A Balanced Gospel

Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, 

But a just weight is His delight. Proverbs 11:1

The balance of the gospel is this: We must present the problem and the solution.

The problem: We are in need of repentance because of our sinful life. We cannot come to a Holy God without being blood washed.

The solution: We must be baptized and repent of our sins. We must allow truth and love to transform our hearts. Without truth, we continue in error. Without love, we will feel alienated from our gracious Father and run away instead of coming to Him.

To always point out the problem without the solution becomes legalism at best. We come under the law, condemnation, guilt, and shame. A God that is not represented in a loving manner will cause believers to come under religious captivity. They, in turn, continue to mispresent God to the world as a judgmental God who condemns the sinner. Religion offers no solution or transformation other than works. We come under the witchcraft described in Galatians 3 believing that we can now perfect ourselves in the flesh.

To always point out the solution without the problem can become lawlessness. To preach a gospel that doesn't present the truth of our sinful condition also brings believers under captivity. They start to believe that God is okay with the way they live and they become careless about their salvation. They start to make excuses and justifications for their sin. They trample under foot the blood of Jesus which is God's mercy and come under a delusion.

It is time, we teach the whole counsel of God. We serve a holy, loving God, who will judge us according to our deeds, and how we treated the sacrifice of His Son. Like Jesus said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21

Breaking Facebook Validation Habit

Definition: Facebook validation is basing your value or worth solely on how others respond to what you post or how you respond to them on Facebook messenger. 

If you find yourself consistently checking to see how many likes you have on your posts or find yourself feeling depressed if your posts are being ignored...you may have a Facebook validation problem. This is why people send chain emails that seem to force a reply from you either by stating that you will have good luck if you do and bad luck if you don't. Then there are the Facebook posts that force you to read them in their entirety by saying "I know you are my true friend if you read this to the end..." Do you really need me to repost that to prove to you that I'm your friend? Let's not forget the chain emails that make you feel like you are less patriotic or not a good citizen if you don't forward them. Let me ask you, shouldn't that poor child Dakota be healed by now? The same prayer vigil has been circulating on messenger for at least a year now.

I must admit some Facebook messages are cute and innocent. However, some of them seem like a threat. You may self-destruct in 10 seconds if you don't forward this. Some people have gotten so tired of these chain Facebook messages that they freak if you send them anything on messenger. Sheesh. I was put on notice that if I sent one more cute hugging bear I would be unfriended. Okay, I get it. I was just in the mood to show some love. Forgive me. Whatever your activity on Facebook may be, we need to check our motivation for why we are doing it. Are we seeking to be somebody through social media? Do we start social media frenzies by baiting people into arguments? Do we ask questions just for the sake of feeling like someone is listening to us? Are we constantly trying to get attention by posting things that are either controversial, funny or riddled with self-pity? Do we have a bad day if we feel our post or opinion was rejected? Do we tell others we are leaving Facebook to see if they genuinely care? Do we look to others to tell us what we should believe? Is your devotional life based solely on what you read and watch on Facebook? If that's so, you may have crossed over to an addiction to Facebook. Is that possible you may think? An addiction is a bad habit that causes you to be obsessed with a certain, person, habit or activity that becomes your source of peace, love, happiness, acceptance, and or approval. I hate to say many of us have fallen into this trap. If Facebook has become your source of letting you know that you are a human being worthy of being valued then it's time to break this ugly Facebook validation cycle. Repeat after me: Facebook is an activity to engage others but not the source of my happiness, love, peace, happiness, acceptance or approval. I get that from God! People are not the source of how I feel about my life and myself. My value comes from what Jesus did on the cross for me. I'm amazing, cherished, loved, accepted, affirmed, and wonderfully made. I choose to engage people in person and form genuine relationships instead of hiding behind a computer screen. I AM SOMEBODY! If you are still needing additional help comment below if not have an amazing day because after all, I don't need you to approve this message. hahahahaha Jaziz Gutierrez

Obedience Through Suffering

Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:7-8

In our modern church culture, the idea of suffering is so foreign to us. The internet is full of ways to live in victory, overcoming in spiritual warfare, and motivational teaching that encourages us. Not so much on suffering. We don't want to even think about it. We have a big problem with suffering. We feel that somehow God is against us or doesn't like us when we go through things. We feel persecuted, downcast, and depressed when things don't go our way. We have a false sense of control as if we have a say in the matters of life. When things don't go the way we think it should, it shakes us to the very core of our being. We often accuse God of being unloving and uncaring. Jesus did not promise us a carefree life. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 This word tribulation means trouble, anguish, suffering, sadness, heartache, and woe. Jesus said we are going to go through stuff. We are somehow shocked when it happens though. We even get mad about it. 

I recently heard a brother challenge me to ask God how to partner with him in the situation I'm in. What is God teaching me? How am I going to obey Him in what I'm going through? Hebrews says "though he was a son..." Why do we call into question our sonship when we suffer when it's part of normal life? Jesus told us we can be cheerful in every situation. Joy is not a byproduct of circumstance. It is a fruit of or manifestation of the Holy Spirit living in us. He didn't go anywhere. Peace is a byproduct of God's ever abounding love manifesting within our lives when we put our trust in Him! Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered?! I scratch my head when I read this too. You mean suffering can be a byproduct of obedience?! You mean that if I obey God that it may produce heartache? You mean I won't always be blessed? Whoa! It says that he cried out in vehement cries. Jesus was suffering the agony of laying his life down. He knew that rejection, ridicule, pain, the punishment of our sins, betrayal of the church, and abandonment of friends awaited him. In His obedience and suffering, He overcame. We can overcome too. This is only true if we are willing to suffer through the decision to take up our cross and follow him; no matter who is with us. We may have to die on our cross alone, feeling forsaken by all and even feeling like God has turned His face from us. We can't depend on others to pull us through. We must depend on God! Sadly, many will even accuse us of being in some kind of sin if we are going through it. Which isn't necessarily true. These accusations arise because for the most part, the church doesn't believe in suffering. 

As a whole, our society is bent on not suffering. If we ever lived in a society that lives in a place of escapism it is now. The drug culture exists solely on escaping pain. We fear PAIN! We do everything to avoid it instead of embracing it as part of life. It takes courage to suffer and face pain. Can you imagine Jesus stopping in his tracks while carrying his cross and saying, "I'm not doing this! It's too painful! Why should I lay my life down for people who would rather see me dead? The people in the church don't even like me. They think I'm a freak. I'm going back to being a carpenter because ministry is full of people who don't appreciate me." It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? However, every day someone walks away from their cross, their calling, and their family. I like what a friend recently said to me, "Let it burn!" He was referring to pain. If it hurts just let it burn. Amen. So be it Jesus. Your grace is sufficient.

Facing life with courage,

Jaziz Gutierrez

Entertaining Spirits

The Holy Spirit woke me up out of dead sleep. He said, "Many of you are entertaining spirits! You are entertaining spirits of seduction, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, pride of life, perversion, derision, dissension, lasciviousness, adultery, fornication, violence, witchcraft, divination, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. He showed me a poster of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis. He said, "These are icons of lust and seduction." Some are secretly entertaining witchcraft in the form of watching Harry Potter movies and other shows that practice the occult. Some are watching novelas/soap operas that are full of lust, seduction, adultery, fornication and more. Others are watching pornography, reading romance novels and other books that also entertain spirits. Then you wonder why you struggle with sin, compromise and come under heavy spiritual attack of the enemy. I want you to understand that you can't keep the foot ajar to the enemy enough to enjoy the wanton pleasures of the flesh and still be in the Spirit. Jesus said, “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!" Matthew 6:22 Our eyes are gates to the soul and spirit. Your eyes cannot serve two masters! Others of you have justified smoking marijuana because it is legal. God says, "This is witchcraft!" Nicotine is also a drug. Nicotine is a potent parasympathomimetic stimulant and an alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants. Nicotine is highly addictive.[13][14] An average cigarette yields about 2 mg of absorbed nicotine; in lesser doses of that order, the substance acts as a stimulant in mammals, while high amounts (50–100 mg) can be harmful.[15][16][17] This stimulant effect is a contributing factor to the addictive properties of tobacco smoking. Nicotine's addictive nature includes psychoactive effects, drug-reinforced behavior, compulsive use, relapse after abstinence, physical dependence and tolerance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine 

Holy Spirit also spoke to me and said, "Your mouth can't serve two masters!" Some of you are serving the master of witchcraft because you are practicing the use of drugs by smoking nicotine and marijuana. Others are drinking alcoholic beverages. He told me that some have invited unclean spirits through their mouths because they yielded their tongue to witchcraft and that's why they can't stop cursing with their mouths. 

The bible says, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21 In the Greek this word "witchcraft" means the use and administration of drugs. 

Let's talk about the ear gates. There are some who listen to music full of lust, seduction, violence, and dishonor to authority and women. Again you are entertaining spirits. Have you ever been on the Disneyland ride at the Haunted Mansion then looked in the mirror and there was a ghost riding with you. Look no further. What you have been doing has caused demons to attach to you. Some of you are literally tormented in your sleep, your health, finances, and relationships. We not supposed to be doing these things or hanging out with ANYONE who is doing these things. "I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 Does not the bible say not to keep company with anyone called a brother who practices these sins? Sorry but if you claim to be a Christian and are actively engaged in entertaining spirits then I can't hang out with you! Last night we had two women come up for deliverance. One came under demonic attack after allowing a man to come into her life who was practicing witchcraft the other was under attack from watching novelas. Jesus said, "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire." Matthew 18:8-9 It is better for some of you to get rid of your TV than for it to keep you out of the Kingdom! It is better for some of you to cut off some members of your family than for you to stay out of the Kingdom! Whatever it is or whoever it is; you are responsible for protecting your eye gates, ear gates, and mouths. We are gatekeepers of our souls and hearts. The Pastor can't do this for you. I assure you that you will spend less time in a prayer line if you guard your heart with all diligence. 

One last thing: I personally had a major issue with TV so I'm speaking from experience. The moment I obeyed the Holy Ghost on this matter, the windows of heaven opened up and I got $7,000 in the mail. We didn't know it but we had been included in a class action lawsuit and won! They found us and mailed us the money. Hallelujah! Your breakthrough is in obeying God's word! Obedience leads to blessing! I could have rolled over in bed this morning but the Holy Spirit was speaking loudly he wants to see his children live in freedom!

Let's pray:

Dear God, I'm tired of being under spiritual attack. Falling into the same sin and habits. Living defeated. Getting ripped off of finances, and blessings. I repent and make a decision today to close every possible door to the devil. I refuse to serve two masters or come under the cruel whip of the devil. I refuse the be the devil's puppet. Forgive me. I choose today not associate with or be in a relationship with anyone who does things that grieve and hurt you. To put them first is idolatry. Holy Spirit come, and cleanse me of every evil spirit I opened the door to and teach me how to live holy. Your word says the pure shall see God. Matthew 5:8 Empower me to live for you by your grace in Jesus name! I choose to forgive those who have hurt me and loose the offense from my heart. Forgive me for entertaining spirits and giving them access to my life in Jesus name!

I pray: I command every spirit of witchcraft, lust, seduction, adultery, fornication, derision, reviling, idolatry, uncleanness, lies, deception, anger, pride, drunkenness, control, strife, Jezebel and anything that was opened through willful disobedience to come out of those who have prayed this prayer in Jesus name! We revoke your legal rights and access in the name of Jesus. Take your hands off their finances, children, marriage, mind, will, and emotions. We command the spirit of fear to loose its grip over their life. Spirit of infirmity GO! Lack and poverty GO! In Jesus mighty name! May God's peace be restored to you in the Jesus name! Amen. Love you all, Jaziz Gutierrez

Sin Consciousness Vs God Consciousness

For years I have struggled with a weight problem but this morning I finally understood why. I don't know about you but the more I have focused on not eating the hungrier I would get. The more I tried to keep my flesh in line the more my flesh would rise up to take charge. I believe that what we focus on or give our attention to is what will dominate us. Thus Paul's statement, " For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. ¹⁶ If then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good." Romans 7:15-16 What we don't realize is that our struggle begins when coming under the law instead of living in grace. We live in grace by faith! When we are under the law we become "sin conscious."

This is why God wants us to be "God conscious and not sin conscious." The more we focus on our failures, shortcomings and come under condemnation; the more we tend to sin. The shame makes us run away from God. This is what it means to be under the law. The more we focus on what Jesus did for us it lends to the feeling (knowing) we are loved, valuable, worthy, precious to God and out of that revelation we respond in loving obedience. This is what it means to be "God conscious." This "God consciousness" causes to be "love conscious!" For most of our lives, we thought that we could in our own strength muster enough will power to live holy. I have with all of you failed in that regard. It is when I humbled myself and surrendered that I found God's grace empowering me to live for him. I have found that it's not about having enough will power to win over the flesh. It is simply believing that the conquest over sin has already been won by Jesus. We receive this victory by faith. Faith is the currency of heaven. Faith gets us all that we need from God. Just by believing in the finished work of the cross is all we need to live for Him. Seems too good to be true? "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" Galatians 3:2 Somehow we believe that believing unto salvation is only a one time deal. Our continual faith is what continues to sanctify us. It is not works or willpower; it is FAITH. Hebrews 11:1  Open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18

Sanctified: To be set apart and declared HOLY!

The spirit of accusation which is the voice of the devil will continually try to yell in our heads and try to make us feel like vile sinners. That's when "sin consciousness" enters in. If we agree with the powers of darkness and believe the lies we will succumb to the devil's declaration over our lives. Sometimes the devil uses the people in our lives to remind us of our failures, shortcomings, and the hurt we caused them. This is the spirit of accusation and its origins are our evil prosecutor/Satan. He continually stands before God to accuse us. "Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down." Revelations 12:10 The devil is a liar!

The devil is a liar because the truth is we are already been set free from the dominion of sin forever! For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 Our past does not determine our future! Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Hebrews 12:24 The blood of Jesus has spoken better things over us! Oh, the love of Jesus is enough for us. Glory! The ONLY thing that matters now is what Jesus declared over us on that cross. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. We were declared NOT GUILTY in the court room of heaven. We walked away free from that courtroom but some of us keep going back to listen to all the accusations that have been dismissed by the Father/Judge. Shut down the voice of accusation! Not only are we free from the dominion of sin but we are never going to die. We can enjoy the kingdom of heaven now! We can by faith, walk in joy, peace, love, and righteousness. "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 14:17 Notice the contrast? It isn't eating or drinking. It is not obtained through external means or temporary pleasure. It is obtained by the Holy Spirit. This is the kingdom! We have become joint heirs of this great inheritance laid up for us by our Father. It is a BETTER covenant!

Motivate by Love

I used to work for a company that helped people transition from Welfare to Work. One of the tools we used to help people get back into the job market was to motivate them by building up their self esteem. I woke up this morning and I thought, "What a concept!" As it silly as it may seem, we applauded every accomplishment. We threw them a party when they got jobs, we gave them a Payday chocolate bar, and played "Celebrate" by Kool and The Gang as we danced around the room. lol Loved that job.

However, in the church (not all churches) we have this weird idea that if we beat people up about what they are doing wrong, make them feel like they are worthless losers, and tell them how bad they are; that somehow that will help them change. Let's not forget fear mongering them into doing what we want. Fear mongering is defined as the action of deliberately arousing public fear or alarm about a particular issue. The church is GUILTY for using manipulation tactics to get the masses to tithe, not visit other churches, help without getting paid, look the other way when there is obvious problems in leadership, using prophecy to control others, and the list goes on. Yet there is a better way. It is called LOVE. If you find yourself using these tactics to get results please go to Jesus and ask Him to change you. People need to feel safe when they walk into a church. They shouldn't have to be afraid of getting beat up emotionally, manipulated, and controlled from the pulpit or pew. It's time we set our sights on healthy behaviors, and becoming healthy as the Body of Christ. Motivate by Love! Jaziz Gutierrez

Excuses, Excuses: Reasons we don't follow Christ

I woke up on Good Friday and I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Why are you kicking and screaming all the way to the cross?" Ironically, He spoke this word to me on the day that we commemorate his crucifixion and death. We like to hang crosses around our necks, hang them on our chapel walls, and even decorate our steeples with them but we just don't like the idea of crucifying our self-life on the cross. Let's face it, we naturally avoid pain. Unlike Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane in which he exclaimed, "Not my will but thy will be done!" Our prayer sounds more like, My will is your will so bless it God and I pass on the cup of suffering." We live in a drug culture, and the idea of suffering is not in part of our lifestyle. We not only avoid pain but the responsibility for our actions. We don't like to face reality, and would rather live in denial than to deny self. Such was the case of the rich young ruler.

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:17-22)

Just like the story above you can be doing all the right things, and still be holding onto something that you are unwilling to let go of. These are the times that our hearts are truly tested. If Jesus were to walk up to you today what would be the one thing that you would be unwilling to let go of? What relationship, possession, place, attitude, offense, resentment, and other emotional baggage are you unwilling to let go of? Jesus looked at this young man with love but he still went away sorrowful. It may break your heart to walk away from the people you love but Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:25-26) "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." v33 It may be truly sad to be away from everything you know to pursue God just as it was for Abraham and many others but there is always a palace for the Josephs who were broken in the prisons and were faithful to do what God called them to do. The rewards aren't always immediate but when we obey God, He rewards nonetheless. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) That's the point of all this, isn't it? Are we willing to trust God, and have faith that He knows best? Can we trust God that He will give us the things that we are willing to forsake here on earth or will we make excuses for hanging onto mundane things?

Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ Luke 14:16-20

We are all so good at making excuses. As we have read in previous verses we can use family as an excuse not to follow Him. However, in the above passage, we see that when people used marriage, business or even real estate it was never a good enough excuse to get out of coming to the Lord's supper table. I don't know about you but when I was growing up and we were called to eat at the table we had to stop what we were doing. Some of us would rather play in the world than eat at His table. Still, others are eating at Satan's table, and have no room in their spirits for anything else. Many of us get so busy that we don't take the time to eat, and sup with Jesus. Every day the Holy Spirit has the fresh manna of heaven to sustain us for the day, and we make excuses why we can't eat. We make excuses why we don't follow him, come to him, deny ourselves, and die to self.

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:57-62)
Again we see Jesus challenging people to follow Him that had excuses for what seem like legitimate priorities. Still, housing, saying goodbye, burying a loved one and even tying up what seems to be loose ends come secondary to preaching the Kingdom of God. In Jesus' book, there is only one priority and that's following Him. There is nothing or no one more important. If God is calling you to come then we must step out of the boat! Right now God has called many of you to follow him but you are still hanging onto dead moves, old wineskins, traditions of men, and some of you still look back longing for what you left behind. Jesus said that if we look back we are not fit for the kingdom. We need to leave the dead things behind, and let stuff resolve itself without our help. It really will be okay if you leave that dead church that is holding you in stagnation. They will survive if you leave. Trust God. We can be so co-dependent and think that the universe will not operate if we aren't involved. I know because I struggle with this too. We don't have time for drawn-out goodbyes to unhealthy relationships and situations. Leave that dead stuff alone. Pray, and if God chooses to raise it then may it be His doing. You follow Him. I knew this word was for me but I also knew it was for so many of us who look forward to celebrating His resurrection but are unwilling to let go of some things. I ask you again, "Are you going to walk away sad? Or are you going to put your hand to the plow never to look back?" I'm handing you the cross of Christ. Will you carry it to be part of the resurrection? Will you follow Him and be part of the marriage feast of the Lamb?

I just want to say this in conclusion to all the above. The reason we make excuses for following Christ is that it requires carrying a cross. The cross of Christ means we need to die. Many of us don't want to die because it requires giving up things we "think" give us pleasure. This is all deception because sinful pleasure is temporary but the misery it brings later will always make you wish you would have never gone down that road. What we don't realize is that after death is resurrection. We get so focused on the dying part that we forget that our resurrection is much more glorious than our suffering in death. Both in the natural and in the spirit. Once you are on this side of the cross and you truly decided to follow Him it is absolutely worth it. The peace alone of being right in Christ is amazing. 

If you are reading this and are convicted to change please pray this with me and find someone who will baptize you into repentance.

Father, forgive for all the excuses I've made not to follow you. I choose to give up all the things of this world, surrender, deny myself and follow you. I ask you to help me by your grace. In Jesus name, Amen!
Jaziz Gutierrez

Put Unbelief Outside!

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” Mark 5:35

Have you ever been standing for a miracle when someone from church comes to you with the discouraging news that what you are believing for is beyond the help that Jesus can give? They start sharing about either their failed faith experience or that of someone they know. Such was the case with Jairus a ruler in the synagogue whose daughter was dying. While Jesus was on the way to pray for his daughter, a woman with an issue of blood received her healing and immediately after that some people from church informed Jairus that his daughter was already dead. Sadly, many times we know Jesus heals but have a difficult time believing that God will do the same for us. We allow the experiences of other people's failures in church to dissuade us from standing for our miracle. Be sure that the the devil is always shouting GIVE UP, GIVE UP Jesus can't do this. Don't even bother him with prayer. 

Not only does the devil use people to make you feel that Jesus can't help you but the devil wants you to believe that what you are believing for is dead. Are you dead in the water financially? Is your marriage dead and has your love grown cold? Do you feel that God is distant and unreachable? Maybe you are looking at your situation and it looks lifeless. It doesn't even look like it has a pulse. Is what you have been believing for been dead for days, years, and decades? Are you accusing God of not being on time? Do you feel that if only he would have been there for you things would have turned out differently? Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” (John 11:21-22) As you can see our natural response in times of crisis is to take a stand of accusation towards God's character when actually it our hearts that God is dealing with. 

There are some of you who are believing for the prodigals to come home but feel that their sin may be too great for God to pull them out of. I am declaring that even if we are DEAD in our trespasses, and sins that God's resurrection power can bring life to those dry bones! I don't care how far you have run from God. The moment we repent from our hearts God is ready to begin the restoration process, and make us alive again! "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-5) Part of God's restoration process is to once again give us our rightful position as son's and daughter's in His kingdom. He makes us to sit together with him in heavenly places. 

And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” (Ezekiel 37:3) As the prophet Ezekiel stood in the valley of dry bones he saw nothing but death, destruction and wasteland of what used to be a great and mighty army for God. Sometimes we can look at people on the street, look at fallen ministers, look at our prodigals, and look at the lives of people who the enemy has destroyed with a sense of hopelessness. God then turns to us, and asks, "Can it live?" The prophet modestly answered, "Only you know." That's the problem we have. Sometimes when we are faced with something that is too hard for us to believe for we throw back the responsibility of believing on God with "If it is your will." I am going to say this boldly, "IT IS ALWAYS GOD'S WILL THAT WE LIVE FOR HIM! IT IS ALWAYS GOD'S WILL THAT OUR LOVED ONES COME INTO THE KINGDOM!" 
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 God is not slacking off. He is waiting for us to speak to the dry bones, our wilderness, our storm, and our circumstances. We were made in His likeness, and have the power to declare what we want to see happen. Some of you need to dip your tongue in God's Word, and start declaring God's promises of those lifeless situations until your Lazarus comes forth. We need stop throwing the responsibility on God, acting helpless, hopeless, and start believing we serve a good, good Father. Come on can anyone say Amen! Brothers, and sisters it is time to believe God's Word. It is time to stop being victimized by the devil, and yes even in some cases stop making excuses. 

Today let us pray: Lord, I am believing and even declaring a shift over my circumstances. I am speaking to those dry bones. I am calling my Lazarus of impossibility out of the tomb. Live! I call back the prodigals, the stubborn and rebellious back into the house of God! Help me God to be love, and love them back into your loving arms! I choose today to dip my tongue into your Word, and write a different story about my life. I will prosper as my soul prospers. I will live, and not die. I will serve the Lord and become a fruitful servant in His kingdom! I am revival and his passion forever will live in my heart. Nothing is impossible for you God. Resurrect my situation in Jesus name!

Love vs Spiritual Gifts

“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!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

The most grievous error a Christian can make is to believe that operating in spiritual gifts is God's approval on their lives. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29) Operating in spiritual gifts says nothing of your character, integrity or your personal walk with God. One day we will be standing before God, and some of us will hear these very fearful words. "Depart from me, I don't know who you are because you look nothing like me. You may operate in my power but you don't have any characteristics of being my son or daughter. You were made in my image but you don't walk in love. You followed the voice of stranger, and followed your own selfish desires. You built your churches, ministries, and organizations under the pretense of doing it for me. You really did it for you. You wanted to be seen of all men but you didn't care what I saw in you. I didn't see me in you. I didn't see love."

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
(1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

This scripture has been used to say that the gifts of the spirit have passed away. This doctrine is called cessationism. In Christianity, cessationism is the doctrine that spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and healing ceased with the apostolic age. I don't believe this. I believe what Paul was saying is that the gifts are temporary but there is only thing that is perfect, and it is love. Love never fails. Love, and God are interchangeable terms because God is love. The sad truth is that people who have a religious spirit will always have an answer as for why we shouldn't or why God can't do something rather than just operate out of a place of love. Faith is motivated by love. Everything we do should be motivated by love! 

I once was at a prayer meeting, and I noticed a woman crying at the back of the room. I thought to ask her after the meeting was over if she needed prayer. She agreed to receive prayer. I felt so much compassion for her, and I was sad that no one even seem to notice her pain. When I tried to lay hands on her stomach, her whole body moved away from my hand involuntarily. Always a sign of demonic activity. When I touched her, she dropped to the ground, and started to manifest. I went down on my knees to pray for her until she was delivered. Afterwards as I looked up, I saw a bunch of people standing around staring at me. The person running the prayer room later asked me if she had asked for prayer in which I confirmed that she did. She was upset that I had prayed for a woman at a prayer meeting, and that she was delivered! Does that make any sense? It happened to Jesus too! The people at church were Jesus' worse critics. They were absolutely upset that he healed a man during a church service. A religious spirit will always place protocol, schedules, tradition, and doctrines of men over walking in love. Jesus was moved by compassion. If in doubt ask yourself what am I being motivated by? Trying to be seen of men or the compassion of Christ? This is by no means a permission slip to go rogue, and do your own thing. God has placed shepherds in different houses to protect the sheep. Please use wisdom. Learn to discern between religious protocol or being motivated by love. Obey God's voice. Remember the world eagerly awaits for the glory of God to be displayed in God's sons, and daughters!

We don't need an approval committee to do what God has commissioned us to do already. When I first got saved I expressed my desire to be an evangelist. A man told me at church that women can't be evangelists. I was crushed. For years I allowed this word to keep me on the pew because I felt that I wasn't qualified. This was solely based on my gender. One day I read the following passage: "And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18) I realized that this passage was not gender specific. It didn't say to Pastors only or men only. These signs will follow all who believe. I believe so that qualifies me. God has ordained all of us from the foundation of the world. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) Ordained also mean commissioned! God has already set us apart, commissioned us, and empowered for His work. No matter what kind of work we do for Christ if it is not done in love it means nothing. "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3)

I believe love will start defining our God moments, and we will know what voice we should obey. We will either give into fear of man or the love of God. I believe we are going to see through religious rhetoric, and not confuse that for authentic Christianity. Selfish motivations are going to become more obvious in the coming days. This love movement is going to revolutionize Christianity as a whole. Our focus will change as our hearts will be more interested in becoming like our Father rather than what we do for Him. We won't be trying to impress one another by all the cool spiritual gifts we move in. Believe me, God is not impressed. He is simply looking to see if we look like Him. I don't know about you but I want to hear this when I stand before His throne: Well done son/daughter you look, and act just like me. You wear Jesus well.

If you find this article helpful or would like to donate to our ministry please do so on our home page by visiting our website:

Jaziz Gutierrez

Official Website: http://www.loverevivalrevolution.com

Facebook: School Of Impartation and Living

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYxASZLjwhGePvTG27ZRKAg