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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What To Do With A Prodigal?

So many times as parents we feel helpless when our loved ones stray from the faith or get caught up in illegal activities or destructive behaviors. As parents what do we do in times like these? How far do we let them go before we intervene? As we struggle within ourselves to do the right thing there is a fleeting thought in the midst of our agonizing prayers...God is a father too.

Why People Burn Out On Ministry

    I was looking today for a way to become fully ordained outside of making payments to an organization. I have worked in church for the last five years as a lay minister or assistant pastor. I ran across this website for burned out Pastors and started reading these sad stories. Wow. I think that many of us have gotten ministry confused with the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not the kingdom of men. Many ministries are just part of the machine that builds the kingdoms of men. This is what sucks the life out of the pastor and congregation. God’s kingdom is not a place here on earth. It is a place in men’s hearts where God has set up His throne and is made Lord over our lives.

    Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”   The Kingdom is within our reach all of the time.  Also, we can see from scripture that the Kingdom is demonstrated in power, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:7-8 Therefore, God’s Kingdom is mobile and transferable.

The problem here is that our eyes come off of doing the above and the focus shifts to building projects, raising money, programs, advertising instead of protecting the presence of God in our lives. We stop seeking His Kingdom and His righteousness first. We get careless with our salvation because now we stop being concerned about our standards and allowing things to slip by us by making small compromises in our faith.  Holiness gets thrown to the wayside as we focus more on service, recognition and position in church.  Our passion to be right with God gets diminished in light of people’s admiration of our gifts and talents.  The next thing we know, our Christian example has become a mockery before the world. This should not be.

     The ministry is not really the problem it is our heart. More specifically the attitudes and motives of our hearts that have been polluted by our need to be recognized and admired. The gospel message becomes laced with covetousness and greed.  It is our ill financial planning that causes many ministers to start to manipulate people from the pulpit. The next thing you know you are threatening people by telling them that God will curse them if they do not give. This is legalism and extortion my friends. Especially if you feel like you are entitled to indulge yourself on the hard earned money of God's people. We are not entitled to anything! You will not find anywhere in Jesus ministry where he demanded a salary from his followers.  On the other hand if you have the means and are withholding  money from God's harvesters then you will have to explain why you built bigger barns instead of sending people into the harvest fields of souls. Jesus was not hung up on titles. He made his life and ministry about serving others. He went about setting people free, healing them and forgiving them.  He did not sit at an office taking calls. He demonstrated the kingdom and lived his life as an example.

     "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken"; "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame." Hebrews 12:1-2 If you have found any of the above wrong attitudes and motives in your heart I encourage to repent and come back to the true ministry of Christ. If you are under a ministry that is has lost its way I encourage you to build His Kingdom instead of building men's kingdoms. May the Lord guide you by the Spirit of Truth and help you find the true ministry of Christ. 

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Jaziz Gutierrez
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Trampling Unbelief In The Gate

Prophetic Word:
For years men and women who have sat in the gate of influence in the church have kept back the move of God! They have questioned my ability to open the windows of heaven over them and refused to believe the Word of the Lord through His servants. As a result the people of God have starved behind four walls. They have fearfully stayed within the walls of containment and mediocrity. For years they have missed out on the harvest which also holds prosperity for God's people. In this next season unbelief  will be trampled down in the gate and the outcasts of society or the unknown, unsung heroes will lead the way into plundering the enemy's camp! They will realize that all that the people of God have needed was just outside the walls all along! This new discovery will cause a movement that the church has not seen in a long time. Their hunger will drive them to follow those whose testimonies declare victory in the most dire of circumstances. No one will be able to stop this forward motion and those who doubted will not partake of the plunder.  I will cause my people to move into enemy territory and the footsteps of a few will sound like many. They will learn to share with one another the things that I give them. Great boldness and courage will be the mark of these End Time Saints! They will not fear what the enemy can do because I will walk with them in even a greater dimension. They will no longer consider the weakness of the flesh but the strength of their God!

2 Kings 7: 3-4 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? ⁴ If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also.

In this next season it will be the outcasts that will lead the way out of containment and famine. It will not be the church superstars but the unknown men and women who have spent time like Esther preparing themselves in the oil of My presence not considering their weaknesses; boldly moving towards the promises of God. They will see no other option than to plunder the enemy's camp. Have you ever felt like these lepers in this passage. Like no matter which way you go there is no positive outcome to your circumstance. There they were sitting at the gate of indecision, going hungry when they come to the conclusion that doing nothing will get them no where. Then they come up with a dangerous proposition. "Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die." Their solution was to go to the enemy's camp. I don't know about you but if I'm going hungry my first thought would not be to go and raid the enemy's camp. Yet they took the risk of going anyways.

2 Kings 7:5-6 And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. ⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!”
Earlier in the chapter Elisha had prophesied about the turnaround of events that were about to take place and a guard had mocked him. He was trampled underfoot for not believing the Word of the Lord by the people who were running to their new found provision.

Like all prophetic words in order to activate them one must step out in faith to receive them.  It's going to require that we take some risks. We can not allow ourselves to be immobilized by fear or indecision. We must step out into the realm of faith to gain access to God's blessing. If God give us something and we don't act on it someone else will. In this next move, God will use whoever is bold enough to believe Him! He does care about degrees or ordinations or the approval of men. His kingdom is not run that way. He will take two loaves and five fish to feed the masses. He will use what little you have and bring multiplication to much needed provision if you will just be concerned with feeding God's sheep who are faint from following Him. God will even use your own brokenness to pour you out and distribute you that you might become bread to the hungry. Don't count yourself out. The four lepers didn't. All they knew was that they were hungry and knew they had nothing to lose. Some of us need to stop making excuses and consider not the weakness of the flesh but the strength of our God. It's time to plunder the enemy's camp!

When the word of the Lord comes to a church it can be the greatest blessing or greatest danger because just like this city that was under captivity and famine; the word always brings two choices…to believe or not to believe…to act or not to act.

    The prophetic promise that came to bring a breakthrough can be stopped through unbelief. What if they would have hesitated, procrastinated in believing? Unbelief is disobedience to the Word of the Lord to your life. Be bold and step over into your time of fulfillment!

     Miracles are always released by acting upon faith.  Jesus said, “Come” and Peter got out of the boat.  Jesus said, stretch out your hand and the withered hand was healed.  Go wash in the pool of Siloam and the man did and he could see. Pick up your mat and the man got up.  The point is there has to be a corresponding action to the word of the Lord in faith for a miracle. So the city had a choice to believe the word of the Lord or continue in famine and accept their captivity.

          
My friends there is a gate that everyone stands at daily and we are the gatekeepers. Let's look at the gate.

     Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
         Keep watch over the door of my lips.

    
Proverbs 21:22-23 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, 
      And brings down the trusted stronghold. 
       ²³ Whoever guards his mouth and tongue 
      Keeps his soul from troubles.

In the old times keeping the gates guarded was important part of keeping the city fortified. It may seem that our gate is very small compared to the size of that city; but in the book of James it gives this perspective.

James 3:3-5 "Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.: We will either boast in the greatness of our God or talk about the greatness of our circumstances.

Faith will not consider the circumstance it is experiencing, the personal limitation its dealing with or the physical condition its facing. It will believe contrary to what is sees.

Romans 4:18-22 Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” ¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

    
Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.

Scripture: 2 Kings 7: 19-20 Then that officer had answered the man of God, and said, “Now look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” 
And he had said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” ²⁰ And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died.

      

    What is the word that stands at the gate of your mouth? 

Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. By his confession of unbelief he slammed the windows of heaven shut over his life. Understand if you choose not to believe it will not keep others from receiving. Will we trample underfoot the words of unbelief or stay in a fortified city of famine and captivity? Who’s the gatekeeper in your life?  Is it your friends, your kids, your unbelief, your spouse, your circumstances or your own confession? Trample underfoot unbelief by confessing, agreeing and acting in faith with God’s promises.

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-37

Has your prophetic dream died?

    The Shunammite woman received her prophetic promise because she made place for the Lord in her life through inviting the man of God to stay with her. Prophetic destiny is birthed in the place where we have made room for God and it is sustained by intimacy. Sometimes it seems that we don’t even ask for a word from God or a dream when all of the sudden it seems that dream has died. The woman was wise in being a doorkeeper and saying, “It is well.”  Elisha did not allow Gehazi to speak to anyone on to restore the promise so that no one could speak into the situation.

    If we allow ourselves to go back into the bedchamber and put our eyes to God’s eyes, our mouth to His mouth, and allow his hands to be our hands we will see our promise came back to life again.  It will only happen in a place of intimacy and prayer.

2 Kings 7:5-6 And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. ⁶ For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!”

Earlier in the chapter Elisha had prophesied about the turnaround of events that were about to take place and a guard had mocked him. He was trampled underfoot for not believing the Word of the Lord by the people who were running to their new found provision.

Like all prophetic words in order to activate them one must step out in faith to receive them.  It's going to require that we take some risks. We cannot allow ourselves to be immobilized by fear or indecision. We must step out into the realm of faith to gain access to God's blessing. If God give us something and we don't act on it someone else will. In this next move, God will use whoever is bold enough to believe Him! He does care about degrees or ordinations or the approval of men. His kingdom is not run that way. He will take two loaves and five fish to feed the masses. He will use what little you have and bring multiplication to much needed provision if you will just be concerned with feeding God's sheep who are faint from following Him. God will even use your own brokenness to pour you out and distribute you that you might become bread to the hungry. Don't count yourself out. The four lepers didn't. All they knew was that they were hungry and knew they had nothing to lose. Some of us need to stop making excuses and consider not the weakness of the flesh but the strength of our God. It's time to plunder the enemy's camp!

If you find this article helpful or would like to leave a comment or visit our website:
Jaziz Gutierrez
http://www.loverevivalrevolution.com
Facebook: School Of Impartation and Living

Prophecy: Cold Hearts In Days Ahead

Jesus prophesied long ago "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."
Matthew 14:11-12

      It will be that many will turn away from sound doctrine, follow false teachings and will fall into deception. The increase of sin in the church and poor example that they see in leadership will so disappoint real believers that some will walk away. They will start to question what is real because it will be hard to tell what if God and what is not. Many will grow cold in their faith and love towards God. We are seeing this now in record numbers. However Jesus said, "But he who endures to the end shall be saved!" In other words it is not a guarantee that you will make through unless you decide now that you will guard your heart will all diligence and endure the testing that is coming ahead. We will have to keep our hearts from offense, keep ourselves connected to God and be sensitive to the Spirit of Truth. My friends, we have no time to spend on frivolous activities for in the coming days ahead perilous times will come and we need to prepare now so that we may have the endurance to overcome. Endurance comes with resistance and training. Don't be dismayed that you are being resisted now because that is what is going to build your spiritual muscle. These circumstances may feel heavy but Jesus is helping you carry the weight until you can lift it yourself in prayer. In this season it will become very important that we pray for one another and strengthen each other. There is no room for petty strife, vain arguments and false accusations. We will need to stand together AS ONE!

How To Stop Spiritual Attack!

If you are struggling spiritually and are under attack please follow the instructions below. Understand that Jesus fought temptation by speaking God's written Word to combat the enemy's lies.
We must do the same!
First know you are under attack. Symptoms include:

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

Causes of an attack can come from:

1. You are causing too much trouble to the kingdom of darkness or you are a threat to the devil. Listen to me, some of you are taking spiritual attacks way too personal. You are made in the image of God. That's enough to make the devil mad. He hates you because every time he looks at you he's reminded of his defeat. I have found that the people who are under attack the most in their lives are the ones who carry a greater call. For some of them, the moment they were conceived started a battle for their soul. It's like the devil knew which ones would become a threat to him. In the times of Moses, the devil inspired Pharoah to slay all the children under two years old. The devil was after Moses but Yahweh had another plan. In the days of Jesus, the same thing happened when he inspired Herod to kill babies. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. (Matthew 2:16) Which leads me to believe that abortion is the devil's way of killing God's anointed. God forgive us all for allowing this mass genocide to continue for years!

2. You are compromising in your walk with God therefore giving the devil legal access. The devil is opportunistic in nature. The bible tells us to: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Ever watched a nature show? Lions prey on the weak, sick, young, and animals that are separated from the herd. The Bible describes the devil as a thief. A thief comes when you are unsuspecting. He also looks for a way in. We need to know the nature and ways of our enemy so we can war accordingly. The Bible calls him a liar. Check your thought life. That's the most common way in. You may be compromising in your thought life by allowing thoughts of hatred, envy, lust, and self-righteousness to affect your attitudes toward others. You also may be believing lies. Compare what you believe to God's Word or truth.

3. You have been playing instead of praying. You have been entertaining or indulging the flesh too much. I heard a Pastor say this a long time ago and it's true. Your flesh is crazy. If you would let it run your life, you would be eating all day, sleeping all day, watching TV all day and a myriad of other things that indulge it. Don't coddle (treat in an indulgent or overprotective way) your flesh when your under attack. That means you force yourself to press into God even if you don't feel like it. For me, TV is my kryptonite. I get to watching one show and it's not enough. I have to see what's going to happen next. I can become quite addicted to TV quickly. I was raised around it. You need to know your limits or what's going to stumble you back into unfruitful and fleshly behavior. I like what I heard a preacher teach the other day. He was saying that right before we fall into sin there's a little lie that comes into our mind that makes us believe that we can handle the temptation. Which causes us to put our trust in the flesh instead of God's grace to deliver us from sin. Big mistake! We also may believe that we are too weak to say no. Another lie! For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
Distractions are another way of coming under attack because we are not watching and praying. Maybe you are not indulging your flesh but perhaps you are not feeding your spirit because of distractions. Maybe Facebook is your distraction or some other social media outlet. Remember distraction and fleshly indulgence is the opposite of being sober or vigilant!

4. You are walking with someone who is living in compromise putting yourself in the line of fire. Maybe you aren't the one who is giving the devil access but someone you are in a relationship with or living with is. Believe it or not, they can cause you heartache just by having them around. I will call this the Achan principle. Achan was a man who took some things from the enemy's camp and hid them in his tent when the children of Israel were commanded not to. Joshua did not know why they were so severely defeated by the enemy until God tells him. And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? 11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. 12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
(Joshua 7:10-12) If you read the whole chapter you'll find out that Achan caused defeat in the lives of those around him because of his idolatry and sin.

Another example is Jonah. Everyone in the boat came under a storm because of Jonah's disobedience to God. They literally had to throw him out of the boat into the ocean to calm the storm. That's when the fish swallowed him. Jonah's confession: And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. (Jonah 1:12)
5. You have disobeyed the last thing God told you and now you have lost your way. I think one of the most shocking stories in the Bible is the one about the young prophet who was sent to prophesy to King Jeroboam regarding the rulership of King Josiah. He was told not to go anywhere except where Yahweh told him. Even though he was determined to obey Yahweh He obeyed the older prophet over the Word of the Lord. The older prophet convinced him to disobey by lying to him and claiming that an angel spoke to him contradicting Yahweh's instructions to him. Paul warns us by saying, But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8) This is another principle. You don't obey man over Yahweh, that puts you in the devil's territory! It may seem unfair but disobedience still has the same consequences whether you were tricked or not. Here's the older prophet rebuking the younger one after he had lied. Now he prophesies truth after he lied!... and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, 22 but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lordsaid to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” 23 So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. 24 When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse. 25 And there, men passed by and saw the corpse thrown on the road, and the lion standing by the corpse. Then they went and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. (1 Kings 13:21-26)

This is why Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!" The young prophet took the bait and was devoured by the lion(devil) Listen to me saint, you don't obey anyone over God's Word or the Holy Spirit! It doesn't matter who they are. You can not obey your spouse, child, friends, parents, or even a minister over Yahweh! 6. Sometimes the devil is going to call you out to see if you really believe what you say. He did this to Job. He did it to David and he'll do it to you. Look at the story of David and Goliath. David took Goliath down because he knew who Yahweh was. David put his confidence in the strength of his commander and chief! Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. (1 Samuel 17:45-47) Amen! When the devil comes all suit it up and tries to intimidate you remember who is fighting your battles! Again do not take spiritual warfare personally. At times there are uniform attacks against the body so it’s not just you. It’s all believers. Think of all the times the Philistines were attacking Israel. Listen to me, the devil comes to take territory. Sometimes you need to defend your territory! Whether it be your family, marriage, finances, business, ministry, health, salvation or whatever else Yahweh has given you. Do not crumple up in a corner and feel sorry for yourself because the devil will not have pity. He'll kick you when you're down. Understand? He won't stop attacking or take a break just because you feel too weak to fight. Cry out to Yahweh and He'll protect you. Regroup, get strengthened, and get up to fight! You got this.

7. Soul wounds are entryways for attack. I have an expression I like to use. There's blood in the water. Sounds strange but I'm referring to blood in the water that attracts sharks. In the wild predatory animals are attracted to blood. The devil is a predatory entity. What I mean by soul wounds are wounds inflicted on our hearts that affect our identity. Making us believe that we are not who God says we are. That's exactly what the devil did to get Adam and Eve to have them relinquish their authority over to him. He made them question Yahweh's goodness and question their identity.

Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-4) First, the devil comes in by questioning God's Word, "Has indeed God said?" Then he questions his goodness by saying, "For God knows that in that day you eat of it your eyes will be opened..." as if to say Yahweh is withholding His goodness from you. Then the devil brought their identity into question when he said, "You will be like God" when they already were in His image. Once he seduces us to sin he brings our soul under shame, guilt, and condemnation which separates us from Yahweh and makes us run from him instead of to Him.
The saying that sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me...is the biggest fallacy ever believed. It's what we believe through people's words inspired by the devil's lies that bring the most destruction into our lives. The bible says, Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. (Proverbs 18:21) Yahweh admonishes us to Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23) If you want to keep the devil out of this area of your life take the big stick called the cross and beat the devil over the head with it. Declare God's truth and scripture over yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to heal your heart. Remember the devil is a liar!

8. Number 1 way to live in torment as a Christian is not forgiving someone. I put it last so that hopefully if anything stands out it will be this principle. Jesus tells this story about a man whose debt was forgiven but he then turned around and demanded that his debt be paid. Jesus said, "Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
(Matthew 18:25) I want you to understand that the devil has the legal right to torment you if you stay in the sin of unforgiveness. This includes keeping grudges, resentment, slander, and gossip. I can't tell you all the times I've tried ministering to someone and I've felt this invisible block wall that kept any of my prayers from penetrating. I would ask them, "Is there anyone that you need to forgive?" The answer was always yes. The moment they released the other person from their debt or trespass, what they were requesting from God was now released over them. Forgiveness opens the heavens and unforgiveness closes them.


9. Anger is the devil's habitation! If you want the devil to come live with you then allow anger to fester in your heart. Go to sleep without settling the matter and think about the injustice all night until you are boiling over. Then instead of trusting Yahweh to handle it or do justice on your behalf; take matters into your own hands. This is how anger progresses into sin.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27) This word place means habitation in the Greek. Just like Yahweh inhabits our praises the devil inhabits our anger. Your invitation to anger will lead to sin and spiritual attack! Close the door by Agreeing with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. (Matthew 5:25)
How to stop an attack and win the battle

1. Feed your spirit!
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)

2. Don’t isolate yourself get around those who are on fire for God!
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)

3. Fasting! Example: Food, Entertainment, Social Media, Friends, and etc. Get alone with God. "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21)

4. Repent if you have compromised and stop sinning. It closes the doors to the devil! Make full confession of your sins. Look at Galatians 5:19-21 for help. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2) If you want heaven's help repent!

5. Pray! "Pray without ceasing!" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) It doesn't matter if you don't feel like you are qualified. "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months." (James 5:17) If you do not know what to pray then pray the Psalms.

6. Worship Him! Depression is a spirit called heaviness so put on the garment of praise! It will leave you through worship. To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; (Isaiah 61:3)

7. Get godly counsel and wisdom. Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14)

8. Submit to God and humble yourself; resist the devil and he will flee.
(James 4:6-8) Humility or meekness will protect us but pride will cause our destruction. Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) Our obedience or submission closes all access to the devil! Obey or submit to God's authority even if you don't feel like it.

9. Speak the Word of Yahweh over every circumstance!
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)

Prayer:
Father, I humbly come before you, I submit my will to you and ask you to forgive me if I have sinned against you. I repent and take responsibility for all those whom I have hurt. Show me where I need to make restitution. Lord, I forgive those who have hurt me and pray for those who have despitefully used me. I repent of every generational iniquity in my bloodline that has corrupted my family and me such as the sins of adultery (pornography), fornication (sex outside of marriage), sorcery (drugs), pride, self-righteousness, contention (argumentive), contempt (looking down on others), jealousy, unbelief, drunkenness (all forms of intoxication), covetousness, divination, necromancy (talking to the dead), idolatry, uncleanness, hatred, reviling (abusive speech), lust, perversion, satanism, and heresy.

I pray that every assignment from hell would be canceled against my life, ministry, marriage, family, and purpose or your plans for my life. I break off, take the authority over and command all demonic spirits of anger, rage, fear, depression, unbelief, destruction, torment, guilt, bondage, vagabond, rejection, unforgiveness, lust, perversion, jealousy, offense, bitterness, mind-control, double-mindedness, confusion, passivity, stubbornness, sickness, diseases, pain, fetter and all addictions to food, alcohol, drugs, sex, pornography, gambling, or nicotine and any Spirit of Jezebel, Santa Muerte, Vodoo, Masonry, an anti-Christ Spirit or Spirit of this Age to come out in the name of Jesus out of (name the person or yourself).


I break all curses off my family, marriage, children, and relatives. I break every shackle, chain, cord, habit, craving, debt, soul-ties, and any spirit that has tried to rob, kill, or destroy my life. I command my family to be set free to know Jesus! Satan, I command you to loose them now! In Jesus’ name! Come out of your captivity. According to Galatians 3:13, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Therefore, I declare that every curse is broken over my loved ones and myself. I declare that my family sees God’s mighty outpouring in my life and they are moved to respond to God’s conviction. For me and my household shall be saved!

I declare that I'm walking revival of God's presence. Whenever I’m around people are being convicted of righteousness, sin, and judgment. The love of God draws them and moves them to surrender fully to God. Scores of angels surround me and protect my life, home, cars, health, family from any attack of the enemy. There is a ripple effect that my life is causing that will cause others to do the same until this nation returns to God with humility and power. I declare that I'm part of Yahweh's kingdom and that we are walking in unity, love, humility, holiness, hunger, transparency, and power. We will not think twice about laying our lives down for God’s kingdom. Father, I pray that every false teacher, preacher, and prophet would be removed from their pulpits. That deception and delusion would be broken over the church. I pray that the spirit of lawlessness, rebellion, and compromise will be removed from every heart. God cleansed the temple once again and made it a place of consecration and glory. Let every lie of the enemy be exposed that has taken God's people into captivity. May every doctrine of devils be uprooted from every place in the land. Let your remnant arise in the land taking back every territory for God!

We pray that the enemies of America and their strongholds be destroyed by the mighty name of Yeshua. We declare that this nation is returning to the godly precepts that it was founded on and will be called a Christian nation again. We declare that every idol, false religion, and stronghold of unbelief is broken over America. We speak that our troops are supernaturally protected as we come under God’s blessing now and walk in obedience to God’s Word. Father your word declares that the heart of the King is like a river and you determine its course…I pray that every leader or person of position in this nation will be moved to worship the one and only true God; Elohim. Whatever you must do to break the anti-Christ spirit, spirit of this age, and Jezebel's control over our government, this nation, and in your people so that we may be a godly testimony among the nations please do it. I humbly ask you for all of these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

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Jaziz Gutierrez

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Help I've Been Wandering and Wondering

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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