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Found 25 results

  1. Adoption An act of God which makes people who are separated from God pat of God's spiritual family This happens when God chooses sinners to adopt through the new birth, where we are born of the Spirit by grace through faith in God's only begotten Son Jesus, and in Jesus work of a sinless life and substitutionary death on the cross (His crucifixion). Adoption is always initiated by the parent, not the child.
  2. Duck

    O Theos

    S. Twain ‘from this moment’ what wonderful lyrics and song, for a new creation to sing to Jesus The Christ. and Thomas answered, ‘my Lord and my God’
  3. In John 3 Jesus is clear that unless one is born again, they cannot see or enter "the Kingdom of God." I think many believers substitute "kingdom of heaven" here: that unless someone is born again, they cannot ever enter heaven. The first question then is this: what is the full meaning here of "Kingdom of God." I think most people on this thread would agree that the born again walk was just NOT Available to the saints under the Old Testament. So IF the first question is that "kingdom of heaven" is included in "kingdom of God" in that no one not born again can enter heaven - then WHEN were the Old Testament saints born again? Jesus is very clear that old Testament saints had to go to Abraham's bosom or paradise after death in his story of the rich man and Lazarus. I believe Jesus emptied Paradise and took them all to heaven. Finally, when or where in Revelation would be the resurrection of the Old Testament saints? Thanks for your input.
  4. In Christian circles the term "born again" is very common, so much so that I believe sometimes it has lost the force of its original meaning. This video explores four key lessons from the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus about being born again. And in it, we also explore a derelict house, since it is a good illustration of certain aspects of being born again. What is most meaningful to you about being born again?
  5. Are you tired of shallow-water Christianity, and you want the deep things of God, or the strong food that is mentioned in scripture? Are you ready for the deep, deep things of God? Tell God you are ready to be offered, and God will prove Himself to be all you ever dreamed He would be. "I am already being poured out as a drink offering." - 2 Timothy 4:6 Unless we enter into our eternal identities, we will not become instruments for noble purposes. We will not enter into a holiness from Heaven. We will not be useful to God. "We are workers together with God." - 2 Corinthians 6:1 Whatever call He may require of you, He will provide all you need to faithfully fulfill it. He has destined you for success, not failure, in your calling (DESTINY). If we truly follow Jesus, He follows us. When and where the apostles moved, God moved also. Natural effort releases divine effort; the Spirit works where we work. AFFIRMATIONS:My faith in God's Word is not just an abiding faith; it is active -- it is aggressive by nature; it has focus and purpose. I make a fresh commitment to walk in union with God; I give attention to His Spirit in my inner man I make the decision today to paddle upstream against the current of the world by speaking God's word into my life. "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ;"- Romans 8:17We need boldness to act on God's Word. We need boldness to act on what the Spirit of God may say to us. The believer has covenant rights in prayer, as well as other covenant rights. The problem that defeats believers in their prayer life is the feeling of inferiority -- a sense of sin-consciousness. Some Christians begin their prayers with, "I'm so weak and unworthy," and then harp on their weaknesses and unworthiness throughout the prayer. "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." - Isaiah 43:25 We are sons and daughters of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. We are covenant people, and we are covenant people. and we have a legal right -- a Body of Christ right -- to go into the Presence of God the Father with the same confidence and assurance that Jesus has. And we can do it boldly! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  6. So many Christians today hide from God. Yes, they deliberately avoid God, or refuse to allow Him access into their lives. "When God looks at me" they say, "He doesn't see me, He just sees the blood of Jesus which covers me". They then go about their daily lives having a form of godliness but denying its power. This is like a man with a broken neck refusing to see the doctor. Or one with an infection on the lung and refusing antibiotics. Our problem with God is not a Behavioural problem, nor is it a legal one. Pardon or justification alone does not change us from sinners to saints. We are rebels not because the law says so; we are rebels because our minds and hearts are corrupted. Obeying the law doesn't deal with our corrupt minds, nor does doing away with the law. Hiding behind the "blood of Jesus" is legalism, in that that person is afraid of the punishment due his sin...afraid God is going to judge him and condemn him to death. But what God wants to do is heal him. Remove the corrupt thinking and the sin problem goes away....therefore there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Not because they have been forgiven, but as you may read in the verses following Romans 8:1, the carnal fleshly sinful MIND (note, not the behavior or the legal status) has been changed to a spiritual mind. The only cure for sin is to allow the Great Physician to heal us. To renew our minds and hearts and conform them after the image of Christ. Surrender yourselves to God today...allow Him free and open access into your every secret closet...let Him renew and work in you according to His good pleasure..... ‭That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.‭ Romans 8:4
  7. The difference between salvation by faith and works is that, with faith, God does it, but with works, we try to do it ourselves. JWs often give ‘lip service’ to salvation by grace through faith in Christ. In reality, they believe in works for the Watchtower for salvation. They urge readers to ‘come to Jehovah’s organisation for salvation.’ (WT,15 Nov.1981, p.21). Watchtower magazine of 15 Aug 1972, p.491 asks JWs to ‘work hard for the reward of eternal life.’ Eternal life is a gift (Romans 6:23), never a reward to be earned. JWs cannot know for sure if they have salvation during this life. The WT tells JWs that if they fail to serve God ‘properly’ in the millennium, they will be annihilated. They believe that eternal life becomes theirs, only by serving God till the end of the 1000 years. JWs believe that Jesus’ death only wiped out the sin inherited from Adam. They claim that Christ’s atonement allows men to work their way to salvation. They claim that the ‘gift’ of Christ’s ransom sacrifice is free to all, only to give us a chance to work for our salvation. JWs claim that being born again is only for the 144,000 anointed class. JWs claim the ‘other sheep’ don’t need to be born again, but hope to live forever on paradise earth. JWs falsely claim six steps to being born again: i) Take in accurate knowledge of God. This is a mistranslation of John 17:3 where they change ‘that they may know (verb) thee (KJV)’ to ‘their taking in knowledge (noun) of you’. The unbeliever may have knowledge about God, but only the saved person knows God personally. Jesus will say to unbelievers ‘I never knew you: depart from me.’Matt7:23 ii) Exercise faith, which they define as belief plus works. (See Eph.2:9 ‘not of works lest.’). iii) Repentance from bad works. iv) Conversion, which they define as doing works fitting repentance. v) Dedication to Jehovah, which they define as dedication to the Watchtower Organisation. vi) Baptism, as an outward sign of their dedication (Watchtower, Feb 1, 1982, p.25-29) For a JW, the above does not ever guarantee them to be born again; it just puts them in line. They think that only 144,000 are born again. Since the 144,000 places were supposedly filled in 1935, most JWs believe they can never be born again. JWs believe that three classes of people will be saved by good works: a) The 144,000 to heaven; b) The ‘other sheep’ to earth; and c) Non-JWs who have lived good enough lives to earn salvation. The Pharisees (like the JWs) believed in study and obedience to the Law, but Jesus said that was not enough. They had to come to Jesus as the giver of eternal life. Only by the indwelling Christ can believers do good works. JWs live in fear of dying at Armageddon. JWs twist five main Scriptures regarding salvation: 1. John 3:3,5,7 - Being Born again ‘Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, Verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Ye must be born again.’ (John 3:3,7) Watchtower Teaching: JWs do not believe that they must be born again. If you ask a JW if he has been born again, he will say: ‘That doesn’t apply to me. It’s only for the 144,000 anointed ones. I belong to the “great crowd” who will live on the earth under Kingdom rule.’ The WT organisation has taught them that: ‘The ‘other sheep’ do not need any such rebirth, for their goal is life everlasting in the restored earthly paradise.’ (WT, 15 Feb 1986, p.14). Our Biblical Response: Question 1: When Jesus said, ‘Unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.’ (John 3:3 NWT), did He allow for any exceptions? (No!). Question 2: In I John 5:1 (NWT) ‘Everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God’, does the expression ‘everyone believing’ leave any believer out? (No) Question 3: In Galatians 4:5,6 (NWT) didn’t Christ come so ‘that we . . . might receive the adoption as sons. Now because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, and it cries out “Abba, Father”.?’ Ask: Have you been adopted as a son of God, by receiving the Spirit of Christ into your heart, as shown here? (No) Question 4: In Romans 8:9 ‘Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.’ Remind the JW that he has admitted that he has not received Christ’s Spirit to dwell in his heart by being born again. In the light of Romans 8:8,9 can you reach any other conclusion than that you cannot please God (v.8) and that you do not belong to Christ? Re-read Romans 8:8,9,14-16. Bible Teaching: Scripture is clear that the opportunity to become born again is not limited to 144,000 people in the so-called anointed class, but is open to all who believe in Jesus Christ as follows. a) I John 5:1 - ‘Whosoever (everyone) believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.’ There are no exceptions. Anybody and everybody who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born again. b) John 3:16 ‘that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ c) I John 4:7 - ‘everyone that loveth is born of God.’ Key: Notice here that God never mentions that the number to be born again is restricted to 144,000 but is unlimited to ‘whosoever believeth’. Note: Jesus did not need to be born again because He never sinned (Hebrews 5:15). Only sinners being dead spiritually need to be born again. ‘Ye’ in John 3:7 means ‘everybody’ plural. Being born again of the Spirit means that we who were born physically with a dead spirit inherited from Adam, experience a spiritual rebirth by the Holy Spirit giving us new spiritual life. Everyone must be born again. Paul did not divide believers into two classes, but said: a) ‘Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto ALL them also that love his appearing.’ (II Timothy 4:8) b) The new birth is not limited to 144,000, but is available to ‘any man’: ‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature . . .’ (II Corinthians 5:17) c) Never do we read of a limited number being placed on those who are born again. ‘Being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the word of God.’I Peter 1:23 ‘everyone that doeth righteousness is born of him.’ (I John 2:29) ‘whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God ...’ (I John 5:1) Question: What about you? Have you been born again? You must be born again! 2. Present tense salvation: Matthew 24:13 ‘But he that shall endure unto the end (of the 7 year Tribulation), the same shall be saved (from the Antichrist’s persecutions).’ The Watchtower Society has convinced JWs that they are unsaved and that they cannot be saved in this present life. They do not believe that they will have to answer for their sins. The JW book ‘Make Sure of all Things’ on page 332 states: ‘Salvation to life involves time and is not completed when one becomes a Christian.’ They believe that nobody can be sure of salvation until they have continued their good works up to the end of the 1000 years. Their idea is completely false as seen from these scriptures, showing that we now possess a present tense salvation: 1) I John 5:12 ‘He that has the Son, has life.’ 2) I John 5:13 ‘that ye may know that ye have eternal life’. 3) John 3:36 ‘He that believeth on the Son has everlasting life.’ 4) I John 3:2 ‘Beloved, now are we the sons of God . . .’ 5) I Corinthians 1:18 ‘but unto us which are saved . . .’ 6) II Corinthians 2:15 ‘in them that are saved . . .’ 7) Ephesians 2:5,8 ‘by grace ye are saved;’ 8) I Thessalonians 1:10 ‘ Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.’ 9) II Timothy 1:9 ‘Who has saved us . . .’ 10) Titus 3:5 ‘according to his mercy he saved us.’ 11) I John 2:12 ‘I write unto you because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.’ 12) Romans 8:16 ‘The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.’ Think: If all the people converted in the apostles’ time up to 100 AD were totalled, they would have taken up the 144,000 places even before the JWs came on the scene! reprinted with permission from Pastor Keith Piper. https://www.libertybaptistchurch.org.au/
  8. John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." What does it mean to "see" the kingdom of God? Jesus urged us to do an about-face in our approach to reality because His Kingdom is at hand. He brought His world with Him, and it's within our reach. He wants us to see reality from God's perspective, to learn to live "from" His world "towards" the visible world. But we have to change the way we think if we want to apprehend the Kingdom power that is available. Jesus was saying that when our minds are renewed, we will see the Kingdom displayed and proven as He did in His earthly ministry. The idea of Kingdom power and spiritual conflict unsettles some people, but without power, the gospel is not good news. Jesus never made the gospel simply a doctrinal exercise. His reality - is to raise up a delegated group of people who work with Him to destroy the works of the devil, who demonstrate and prove the will of God here on earth as it is in heaven. Affirmations: I HAVE AN UNRELENTING HUNGER TO WATCH THE KINGDOM BREAK INTO THIS REALM. I BECOME A CONNECTING POINT AND GATEWAY FOR GOD'S POWER. I AM A C0-LABORER WITH JESUS IN THE GREAT COMMISSION. "Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." - Philippians 3:21 The body being filled with the Spirit we are so hungry, so thirsty, that nothing will satisfy us so operated by the Spirit in the process of changing until we are like unto Him.but seeing Jesus. Getting more thirsty every day, more dry every day, until the floods come, and the Master passes by, ministering unto us and through us, and through us the same life, the same inspiration, that as He is, so are we in this world. Matthew 12:37 - "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Affirmation: I LET MY WORDS CREATE THE CURRENT THAT SWEEPS ME INTO THE HEART OF GOD. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  9. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." John 17:23 - "I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me." Jesus went to the cross to give us what he already possessed. He rose again so we could be re-created in His image. We are the victory of almighty God! We are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. We are everything to the Father that Jesus is. AFFIRMATIONS: I was born again -- I wasn't half re-born. I wasn't made half-righteous or a quarter-righteous -- I was made the righteousness of God in Christ! I am a joint Heir with Him. I step up to the position of authority that Jesus has given me, to take my rightful place beside Him and learn to operate the way He does. Proverbs 25:2 - "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter." OBSERVATION: In reality the Bible is a closed book. Anything I can get from the Word without God will not change my life. It is closed to ensure that I remain dependent on the Holy Spirit. When I treat the Bible as a road map I live as though I can find my way through my own understanding of His book. Under grace I don't get a road map....I get a tour guide -- the Holy Spirit. He directs, reveals, and empowers me to be and do what the Word says. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says, "Christ's love compels us! We are convinced that One died for all, therefore all have died." Healing doesn't compel us, crusades don't compel us, and offerings don't compel us. In the Kingdom, it's Christ's love that compels us! Why? Because His love causes us to realize that everybody has received an invitation into this hidden world, this redeemed world. This realm is liberation from sin, liberation from demonic bondage, liberation from religious bondage—and it begins to spark something in people and awaken them to a fullness in Christ that they never knew! Romans 8:19 says, "That the whole world is waiting..." for what? For you to manifest Christ so that Christ can be made manifest in them. Their spirit is longing for Christ, the hope of glory—whether they know it or not! In Matthew 10:7 it says, "And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.'" We need to be INTENTIONAL about releasing the Kingdom in the overflow of our union with Jesus through His Blood! If God is pleased to give us everything, how can we not heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead?! As a Kingdom Dweller, it's inevitable. Let His Kingdom come! It is finished. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  10. 2 Corinthians 3:7,8 - "Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious." THE GOAL OF REDEMPTION IS TO RESTORE MAN TO HIS ORIGINAL CONDITION BEFORE THE FALL, WHICH IS WALKING WITH GOD, OBEYING HIM, AND FULFILLING HIS MANDATE TO RULE OVER THE EARTH. GOD ALSO ESTABLISHED THAT HE WOULD NOT ONLY RESTORE MAN TO THE CONDITION FROM WHICH HE HAD FALLEN, BUT RAISE HIM UP AS A GLORIOUS "NEW CREATION," WHICH WAS TO BE MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY RESTORED TO THE CONDITION OF THE FIRST ADAM - THE NEW CREATION MAN ACTUALLY HAS GOD LIVING IN HIM! GOD HAS MADE MAN HIS TEMPLE AND GOD DWELLS IN MAN. THE ULTIMATE QUEST OF EVERY CHRISTIAN LIFE IS THEREFORE TO BE THE INTIMATE FRIEND OF THE LORD. IF THERE IS ANY WAY WE CAN MEASURE TRUE CHRISTIAN MATURITY, IT WILL BE BY HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO GOD. OUR MATURITY WILL BE REFLECTED BY HOW MUCH OF HIS GLORY IS MANIFESTED THROUGH OUR LIVES. IS OUR RELIGION ABOUT SATISFYING OUR NEEDS AND DESIRES? 2 Corinthians 5:15 - "And He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." Romans 14:7,8 - "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lords." Our salvation has freed us from ourselves so that we can live for God. We died to the law but we also died to all the claims and aspirations we had staked out as citizens of this world. We no longer live unto, or for ourselves, because we are no long our own. The whole meaning our individual lives and faith consists of serving His purposes. We will only discover and fulfill God's high CALLING (our DESTINY in Christ) when we allow ourselves to be fully subjected to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19,20 - "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not you own? For you have been bought with a price." Philippians 3:10 - "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." FOR HIS SAKE, WE CANNOT CONTENT OURSELVES MERELY WITH GOOD WORKS. ULTIMATELY, WE WILL DISCOVER THAT STUDY AND CHURCH ATTENDANCE ARE BUT FORMS THAT HAVE NO SATISFACTION IN AND OF THEMSELVES. OUR PLEASURE WILL BE FOUND NOT IN THE MECHANICS OF SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES, BUT THAT THESE DISCIPLINES BRING US CLOSER TO THE ALMIGHTY. WE HAVE SATISFIED OURSELVES WITH A SYSTEM OF HISTORIC FACTS ABOUT GOD WITHOUT PRESSING INTO THE REALITY OF GOD. OUR GOAL IS TO SEEK EARNESTLY FOR GOD UNTIL WE FIND HIM. Affirmations: TO TRULY KNOW GOD I MUST SEEK HIM UNTIL I PASS THROUGH MY KNOWLEDGE INTO AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE ALMIGHTY. HAVING FOUND HIM I ALLOW HIS PRESENCE TO FILL MY SPIRIT WITH HIS PEACE. THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD DRAWS ME INTO THE PLACE OF SURRENDER, WHERE I YIELD MY BEING INTO HIS HANDS. AS I LISTEN TO HIM, I ASCEND HIGHER TO THE DWELLING PLACE OF LOVE. I PRESS-IN TO KNOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  11. Matthew 4:25,5:1,2 - "And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto him: and He opened His mouth and taught them." THESE LOCAL COMMUNITIES LEFT ALL WHEN THEY HEARD JESUS WAS NEAR. WITHOUT FORETHOUGHT, WITHOUT PACKING A DONKEY, WITHOUT SO MUCH AS TAKING EXTRA FOOD OR TELLING THOSE WHO REMAINED AT HOME WHEN TO EXPECT THEM, THOUSANDS OF MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN SPONTANEOUSLY FOLLOWED CHRIST TO A DESOLATE PLACE. BUT WE READ OF NO ONE COMPLAINING THAT THE "SERVICE WAS TOO LONG," OR "THE WEATHER TOO HOT," OR "THE MESSAGE WAS BORING." WHATEVER THEY LACKED IN COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE WASOVERSHADOWED BY THE GLORY OF BEING WITH JESUS! PEOPLE SAW IN JESUS MEEKNESS, BOUNDLESS POWER AND PERFECT LOVE. IF WE WOULD WIN SOULS, PEOPLE MUST SEE IN US THIS SAME JESUS. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." EVERYTHING, EVEN OUR INTELLIGENCE, AND PHYSICAL APPEARANCE ARE NOW SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. OLD FAILURES, PREJUDICES, AND ATTITUDES ARE DESTINED TO GO. NEW FAITH AND HOPE SHOULD BE GROWING WITHIN US DAILY. Observation: HOW DO I ATTAIN SUCH A WONDERFUL NEW BEGINNING? I RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST INTO MY HEART TO EMPOWER ME AND I AFFIRM AND MEDITATE ON THE WORDS OF CHRIST TO DIRECT ME. WHATEVER I FIND IN ME THAT IS NOT LIKE JESUS, - I CRUCIFY. The key that opens the door to the kingdom, is found in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." If you have decided to live based on where the best job is, or career opportunity, or even the best schools for your children, and you are having a hard time finding a local church that you fit into, it is likely because you are not in the will of God for your life. If you truly live seeking first the kingdom, you will make every major decision based on where you are CALLED to be for His PURPOSE for your life. Then the jobs, schools, and everything else will be added to us. They may not be the jobs we want, or even the schools, but they are the ones we need, and our Father knows best! QUESTIONS TO ASK MYSELF: Where does God want me to be? What does God want me to do? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  12. Zechariah 12:1 -- "Thus says the Lord, Who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him." God is spirit, and Zechariah 12:1 tells us that God formed the spirit of man within him. This human spirit is what makes relationship and fellowship with God possible at all. Through his spirit, man can walk in step with God. In the spirit he is one with God. Through his spirit he knows of God and receives everything God wants to communicate to him. It is in Man's spirit that Christ takes up residence. He who puts on Christ is one spirit with him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 -- But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. INTO ACTION: How do I stay in touch with God's Spirit during the day? What am I presently not doing? ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  13. Psalm 42:11 - "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God: For I shall yet praise Him." DAVID BEGAN TO SELF-TALK WHEN HE FELT DISCOURAGEMENT COME UPON HIM. Observation: I CAN SPEAK TO MY EMOTIONS AND TAKE CONTROL OF THEM BY TELLING MY INNER MAN TO HOPE IN GOD. HOPE WORKS AGAINST DISCOURAGEMENT AND DESPAIR, SO WHEN I SPEAK THE "WORD" TO MY SPIRIT, I AM STRENGTHENED AND ENCOURAGED BY GOD. John 19:30 - "When Jesus therefore, had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished': and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." AT THAT, JESUS' DISCIPLES, LOOKING TO THEIR OWN LIMITATIONS AND THE SEEMING HOPELESSNESS OF THEIR SITUATION, SCATTERED. THEY HID THEMSELVES. THEY WEREN'T THINKING ABOUT JESUS' PROMISE: THEY WERE THINKING ONLY ABOUT HOW POWERLESS, HELPLESS, AND AFRAID THEY FELT WITHOUT HIM. Observation: IF THE DEVIL CAN GET ME TO CONSIDER WHAT I PERCEIVE AS A LIMITATION OF MY BODY, MY MIND, OR MY FINANCES - HE WILL DEFEAT ME. BUT IF GOD CAN GET ME TO TAKE ONE STEP BEYOND MY OWN LIMITS, HE WILL GIVE ME THE VICTORY. I WILL TAP INTO HIS POWER THAT HAS NO LIMITS, AND I WILL SOAR TO HEIGHTS OF VICTORY AND SUCCESS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. John 3:3 - Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth: no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." We must know by revelation that we are not struggling to get up into heaven; rather that we were born there in spiritual rebirth. Psalm 110:1,2 - The Lord (God) says to my Lord (the Messiah), "Sit at My right hand until I make Your adversaries Your footstool. The Lord will send forth from Zion the scepter of Your strength; rule, then, in the midst of Your foes." Ephesians 2:6 - "and raised us up with Him, and made us sit with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" We have been raised up and seated with Christ in heavenly places. This is why the Holy Spirit continues to speak to us that the worship of God is our first response in battle. Affirmations: I POSITION MYSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND SIT AT REST IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT CHRIST HAS ALREADY MADE MY ENEMIES THE FOOTSTOOL FOR MY FEET. AS I REST IN HIS VICTORY I RULE IN THE MIDST OF MY ENEMIES. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  14. Hebrews 4:9,10 - "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his." We may have perfect rest -- that we dare to cast ourselves upon God, and have no care because Christ has: put away sin, has rent the veil, and has sit down on the right hand of the throne. Because all is finished and perfected, we have received the Holy Spirit from heaven in our hearts to make us the partakers of that glorified Christ -- we may with confidence, with boldness, rest in Him to maintain and perfect His work in us in our individual CALLING in Christ. Affirmation: THE REST THAT I SEEK IS NOT A REJUVENATION OF MY ENERGY, IT IS THE EXCHANGE OF ENERGY: MY LIFE FOR GOD'S, THROUGH WHICH THE VESSEL OF MY HUMANITY IS FILLED WITH THE DIVINE PRESENCE AND ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST HIMSELF. John 1:12 - "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Affirmations: I CONFESS THAT THE DAY I WAS BORN AGAIN, I RECEIVED THE DYNAMIC, EXPLOSIVE POWER OF GOD INTO MY LIFE. THAT POWER REMOVED MY OLD NATURE AND MADE ME A BRAND-NEW CREATURE! WHEN GOD MADE ME, HE PUT FORTH HIS FINEST CREATIVE POWERS, AND I NOW LIVE ON THIS EARTH AS A MASTERPIECE OF HIS GRACE. Song of Solomon 1:12 - "While the King was resting on His couch, my perfume sent forth its fragrance." YOU EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF THE DEEP AND CENTRAL PRESENCE OF THE BRIDEGROOM (JESUS). THE BRIDEGROOM IS EVER IN THE CENTER OF YOUR SPIRIT. AS AN EARTHLY KING RESTS ON HIS COUCH, SO THE ETERNAL KING RESTS IN THE MIDST OF YOUR SPIRIT. THE PERFUME, YOUR FAITHFULNESS, SENDS FORTH A FRAGRANCE THAT IS SWEET AND PLEASANT. ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  15. John 4:23-24 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (It is our destiny to worship God in the spirit.) Galatians 5:25 "If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit." Ephesians 4:23-24 "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Put on the spirit man – you have to put it on – a decision.) Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Fruit of the spirit.) Romans 8:4-5 "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." (Since I put on the spirit, I chose not to walk after the flesh or senses.) 1 Corinthians 2:13,15 "And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Holy Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language to those who possess the Holy Spirit. But the spiritual man tries all things, he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things, yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one, he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him." (We are to judge whether a thing is spiritual or of the senses – things coming at us everyday.) John 7:24 - "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (What am I participating in? Is it spiritual or not?) ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  16. I have the grace of God which has been given to me by Jesus Christ. In union with Christ I have become rich in all things including all speech and knowledge. - I Corinthians 1:4,5 God, being faithful, has joined me with His Son Jesus Christ. - I Corinthians 1:9 I proclaim Christ -- Christ nailed to the cross -- He is the power of God and the wisdom of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:23,24 By Gods act I am in Christ Jesus, for God has made Him my wisdom; He is my righteousness; in Him I am consecrated and set free. - I Corinthians 1:30 My speech demonstrates the power of God’s Spirit in my life. - I Corinthians 2:4 My faith stands firmly upon God, not on man’s great ideas. - I Corinthians 2:5 By His Spirit, I have received the wisdom of God. - I Corinthians 2:10 God has given me His Spirit, not the worlds spirit. So that I might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts of devine favor and blessings so freely and lavishly bestowed on me by God. - I Corinthians 2:12 Since I live and dwell in the Spirit of God I receive things of the Spirit which the unspiritual man cannot understand. - I Corinthians 2:14 I have the mind of Christ. - I Corinthians 2:16 I am the temple of god and God’s spirit dwells in me. - I Corinthians 3:16 I belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. - 1 Corinthians 3:23 Since I am joined to Christ I am one spirit with Him. - 1 Corinthians 6:17 ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  17. There is something the Church seriously needs to attain to today. Somehow preaching has seeped in that makes one believe that believers have to get good first before graduating from being a baby christian. Well that happy day is never going to come if all they are doing is sitting at home, reading the bible-- trying to please God by improving their attitudes and behaviors, and thereby living unto themselves. The best way to cultivate a love walk is through personal ministry to others (helping others with their spiritual life). That requires action, time, and involvement. At the root of this problem is poor preaching ie. preaching that does not exhort the congregation into equipping its members to disciple new believers -- promoting the idea that they are inadequate or not ready for some reason. This has got to change. Jesus admonished the disciples, "...take heed what ye hear.." (Mark 4:24). We should not sit under teaching we know is in error, because that spirit of error is being transmitted -- ever though we may know that it is wrong-- it will eventually affect us if we hear it long enough. Churches, that are not encouraging and equipping its members to disciple other believers, should be turned away from. Now is the day of salvation! Now is the day of the equipping of the saints! Now is the day of Jesus Christ! ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  18. John 3:3 - "Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."' Once Israel partook of the passover their who world changed. They left egypt immediately to go to a place they had neveer seen. Likewise, when we partake of the passover sacrifice of Jesus everything changes -- we are BORN AGAIN into a whole new world. Believing for a manifestation of God's Kingdom in our lives and walking in a Kingdom mindset is vital. Why? Because we were created on purpose for this purpose! We are body and we are spirit; we are born from above. As a spirit being born from above and born again, we're to experience the Heavenly realm with our spiritual senses. You are living by another set of rules. You are living by a superior order. All believers are released into the work of the ministry in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Believe that! Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Observation: GOD DESIGNED ME SO THAT THE WORDS I SPEAK GO DIRECTLY INTO MY HEART. THE INTENT IS TO GIVE LIFE, MAKE ALIVE, AND QUICKEN THE HUMAN SPIRIT WITHIN. Psalm 42:1 - "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God." Affirmation: I ONLY QUALIFY FOR WHAT I PURSUE. Jeremiah 29:13 - "And ye shall seek Me, and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." Ecclesiastes 9:10 - "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  19. A. Ask God to Soften Their Hearts Ezekiel 11:19 - "And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh..." Pray for the condition of their hearts to change. B. Spirit of Conviction Ask for the release of the spirit of conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment to come. John 16:8 - "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment..." C. Spirit of Revelation Ask for the spirit of wisdom and revelation (dreams, visions, inspiration etc.) Ephesians 1:17-19 - "...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might..." D. Recall To Remembrance. Ask the Lord to bring to their remembrance any of the good Word of God that they were taught from their childhood to this day 1. John 14:26 - "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." 2. Isaiah 55:11 - "So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." E. Pray Prayers of Forgiveness Forgive your mother, your father, your son, your daughter. Forgiveness is the master key that unlocks the prison door to a heart of stone. Through forgiveness comes a place of identification. The model prayer of Jesus is not an individual prayer. It is a corporate prayer. Matthew 6:9-15 - "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.)'" F. Pray for Laborers to Be Released to Your Loved Ones Matthew 9:38 - "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." G. Pray for a Revelation of Eternity Ask the Lord to give them an awareness of the realities of both Heaven and Hell. Ask the Lord to reveal that none are righteous and that we each need to receive the gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus! H. Resist the Enemy Pray to break the powers of darkness that are generationally hindering your loved ones from the saving power of Jesus' Blood. I. Solicit Other People's Prayers Enroll others on your team of intercessors to pray for your family. Ephesians 6:19-20 - "...and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." 2 Corinthians 1:11 - "...you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed upon us through the prayers of many." J. Revelation of God's Love Ask for God's love to overwhelm them. (Don't pray for bad things to happen to them.) 1. Romans 2:4 - "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and (forbearance) and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" 2. Romans 12:14, 19 - "Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not...Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord." EXPECT GREAT THINGS! Let revival begin. Release your faith and believe the Lord for more of His presence to come to your family. Stand as a Prophet, Priest, and King of your family before the Lord and your own home and family for the glory of God's great name. PRAYER OF SALVATION FOR FAMILY MEMBERS Lord, I bring my family members to You right now. I bless them in Jesus' great name. I call forth that You soften their hearts and release the spirit of conviction upon them. I pray that You reveal the goodness of God to them and draw them to repentance. Release laborers across their path that will move in power and kindness. Release demonstrations of Your love to them for Your holy name's sake. I pray myfamily members into God's eternal family, in Jesus' name! Amen ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
  20. As born-again believers should we be content to sit and hear?
  21. Why do we need to persevere with God in prayer concerning the salvation of others?
  22. Everything that God does with us individually is a process of growing into Him and more like Him, but this world is fooled by thinking some things are like a microwave, because their selfishness wants it now – So, they make themselves believe that they have it now, when in truth they haven’t went through God’s required process to receive what they have fooled themselves they already have, but don’t. All Christians are taken from the point of where we are or aren’t in Christ and brought through a process to bring us to a point where we are perfected/sanctified fully into a Christ-like soul. From the point of justification, we are in a process of being sanctified and made whole in Christ, this is called the sanctification process. It starts out at initial sanctification and should end up at entire/full sanctification. Our salvation is a process as well, at initial sanctification we are saved from the power of our sins. Then we must use this power and grace that God has provided to us to continue in our sanctification and rid ourselves of our sins by this power. This process should go on until we have full salvation – by ridding ourselves of all our sins by this grace given to us, which is called the power of “salvation”. There is an “initial salvation”, but then that salvation process needs to continue to “full salvation”. Being born again is also a process. We are first given a seed in our heart and souls that needs to grow into maturity - A mature Christian life that can live fully on Christ alone - A life that has left the world and all its worldly/fleshly desires in the past. We start our born again process at the point of justification and it must continue to completion to be fully born of God. Our sanctification process mirrors our born again process. We must be entirely sanctified to be born of God. Actually the terms “born again” and “entire sanctification” mean the same thing and have the same biblical definitions. A person could rightly say that our sanctification process is the same as our born again process. We must continue on into Christ and His Truth to become an obedient son of God. We must come to be sanctified through and through and become a pure and blameless soul for Him. A saint is not considered a saint until they are fully sanctified, and a born again person is not considered born again until they have matured into a full born again and Christ-like person for the Lord. So, take joy in going through this sanctification (born again) process. Let us all keep reaching and pressing into God for this full born again experience.
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