The Spirit of Jezebel

 What Is The Spirit of Jezebel?

Jezebel's sins:
2 Kings 9:22 (idolatry and witchcraft)
Revelation 2:20 (prideful and arrogant [called herself a prophetess though she wa not one]; false teachings which led God's people away from God)

Revelation 2:21 (sexually immoral; unrepentant)

Revelation 2:22 (those who follow her ways and hear her words will will suffer great tribulation unless they repent}

Revelation 2:23 (the fruits of her adulterous ways will be cut down and destroyed, meaning the people who have believed her lies and refused to turn back to God will be destroyed, killed)

2 Corinthians 11:14, 15 (wears righteousness as a costume: masquerades as a person of righteousness; Satan's servant)

1 Timothy 6:20, 21 (irreverent, empty chatter [BSB]-profane and vain babblings [KJV]

{Read 1 Timothy 1:9; 4:7; 6:20 for more details denoting an ungodly, unholy character}

**Irreverent, profane, words are not only immoral and ungodly, but "denotes whatever lies outside the sphere of what God calls “holy.” It marks conduct, speech, or persons that treat divine realities as common, trivial, or contemptible." (Topical Lexicon)

**Empty chatter "targets words that drain spiritual vitality because they are void of divine truth." {Topical Lexicon} Empty words feed vanity. If the words spoken do not persuade a person of the gospel message of salvation, then they are spoken in vain. If the words spoken do not edify, build up, another person or the church as a whole, then they are spoken in vain, too. If real, factual knowledge is not increased within the body of Christ, then those words, as well, have been spoken in vanity, in vain.

Matthew 7:15; Jude 1:4; 2 Timothy 3:5 - She is a wolf in sheep's clothing, allowed to be in the church for some ungodly reason, and spreads lies about God and God's Word. She lures people in the church away with doubts and questions, just like the serpent did in the garden. And then in Revelation 2:24 Jezebel's teachings are the deep things of Satan Revelation 2:23 In the warning to the church in Thyatira, the Angel of The Lord also tells them that ALL the churches will know that God knows the hearts of all and that He will repay each person for their own deeds.

    The spirit of Jezebel is evil through and through. It is evil-minded, evil-intentioned, evil-destructive. It destroys lives and churches wherever it is welcomed because of the lies which emanate from its mouth. Its beauty is deceptive, but like moths to a flame, many will flock to this evil spirit because they have "itching ears" and refuse to hear the Truth of God's Word because The Holy Spirit convicts their hearts and they do not want to be convinced of the Truth [2 Timothy 4:3, 4].

    This spirit is a thief and a liar and a murderer. It steals from God and lies about God's Word. It twists Truth to its own satisfaction. In 1 Kings 21 Queen Jezebel falsified important documents and paid false witnesses to testify against an innocent man, so that she could give her pouty, self-righteous, idol worshiping husband the land that he wanted but didn't need. This is the spirit of Jezebel, too.

    How do we prepare to fight this spirit? 2 Timothy 4:1, 2 By remembering verse 1 "
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: (and doing verse 2) Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction (longsuffering and doctrine)."

    The spirit of Jezebel cannot, nor should it, be allowed in our churches. We must draw near to God with willing hearts, ready to hear and listen attentively to, what He is saying to us through His messenger: the pastor, the shepherd of His flock. We must repent of the wickedness of our hearts, whatever that may be. We must be prepared to reject and dismiss the people who exhibit this spirit from our churches and our homes before it gets a foothold in and refuses to budge. We cannot allow the spirit of Jezebel to insert itself into our conversations, distorting Truth and spreading lies.

    Jesus says, "I Am The Way, The Truth and The Life, no one comes to The Father except by Me."

    The spirit of Jezebel says there are many ways, many paths to life beyond the grave. It is the spirit of antichrist and it wants your soul. It says truth is not absolute, but variable.

    But The Holy Spirit of God repudiates any argument or vain debate which comes from the mouth of the spirit of Jezebel. Titus 1 describes righteous living in the church elders and warns against false teachers who try to infiltrate the church.

    We need to be alert, be aware: we need to watch and pray. Watch our own hearts and minds. Watch over our churches and the congregations within. Be alert to danger, but still testify of God's amazing grace through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.             Pray for the glory of God to fill our churches leaving no room for anything or anyone who is ungodly and refuses to repent; who rebels against the Authority of God and His Holy Word. Pray that His Holy Spirit would tender men's hearts and make them ready to receive His testimony of saving grace through our loving witness.

    Pray that our pastors and teachers would be filled and strengthened by The Holy Spirit every day and into the night. Pray that our adults, young adults and children would begin to grow in the things of God and be transformed, as Paul wrote, by the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:1-2).

    Pray for each other. Encourage each other in The Word; with The Word. Start fighting this spiritual battle now, that our defenses would be built up and it cannot gain entrance.

Warrior of The Word - Waging War

 

2 Corinthians 10:3

For though we live in the flesh, 

we do not wage war according to the flesh.

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

    We wage war with our prayers and with our worship to The Living God, Who is The Creator of All Things, Who is The Father of The Only Begotten Son; Who is our heavenly Father, Whom we can approach freely and frequently through The Son Jesus Christ.

    We wage war on our knees, with our tears and our hearts. But we do not wage war alone. When we begin to pray earnestly, God hears the first urgent breath before the words are ever spoken, if there are words to speak.

    We wage war together, when we pray with each other and for each other. Even if we do not know one another in this life, in Christ we are known, for we are His body. From the cellular structure inside to the outer appearance, we are the body of Christ, and we all need prayer to continue the work which God has given to each one of us. 

    We wage war when we speak with the authority which Christ has within us, when we declare triumph over injury, over sickness, over death. We pray that The Lord God bind our winds, heal our diseases and raise our dead to the advancement of His kingdom and for His glory, honor and praise. 

    We wage war when we pray for those who are dying without first believing and knowing Him. We pray for our missionaries who are willing to go to foreign nations to share the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ; even sharing with those who hate them for speaking The Name of Jesus. 

    We wage war when we pray for our church leaders. We pray for them to be Holy Spirit filled men and women of God. We pray for them to lead faithful and faith-filled lives that they would continue to lead God's churches in the way He would have them to lead. Our churches do not need to be bigger: they need to be fuller, so full that they spill into the streets, the byways, the highways and the alleys. 

    We wage war against spiritual darkness. We pray against witchcraft. We pray against star-sun-moon worship. We pray against tarot. We pray against fortune telling, psychics and the all-seeing eye. We pray against vengeance and bitterness. We pray against lust on every level. We pray against prideful hearts. Whomever we are praying for specifically, we pray against whatever is taking them away from knowing and believing and living The Lord Jesus Christ.

    We pray against anything that is not of God and The Lord Jesus Christ with the full knowledge that we are entering the arena of darkness with a quiver full of Holy Spirit power (arrows) and Word of God knowledge (bow). 

    We do not wage war lightly, for war of any kind is fraught with danger. One little setback could become a retreat. But we will not retreat. We will pray. 

    Let us pray even now for The Spirit of The Living God to have His way in us and in the people we are praying for. 

The Color of Worship - Silver

 2 Corinthians 6:16, 17

What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of The Living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” 

“Therefore come out from among them and be separate," says The Lord. "Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 

    Silver is the color of sanctification, of purification, of being set apart {separated from} for The Lord's glory and purpose. Thirty pieces of silver was the redemption price of both slave {Exodus 21:32}and under-valued shepherd. {Zechariah 11:10-13; Matthew 26:15; 27:3-10}. 

    In Zechariah 11:10-14 silver shekels forewarn of the breaking of two covenants because of their refusal to listen to Him. The first covenant broken was the covenant of peculiarity, of being singled out by God to be His own {Zechariah 11:10; Matthew 21:43; Romans 11:20-22}. The second covenant broken {Zechariah 11:14; Jeremiah 19:1-13; Matthew 27:9} was the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. No longer would they get along with each other in brotherly love, but now they hate each other because of the abundance of sin in their camps, in their hearts.  

    Only in Christ have the two covenants been restored. Only in Christ has God redeemed a people who were not His own. Only in Christ has God redeemed His elect, the people He called to be His own though they rejected Him time and again. Only in Christ can we love one another with the love of Christ. Only in Christ is anything made possible that seems impossible. 

SANCTIFICATION 

    Hebrews 9:22

According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

    Exodus 30:11-16 tells us that the silver given for the building of the tabernacle was the atonement price paid to ransom each man's life who consented to being numbered in the census. Therefore silver represents the atoning power of Christ to redeem us from sin and death. 

    Romans 3:25 - Christ Our Atoning Sacrifice

God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.

    1 John 2:2

He Himself is The Atoning Sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. {John 3:16} 

    1 John 4:10

And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as The Atoning Sacrifice for our sins.

    Hebrews 2:17

For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. 

PURIFICATION

    1 Peter 1:22

Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

    Zechariah 13:9

This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My Name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” [Hosea 2:23; Jeremiah 31:33]

    1 Peter 1:6, 7

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

SEPARATED

    1 Peter 2:9 

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

     1 Thessalonians 2:4

 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, Who tries our hearts.

    2 Timothy 2:15

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles The Word of Truth. 

    2 Corinthians 10:18

For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

    Jeremiah 9:24

But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

    

    

    

    

    

    

Names of God - Zao Theos- The Living God

 

ZAO THEOS

(pronounced zah'-o theh-os')

LIVING GOD

2 Corinthians 6:16

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of The Living God; as God said, “I will make My dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." 

    This verse is a reminder to the born-again believer to not be unequally yoked with a non-believer. That Christ-followers cannot, nor should not want to, mingle what we believe with what other religions believe. 

    Chrislam is a pagan religion, as it is impossible to be a faithful and obedient Christian when one has aligned itself with a non-Christian religion and unbiblical belief system. Christian Nationalism is also a comingling of two ideological platforms where it becomes neither. 

    Christianity begins in the heart of a person. Here in our hearts is where we believe that Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, is Lord. It is through the power of God's Holy Spirit that God's Holy Son takes up residence within us. It is after we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord that The Holy Spirit immediately begins to change us inwardly, transforming us from unrighteous sinners into righteous saints. Christianity puts Christ first, above all else. Even above national pride and promotion.

    Nationalism on the other hand begins in the mind. It promotes the nation's values and strengths above all others, even religion and Christianity. Britannica defines nationalism as "an ideology (social and political philosophy that hopes to describe the world and make changes to it) based on the premise that the individual’s loyalty and devotion to the nation-state surpass other individual or group interests." Knowing that Christianity is an individual interest, the faithful born-again believer chooses to put Christ first, while the faithful nationalist puts his country first. 

    We are the temple, the dwellingplace, the residence, of  The Living God. No other god can be defined in this manner. All other gods were created by mankind in rebellion to The Living God and will end in eternal death for their followers. The Living God died for His people, conquered death, conquered hell and conquered the grave by walking out of it, giving all of His followers eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son. No other god has done that. Nor will they ever, for they do not exist, except in the imaginations of mankind. 

    When we become Christians, not only do we become God's dwellingplace, but we become His servants. Not in a mean sort of way, but in humility and loving sacrifice, placing God's needs above our own. We choose to serve The God Who Loves Us With An Everlasting Love. We opt-in to dedicate our lives to His service: doing what He wants us to do, going where He wants to go, saying what He wants us to say. 

    We choose to love The Living God with all of our hearts, our souls, our strength. We choose to worship The Living God, just as His prophets and His disciples have before us, for this Eternal God alone is worthy of our praise. Let us enter now into His Eternal presence and surrender our hearts and our lives to Him, that The Living God may seal us into His covenant Word. Let us lift our hands and raise our voices in praise and worship!

HE LIVES  - Acapella choir rendition 

     

   

More Than Enough Grace

 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

 

    In Christ we are more than enough because there is more than enough of Christ to save all of mankind, not just a few here and some there. Outside of Christ we are not enough. Nothing we do under our own power or strength will guarantee us a seat in heaven. We need a More Than Enough God to save us with His More Than Enough Grace. 

    In Exodus 20:6, God told Moses that His mercy could extend to thousands, if they loved Him and adhered to His commandments. Psalm 103:17 tells us that God's mercy, His loving devotion, His righteousness extends to our children's children (v18) to those who keep His covenants and obey His precepts. More Than Enough. 

Reconciled & Saved Through Christ

    Romans 5:10, 11

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 

    This is God's grace at work in our souls. God begins to change our hearts - how we love and react to being loved; change our minds - how we think, how we discern. He does not leave us where He found us: in the mire, in the dark, in loneliness, nor in confusion and doubt. He brings us up out of all that with His mighty right arm of righteousness: JESUS CHRIST, in Whom we believe and by Whose Name we are saved. 

     Reconciled (brought near to God) through the blood which Christ Jesus shed on the cross and saved (from eternal damnation and punishment for sins) by His Life Eternal (having conquered death, hell and the grave). 

    MORE THAN ENOUGH GRACE. More than enough LOVE, MERCY, LOVINGKINDNESS for each and every one of us who believe. From the time of Adam and Eve to the present day, there is more than enough life-changing, life-giving grace and mercy to all who come to God through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. 

    All we have to do is acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord of All, including ourselves. That it is by His Name we are saved, for There Is Power in The Name of Jesus. We must confess our sins to God that we might receive His forgiveness. We need to follow The Holy Spirit's direction in living the abundant spirit-filled life we are called to live. Before any other part of our lives need to prosper, our souls above all else, must prosper.

    In order to do that, we must read and study out for ourselves God's Word, in addition to taking in The Word being preached in church. If the whole Word of God is not being preached by mouth, by hand and by actions, then that church is not of God. The Spirit of God, if we let Him, will lead us to the church He wants us to be in. 

    The more we draw close to God in our Bible readings, our prayer time and our daily living, the clearer His voice becomes, and the easier it is to obey The Spirit of God when He calls us to enter into God's presence. 

    I serve a 'more than enough' God. He has More Than Enough for you, too. Do you want it? 

LAY IT ALL DOWN - Will Reagan, United Pursuit

Prepositional Faith - Walk By Faith

 

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 

Romans 8:23, 24

Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?

1 Corinthians 13:12

Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

    If we could see the future, the life which God has planned out for us, would we really want to see it? All the trials, all the joys? No more surprises, either good or bad. Nor more expectations. No more anticipating what is just around the bend in the road on which we travel. 

    No. No, thank you. I don't want to know what God has prepared for me. Regardless of the tragedies ahead, regardless of the happy times that are yet to come, I want to live a life of faith in God. Faith that He knows what is best for me. Faith in God's timing, God's purpose for my life. 

    I don't need to know every little detail of my future: I just need to know where I'm going when I reach the end of this journey of life that I am currently living. I have placed my faith in God's Holy Word, His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, Who died on the cross for my sins; Who conquered death, hell and the grave; Who walked out of the tomb in a glorified body, being the firstfruits of the resurrection of the dead into eternal life. 

    That's my future. That's all I need to know.  

THE COMMISSION - CAIN 

WINDOWS DOWN - CAIN

The Lord Is Light

 

2 Peter 1:19

And we have the more certain prophetic word, to which you do well taking heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until this day shall have dawned and the morning star shall have arisen in your hearts,

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The Only Begotten of The Father,) full of grace and truth.

    David writes in Psalm 27:1 that "The LORD is My Light and My Salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the Strength of My Life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Indeed, where Light shines there is no fear, there is no doubt, there is no one to be afraid of. For this Light is the Knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. And I love that face. By faith in my Savior I will see Him face to face one day. 

    This precious Knowledge we have been given is The Truth of God's Word and it sets us free from the entanglements of sin (John 8:32), releasing us to be joyful, content and rested. This Truth breaks chains, tears down walls of separation and division; it not only brings people into the family of God through the blood of Jesus Christ, but it splits families in two. 

    For where The Word is believed by one or two, it is come against by the many, yet we gain ground in the kingdom of God when we stand fast on His Word. To stand fast ON His Word is to trust Him fully, even when our situations look grim. To stand fast IN His Word is to have His Word enveloped around us, encompassing our every thought and move. We are saturated in the anointing of His precious Holy Spirit and God makes Himself known to us. 

    The LORD is My LIGHT. And My SALVATION. He SHINES in my heart and in my mind. He is The Strength of My Life. Without Him I would be nothing; I wouldn't even exist. He is my Breath for it is He Who gives me breath, gives me life, gives me everything. I am known by those who do not know me, for when they see me, they see JESUS. Sometimes even those who do know me, can just glance in my direction and say, 'She's been with The Lord.' 

    And when I see His Face, I will see His Light shine ever more brighter. In Him I am complete. In Him I am content. In Him I am the lighthouse out of which His LIGHT shines, to warn of the hidden dangers in the darkness of sin. 

    Can you see The Light? He is The Light of Christmas in the Christmas season. He is The Light of Salvation in the Resurrection. He is The Light of Life in the heart of every believer. Is this Light shining in your heart? Do others see Jesus in you? If you let only your light shine, the day will come when your light will be snuffed out: like a candle you will have shined briefly. But if you allow The Light of God, Jesus Christ, to shine in your heart and remove the darkness from within you, then your light becomes His Light and you will shine for Jesus evermore. 

    We sing This Little Light of Mine in Sunday School because we are aware that our lamps are small and frail. However, we also know that The Light that shines in us can spread to every heart who is seeking The Light. Then when our little lights unite, a great LIGHT shines. 

    I'm so glad His LIGHT shines in me and through me. Aren't you?

THRONE ROOM - Kim Walker-Smith

I AM THE LIGHTHOUSE 

SHINE JESUS SHINE - Vineyard Music

The Lord Is....June 2023

 

HUPERBALLO CHARIS

(pronounced hoop-er-bal'-lo khar'-ece)

SURPASSING GRACE

2 Corinthians 9:14

And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the Surpassing Grace of God in you.

1 Timothy 1:15

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

ANEKDIEGETOS DOREA

(pronounced an-ek-dee-ay'-gay-tos do-reh-ah')

INDESCRIBABLE GIFT

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

Romans 5:15

But the free Gift [of God] is not like the trespass [because the Gift of Grace overwhelms the fall of man]. For if many died by one man’s trespass [Adam’s sin], much more [abundantly] did God’s grace and the Gift [that comes] by the Grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, overflow to [benefit] the many. 

ED

(pronounced ayd)

WITNESS

SAHED

(pronounced saw-hade')

ADVOCATE

Job 16:19

“Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, And my Advocate [who vouches and testifies for me] is on high."

KURIOS THERISMOS

(pronounced koo'-ree-os ther-is-mos')

THE LORD OF THE HARVEST

Luke 10:2

And He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask The Lord of The Harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest."

1 Corinthians 3:7

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

John 15:1,2

“I am The True Vine, and My Father is The Keeper of the Vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful." 

A Crucified Life - - Has A Heart For Israel

 

    2 Corinthians 10:1

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2107

Desire: good pleasure

From the Greek word 'eudokia' (pronounced yoo-dok-ee'-ah): what seems good or beneficial to someone.

    2 Thessalonians 1:11,12

Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,

that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Colossians 1:9-12, specifically verse 9, which brings us to why we pray for the salvation of others.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

    (v13,14) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

    Isaiah 45:22

Look unto Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth: for I Am God, and there is none else.

    We pray for your salvation through Jesus Christ. We pray for Israel to know the salvation of God through His Lamb who paid the penalty for sin, once and for all (Hebrews 7:25).

    Isaiah 59:16

He saw that there was no man; He was amazed that there was no one to intercede. So His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.

    Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

    Romans 8:34

Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God--and He is interceding for us.

    1 Corinthians 1:21

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

    Hebrews 2:9

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 

    It is not enough to have the 'heart's desire' for someone's salvation. We can have hopes, wishes, and dreams all day long. But unless we're willing and obedient to put in the effort and time to pray for that person's salvation, hope is rendered useless on our part. 

    And so we pray, as Paul prayed for the people in his Israelite heritage. He knew they were zealous for God (2 Corinthians 10:2), but their knowledge of God's plan of salvation was lacking. Having believed the Lord for his own personal salvation, Paul now seeks that all Israel may know this joy which he himself has found in Christ Jesus. 

    As, too, we should have an urgency in our spirit to pray for Israel's salvation. For they are God's elect, the people God set apart for Himself, taken out of all the tribes of earth because they had a heart to worship Him. 

    You may ask, 'What does it mean to be God's elect'? Simply put, elect means chosen. God called Abram (Genesis 12:1), gave him promises (Genesis 12:2-3) and Abram acknowledged God as Lord (Genesis 12:4). 

    When God calls and we respond to His call, acknowledging Him as our Lord, we become His people. Genesis 28:10-22 tells us of Jacob's first meeting with God, where God called him, gave him promises and Jacob acknowledged God as Lord (v21). 

    God Changes Jacob's Name to Israel

Genesis 32:24-32 gives us the history of how Israel got its name. They are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But only the seed receives the blessing of salvation, not the descendants. So we pray for the descendants (the bloodline of Israel) to become the seed (the bloodline of Christ). 

   

RISE UP by CAIN

LIFE AFTER DEATH by TobyMac

    

A Crucified Life - - Is Extremely Thankful For the Gift of Christ

 

    2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 411 & 1431

    Indescribable: inexpressible, that which cannot be thoroughly related

From the Greek word 'anekdiégétos' (pronounced an-ek-dee-ay'-gay-tos). Beyond words; impossible to estimate; unspeakable.

    Though it has a few definitions, this word 'indescribable' occurs only once in the New Testament Scriptures. 

    Gift: free, without repayment, freely given and not acquired by merit; expresses a brand of giving that highlights the beneficent desire of the giver. 

    A crucified life is worth living. For the life that is lived without Christ does not know its full worth or value until it comes to salvation through Christ. The veil of sin covers the heart of the unredeemed, blinding that soul to the Truth of God's Word. But when a sinner repents (acknowledges their sins against God and turns away from that sin), then that soul is redeemed by Christ. This is why we Rejoice! 

    The Gift we receive from God is both a What (redemption through repentance) and a Who (the Redeemer of our Souls Jesus Christ) which is given to the believer (the one who believes that Jesus Christ is Lord and follows Him {lives by faith}). 

    Romans 5:15

But the Gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's Grace and the Gift that came by the Grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!

THANKS BE TO GOD

    1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His Name, make known His deeds among the people.

    2 Corinthians 2:14

But thanks be to God, Who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

    1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

INEXPRESSIBLE JOY

    1 Peter 1:3-9, specifically v.8

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

THE GIFT OF GOD

    John 1:14

And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

FAITHWALKERS

    1 Corinthians 5:6,7

Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.

REJOICING

    Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

 

    1996 Winds of Worship album

Spirit of The Sovereign God by Lindell Cooley

    

    

A Crucified Life - - Knows Surpassing Grace

 

    2 Corinthians 9:14

And their prayers for you will express their affection for you because of the Surpassing Grace God has given you.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No.

Surpassing: beyond, exceed 

From the Greek word ' huperballó' (pronounced hoop-er-bal'-lo): excel.

Grace: gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ; kindness, the Lord's favor

From the Greek word 'charis' (pronounced khar'-ece). "The merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues" (quoted from Strong's)

    One of the exercises of Christian virtue is our willingness to share with others what we ourselves have received from God. Namely, His Son Jesus Christ, Who is Himself our Surpassing Grace. 

    It takes Holy Spirit boldness and a brave spirit to reach out to someone you've known your whole life (usually family) and say, "I've just met Jesus!" It takes Holy Spirit power to reach across the expanse of this globe to reach someone you've never met with the Love of God expressed through Christ. 

    That is just what these young churches were doing. Exerting, exercising, their increase in faith to help spread the gospel through the work of Paul and his companions. Their cup was overflowing and the overflow went to Paul.

     Is our cup of grace overflowing? where is the excess going to?

    

Surpassing Grace

There Is One Gospel - CityAlight

Greater Is The Blood - Mark & Sarah Tillman

Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew

This Is Amazing Grace - Phil Wickham

Until Grace - Tauren Wells, Gary LeVox

Walking Free - Micah Tyler

Fill My Cup - Andrew Ripp

I Need A Ghost - Brandon Lake

Hands & Feet - Audio Adrenaline

I Will Serve Thee

I Speak Jesus - Here Be Lions

I See Grace - Micah Tyler

    

A Crucified Life - - Acknowledges Christ

 

    2 Corinthians 9:13

Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.

    *Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3671

Confession: agreement, affirmation, profess

From the Greek word 'homologia' (pronounced hom-ol-og-ee'-ah). 

    Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;).

    Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus. 

    The proof of our ministry is our obedient confession of Christ, acknowledging Him as the only Lord and Savior. The Lord of All, of Everything (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:15-29). The Savior of those who believe on His Name (John 1:12; John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-10, 13; Acts 2:21). The proof is our willingness to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son.

    Because we believe what we believe, we are compelled by the Spirit to act on said belief. Our faith in Christ causes us to speak out our faith to anyone who is willing to listen (Acts 24:14-16) to why we believe what we believe about the Bible, the Scriptures.

    So we go into all the world, as Christ instructed His disciples to do (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). We go ourselves, we send people out and support them financially, we support other Great Commission minded groups/people who are committed to spreading the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. 

    It is our act of obedience in our confession of our faith to do so. Our actions are aligned with our words. We are more than walking the walk and talking the talk: we are walking the talk. 

    1 Corinthians 1:23,24

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

    Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

ACKNOWLEDGING CHRIST in worship

The Gospel - Ryan Stevenson

My Portion - Mark Barlow

Creed - Third Day

I Know Whom I Have Believed 

The Proof of Your Love - For King & Country