Why I Don't Drink Soda

I've always had an ongoing struggle with allergies and at times my parents could not figure out why I was so sickly. I would complain nightly of excruciating leg aches and would often have insomnia as a child. As I got older I began to listen to my body and was able to figure out what food was doing what to my body. Which was much better than the old-fashioned allergy test where the doctor took an instrument of some type which made lines that broke open the skin on my back. He then took different foods and applied them to the open areas of my skin to see if I would break out or something. Sounds barbaric, doesn't it?

Not only have I struggled with food allergies all my life but also I've always been sensitive to shampoos. I had a variety of shampoos and conditioners that were sprawled out underneath my bathroom sink as hair rejects. If I broke out after using the shampoo or conditioner it would end up in the reject pile to be used by another member of the family or not at all. It was an expensive venture to figure out what was bothering my scalp until I figured out that I could test the shampoo on my wrist as I walked around in the store. If my skin started to itch then I would not buy it.

In recent years I figured out that I was allergic to wheat. I had so many intestinal issues and at times arthritic conditions in my joints. I felt sick and lethargic most of the time. I also figured out that I was lactose intolerant when I got pregnant with my third son as I could not keep any food down. I had food coming out both ends. Sorry to be so descriptive. However, you are probably reading this because I brought up the subject of soda which is a sugary bliss for many of you but has contributed to many diseases I'm sure. Diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure to name a few. None of which we are willing to admit to, as soda has become an addiction to so many people.

Now to answer the curious question as to why I don't drink soda. It gives me bladder infections. Like the very next day, I will be in excruciating pain. I have by trial and error figured out this painful fact. I have also figured out that it's not worth it to me. Not if it means another hospital visit which I can't afford. As if my diet weren't restrictive enough like I mentioned before, I also can't eat wheat. Many people just can't believe that I can live without eating wheat products because almost everything has this ingredient in it. No more flour tortillas, crackers, cakes, pasta and the like. Some people have told me that they couldn't possibly live without it but if you have suffered the agony of gluten intolerance and the painful consequences of cheating on your diet then you will say to yourself; it's not worth it to me. Why isn't it worth it? I'm not a glutton for punishment I guess and I don't want to die an early death. I also don't want to end up sick in the hospital.

You know what else is not worth it? Sin. The painful consequence of our choices sometimes has lasting effects just like our poor health choices. If we make poor health choices after a while it will catch up to us and we can reap diseases. If we make poor life choices or decisions we can also reap poverty or homelessness. If we continue to live in sin not only will it separate us from God; the choices we make will destroy our lives. Regardless of what you sow please understand that the law of the universe will cause you to reap. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction, whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8 According to this scripture you just read, are you living to please the Spirit or living to please the flesh? Some of us live to please our flesh with the next cookie, cigarette, beer, video game, TV Novela, weed, and whatever our flesh is demanding it should have. Denying ourselves isn't just a philosophy it is a lifestyle. It means we say no to the demands of our flesh and live to please the Spirit. When we do, we will manifest the fruit of the spirit. When we live to meet the demands of the flesh we will also manifest the works of the flesh.

We need to get to a point in our lives where we have to say to ourselves; it's not worth it to me. This soda is not worth it to me. This cupcake is not worth it to me. This abusive relationship is not worth it to me. This beer is not worth it to me. Getting high is not worth it to me. Cheating on my spouse is not worth it to me. Watching porn is not worth it to me and the list can go on. Why is it not worth it to you? Because you have come to the painful conclusion that you are not willing to pay the price of wrong choices anymore. You are through repeating the same old cycle just to arrive at point A again. You can no longer take the pain of your mistakes anymore. When you finally come to this conclusion, you will stop.

Like millions of people before you that have decided that they were sowing the wrong seed and decided to change that; bravo. I'm sure your harvest looks different. For the couple who recently shared with me that they looked at each other one day after being addicted to meth for 10 years and said, "We are stupid for doing this" and then they stopped. I'm proud of you. For those who have decided that they don't need to be dysfunctional anymore and live feeling rejected because God loves them. Hooray. To all my ex-addict friends, alcoholics, sexually bound, angry, and perverted; you inspire me. Share your story on how you got free! We need to learn from you. We overcome by the power of your testimony.

For those of you who feel stuck and angry; I have a secret for you. Whining, complaining and regretting your past won't change your harvest! Change your seed or change your harvest field. That is the only answer to cause a change in our lives. Sow God's Word, live out His principles and make better choices. We make it more complicated than it is. Follow Christ's example if you have poor role models in your life. For heaven's sake let us stop making excuses. Excuses are only a cover up to make people believe we are victims of our sin instead of admitting we still want to indulge in our sin. We need to get honest. I clearly remember the day I cried out to God and pleaded with him to take a certain sin from me. After going on about it for a few days I heard, "You sin because you want to." I was shocked that God would speak to me this way but it woke me up out of my supposed pious deception. God can't crucify our flesh nor can he say no for us. We must crucify the desire, the craving, and the urge by saying no to ourselves.

For those of you who think you can't stop, I have good news for you. There is absolutely nothing stronger than the human will. No one can control your will. God does not control people and unless you are possessed of the devil even he can't make you do anything. Either way, Jesus came to set you free. Like an ex-addict told me recently, "You must be willing to do anything to be free." A person who is not willing to go to rehab, not willing to do classes, not willing to go to meetings, not willing to talk about it and not willing to admit they have a problem IS NOT READY TO CHANGE! A repentant heart is willing to confess to their sins, take responsibility, make restitution, and willing to let go of anything that would lead them back on the same road they were on. If this means getting rid of the old friends, not going to your usual spots, not listening to your old music, throwing away all worldly or secular things in your life then so be it. This is what repentance looks like. Until and only when a person comes to a point of saying to themselves, "It's not worth it to me" then will they stop.

Let me ask you, "Are you there yet?" If you are please pray this prayer:

Lord, remove the pride, anger, rebellion, and stubbornness of my heart. I can clearly see that there is something that has gotten in the way of my relationship with you/my relationship with others/or is stumbling me. I cannot do this on my own. I cannot change by my own self-effort. I cannot change by my own will-power or by doing better next time. That's all dead works. It is by your finished work on the cross that I am free to live for you. Break off lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Your word says, that you are the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. You, not only came to forgive my sin but remove my sin. Remove my sinful tendencies. I surrender them to you. Remove all generational iniquity. Renew my mind and grant me a truly repentant heart. I'm done waddling in the mud like a pig and going back to the vomit like a dog. There is nothing this world has that can bring me the peace, love, and joy that I so desperately need. Loose me from every chain, bondage and stronghold. Bind the strong man. Come Holy Spirit to expose the darkest parts of my being and clean out the closets of my heart. Transform me and make me in the image of your son. I no longer want a form of godliness and still, deny your power by living a life that is contrary to your Word. Remove a lawless spirit from me, the spirit of whoredom, fear, lust, perversion, drunkenness, sorcery, witchcraft, Jezebel, anger, rebellion, pride, self-righteousness, religion, and antichrist. I was made to be loved and be love. Take me back to my original design in Jesus name! I repent! Amen!

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

Lessons from Jesus: Overcoming

When you are in a place of tormenting fear and can't seem to see your way out. There are two things that you must do: First, you must speak the word of God and second you must lay your will down. These are the two things that Jesus did. In the wilderness He declared God's Word to the enemy. What does your wilderness look like? What is the devil telling you about your future? Remember he is the father of lies. Don't allow fear to dictate your future begin to declare God's Word and promises. When being tempted to take shortcuts resist it by telling the devil how a real Christian should live. We do not live by bread alone...but by every word. If God didn't say it, I'm not doing it. Refuse to be intimidated by your storm instead start declaring God's Word over it.

When you are faced with difficult trials or tests remember what Jesus did in the garden of Gethsemane or the valley of decision Jesus declared, "Not my will but thy will be done." What is His will in your situation? Is He asking you to give something up? Is He asking you to let go of someone? Is He asking you to relinquish control over to Him and let Him handle it? As Christians we can never get around he mandate to pick up our cross to follow Him. What is this cross? It is the cross of denying self or saying no to what we want so we can say yes to what He wants.

How do we follow Him? By doing what he did to overcome. We need to handle the devil, temptation and suffering in the same way He did to be successful in our walk with Christ. If today you are reading this and feel like you can't go another day being buffeted by the devil read: Isaiah 53:4-6

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Understand He was already afflicted, oppressed, sick, tempted, mentally and emotionally tormented so you wouldn't be. Receive today what Jesus did on that cross by faith. He loves you and already made a way out. Blessings.

#lessonsfromJesus

Reborn Identity

As I was laying in bed this morning I kept hearing the word "Identity."  Who are we?  Why are we here?  Can we have meaningful relationships?  Can I move on pass the divorce?  Am I lovable?  Am I worth the time?  Am I employable.  Identity is by far the most talked about topic right now as people struggle to find out who they are and overcome their personal struggles with their sexual orientation, unemployment and relationships.  The roles of men and women have changed over the years.  This has brought so much confusion to our society.  Especially in homes where single moms have to play the roles of mom and dad just raise up their children.  The breakdown of gender and parental roles have caused such fragmentation in our society that it has left us wandering around trying to find out who we are.  Have you ever heard someone say "I just need to find myself."  Well, most of us cringe when we hear that because it means that the person who just said that is going on a personal journey to find themselves and you are not invited.  The next thing you know they pack up their bags and they are gone.  Is it really that they can't find themselves or it is that they don't like their life and think they can have a better life without you?  What is sad about the statement I just made, is that they think their identity will change if they change scenery.  The truth is we define our world by and how we see ourselves in relation to it.


So what is identity?  I will define identity as the characteristics that define who we are, evidenced by what we do.  We are often defined by what we believe about ourselves and sometimes what others have said about us.  For instance, if your parents told you that you were good for nothing and nobody will love you; then most of time people live up to those expectations.  Let's say you were bullied in school and called names.  The most likely outcome will be that we take on the identity of our accusers.  A worse scenario would be to be molested, raped or abused and take on the identity of shame.  There are many divorced people out there who take on the identity of rejection.  Children whose parents leave and abandon them take on an identity of rejected orphans.  Everyday all over the world people allow events to define them instead of allowing God to tell them of their amazing value.

So who are we really?  Are we here just get by and live just another day?  Are we here to be abused by others?  Are we here to become successful, happy and raise a family?  What was our original design?  Some of us don't seem to know who we are!  If you don't know I will tell you... YOU WERE MADE TO BE LOVED!  You were meant to have an amazing life and have a relationship with your creator.  If you are reading this and you don't believe in God then I have only one thing to say...GOD BELIEVES IN YOU!  God decided to risk it all and give up his life to demonstrate your value and His love for you.  He didn't know if you would accept His proposal but He was willing to take the chance because YOU ARE WORTH IT!  Why am I capitalizing my words?  I want to give you the opportunity to start thinking about yourself in the way God thinks about you.  Before your mind starts to argue with you about your value and identity; I want you to know that you can become someone completely different.  Your heritage, past, crime record, mistakes, upbringing, divorce, abuse and etc. does not have to determine your future or define who you are.  God has already defined who you are and declared your value.  You are God's treasure!  All of God's Kingdom is destined to dwell in you along with God's son; Jesus Christ.  When He looks at us He sees Jesus.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

Many people are held to horrible images of themselves because they have believed a lie!  The devil is a liar!  He can only enter our lives though deception and lies.  Once you embrace the truth he can't keep you a prisoner of your past anymore.  He can't torment you with fear.  He can't cause you to be depressed, sad or suicidal.  He can't cause pain in your heart and he can't keep you defeated!  Why?  Because you have a new identity and it is Christ's!  Christ is victorious and already defeated him so don't give him a voice in your head!  Give no place or thought to the devil.  (Ephesians 4:27)  Realize that you win!  You are a new creation with God's DNA (destiny - now - activated)  You are now being conformed to the express image of the Son.  Circumstances don't define you; you define your circumstances.  You have nothing or no one to fear.  The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

Some quick points:  To find your Christ identity you must realize:

1.  Baptism was meant to leave our old identity in the grave and take up a new one by following Christ.  God came in the flesh so he can be an earthly man with struggles and adversity but still walk in victory!  Jesus came out of the wilderness in power not defeated.

 In those days there appeared John the Baptist, preaching in the Wilderness (Desert) of Judea² And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John 1:1-2 Amplified

¹⁴ Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵ And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.  Luke 4:14

2.  We have already been given a new spirit and God's nature when we got born again.  I hear a lot of people say "Well, I was born that way."  When are born of God's spirit, we take on His nature and leave behind our parent's nature.  We have a new Father and we take after Him not our culture or upbringing.
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

3.  We can't allow events, people or external judgments define who we are but we need to get a new mind set by receiving God's truths and implementing them, causing us to know what pleases the father's heart!  Don't let people tell you who you are.  We were meant to define the world around us because of who we already are!

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Roman 12:2 Amplified

4.  We need to embrace our future and let go of our past!  You can't be the new you and still be holding onto past hurts and events.  We can't allow past hurts trump the cross.

I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,  Philippians 3:13

5.  We have to embrace a mindset of humility and be stripped of our rights to possess the fullness of Christ's identity.

⁵ Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility: ⁶ Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, ⁷ But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. Philippians 2:5-7

6.  Our identity is love.  It's not we do, it is who we are!

By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]. John 13:35

7.  Self must be crucified that Christ's identity can live!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].  Matthew 16:24

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  Galatians 2:20

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Jaziz Gutierrez
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Get Your Prayers Answered!

One of the biggest complaints I quite commonly hear among Christians is that their prayers are not answered. While there may be many reasons our prayers not being answered, there are times that we fail to recognize when God does. For example I had a friend who prayed to be married for years. He had gotten a girl pregnant and the girl truly loved him. He didn't find her attractive but she was a terrific mother and would have made a great wife. Before long she moved on and she got married. He was very upset! All he would do is complain about how someone else was raising his child. She waited quite a few years on him but he was caught up in indecision and being picky about her looks. She was actually a good looking gal. I ran into him years later, he was still alone, single and wishing he could be in his daughter's life full-time. Unfortunately, he failed to recognize the gift God had brought into his life and missed out on his blessings. His expectations were way out of the boundaries of being reasonable so he did not receive what he was believing for. I hate to say but this happens more than we think. We fail to seize the moment or enter into the doors God opens. We start to put unreasonable expectations on God.

A good example of a an unreasonable expectation is to believe for a young beautiful looking spouse when we are old and mediocre looking. The truth is many people believe for things in their flesh because they have been looking at far too many magazines. Most people do not look like Hollywood stars my friend. For instance, you might be entertaining mental fantasies that has created unreasonable expectations of your mate. You may be missing out on someone who is already in your life willing to love you but your are too hung up on an ideal that no one can live up to. Our selfish desires sometimes cause us to miss out on our answered prayers!
Another way you can miss your answered prayer is if you think you are too good for a job, a person or an opportunity. Pride will keep you from receiving from God. It isn't realistic to believe for something you can't afford. I knew a brother who refused to get a used car even though he was on a budget and instead wanted a new one off the lot. The most expensive one! Well the money came and went with no car. I knew another Christian who lost a job opportunity because they decided to make unreasonable demands for a salary. The employer never called back. You have to know when you are in a position to bargain and when you are not. Perhaps you are believing for a house when you don't have a job to make the payments. You may get what you prayed for but then not have the money to make the payments. We can't allow presumption to cloud our reasoning. God wants us to operate in wisdom. We must count the cost of every relationship, purchase, decision and hear God's voice in every matter. Faith may get us what we want but wisdom will help us keep what we received by faith.

Believe it or not unrealistic expectations caused the Jews to miss their Messiah. The Jews could not receive their king because they were stumbled at the fact that Jesus was looked upon a everyday blue collar worker. "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him." Mark 6:3 They couldn't get over the fact that they knew him and the town he was from. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” John 1:45-46 They were expecting a Moses or Elijah and expected to be delivered from the hands of the Romans. They expected Jesus to overthrown the Roman government by force like Joshua or David but Jesus came to establish a kingdom that could not be seen. When the time came and Jesus was crucified they thought all was lost. They rejected Jesus as their savior because He did not meet their expectations.

This can also happen in spiritual relationships when people create unreasonable expectations of people in leadership. The truth is they couldn't possibly live up to the expectations they place upon others themselves. They expect every call, e-mail, or glance to be acknowledged or they get offended and leave the church. The problem with that is that they are probably missing out on something God had for them but they were never were around to receive it because of offense. There are people that literally wander around for years without anyone to speak into their lives and mentor them because they continually find fault with those over them. They want God on their own terms and on their own time. It doesn't work that way. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8

In fact not being able to make to make up our mind, being hesitant, fearful, or expecting way too much are all signs of being double minded. Which really means that we are of two mindsets. The bible exhorts us this way, 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-7 Instability is caused by our lack of faith or double mindedness it causes us not to receive what we prayed for.


Not only can we miss God's answer to prayers because of our expectations are not reasonable but also because our expectations are too low. Perhaps we are asking God for a job with benefits and weekends off but then take a job that works us on the weekends with no insurance. Little did we know that the next call would have been our dream job but we failed to wait for it. Our unbelief can cause us to settle for less. Our desperation can cause us to be hasty.. We can't act out of desperation we need to move in revelation. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 Yet, it happens all the time we get so impatient with the process of waiting that we jump ahead of God. I wonder how many people got married to the wrong people because they jumped in the sack before really waiting on God for the answer? I had a friend who desperately wanted to get married. He didn't care to who; he just wanted to be married. Well finally a girl complied and she ended up abusing him. Before long they divorced and I never heard from him again. He was the sweetest guy you could ever meet but he settled for less. How is God going to answer your prayers if you aren't willing to wait? "What are you believing God for?" What do you want? It is ok to be specific within reason.

Here is a great example from my own life. I was looking for a car and was a place of desperation because the car we were driving was breaking. We went to a car lot, quickly began the contract and went to get the money. We never signed anything they were still getting the car ready. My husband could not get peace. We called for prayer and the Pastor encouraged us not to be hasty but wait on what we really wanted. We felt embarrassed but we decided to go up the street to another lot. There it was, a natural gas car that my husband always wanted. We knew right away that we wanted it. It was what we waited for. I am so glad that we listened to the lack of peace we were feeling it saved us hundreds of dollars in gasoline. If we take the time to listen to God and wisdom we too can have our prayers answered.
You might be thinking, shouldn't someone do what they said they would do? It is better to back out of your commitment than to make a longtime mistake. We can't allow pressure to cause us to make detrimental choices. We can't ignore the red flags and sirens going off just because we don't want to look bad. Never ignore the red flags. I don't care if you already planned the wedding and caterers. God will do what he can to warn us but we need to take the time to hear Him. We can't allow ourselves to be people pleasers. We also can't be indecisive or hesitant because like I mentioned before we will miss out on God's answer for our lives. You may be asking God for a promotion but because you are hesitant to ask your boss for it you miss out on the favor God has for you.

Also, many people pray but don't follow through with their part. You have to put feet to your prayers! You can't expect to become wealthy by sitting at home without a college education, without trying to look for work or at least allowing God to prosper you through witty inventions or creative ideas. For some reason many Christians believe that somehow if they mystically put their money in the basket every week that they will automatically prosper. God's word says he will bless the work of our hands but that means you have to work. It seems like everyone wants to live off the gospel now or days. However, more than ever Christians are needed in the marketplace like places of government, medicine, education, entertainment and etc. I always hear about this wealth transfer that will supposedly come from the world. That my friends will happen when Christians leave their pews and start cooperating with God's plan to take over areas of influence. God has called us to take dominion over the earth. If you read the bible you will see God always raised up leaders among his people. Daniel, David, Solomon, Esther, Joseph and Moses were in key government positions. They were the decision makers of their day. Deborah was a judge and the general did not go to war without her! Abraham was a wealthy real estate tycoon he just needed an heir. God loves to bless his people but his people need to rise up to action.

Just to recap on how to get your prayers answered:
1. Set reasonable expectations by setting attainable goals. People don't plan to fail; they fail to plan.

2. Don't lower your expectations; God can do great things! Don't be hesitant, fearful or allow self doubt. This is unbelief and double mindedness. You will never reach solid ground in your life if you allow your mind and emotions to rule you.

3. Don't wait around for God to do everything rise up to action! Don't expect others to do things that you can do for yourself. Be proactive in what God has shown you.

4. Don't be afraid to change your mind if you have made a mistake. Please God not men!

5. Remember to get wisdom and revelation from God he is the best consultant you can ever find. Also, find people who provide good counsel to be sure you are hearing from God.

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14

6. Get involved and cooperate with God. Believe it or not you can miss out on God's will if you sit around and do nothing. All his promises are conditional upon obedience. "If" "You" then "I" "Will."

7. Always know that God has the best in mind for you so never get tricked into believing anything less.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life" Psalm 23:6

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

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How Powerful Is The Devil?

This question was submitted to me via Facebook and I did not change the wording. So here it is...

Q1. Just how powerful is the devil? I know the story of Job (I think) where God loves him so much that he allows the devil to ruin his life in a game to see if he would lose his faith. He doesn't. Aside from God's very questionable behavior, just how powerful is the devil?

A1. Not powerful but crafty. Here is why. Before Jesus went to the cross Adam and Eve had given all the authority they had been given by God to the Satan. When Jesus died he wiped out the judgment that the judge and jury had made against us. The bailiff (devil) now had no power to enforce the law and the keys to the prison cell were taken from him. Not only do we walk out of court completely declared innocent by the blood of Jesus but we get handed the keys to set others free. We also get handed a badge that restores the authority we have on the earth.

Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:14-15

Now Jesus did have to get back we what we lost through sin and disobedience in the garden. One of the things we lost in the garden was our authority. Here is the devil reminding Jesus of that.

And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Luke 4:6

In my study to answer this question I noticed that Jesus had declared gaining his authority back after he had overcome the same temptations that Adam and Eve had succumbed to in the garden in the wilderness. Here Jesus displays his authority over every devil.

Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” Luke 4:36

Jesus gave over this same kind of authority to us whenever we use His name. It is kind of like when the police say, "Stop LAPD." They are referencing whose authority they are acting in. We just say stop in the name of "Jesus"!

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:17-19

Here is where Jesus give us the keys that were once held by Satan

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Because Jesus wiped out the judgment of the law against us death and the grave also lost its power over us!

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:54-56

Q2. Is he like God? Omnipotent, omnipresent and etc?

A2. No Satan is not like God at all. He is a fallen angel. Angels are not omnipotent, omnipresent or anything like that. Satan was a musical cherub (winged angel) created and appointed by God.

You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The sardius, topaz, and diamond,
Beryl, onyx, and jasper,
Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold.
The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes
Was prepared for you on the day you were created.

14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers;
I established you;
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created,
Till iniquity was found in you. Ezekiel 28:13-15 Read 28:13-19

Satan fell from heaven because of pride and wanting to be exalted above God. He was brought down to hell. In the end people will gaze upon him and say, "Is this the thing that was causing so much trouble?" My version

“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
13 For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.

16 “Those who see you will gaze at you,
And consider you, saying:
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
Who shook kingdoms,
17 Who made the world as a wilderness
And destroyed its cities,
Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’ Isaiah 14:12-17

As you can see from the below scripture angels don't know everything. Not even when Jesus will return. Therefore, they are not all-knowing and that includes Satan.

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24:36

The scripture declares that if the rulers of this age or the kingdom of darkness knew that crucifying Christ would be their demise they probably wouldn't have killed Him. This is also proof that the devil does not know everything.

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:7-9

Jesus was made higher than angels because He created them and given a place in heaven next to God.

In these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. Hebrews 1:2-4

The angels are to worship Jesus.Their purpose is to minister to us because we have become heirs of salvation through Jesus' sacrifice.

“Let all the angels of God worship Him.” And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire." Hebrews 1:6-7

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14

Satan must obey! Jesus was able to defeat Him with God's Word! See how the angels came to minister to Jesus after the battle.

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. Matthew 4:10-11

Satan is not all-powerful. As you pointed out he had to ask God for permission to touch Job. There are other examples of this.

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. Luke 22:31

As you can see Satan had to ask permission to test Peter. We belong to Jesus the only way the devil can have access to our lives is if we give it to him just like Adam did. 

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