The Sanctity of Holy Week

 Matthew 28: 1-6

 ¹In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. ²And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. ³His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: ⁴And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.⁵And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. ⁶He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Dear Brother and Sisters,

    Easter is one of the most important times of the year for a true christian believer. A believer of Christ honors this time and his birth... or they should. In the religious world they consider Easter to be a sacred time of praying, fasting and worship; still practiced by Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, and other  Judeo Christian followers.
    I have taken a reflective look at our situation in the apostolic world on how we honor this time of the year. What I see is not what it should be. These religious denominations take it quite serious ...even the whole week of Easter for praying and fasting and reflection. I have been to some of these services and is inspiring to see that people who do not have the Holy Spirit in their lives to give great consideration to the LORD. They reverence this time of year and I respect their efforts. I pray that we [the people with the Holy Spirit in our lives] would follow their example. We need to humble ourselves, pray  fast, worship, and do deep soul reflection on where we stand as if we were in the presence of the Almighty GOD. HE who has given so much for us is deserving of honor , respect, and much worship.
     I thank JESUS so much for the  Easter Blessing HE has given me. This means a lot to me because  he has sacrificed so much for us to have a HAPPY EASTER. I pray blessing on all the families of our church and to all those across this great nation as well as those overseas the happiness in JESUS.
      Help me pray that people of the MOST HIGH would reverence this Holy Week with respect and honor that is due our Savior.
     To all a Wonderful, Marvelous, and Fantastic EASTER. He is Risen!

Brother Sam Mireles
 

Holy Holy Holy

What Can You Do With a Little Bit of Faith

Read: Matthew 17: 1-21

²⁰And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. ²¹Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

I hope every one of you will take the time to read the entire scripture reading today. The disciples were trying to cast out the devil from the man's son, and they could not. The man went to Jesus who cast out the devils. Then the disciples asked him why they could not cast out the devils.

Jesus looked at them and said, Because of your unbelief. Jesus was blunt and to the point. He said it like it was. Unbelief hinders miracles. Most of us think we believe, but when it comes right down to it we do not really believe. We always give ourselves an out by saying, well I know God can do it, but whether he will or not is another thing. It might not be his will.

To put it plainly in the language of the sixties...that is a cop out! It is time for the believers to get a grip on their belief system and decide to make that leap of faith.

John 14
¹²Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.¹³And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

If you examine these scripture references you will discover that there are no qualifiers. Jesus said that if you believe, he will do anything you ask. So now, the ball is in your court. You must believe! So this is the answer to that never ending question, Why did God not heal me? Why did God not do what I asked? Why? Why? Why?

This, then is the answer to the question. You must have real faith. You must believe NOT that God CAN do it, but that God IS GOING to do it. This is two very different things. You must understand! When you believe that God is GOING to do something you ask, without doubting, God WILL do it. You have to focus and decide that you are coming out of the shadows to be a real believer. We are no longer waiting for the miracles to fall on us. We are laying hold on our miracles! We are reaching into the INVISIBLE world and PULLING OUT our: healing, financial miracle, deliverance, salvation for lost souls, and so much more.

I ask you to consider this thought. If only one person with faith equal to the grain of mustard seed can say to that mountain to be removed and cast into the sea, AND IT IS DONE, And two people who agree about any matter under the sun, AND IT COMES TO PASS. How much power do you think will be generated when an entire congregation comes together in ONE MIND AND ONE ACCORD like they did on the day of Pentecost? I will tell you what will happen...people will get their healing. People will be delivered! Financial miracles will happen, and the entire city will be turned upside down just like Jerusalem on the DAY of PENTECOST! You have it in your hands to make it happen! God is waiting on you to make the first move! Are you ready to see REAL POWER?

TODAY I saw a woman who had been told by her doctors she was going to die with COPD many take laps around the church without losing her breath! God is a healer! TODAY I saw a woman with Colon Cancer who had her most recent chemo treatment 10 days ago DANCE BEFORE THE LORD FOR more than fifteen minutes under the power of God. This woman does not take pain medicine, she does not experience nausea or ANY of the usual side affects of this type of treatment. Do not tell me what God will not do! Sometimes God wants to show you how to WALK BY FAITH under pressure. God took MY damaged heart and brought it back to life. My cardiologist told me personally that GOD had given me a great gift. If you want to know why I believe God, it is because God is still in the miracle working business. You can choose to live a life filled with power. You have the choice.

FAITH is the key and PRAYER opens the door to your miracle. Learning to pray and travail is not easy. It is not pleasant. There are many distractions. But, if you persevere you will walk in the footsteps of the Apostles and the first believers who saw REAL CHANGE, AND REAL POWER with God.

Here I Come To Worship - Darlene Zschech



Shout To The Lord: Darlene Zschech Ron Kenoly

PRAYER WARRIOR CHALLENGE

Last week I began thinking about being a prayer warrior. So I ask myself...what is a prayer warrior? Who is a prayer warrior? What does a prayer warrior do?

A prayer warrior is ANYONE who believes that interceding with God on behalf of others will achieve measurable results! The youngest child can be a prayer warrior if there is faith. The business world is outcome oriented with fancy metrics to discover these outcomes. You do not need a metric to discover if God has answered your prayers. God is looking for people who are willing to get beyond themselves and (1) make a choice to pray (2) make a commitment to stay with it.

A PRAYER WARRIOR prays! A PRAYER WARRIOR commits to daily prayer for others. A PRAYER WARRIOR is not defeated when things look their worst. A PRAYER WARRIOR knows that God may answer in many ways and that yes and no are not the only possible answers to a situation. A PRAYER WARRIOR does not whine about their own problems to the Lord. A PRAYER WARRIOR tells God all about it and moves beyond self to intercede for others. A PRAYER WARRIOR takes up the shield of faith and KNOWS without doubt that God is listening!

Be a PRAYER WARRIOR! Nothing you choose to do will compare with the battles you will win in the heavenlies!

Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

I challenge you today! Take up the shield of faith and go forth to do battle on behalf of the church of God! Claim your lost children, your friends, and give spiritual covering to your church family in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Image Credits
Retrieved from Creative Commons Google and Yahoo Images May 19, 2009

Faith

Faith is at the core of the belief system for every follower of Jesus Christ. So what is faith? Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ²For by it the elders obtained a good report.
The New International Version makes this even more plain: ¹Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Romans 1:17
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Hebrews chapter 11 is a wonderful recounting of the patriarchs and early believers who followed God without reservation. These ancients demonstrated the value of living and walking by faith. Their lives were blessed and they received miracles of astounding greatness.

Hebrews 12: 1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

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

Our world is at a crossroad that may lead to the end of the age. But...we are not there yet! At this moment in time it is important to stand firm on your faith. Keep up your prayer life! Review your attitudes daily. Ask yourself what God is looking for in you? What can I do that will be pleasing to God?

To you older believers who have stood firm for your whole life...thank you. However, you must remember that the race is not run...the battle is not over...and the end has not come. While you may wonder what God can do with you at your time of life, you must make yourself available to the Lord. God is looking for prayer warriors. Prayer is the greatest thing you can do for yourself, your family, your church family, and your community! God will take your prayers and turn your church into a powerhouse and a soul winning station! It is up to you to take up the challenge and stand on the faith that you have carried with you through the long years of your life.

Be a PRAYER WARRIOR! Nothing you choose to do will compare with the battles you will win in the heavenlies!

Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

I challenge you today! Take up the shield of faith and go forth to do battle on behalf of the church of God! Claim your lost children, your friends, and give spiritual covering to your church family in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Image Credits
Retrieved from Creative Commons Google and Yahoo Images May 19, 2009

How to Handle Tragedy

There are times in our life when something, sickness or death, or both stops us in our tracks and grabs our attention in the worst way. Sometimes fear comes upon us unexpectedly. At times like these it is important to stop the panic and distress. Step back and take a moment to review our situation in the light of the word of God. God's promises are true and faithful. We do not know why we must go through terrible trials. We may never know the answer. One thing I do know is that God has a plan for every one of us! You had a plan from the moment you were born. Sometimes plans get changed because of choices we make but there is always a plan.

The following exerpt from Psalms 55 has now become a prayer for help in time of tragedy and need. Pray this prayer when you are in doubt and distress. Dig deep in your faith and purpose in your heart to stand fast on the word of God. He loves you. His love never fails.

1. Psalm 55:22
   Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
   Psalm 55:21-23 (in Context) Psalm 55 (Whole Chapter)

¹ Give ear to my prayer, O God,
And do not hide Yourself from my supplication.
² Attend to me, and hear me;
I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily,...

⁴ My heart is severely pained within me,
And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
⁵ Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.
⁶ So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
⁷ Indeed, I would wander far off,
And remain in the wilderness. Selah
⁸ I would hasten my escape
From the windy storm and tempest.”

¹² For it is not an enemy who reproaches me;
Then I could bear it.
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me;
Then I could hide from him.

¹⁶ As for me, I will call upon God,
And the LORD shall save me.
¹⁷ Evening and morning and at noon
I will pray, and cry aloud,
And He shall hear my voice.
¹⁸ He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.

²² Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

1. 1 Peter 5:7
   Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
   1 Peter 5:6-8 (in Context) 1 Peter 5 (Whole Chapter)