't fast TV, media, food or go without something then it has you. More importantly if you are drinking in front of someone who used to have a drinking problem then you have just become a stumbling block to that person. If you are playing the lottery in front of someone who had a serious gambling problem then you need to reconsider your spiritual freedom. (I personally believe that if we invested our money into the kingdom and followed God's spiritual principles on money we would prosper regardless of the economy.) I consider eating a big fat juicy piece of bacon in front of a Jew rude. It's like eating a piece of cake in front of someone who is struggling with their weight and dieting. I have let people know when something offends my conscience and you would be surprised how often the response is one of defensive pride. Bottom line if you are parading your freedom in front of others with no regard as to how it hurts their conscience then you are in sin. Anything that violates the love of God is sin.

Reason 3 Not all things are wholesome: Not everything is good for us.

Ah, the western culture. We are among the sickest most unhealthiest groups of people on the earth. We have taken the scripture about Peter having the vision of eating what was unclean and ran with it. We have made it to mean that we can eat anything and we will be ok. Just this week we said good bye to a friend who lost to a long time battle with her weight. Her heart and lungs filled with fluid until she couldn't breathe no more. I'm sure that in the beginning she saw no harm with the little dainties and delicacies she was eating until it became too late. Unfortunately many of us will see Jesus sooner than later because we have refused to take care of the body he gave us. Ouch! That hurt me more than it hurt you. We think we can eat a stack of pancakes, pork sausage, hashbrowns all smothered in gravy and stay healthy. Jesus didn't eat pork. If God truly lifted all the food restrictions in the old testament then why did Jesus continue to eat fish and bread. I don't know if you noticed this but Jesus did eat a lot of seafood. He did a lot of walking and fasted quite often. Food related diseases like diabetes are at on all time high. If you think you can drink beer with your cake and be around for a long time then you need a check up from the neck up. We can't live a self indulgent lifestyle and live long. Don't let me get started on those fattening Starbucks coffees with donuts. How about all the fast food? Just remember fast food, fast death. Though we have the freedom to eat what we want let's not use that freedom to cut our destiny short here on earth. I don't want to hear Jesus say "Why are you here so soon? I had things for you to do still and I had to find someone else to finish your work." I want to hear, "Well done good and faithful servant." We can't ignore the obvious. Whatever we sow, we reap. This a spiritual principle that even affects our health. See it may be lawful for you to eat everything but not everything is wholesome.

Refining and Defining for Reassigning

2009-08-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

For many of us the last year has been difficult. For most of us the first few months of this year has seem to halt any spiritual progress and deterred us (detoured us) from what we felt God has wanted us to do. Remember you only find detours where there is construction. So you might as well understand that in this season you are under construction.

I can compare this season with being in a sand storm and not having visibility. All you can see is a long distance outline of where you think you are heading. Here you are crawling forward with no idea how long it’s going to take you to get to your destination. In the process though there is sand irritating you; getting into places that you didn’t think possible. If any of you ever been at the beach on a windy day; you know that sand gets into everything including your food. It sticks to your skin, gets into your eyes and doesn’t come off easy. The good news is; that it comes off with water. The sand represents life’s problems. Let us therefore wash ourselves with the water of God’s Word and the presence of His Spirit.

But…I heard this from the Spirit of God. Open your mouth and let me fill it during this season. Allow the sand to fill your mouth and just like an oyster I will cause the irritation of the sand and pressure to form a pearl in your mouth. If you will wait on me great wisdom will come to you. James 1:5 You have the mind of Christ.
For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16

Did you know…
A natural pearl (often called an Oriental pearl) forms when an irritant, such as a piece of sand, works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel, or clam. As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed. http://www.pearls.com

So you may ask what is the purpose of all of this? “I say to you that I’m defining who you are not; to better define who you are.” This is a season for those who are called but have been out of alignment. My purpose is to cause you to return to your first love. “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” Revelations 3:18 The end product ultimately is to reassign you to your purpose and destiny in God. The sooner we understand this, the sooner we will get through the refiner’s fire. “Again allow me to fill your mouth during this season.” Let your tongue become the sword of the Lord.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:1-4
God is waiting for you speak over the formless void in your life to bring forth light in your circumstances. The Spirit of God is hovering over the face of your problems waiting to hear the Word of the Lord to be spoken. Speak “Let there be light!” (Light = Revelation) Ask God for revelation in your situation. As you do this, God will start to separate or define what is light and what is dark. What’s God and what’s not. What has been your soul-distraction and what is clearly Him.

For some of you God must first reduce you down to nothing so he can do something. But don’t despair for a Genesis or a new beginning is soon to come upon you. Just like in Genesis He will cause you to be separated from the things that weren’t meant for you. Even though you may feel like you are being reduced down to a stump; understand God’s purpose is to bring forth fruit.

Did you know…
Well, to start with, the task of pruning grape vines is not all or nothing--there is room for error, and the chances of you killing the plant are pretty unlikely.
If you don’t prune your plant you can be assured it will produce less fruit and in a couple years, stop bearing fruit all together. So there are not too many ways you can fail by pruning grape vines each year. The fruit grows on the shoots that are produced by one-year-old canes, so each year the previous season’s growth needs to be cut back. http://www.grapefacts.net

Prayer…
Father, we agree with heaven and we will not allow anything else but God’s Word to go forth out of our mouths. Father, we declare that a new thing is about to break forth and cause us to see what’s of you and what is flesh/soul. Separate us unto yourself. Align us. We choose this day to buy of you gold. We embrace suffering. For we know it brings forth the fruit of righteousness in our lives. Refine us like gold that we may show forth the reflection of your Son. We believe that our tears will be turned in triumph and our mourning into dancing. We pick up our swords and say no weapon formed against us shall prosper and every tongue that rises up against we shall condemn. We have the mind of Christ. Let your character be formed in us. We choose to forgive those who have despitefully used us. Matthew 5:44, Mark 11:25-26 Therefore according to Mark 11:23-24 We speak with confidence to this mountain (obstacle, hindrance) get our way in Jesus name.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mark 11:23-24 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:25-26
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

The Principle of Enduring - Overcoming Apathy

2009-07-31T06:51:00.000-07:00

The meaning of Apathy in the Greek apatheia, from apathēs without feeling, from a- + pathos emotion
1 : lack of feeling or emotion : impassiveness 2 : lack of interest or concern : indifference

One of the things that plagues the body of Christ more than anything is apathy. What I mean about apathy is our lack of interest in prayer or evangelism. Go ahead, call a prayer meeting at church and see how many people show up. Ask the local church to go out on a weekly basis to win the lost and few faithful members will show up. Tell everyone you are having a potluck and people will show in masses. We live in the fish and loaves generation. As far as diligence goes the Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses have us beat.

So what happened between the early church and today's church? What did they have that we don't. They were being threatened, beaten and dragged to jail; yet no one could keep them from sharing their faith. They would spend hours and days praying for the Holy Spirit to pour out. They spent a lot of time in fellowship being of one mind, one heart and shared all things in common. Now or days it's difficult to get churches to agree to participate in an evangelistic event. Just recently I talked to a brother that had gone to group of pastors to ask for support in his evangelistic event but they just simply told him "it was too soon." In other words, we aren't going to help you. This my friends is apathy at it's best. Don't bother me about the lost souls of this city. I'm having a potluck that same day. I am being cynical but you know what I mean. For those of you who think I'm being critical just think about the last time you had a problem and you told your fellow Christians in your life about it. Did they offer to pray and fast for you? Did they stop what they were doing and minister to you?

The main point I'm trying to make is that it's hard to get Christians to pray. There is an overall apathy when it comes to prayer. I really think that this has to do with the philosophy of Determinism that has infiltrated the church. This is a secular philosophy.
This is how it is described:
Determinism necessarily entails that humanity or individual humans may not change the course of the future and its events (a position known as fatalism); however, some determinists believe that the level to which human beings have influence over their future is itself merely dependent on present and past.

Fatalism generally refers to several of the following ideas:

A flawed perception of the consequences of exercised free will, ignorance, and forgetfulness.
That free will does not exist, meaning therefore that history has progressed in the only manner possible. ^[1] This belief is very similar to determinism.
That actions are free, but nevertheless work toward an inevitable end. ^[2] This belief is very similar to compatibilist predestination.
That acceptance is appropriate, rather than resistance against inevitability. This belief is very similar to defeatism.

So when we don't pray it's because deep down we have a fatalistic view of our world and believe that our resistance to the inevitable is a waste of time. If all events have been predetermined then why bother to pray. This is why I believe why there is so much apathy in the church. We don't believe that our prayers will change the outcome of our circumstances or God's dealings in this world. Determinism has only disguised itself as submission to sovereignty and covered up for our unbelief. This is why many of us don't pray for the sick or the people we feel God is judging. Yet, Abraham prayed to stop the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. He was able to spare a few people through his intercession. Jeremiah wept and pleaded with Israel to return to God. James 5:15 Elijah was a man with like passions but he ended the drought in the land through prayer. Jesus prayed that Peter's faith would not fail even though he knew Peter would betray him. The Godhead is in constant intercession for us. Why would they do this if the outcome of our life can't be changed? Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Like many of you I had that same mindset but this scripture broke that over me.
Joel 2:12-14 ¹² “ Now, therefore,” says the LORD,

“ Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
¹³ So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
¹⁴ Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him—

Brothers and sisters it's never too late to turn around the circumstances in your lives. It's not too late to shake things up before his return. Let's get rid of this apathetic, fatalistic, defeated attitude that has kept the church from being the true salt in this world. Let's rise up to the influence and blessing that God has always intended his church to be in this world.
Love
Jaz

Principle of Enduring - Focusing on the prize

2009-07-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

These are tough times and many of us have never experienced this level of conflict within our world. Most of us have never had to watch our spending or fret about what tomorrow would bring. If we wanted something we would just buy it without a second thought. Economic times have changed though and most families are suffering from the real estate melt down. Unemployment is rampant and some of us are wondering how we are going to get through this time of uncertainty.

I was in the kitchen the other day and this word came to me, "for the joy set before Him." Jesus endured torture, mocking, and crucifixion because he had something he was focusing on. He was focused on the joy of bringing us to himself through the cross. I realized that this principle will work for everything else too. If we want to be able to get through something hard we need to focus on the prize.
1 Corinthians 9: ²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

If we want to get through college, a diet, trying times or accomplish a goal; we need to be focused on the end result. If we start focusing on how hard things are, what we are lacking and looking at our present circumstances we won't be able to endure to reach the prize. If we are going to weather these tough and turbulent times we are going to have to stay focused on the prize of our eternal relationship with God. See the joy set before us is hearing the words, "Well done good and faithful servant enter the joy of your Lord." Matthew 25:23