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Found 15 results

  1. My way to decency. Part. 2. Because I wasn't strong enough in the sum of His Word and His Holy Spirit, and yet hadn't understood the meaning of Godliness and Holiness, that God is Holy and He wanted me to be likewise both inwardly and outwardly, it went some more years until I had an huge WAKE up call! That's 20 years+ ago now and at that time I was living as a big hypocrite, a sinful and unholy life as a "Christian". One glorious day, mine eyes got wide open, and I could finally see that I was a big hypocrite who needed to wholeheartedly repent, and plea for mercy and forgiveness! Abba Father forgave me once again, cleansed me with the precious Blood of the Lamb, and gave me a brand new chance to start all over again! HalleluYah! 🎼🎻🎹🆙⬆️🎶🎼😊Amazing Grace above all!!! 🌈 After this event, I soon started to dress decent again, with full length dresses&skirts and I was completely satisfied with it, and it's the same today. 😊 I started to cover my head again on a permanent basis for 8 years ago. I'm stronger in the sum of the Word today than back then, and I know that I'm dressing in a Biblical way, to honor my Savior, and to not be a temptation for my brothers in the Lord (or other men), etc. So, if you're a saved and born again woman and don't dress decent yet, please read this testimony once again while you are praying, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will convince you and teach you, to start to dress in a way which will please Him, and not grieve Him, as I believe you love the Lord with all your heart, and that you only want to honor Him in all you do. 😊 May the Lord's peace and grace be with you. Warm regards from Monica. 🌻 🌼 🌸 🤗 🌸 🌼 🌻
  2. My way to decency. Part. 1. This testimony is first of all to all the women who are saved and born again. When I was 20 years old (over 35 years ago), I lived together with some Danish missionaries in Greece for some months, helping out with looking after some of the children, cooking and washing dishes and clothes etc. When I traveled with them, I had to dress decent with full length dresses&skirts and cover the head, and I was satisfied with that, in so much that it became natural to me. After I had lived in Greece for an half year, I (unfortunately) got "homesick" and went back to Norway again. I continued to dress decent etc., even if very few of the other young (and elderly) women did it, because I felt comfortable with it and was considering that it was Biblical to do so. We were 3 young women from a congregation who shared one apartment together, and the dad of one of them, came to visit me one day. I had deep respect for him and his opinions, but I know that in this case I shouldn't have listened to him, cause he managed to talk me out of my decent behavior, telling me that "it wasn't the will of God that I should dress like that, or not cut my hair short or use headcover, cause God want you to be free." What a bunch of lies he told me, but unfortunately I chose to believe in him, and I stopped dressing decently, I cut my hair and didn't use headcover anymore. Even if I know today that the Lord has forgiven me for this, I still feel sorrow 😔 when I think about how I grieved His Holy Spirit. I remember that I felt sorrow inside me immediately when I did what I did back then, but I felt like it was no turning back. Little by little after I had done this, I slowly started to go back to the world again! Exactly what the enemy wanted to obtain. So, I was back in the "pigsty" again for a while, until I heard the Lord calling me back to Him, and I came "crawling" back.
  3. Holiness. Help me to see that You are Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, and that You want me to be likewise in every way, each and every day! Without Holiness, I shall not enter into Your Kingdom, and I will not be able to see Your Face, as I then will walk out of Your Grace! Teach me and help me to fear You as I should - in Holy fear ; so I through Your Word can understand this very clear! Give me grace to pursue Holiness even more from now on ; so I'm not satisfied until Your work in me is done! Then I will forever see Your beautiful Face in the Heavenly place - by Your wonderful Grace! 20.10.2020. PrayerWife.
  4. Holiness. Help me to see that You are Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, and that You want me to be likewise in every way, each and every day! Without Holiness, I shall not enter into Your Kingdom, and I will not be able to see Your Face, as I then will walk out of Your Grace! Teach me and help me to fear You as I should - in Holy fear ; so I through Your Word can understand this very clear! Give me grace to pursue Holiness even more from now on ; so I'm not satisfied until Your work in me is done! Then I will forever see Your beautiful Face in the Heavenly place - by Your wonderful Grace! 20.10.2020.
  5. Duck

    Sanctification?

    Does anybody believe in entire sanctification for the believer?
  6. Why does Satan hate holiness? Firstly can I establish whether we should discuss the hatred Satan has for all things holy, because I have known people to become uncomfortable discussing this topic. What do you think...discuss why Satan hates holiness or leave it alone?
  7. Shalom, everyone! At shiloh357's suggestion, I'm starting this thread to give a BIBLICAL definition to "holy" and "holiness." See, I'm not a huge fan of the "science" of theology. Theology to me is like commentaries; just more human words to confuse the issues. As Paul said, Romans 3:4 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. So, let's get a running start: First of all, the Hebrew word translated as "holy" is "qaadowsh": 6918 qaadowsh (kaw-doshe'). Or qaadosh {kaw-doshe'} (spelled without the vav); from qaadash; sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary -- holy (One), saint. 6942 qaadash (kaw-dash'). A primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally) -- appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), X wholly. And, Yesha`yahuw (Isaiah) said, Isaiah 6:1-5 (KJV) 1 In the year that king Uzziah (Hebrew: `Uzziyaahuw) died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims (Hebrew: sraafiym = "burning ones" or "poisonous [serpents]") each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy (Hebrew: Qaadowsh, qaadowsh, qaadowsh) is the LORD of hosts (YHWH ts'va'owt? the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. And, just for confirmation, here's the Hebrew (transliterated): Yeesha`yahuw 6:1-5 (JPS Hebrew-English TANAKH) 1 Bishnat-mowt hamelekh Uzziyaahuw, vaa'er'eh et-Adonaay yosheeV `al-kicee', raam v-nissaa'; v-shuwlaayow m-lee'iym et-haheekhaal: 2 Sraafiym -- `omdiym | mimma`al low sheesh knaafayim sheesh knaafayim l'echaad; bishtayim ykhacceh paanaayow, uwbishtayim ykhacceh raglaayow, uwbishtayim y`owfeef: 3 Vqaaraa' zeh 'el zeh v'aamar qaadowsh | qaadowsh qaadowsh YHWH tsVaa'owt mlo' khaal haa'aarets kVowdow: 4 Vayaanu`uw ammowt haccipiym miqqowl haqqowree' vhabayit yimmaalee' aasaan: 5 Vaa'omar owy-liy khiy nidmeeytiy -- kiy iysh Tmee'-shfaatayim aanokiy uwVtowkh `am Tmee' shfaatayim -- aanowkhiy yowseeV kiy et hamelekh YHWH tsVaa'owt raa'uw `eeynaay: Now, some say that "holy" means "set apart"; others say that "holy" means "righteous"; still others say that "holy" means "ceremoniously sacred," but the Scriptures tell me that this word means "clean" or "pure" (for that is how the word is used wherever it is found). So, when we read something like... Leviticus 19:1-4 (KJV) 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 "Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. 3 Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. 4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God." He is simply saying, "You shall be clean, for I YHWH Eloheinuw am clean!" And, then He proceeds to show them how they can be clean. Thoughts?
  8. The Holy Spirit is IN a person who is born again. It is Christ IN us. But it takes going to the throne of grace to get the FULL measure of grace. We need to further enter into someone who isn't us....Jesus Christ Himself. It's like the 10 lepers who were healed but only one came back to Jesus. ALL were indeed healed. But there was a selfishness in the other 9 as in...I got what I came for. (Come and get YOUR miracle today). The Christian walk is about pressing on to maturity. But even maturity is at different levels. Imagine going for a long walk...say 30 miles. Some people could do that in a day. But then another person takes 2 days....because he is also carrying 80 pounds on his back. So who must be in the better shape? That's the way it is with the narrow path. Some people seem to have a harder time of it...but their calling is higher. We can be as mature as can be...but maturity in the spiritual walk of purity (holiness) is something vastly different. The walk of the righteous person is one thing...but to walk as Jesus walked for any length of time is miraculous. Can a man walk on water as if he was walking on land? So then I divide maturity in righteousness...becoming more loving, more forgiving...getting to know God better. That's good...very good. (And it is very necessary) And that's one thing....but then there's maturity IN the Spirit which is like getting used to living on another planet. What makes a person at home on earth does not automatically make a person able to survive in another world. Of course righteousness and holiness are related. Learning righteousness helps with a longevity in holiness...even though it doesn't lead to it. But the scandal of Jesus Christ is that He didn't just perfect a walk in the power of the flesh for us to grow into or to imitate. He perfected humanity by a higher walk...a spiritual walk, and then brings us into it through translation into Zion in the Spirit. The scandal is that we can never improve ourselves into holiness. Holiness is a gift. Spiritual maturity is how long we can walk in the Spirit. Like how long we can walk on water for. If I only spoke about what men can do...I would not be hated for speaking of the the cross of Christ in this way...the break with human kind which separates us from what we can do in our own capabilities...even mature capabilities. But I speak of the unspeakable gift...so I'm hated by many. The gift of God is the perfection of Christ's humanity given to us already perfected...as a gift. His perfect walk...as a gift. No improvements are required. It's the whole enchilada right away. That is what grace is. A gift of an eternal walk in an eternal life....not our life...but as partakers of HIS life. So the spiritual maturity is learning to walk IN someone else...not yourself. Hard to believe? Absolutely. Not of this world. But there it is! Having said all that...God loves us who walk after Him in the fear of Him and the hope of a future life with Him. We are saved not just by an active faith in the moment but also a living hope in the long race. God works with us...and guides us by His Spirit. We are His people who obey His commands and seek after Him. And then there's the saints...
  9. Jesus did not come to call the righteous to repentance. A person who is well does not need a doctor. Now of course some will want to quote "there is none righteous...no not one"....but thinking that means that there is no such thing as "the righteous"...which is taking the verse too far....since there is obviously many references in the bible in both testaments to the righteous. So there is a contrast happening here... Notice the difference between... 1 Pet. 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? and... 2 pet. 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The saints will rule over the saved righteous in the nations..from the New Jerusalem in the next age.
  10. If you are going to post anything against sanctification or to discourage it then please, in the name of the Lord Jesus: “Do not reply to this post”. If you are proud about your sins and your unholy state, then please do not discourage those who do not want to be. “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.” - Luke 11:23 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31 For it is for God they desire to be holy. And is it for God you desire to be unholy?! “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” - John 12:47-48 Pursue holiness, yes, pursue holiness. As commanded by the Lord. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” - Hebrews 12:14-15 Sanctification for the sheep. Yes, for the sheep! “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” - Matthew 15:19-20 “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” - Proverbs 4:23 No one can even desire sanctification if the Spirit of God is not in them. “and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” - Acts 15:9 If you desire sanctification it is a good indication that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” - Romans 8:9 But is there a limit to sanctification for me?! No, there is no limit: “...go and sin no more.” - John 8:11 Is it the will of God that I walk holy in this world?! It is not only the will of God, but it is He Himself that puts this desire in you, through His Spirit. “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” - Philippians 2:13 And by doing so, in truth, you are pleasing and honoring Him. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” - John 17:17 And forget everything you have heard from friends and family. Everything is possible with God, and He can sanctify you, in truth, completely... There is no limit to His power. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” - Matthew 19:26 It is very common we hear from people that this or that is impossible to overcome. This is not true, as explained above. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” - Mark 11:24 The limit is that your pride may hinder your sanctification, the prouder you are, the less sanctified you will be. Submission to the Lord and acknowledgment that you stand by faith in Him and not on your own strenght or ability. “Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.” - Romans 11:20 And you will see this as you progress, that whenever you become proud... Then, you fall. “I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.” - Isaiah 42:8 As it is written, humbleness is very, very important in the sanctification process. The Lord is very, very interested in your sanctification but without submission and humility this is not going to happen. “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”” - James 4:6 First, get rid of all deceit and hypocrisy... You are not going to be sanctified in truth if you walk in darkness. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” - 1 John 1:6 Be sincere with the Lord, you cannot hide anything from Him. If you know you are doing something that displeases Him, then, repent. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9 The Lord understands and know of your weaknesses, but He desires that you pursue His righteousness and do not be satisfied with your current state. Whenever you fail, you are not willing to, but by your own strength you cannot improve and overcome. “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” - Romans 7:19 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” - Romans 7:24-25 Whenever you fall, confess it, and seek not to next time, this is obviously if you have repented. Just seek to walk in sincerity before Him. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” - 1 John 1:7 Give priority to the Spirit, not the flesh. I believe that reading the Bible, especially the New Testament; at least once a day can help. You do not need to read it whole at once, a few minutes a day would be fine. But read it, and pray before you do it: Asking for wisdom, understanding, and to guide you in truth! The Word and the Spirit have to work together, just reading it is not enough, you have to believe it! If evil temptation comes, and your desire is to please God, but then Satan says that God wants you to do that, then the following Scripture comes: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” - James 1:13-14 You will notice that Satan will soon stop to try this strategy on you because he was defeated by the truth. And no lies can prevail against truth. And by faith, you will stand, if He allows you to stand. Remember: Faith comes from God. A few things you can do to help your sanctification is to abstain from unnecessary and wordly things, as much as possible. Do not take the abstention of evil lightly. It is very, very important. “Abstain from every form of evil.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Fighting in the spiritual realm, putting the Word into practice. As I said, the Word have to work with the Spirit. And by practicing the Word - which means to believe it - your sanctification will reach higher levels. “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 At the start, you will see yourself in many fights against the flesh. But as you grow it will become easier and easier, and the fights against the flesh gets much lower. As commanded by the Lord: Watch against all evil, do not let them enter in your heart. Feelings of the flesh, like: pride, envy, outbursts of wrath, fornication, obscene thoughts, hate, bitterness, etc may come. But be prepared to resist them, the Spirit will warn and give you faith to resist them. “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.” - Luke 12:39 If you feel Satan is going too strong, then use your authority in the name of the Lord Jesus to fight against him. “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” - John 14:14 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” - Luke 10:19 Remember, the Spirit of the risen Lord dwells in you. The Spirit must reign, not sin (flesh, evil desires, etc). “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” - Galatians 5:17 “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.” - Romans 6:12 Addiction to sinful behavior and bad habits may seem very hard to get rid of, but it is possible through faith in the power of God. It is those bad habits that goes through years and years, you know it is not cool or something to be comfortable with. But you always fall from time to time, some every week, others every few days, and this keeps repeating. For you to become free of such bad habit you have to pray that this desire goes away. And only God can do this. Pray that this desire goes away, that you do not want to see pleasure in these evil things anymore, and that you want to have pleasure in the things of God, you want to love Him! And keep praying daily, until you feel you have received it. You may feel a progress each day. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:23 And keep praying, whenever you feel to, in faith... God will help you during your day, at work, or anywhere you go. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 And He is willing to see your progress, then whenever you feel to ask, then ask Him. “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” - Romans 8:26 If you have fallen, rest assured God is there willing to forgive you and make you stand again. He loves you! “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 And it is by His grace, His power, His Spirit in us that makes us feel so comfortable and in peace. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” - Romans 8:2 And all the things we used to practice when we were lost, all the works of the flesh, all the envy, hate, bitterness, lewdness, deceit, and much more. “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” - Romans 6:21 But now in Christ Jesus we are finally free, free to do and love all that is good and pleasant in the sight of God; and with sincerity. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” - Galatians 6:9 “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” - 1 Peter 2:15 It is time to welcome, receive, and embrace the Holy Spirit. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” - Luke 11:13 “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” - Mark 1:8 And to focus on the complete renewal of our mind. Stay more and more focused on the things above, the things of the Spirit. “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” - Romans 8:6 “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.” - Ephesians 6:24 God bless you in Jesus' name!
  11. Isaiah 35:8,10 - "And an highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called, the Highway of Holiness. And the ransomed of the Lord will return, And will come with joyful shouting to Zion, With everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away." WHAT ATTITUDE FILLS THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO WALK TOWARD HOLINESS? .....JOYFUL SHOUTING....EVERLASTING JOY UPON THEIR HEADS.....AND GLADNESS AND JOY. THE IMPRISONED, IMPOVERISHED STATE OF THIS WORLD HAS DECEIVED US INTO THINKING THAT A LIFE WITH GOD IS ONLY A LIFE OF PAIN. JESUS COMPARED HIS MINISTRY TO ONE WHO "PLAYED THE FLUTE" (MATTHEW 11:17). HE SAID HIS MESSAGE OF GRACE AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WHEN IT WAS PROPERLY HEARD, SHOULD CAUSE MEN TO "DANCE" IN CELEBRATION! THE SCRIPTURES TELL US THAT JESUS "REJOICED GREATLY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT" WHEN HIS DISCIPLES RETURNED FROM A POWERFUL TIME OF EVANGELISM (LUKE 10:21). THE WORD REJOICE THAT IS USED HERE MEANT "TO LEAP MUCH FOR JOY." JESUS, THE KING, WAS LEAPING FOR JOY! Matthew 13:3 - "And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, 'Behold, a sower went forth to sow.'" As the Lord explained in the parable of the sower, words are also seeds. Seeds grow up to become plants that bear fruit. What is growing from our words? What will the FRUIT of our words be like? If we speak out bitterness, we are planting bitter fruit in the earth. If our words are filled with faith, hope, or love, we are planting trees that will one day bear the fruit of faith, hope, and love in the earth. AFFIRMATIONS: I realize that like seeds, words are very likely to multiply. I consider each day that my words will bear fruit. I determine that I will only sow that which brings forth the fruit of the Spirit. Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ" - 1 Corinthians 2:16 This is a cross–reference from Isaiah 40:13 which says: "Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor?". What Paul was trying to say is that along with the domain of the King comes the reality of our mind being merged with His! Under the law, no one could understand the mind of the Lord, but under grace, we have been given His very mind. This is the reality of a Kingdom Dweller. Our mind is no longer a battleground for the enemy, but a concourse for the Holy Ghost. According to 1 Corinthians 4:1, we are stewards of His mysteries! A steward literally means a governor. A kingdom must be in place for us to govern—and that Kingdom is His, and you are a governor of His mysteries on the earth! That being said, we no longer press in for more of what we don't have but learn all of WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST and OUR RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD which we have been granted through Christ Jesus' Blood! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  12. Psalm 27:8 - "You have said, Seek my presence. My heart says to You, Your presence, Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and require." Observation: MATURITY STARTS AS I BREAK THE CYCLE OF SEEKING GOD ONLY DURING HARDSHIP; HOLINESS BEGINS THE MOMENT I SEEK GOD FOR HIMSELF. I SEEK TO ABIDE WITH CHRIST, WHERE I AM CONTINUALLY AWARE OF HIS FULLNESS WITHIN ME, WHERE HIS PRESENCE DWELLS IN ME IN GLORY. Psalm 16:11 - "You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore." Galatians 5:22,23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Peace is Spirit power. Your peace, your immovable stand upon the Word of God is a sign that you are positioned correctly in perfect submission to the will of God. The very fact that you are not frightened by your adversary is a sign that you have authority over him. Prayer: LORD, THANK YOU FOR SOWING YOUR SPIRIT AND WORD INTO MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE OF GOD THAT IS FLOWING UP FROM MY SPIRIT RIGHT NOW, PRODUCING THE LIFE AND THE NATURE OF JESUS CHRIST IN ME! Psalm 104: 1,4,30 - "Bless the Lord, O my soul, O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honor and majesty. Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire. Thou sendest forth thy spirit." Prayer: LORD JESUS, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO WALKS SILENTLY IN THE INNERMOST SANCTUARY OF MY SOUL. SO CAREFULLY YOU WEAVE YOURSELF INTO THE FIBERS OF MY BEING. TOUCH ME WITH YOUR CLEANSING, RENEWING FIRE. AFFIRMATIONS: I set myself on God’s alter today to allow myself to be consumed by His fire of purging and His fire of love. I refuse to allow the move of God in me to be mis-carried. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  13. 2 Timothy 2:22 - "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." Observation: IT IS BETTER TO DEVELOP GODLY VIRTUES THAN TO SPEND MY DAY PRAYING AGAINST THE DEVIL. VICTORY BEGINS WITH THE NAME OF JESUS ON MY LIPS. IT IS CONSUMMATED BY THE NATURE OF JESUS IN MY HEART. Matthew 6:9-11 - "This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Observation: HEAVEN NEEDS ME TO GIVE IT LICENSE TO IMPACT EARTH. I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY IF I WILL JUST UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE AND POWER OF PRAYER. Romans 8:14 - "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." God's Higher Ground is where you stop arguing with yourself and others, cease struggling with your flesh, and move into His perfect will for you. It's the place where you have made the decision to live a holy life in a temporal unholy world, and although you are quite aware that you will never (in this life) avoid occasional stumbling, you must get up and go to HIGHER GROUND. Higher Ground is the only place where 'Super-grow' soil exists for your spirit to grow (Mark 4: 20). It is the place where you are determined to fulfill the PURPOSE God placed you here for. Blessings abound in that place......are you willing to go to Higher Ground? Affirmations: I CONFESS THAT I AM LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD! THE HOLY SPIRIT TUGS AND PULLS ON MY HEART, AND I COOPERATE BY FOLLOWING HIM AS HE GENTLY LEADS ME WHERE HE WANTS ME TO GO. HE SEES AND KNOWS WHAT I CANNOT SEE. HE IS LEADING ME EXACTLY WHERE I NEED TO BE IN ORDER TO REACH GOD'S PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  14. Holiness is a much-misunderstood concept. It conjures up images of solitary hermits shutting themselves away from the distractions (and also the needs) of the world, or of self-righteous Pharisees condemning lesser mortals for their failures (Luke 18:11,12). But Biblical holiness is not a subjective aura of saintliness, and it certainly does not involve withdrawal from the secular world. It simply means living in a way that honours God. He has called us out of the world to make us His own special people, and it is only by being distinct from the world that we can fulfil His purpose for us. So instead of conforming to the values and standards of the world, our lives must reflect the character of the God we belong to. “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (I Peter 1:14,15) Peter is writing to Christians, but he quotes from the beginning of Leviticus 19 - which is a manual of holiness. Leviticus 19 is an interesting chapter to read. It consists of a wide-ranging and apparently random list of commands, some of which appear rather obscure to us (why the ban on mixed fibres, or on certain hairstyles?); but it is clearly based on the Ten Commandments, which it fleshes out with numerous practical examples taken from all aspects of everyday life. The words “I am the LORD your God” run like a refrain throughout. It is because God ‘is who He is’ that the Israelites had to live in this way - and we shouldn’t need any other explanation or incentive to obey Him. The centrepiece of the chapter is one of the two ‘great commandments’ of Jesus: “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:29-31). If we obey this one commandment, we shall automatically fulfil all the others (Galatians 5:14; Romans 13:10). So does living a holy life merely involve obeying God’s Law? There’s a little more to it than that. God told the Israelites, “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God. Keep My decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy” (Leviticus 20:7,8). And Jesus said something very similar to His disciples: “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them” (John 14:23). Obedience is only part of the equation. The process of sanctification (‘making holy’) is a virtuous circle, which is set in motion when God chooses us for Himself. It is then our responsibility to make ourselves worthy of His call, by conforming our lives to His will. But as we set out to obey God’s commands, He makes us holy by filling our lives more and more with His presence. So holy living cannot be reduced to sterile rule-keeping; at its essence, holiness is a deepening relationship with God.
  15. Chapter 1 Book Excerpt: Understanding the Benefits of Mankind Understanding the Principles of Money You should not like money more than yourself and you must not LOVE yourself more than GOD. This also means you shall not love money more than God. The “love of money” is likened to a habit or addiction that hooks you and takes control over your thoughts, behaviors and actions. Most times there is a correlation between the “love of money” and greed or stinginess. Money can be seen as a tool for good or evil. That is, GOD designed money for man’s benefit, but the enemy has deceived man into the “love of money”. As it states in 1 Timothy 6:10 (KNJV) - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Also, this is one reason why Paul prayed in the following Scripture: And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, (Philippians 1: 9-10, KNJV) What this means is we should pray for “moral discernment” in order to maintain our Christian morals and values. In this present era, many people go through the challenge called “security for tomorrow” or “uncertainty of tomorrow”…the author is referring to one’s financial standpoint. In this scenario, individuals try to hoard or multiply their money at any cost, whether it is legal or illegal because of the uncertainty of one’s financial standing in the future. This single act causes greed, embezzlement, stealing, stinginess, cheating, killing and so on. Let me shed some more light. Imagine you currently have a net worth of $400,000 and do not know what tomorrow holds for you. For example, you may lose your job, business, royalties, investments, properties and more. Each of these scenarios is robbing many people of their TRUE Blessings and Prosperity from GOD. For example, if you identify with one of the above scenarios and I ask you to loan me $10,000, you may have reservation honoring this request because you fear that your source of money can cease at anytime. However, when you make GOD your financial source by depending on Him rather than on your job, business, royalties, education, investments, position…He will terminate every fear and uncertainty of where the next dollar will come from. Moreover, it is written in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) – “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Of further importance, you will see in the following scripture where Jesus says, “Why do you worry about tomorrow?” “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6: 25-34, NKJV) A person who is a hundred percent dependent on GOD would not be concerned about the next day because GOD alone holds the future. We can see in the following verses how Isaac depended on GOD during a terrible famine in the land. Follow me closely…Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundred fold. He became very prosperous even during a season of famine as seen in the scripture below: There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, “She is my sister”; for he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” because he thought, “lest the men of the place kill me for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold.” Now it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked through a window, and saw, and there was Isaac, showing endearment to Rebekah his wife. Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’” And Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the people might soon have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us.” So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.” Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26: 1-14, NKJV) One reason for GOD’s GRACE upon Isaac is because of the obedience of his father “Abraham” to GOD. As you can see “giving not taking” is the key to financial security…when you “give sparingly, you also receive sparingly”. There was a profound sermon once preached by my Pastor. In the message he likened “giving” to “restrooms and food”. That is, “food” is the money and its’ excretion is “giving”. Let me expound on this: When you eat “food” and get full, do you not need to excrete the food in order to empty your stomach, so you may have room to eat more food? In the same manner, you need to visit the “financial restroom” in order for more money to flow into your hands. That is, as you amass money, riches and wealth and do not give a part of it to GOD and the needy therefore allowing one’s “self” to be obstructing the flow of money you will have what the author calls “financial constipation”. This will continue until you offload by “giving”. Is it not logical to say that when you feel constipated…you are not only full of food, but also uncomfortable? Likewise, a person who keeps on amassing money without giving will at some point not only have no space for more, but will also experience an unfulfilled life. Yes, you can be the wealthiest person here on earth and still be empty. JOY brings genuine happiness, not money. Note: GOD says in His Word…there is JOY in “giving” not in hoarding. Let us look at some Scriptures on “Giving and Receiving”: There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. (Proverbs 11: 24-25, NKJV) Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6: 38, NKJV) I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”(Acts 20: 35, NKJV) But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13: 16, NKJV) “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. (Matthew 6: 1-4, NKJV) Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4: 1-5, NKJV) Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight. Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath. One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. (Proverbs 11: 20-26, NKJV) Let us look at a worldly scenario which validates the Biblical messages. I have heard of many celebrities and superstars amassing several hundreds of millions of dollars, only to lose it all in a matter of a few years and file bankruptcy. Perhaps, they hardly or never gave of one’s finances. You can see in the following Bible verse that money has wings and can fly away if not used appropriately: Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23: 5, NKJV) The same way companies and organizations have their financial principles; GOD has His own principles for man’s money management. You can find some in the above verses. When you follow GOD’s principles concerning money, He gives you uncommon favor and wisdom. For example, He will teach you how and where to invest your money. And when God leads you… the sky is your limit. One last note: If you seek money before seeking GOD, you may experience riches followed by challenges; but if you seek GOD before seeking money, you will experience challenges followed by riches. Which scenario do you prefer? I hope the second! When you follow GOD’s principles of money; your latter shall be GREATER than your past!!! *** From the Term of Service - "No “spamming” allowed. Spamming is flooding the forums, mass PMs or emailing multiple members of this forum with unsolicited messages. It also includes links in posts or Sigs to sites that sell or solicits funds. No solicitation of any form will be allowed." ***
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