Excuses, Excuses: Reasons we don't follow Christ

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Put Unbelief Outside!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Love vs Spiritual Gifts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jaziz Gutierrez

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

Facebook: School Of Impartation and Living

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

Holding The Past Against Others

"So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
(John 210:21-23)

I call you forgiven, healed, blessed, loved, and restored! This should be our declaration over every believer's life. Yet without knowing it we come into agreement with what we see happening in their lives, and not what God says in His Word! Without knowing it, we speak against God's will by speaking over their circumstances, and speaking our unbelief by that things won't change. This is not right. If God's Word says they are healed why do we contradict that, and speak to the contrary? If God says they are delivered why do we call them bound? If God says they are blessed why do we call them cursed? If God says they are restored why do we call them broken? If God says they are forgiven why do we hold their past against them?

"Jesus said, "If we forgive any sins they will be forgiven." What we don't realize is that we can keep people stuck by retaining or holding their sins against them. Accusation is the work of the devil.
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down." (Revelation 12:10)

When we retain people's sins (or past) against them we bring them under condemnation, and shame. The bible says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1) Once a person has repented, God's Word says that they are no longer condemned or sentenced to live under anyone's judgment. Why then do we judge? "Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand." (Romans 14:4)

Sadly judging others, being critical, condemning, and accusatory is a widespread problem in the church. There is a reason people don't feel safe about being transparent so they continue to live in shame, bound by the opinions of men, and hoping to be free from sin but feeling they can never achieve it. If the people in church don't feel safe why would anyone outside of the church feel comfortable enough to go in? We can't reach the people we judge. Don't get me wrong God has called us to judge or discern people's fruit but he did not call us to retain or hold people's past against them or their struggle with sin against them. "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)

The compassionate ministry of reconciliation, and restoration of family members is what is really missing in the church. Many times we act like the older brother of the prodigal son. We become angry that God welcomes His son, and daughter home. God immediately showers them with gifts, gives them their authority back, clothes them in righteousness, and throws them a party! Some of us would like to bring the prodigal home, and require that he would earn his way back home instead of just walking in grace again. We say we earn salvation by grace but turn around, and require people to work for the mercy of God. "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"  (Galatians 3:2-3)

Question: Are we requiring people who need to be restored to work their way back into our good graces? Yes, people need to prove themselves. They need to show forth their fruits of repentance. However, are we going to now require that they perfect themselves by the works of the flesh? Do they now need to work on their salvation or receive it by faith again? I don't see the Father meeting the prodigal, and giving him a plan whereby he can become a son again. He has always been a son or she has always been a daughter. The moment someone goes to the cross Jesus declares it is finished! You know when someone has been to the cross because their life becomes consecrated again. They bear fruits of repentance.

The most famous of prodigals was Peter. He was in Jesus' ministry for three years plus. He was the first one to get the revelation of who Jesus' was, and also the first one to tempt Jesus to take a shortcut by tempting him not to go to the cross. Either way Peter was part of Jesus' inner circle. Even though he walked with Jesus the day came that the stress of the ministry became too great, and he abandoned his post. He left Jesus, and even denied he knew him. In today's world Peter would have been considered a fallen leader, a prodigal son, and a minister that morally failed his Savior. Yet, Jesus did not retain or hold his sins against him. He simply called his son home, and made him affirm his love for him. "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” (John 21:15)

The restoration process for Peter began with his declaration for his love for Christ, and confessing him before all men but continued in that upper room as he waiting on God for the Holy Spirit to fill him. In that upper room God transformed those fearful disciples, who had abandoned their posts, and made them the leaders of the greatest outpouring known to mankind. Jesus never once made them work to be in his ministry again or judged them for walking away. He did not retain their sins against them. It is time the church stop putting shame on people who have fallen away or are struggling in their relationship with God. It is God's love and kindness that led men to repentance. Look at what Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, "Go and sin no more." If they sin no more, and continue to walk blameless before the Father who are we to condemn? If they get up, and you throw a stone at them then the love of the Father is not in you. "Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless." Matthew 12:6-7

It is time we stop condemning the guiltless. If they have gone to the court room of heaven, then Jesus has already declared them "Not guilty." Who Jesus declares is forgiven is forgiven. Let us start agreeing with heaven, and God's Word.

Father, I pray for whoever is reading this that would receive the love of the Father, that all guilt, condemnation, and shame give way to your loving presence. That they would realize that you are a Good, Good Father it's who you are, who you are and that they are loved by you; it's who they are, who they are! Amen!

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

Jaziz Gutierrez

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

Facebook: School Of Impartation and Living

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

Apostolic and Prophetic Foundation

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, Ephesians 2:19-21

A foundation is a set of instructions, biblical truths, revelation, and or government that gives the body of Christ stability in their walk with God. Without divine order, structure, or proper church government believers can be persuaded or led away into deception. False teaching, prophetic divination, and gross sin is fostered in environments where there is a lack of Apostolic authority, and Prophetic accountability. It is important to find those who will care or watch over your soul.

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17

On the other hand it is important to remember that Jesus is our cornerstone, and we must always look to Him first before man. We can never allow men to direct us by prophecy without the inner witness in our spirit. We must never allow ourselves to rely more on the instruction of an Apostle than the Word of God. Those who lack accountability in the body must be noted. They are either people who are wounded, and need to be loved back into the body of Christ or wolves who will seek to devour other sheep in their rebellion. This is why shepherds are necessary; to protect the sheep.

The five fold office was never meant to replace our own personal walk with God. It was set up to help them mature in love, and walk in unity. Also, to equip believers so that they may do the work of the ministry. It was never God's intention to have the five-fold ministry do all the work while everyone sits on the pew. That is like having the coach playing the game while the football team sits in the bench.

It is my exhortation today that you look carefully to see that you are not in rebellion by being outside of God's authority structure that he established or being led away by those who would seek to deceive you. You are ultimately responsible for your walk with God, and knowing what God's Word says. Hearing the Spirit for yourself is essential.

One more thing, if indeed God has put someone over you understand that they will give account for your soul. Make sure not to grieve them by being disobedient, and rebellious as a child would be to a parent. Be a joy to their hearts, helpful, submissive, and you will see your walk with God grow. Remember a solider that is AWOL (absent from your post) or MIA (missing in action) will become POW (a prisoner of war) It is time for some of you to report to your commanding officers to receive your assignment for your next season. ATTENTION! ABOUT FACE!
Jaziz Gutierrez

http://www.loverevivalrevolution.com

My Redeemer Lives

Vision: I had a vision at church while they were playing the song My Redeemer Lives. During the song I saw a street full of litter. Jesus was picking it up. I heard the Lord say there are some of you that may feel like discarded trash, like you aren't worth anything anymore and like you have been kicked to the curb. I want you to understand that God has a recycling program. Everyone one of us has a redemption value. We are priceless. He put his value on each of us when he traded the riches of heaven for our ransom. The cross speaks better things of us. It says, "I believe in you, you are worth it, I accept you, and I love you unconditionally!"

He is the Redeemer because he has reclaimed our lives and has paid the compensation necessary to make up for our faults and mistakes. He has taken us back when nobody wanted us. He never gives up because His love is unfailing, undeterred, and always hoping. Do you know that excitement that you feel when you haven't seen an old friend for awhile and you anticipate them coming over? That's how God feels when we have been away and we return home. Home. The Father awaits every son and daughter to return home. He anxiously awaits to embrace us and even runs to greet us. Oh, the excitement of heaven as everyone prepares a feast in our honor. He can't wait to put you back in the position that you left as a son and daughter. To clothe you with the best and put back the ring on your finger again as token of His love.

I'm married to you the Lord says, I will never leave you nor forsake you. I have made an everlasting covenant. To be there for you no matter what!

OUR LIFE HAS BEEN REDEEMED FROM DESTRUCTION!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:2-5

https://youtu.be/6QvX4CwSmwY

Jaziz Gutierrez

http://www.loverevivalrevolution.com

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.

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