Author: daughtersofz

Called, appointed and anointed by God, Pastor Debra Lowe has been called to the forefront to pastor along side her husband, Michael Lowe at Hesed Ministries. Pastor Debra has served the Lord for 39 years. Called as a Prophet to the nation she also walks in the office of teacher and is an intercessor. Pastor Debra has used these gifts to minister to the body of Christ, teaching men, women and children to enter into His presence causing them to mature and be changed by His Word. As a servant of the Most High God she brings forth a word in due season to the body of Christ.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,
    
     The Spirit of the Lord says;
       
     It is time to abandon and fling off
the works of the flesh.  It is time to run the race that I have set
before you, unhindered by the flesh.  Run towards the fulfillment of My
promises, run without obligations to this world, run with your total
commitment toward the Kingdom.  Hear Me, are you going to try to finish
what was started in the spirit, by the flesh?  Spirit is calling to
spirit, deep calls to deep in you.  Hear Me, I Am calling you up higher
where you can see the hidden and the obvious traps and snares of the
wicked one.  You will view the steps that I have ordered for you to take
and you will walk in this inside information.  This is what I will use to
set you up and apart in the coming days, to see to it that you are the
head and not the tail, to make sure that you come behind in no good
thing.  Your will aligns with Mine and we will be unstoppable.  These are
the days that all heaven is rejoicing about.  Many will rise up and take
their place of anointing in the Body.  Together you will decree My name
and My blood and your testimony will make you overcome.  Your word lining
up with My Word will keep you covered and make you inaccessible to the
evil in these days.
     As always I instruct My own during
times of judgment, by giving more of My grace and mercy to protect them
from any harm.  So keep the blood and My name in your heart and on your
lips.  My ability in your life will be seen and experienced by all of
those outside of My covenant.  They will know that you have something
that they desperately need, this is the stage for My call and
invitation to go forth.  They will see My preservation over you and your
family and long for it.  For as I Am so will you be in this world.  My
perfecting love keeps fear from entering in your hearts.  These are the
days that you will truly be My ambassadors for the Kingdom, there will
be no room for fear, for you must walk on the water with Me.  Revelation
comes now about your God given authority, which gives you the boldness
to imitate Me more efficiently.  My beloved ones will be the
extraordinary victors that I have called and anointed them to be.  Walk
on in the knowledge of My love and My mercy, with a fresh mantle of
grace to move in the miraculous.  This will be the best and the worst of
times, you determine which side you will walk in.  It is settled by
yielding to the Spirit, not to the flesh.  The Word keeps your spirit
sensitive to all that I Am doing.  Find yourself in Me, for we will do
great things! 
     "For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.  You were running the race nobly.  Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and
following the Truth?   This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called
you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ]." (Gal. 5:6-8)
     "So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and
move not in the ways of the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit [our
lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the
flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit].  For those who are according
to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and
seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.  Now the mind of the
flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death
[death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and
hereafter].  But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]." (Rom. 8:4-6)
    "And they have overcome (conquered) him
by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their
testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]."
 
Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,

     I am sure that there are times in all of our lives when we are awakened to hear the voice of the Lord speaking to us. He calls at all times of the day and night. This is one of those words during the night vigil.

     The Spirit of the Lord says;

     The times of prolonged tearing down and breaking down has passed, enter the times of building and planting.  There has come a renewed hunger and thirst for Me and My Word.  Many will be on fire and ablaze with My glory.  I will lead forth with My grace.  My grace will lead into more of My glory.  You will look and see a Star, the only Star that outshines any and all other lights, hovering and brooding over you to speak new life into you.  I have dressed My children up in their holy apparel.  Apparel of love, faith, righteousness, and holiness, and then I will glitter you with My grace.  My ability will be upon your inability, causing all to look and see Me.  My grace will uncover all performers and bring to the front all ministers that are hidden under Me.  You are being built up so that you can truly lift me up without presenting a mixture of weakened power with the glamor of this world.  You will rise up from the church of Pergamos and Thyatira, a compromising and adulterous Church, you will be a pure and holy bride, My true Church.  You will put off the clothing of the harlot and be known as My virgin bride.  So many of My children have cried out for this holiness and righteousness, so you will step into it and by so doing you will move up higher in My love. 

     You will not be deceived by the spirit of the world, no matter what or how it may try to disguise itself.  You will awake, arise, and go forth, saying, "I am preparing the way for My glorious King."  You will go as kings and break down the idol gods that have slipped into My house, through the spirit of compromise, the spirit of Jezebel.  This spirit has fought My truth from being declared without trying to pollute it with the mixture of the world.  The precious is clearly now being separated from the vile.  There will be no intermingling with My church and compromise with the world that produces an abomination.  Now, hunger and thirst has returned to My children and they will not be denied, because of the desperate longing for more of Me. 

     In this year of hard and difficult times, they will not fear.  They have learned through the times of being broken and pulled up, to trust Me.  My children will look up, knowing that they will have help and a refreshing.  Because their faith will be so powerful and tangible, nations will look and see that My house has returned to the God of their fathers.  They are not trying to court and allure the world by acting like them anymore, they are acting like the Kingdom.  A shift in this world's economics, politics, leadership, and the earth's natural core is greatly shifting.  There will be fires coming up from the grounds as well as unknown sources breaking out.  At the same time water will break its boundaries from beneath and above in every form known.  While these things are going on in the natural, it will pale in comparison to what will break out in My House.  Yes, fire and water at the same time in My house.  Deep will open up and will come from little known places from less known people, to take My Church higher.  Small beginnings will be made into massive moves.  Rumblings, rumblings, are being heard in the realm of the Spirit.  Listen closely, My little ones, your labor has not been in vain.  I reward all who are faithful.  I have seen your loyalty, and your loyalty to Me is about to be rewarded.  All that was done in secret will be rewarded openly.  Much that was done that seemed insignificant, because it was not met with applauds by others, has always been significant to Me.  Everything done in My name and for the Kingdom will have room made for it.  Remember My ways are higher than yours, and My plans are so much greater! 

     "See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant." (Jer. 1:10) 

     "Therefore thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah]: If you return [and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair], then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God’s faithfulness], you shall be My mouthpiece.  [But do not yield to them.]  Let them return to you—not you to [the people]." (Jer. 15:19)

     "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa. 55:9)

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,
Sharing a Word that was given in one of those twilight hours;
     It is time to be excited about what is going on in the realm of the Spirit.  Look beyond the veil that was rent to allow you access
into the activities of the Kingdom.  All whose heart is set on
establishing the Kingdom reign and not on establishing their own agenda,
will see and follow in the steps that I have ordained for My end-time
warriors.  There will be no more discord, only the oneness that is
experienced in the fellowship of the Three.  You will walk together to
bring clarity to the unfinished pieces of My plan.  Each one of you that
have maintained the gates that I have set you over will begin to see
that it is for unity, for you will bring your pieces together and be one
whole.  Flowing together like this will cause you to become more
effective to the world, that needs you to arise.  The world will be
coming to you laying at your feet the gifts of
this world, all of their conquest will be yours. My mighty sons and
daughters will arise and shake off the spirit of oppression and once
again shake this world with the revelation of Who I Am.
     To My loves and My little ones, keep
your spirit, soul, and body pure by steeping yourself in My Word and
Presence.  This is where you will find the doors are open and all of
heaven fulfilling every order.  The war in the heavenlies will be won by
your passion to see My Word fulfilled.  Not only will My Body assemble and
come to order, but all of heaven will line up with My sons and
daughters.  You will understand and walk in the wisdom of My revelation,
that I have given to each one a piece of My revealing, and to ignore
another piece that I have given is to be incomplete.  You will never see
that until you embrace the piece that I have given to another.  There is
no room for jealousy and envy, it is a flesh fueled spirit that operates
from the wicked one.  This spirit that continues to be fueled feeds the
strong spirit of delusion.  This makes it easy for one to believe lies,
lies about My
truth, lies about My ministry, lies about one another.  Purify yourself
by seeing through the eyes of My Word not through the eyes of the
un-renewed mind.
     For there are many voices decreeing many
things, many are decreeing My great truth, and many the great deception
of the enemy.  You must be pure of spirit, soul, and body to be able to
discern clearly.  The enemy has always tried to simulate Me, He appears
as an angel of light, but then darkness comes quickly to assault all who
receives his lies.  Hear My Word, stay close to Me and you will walk in
the Light, and know that the Greater One has made a decree.  Floodgates
are being opened afresh and anew all over you and around you.  Floodgates
that springs forth renewal and conviction of consecration.  Keep this
level of desperation and longing for Me.
     "Yet grace
(God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not
indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of
Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift.  (Eph. 4:7)
     "[That it
might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the
comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God,
that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of
personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s
own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the
Christ and the completeness found in Him." (Eph. 4:13) 
     "But as it is, God has placed and arranged the limbs and organs in the body, each [particular one] of them, just as He wished and saw fit and
with the best adaptation.  But if [the whole] were all a single organ,
where would the body be?  And now there are [certainly] many limbs and organs, but a single body." (1 Corin. 12:18-20)

Love,   

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,

     There is an account in the Word of God about a woman who did whatever was necessary to get a desired result.  That requires, "hope against hope".  God has left us many examples of people just like you and I, who had seemingly insurmountable situations in their lives, where nothing but "hope against hope" would bring them through.  Before I share the scriptures that reveal a certain amount of tenacity of hope to keep plowing when all around is telling you that it is all over,take what has happened and be resigned to it, I will share this well known verse; "As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations.  [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.  [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be." (Rom. 4:17-18) To continue to believe and expect "good" when it looks like that "good" that you are expecting is never going to happen is what faith is all about.  "So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." (2 Corin. 4:18) The story is about the famine that was during David's beginning reign.  The Lord had allowed the famine because Saul had slain the Gibeonites, they were a nation that Israel had a made a peace treaty with, but Saul had broken it and had a lot of them killed.  During prayer it was revealed that the famine was because this treaty had been broken.  To rectify the situation the Gibeonites asked David to kill seven of Saul's sons.  "Let seven men of his sons be delivered to us and we will hang them up before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul, [on the mountain] of the Lord.  And the king said, I will give them.  But the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between David and Jonathan son of Saul.  But the king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth, and the five sons of [Merab] daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite.  He delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hung them up on the hill before the Lord, and all seven perished together.  They were put to death in the first days of barley harvest." (2 Sam.21:6-9) Now listen to one mother's persistence to change the inevitable.  It was apparent that she was alone in the vision and her "calling".  She was led to do what no one else would.  Her champion defense seemed worthless, yet let's see whose attention she raised.  "Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell on them, and she did not allow either the birds of the air to come upon them by day or the beasts of the field by night.  It was told David what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.  And David went and took the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them up when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa.  He brought from there the bones of Saul and of Jonathan his son, and they gathered the bones of those who were hung up.  And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son they buried in the country of Benjamin in Zelah in the tomb of Kish, [Saul’s] father, and they did all that the king commanded.  And after that, God heard and answered when His people prayed for the land." (2 SAM. 21:10-14) Rizpah's determined and persistent stand for being a watchman over her son's bodies got the recognition of king David, as well as God.  David was moved to act on her behalf, which also affected the end result for the nation of Israel.  Her "hope against hope" moved the heart of her king, as well as God's.  The famine ceased after her action of faith!  If God has spoken clearly to your heart and it doesn't seem like anyone else is championing the vision, keep on hoping against hope as Rizpah did.  She stood alone with the inner vision.  I am sure others thought she has lost her mind.  The boys are dead, what more can be done.  It is over!  Rizpah stood for the call on her heart to receive justice for them.  Take your stand of faith and after doing all stand therefore.  What you are doing is not for yourself alone, but will affect the nation of people that is in your sphere, your children, your grandchildren, your church, or your neighborhood.  Every person of faith looks unique to those who have no faith, or don't have the inner vision.  Listen to what is recorded about our Lord; "Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.  Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He for the joy [of obtaining the prize], that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God."  So, let's be like Rizpah, who was imitating our Lord, let's not be moved by the temporary!  Stand uniquely.

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,
     Two days ago, while cleaning my house, the Lord begin to speak to me.
    
     The Spirit of the Lord says;
          My mercy will bring a great
breakthrough.  It will breakthrough all resistance to Me, My Word, and My
signs and wonders.  I have planned this mercy for such a time as this.  When it seems impossible, when it seems driest, when it seems too
difficult.  Once My mercy breaks through to you, you will experience
ministering angels assisting you to do the impossible.  This is where I
have designed for My Body to be, walking in the mercy of My supernatural
gifts and callings.  This is a breakthrough to see liberation and
freedom to the miraculous.  It will manifest in areas of your life where
you have not seen it before, to your families, your body and mind, to
your places of employment.  Mercy that will bring with it no boundaries
or limits.  Those who are desperate will see heaven opening up over them
and they will experience encounters that have never
been recorded before.  Yes, more and more, greater and deeper
revelations.  Step through as the heavens open up over you.  The
invisible realm will be more tangible to you than before.  This has
always been My desire, for you to represent all that heaven is.  Your
voice will carry my anointing with greater depth and more power.  As you
decree and declare My Word, your ministering angels will hearken to
your voice.  From the place of your desperation for Me, your voice of
faith will increase and be heard by your angels and they will go to work
with great aid and assistance that will come forth from the place of My
mercy.  Greater demonstrations of My glory and My name shall be seen and
known.  It will be for those who will receive and believe in My mercy.  It is being poured out without limitations, so step in with your heart
and spirit wide open and go where few have ever gone before.  Experience
Me and know My mercy.  Those who will be surrendered to
and yield their members, they will go beyond what they have perceived
or thought upon.  Great mercy to accomplish My greater works.  There is
so much more than what you have seen or known, but this is the time for
walking in them.  Only believe!
     “I
tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I
have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the
Father." (John 14:12)
     "Are
not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the
service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit
salvation?" (Heb. 1:14)

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,
     “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.  Now five of them were wise, and the other five were foolish.  The foolish ones took their lamps but didn’t bring oil for them.But the wise ones took their lamps and also brought containers of oil.  “When the groom was late in coming, they all became drowsy and went to sleep.  But at midnight there was a cry, "Look, the groom!  Come out to meet him."  "Then all those bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps.  But the foolish bridesmaids said to the wise ones, "Give us some of your oil, because our lamps have gone out."   “But the wise bridesmaids replied, "No, because if we share with you, there won’t be enough for our lamps and yours.  We have a better idea.  You go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves."  But while they were gone to buy oil, the groom came.  Those who were ready went with him into the wedding.  Then the door was shut.  “Later the other bridesmaids came and said, "Lord, lord, open the door for us."  "But he replied, "I tell you the truth, I don’t know you." ( Mtt. 25:1-12) This verse was mentioned in a prophecy that we received at our Church.  We will share the prophetic word soon, I have been meditating on the part where the Lord said, that they all went to sleep.  The ones that were wise and prepared went to sleep as well as the foolish ones.  Remember we talked about this on one occasion.  Wise means intelligent, thoughtful, prudent, and mindful of one's interests.  We can be wise and still become sleepy.  The word used here is slumber which means to nod into sleep; to be overcome or oppressed with sleep; to be negligent or careless of a thing, to linger or delay.  I believe this applies to most of us in one area or another concerning the things of God.  Quite often, we start off in the beginning on fire and if we're not careful we end up doing things without any zeal.  Don't get me wrong, we learn and adapt by repetition, but not merely mechanical repetitions.  We must have zeal which is enthusiastic diligence, fervor, and an eager desire in our repetitions.  Also the word sleep, means to take the rest afforded by a suspension of voluntary bodily functions; to cease being awake.  But it also means to yield to sloth and sin to be indifferent; to be dormant, inactive, to be careless or unalert.  This is what happens to us when we are not daily waiting at the post of our God.  We can end up being indifferent, careless and slothful, not as alert to the Kingdom and to hearing and obeying the voice and Word of God as we were.  We must wake up, shake ourselves often, and stay prepared and get more than just enough from God, His Word, His presence, and from the fellowship you attend.  Don't think that because you once was a bright light that you will just always be.  Light needs oil to keep it burning, or some force to keep it shining.  Which means the person tending to the light must be attentive to it.  "Blessed [is] the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors." (Pro. 8:34)  "Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall." (1 Corin. 10:12) 
     So, we must keep awake and stay alert to righteousness and not become careless because of the cares of this life.  We do that by making sure we awaken ourselves to God's plan for our day.  Romans 13:11 {NIV}; "And do this, understanding the present time; the hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."  We are in the last leg of the race, yeah!  It is time for our Lord, our groom to come.  So, listen to the prophetic Word in Solomon; "[He said] I charge you, O you daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field [which are free to follow their own instincts] that you not try to stir up or awaken [my] love until it pleases [Vividly she pictured it].  The voice of my beloved [shepherd]!  Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.  My beloved is like a gazelle or a young hart.  Behold, he stands behind the wall of our house, he looks in through the windows, he glances through the lattice.  My beloved speaks and says to me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away." (Song of Sol. 2:6-10)  Awake carries the thought of opening the eyes and function; it means to arouse from slumber, to become aware, to arouse to action.  Rise means to stand, to become powerful; to be valid, to accomplish, to perform and be proven.  It's time for those who are wise and thoughtful to be aware of the time that we are in and to function with the ability of God, and accomplish and perform our calling.  It pleases the Lord for us to awaken and arise so that we may be ready to come away with Him.  Stay alert!
 
Love,
Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,

     This is a word that was given at our church this past Sunday morning.

    You are called
and anointed by Me.  For I delight in taking things of the earth, the
lowly, those who have no name, nor fame, nor claim to it.  I take a
delight in doing this, look and see says the Lord, begin to understand
even in the genealogy of your Lord and Savior.  There are not many
mighty, not many called who were famous or powerful, but yet I delighted
to take them. Look and know that out of the women that I placed in His
genealogy none of them had their own glory. None of them were even
worthy, yet I called and made them worthy.  I pulled them up by My Word,
says the Lord. I called them that were harlots, the lowly and scorned
and I accepted them. I called those who were cast down and rejected and I
placed My anointing upon them. Was not Rahab a harlot? Was not Tamar
even looked upon
as a harlot? Was not Bathsheba an adulteress, yet I called and I
anointed them, and Mary, who was Mary?  She was a woman that others
thought had committed fornication and I anointed and called them and
exalted them, so I say to you don't count yourself out.  Don't let the
world count you out.  Don't let those around you count you out.  For I
delight to raise up, and I delight to restore. I delight to take the
those that are discarded and seemly misplaced and cover them in My
glory.  I begin to dress them up and to brush them up and I begin to
breathe life into them that were once dead. It is I, the Lord God, full
of glory, power, radiance and love that causes those, that have been
counted out to be at the forefront of what I do.  For I take joy in My
anointing and glory flowing on those who are humble and meek and yet,
says the Lord, the world will  not understand
because the world has deemed many of My children valueless.  
   But I'm not through.  I'm not
through!  Just about the time it looks like I've given up on you, just
know I'm not through.  I have just begun to do the impossible in you,
saith the Lord, you just watch and see.  Before this year is up many of
you are going to walk out free and delivered.  This is your jubilee!
 This is your Rosh Hashanah! This
is your day that you will lift up your hand and you will say this is my
new day,this is my new year,this is my new beginning!  And you will
claim it and you will declare
it and you will decree it and there will be no weapon formed against
you that will prosper!  The devil had you at one time locked up, but
that weapon can not keep you any longer.  For you recognize, through
experience and
knowledge, that your God is at work in you! Now you will not stop
saying so, and I will not stop until I see My desire fulfilled in you.
     "But no weapon
that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall
rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong.  This
[peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the
heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of
the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the
vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to
them as their justification], says the Lord." (Is. 54:17) 
     "Jesus asked them, Have you never read in the Scriptures: The very Stone which the builders rejected and threw away has become the Cornerstone; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?" (Mtt. 21:42) 
     "For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth." (1 Corin.1:26)


Love,
Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,
     When we become complacent or
lazy we fail to grow.  Someone said that a good acronym for G. O. D. is
Grow Or Die.  And we all know that we must be consistent on our journey
of faith or we will die spiritually, and be found hanging on the vine
instead of abiding.  Most of us have found ourselves in a spiritual rut
when we are not running toward the God-goal, regardless of all of the
things that are thrown at us.  David found himself in a spiritual slump
and it led to sin in his life.  He wasn't as sharp as he needed to be nor
as passionate as he once was for God, which caused him to follow the
course of his flesh and an unrenewed mind.  Psalm 51:1-9; "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.  Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.  Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have
crushed rejoice.  Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity."  David's
lapse in being passionate about God led him to commit adultery with
Bathsheba and murder her husband.  I like this whole account, because we
read where God said that David was a man after His own heart, who will
fulfill My will. (Acts 13:22)  It
surely wasn't the adultery and the murder that made David a man after
God's own heart.  We know that God knows all things, so it was no
surprise to see what was in David's heart.  We can see that David
remained humble at all times, which shows that David was easy to repent
and remained teachable.  He didn't harden his heart when Nathan the
prophet came and let him know that God knew his sin and that there
would be consequences for his choices.  His heart was always pliable to
god and His Word.  That is why he said, "You are right in your verdict and justified when You judge."  Most of us would be mad at God for passing any verdict on us even when
we know we have done wrong.  Remember what God said about the humble man;
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4:10)  " …That
is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but
gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to
receive it)." (James 4:6) David was humble enough to receive God's grace at all times.
     Once David repented, he was back chasing after God.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (Ps. 51:10-11)  Right means to be firm, stable, to be established; to be securely determined; to be steadfast and settled.  David
knew that he needed to be stable and determined in his pursuit of more
of God, he didn't want to go back to the place of sin.  We don't have to
drift so far off and away into the sin of adultery or murder, but when
we are no longer on fire for God as we were when we first accepted Him
as our Lord and Savior, or when we are not keeping His Word making it
first place in our lives, then we have committed sins too.  You know,
a little leaven leavens the whole lump, we must keep our relationship with God pure.  Let's read more; "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation;
and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors thy
ways; and sinners shall be converted to thee." (Ps. 51:12-13)  Restore
is to return; to turn back; to come back; to refresh; to repair; to
give back something that was lost or stolen; to renew.  David asked for restoration of his love walk with God.  Joy
of salvation; joy is gladness; exultation rejoicing; pleasurable
feelings caused by well-being, success, or good fortune; to delight in
our salvation [which is our deliverance,
rescue, our safety, our welfare, our victory, our prosperity].  In order to restore the joy of our salvation we must do the works that we did at the first, before we got to a spiritual lull.  "But
I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left
(abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your
first love].  Remember then from what heights you have fallen.  Repent [change the inner man to meet God's will] and do the works you did
previously (when first you knew the Lord) or else I will visit you and
remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and
repent." (Rev. 2:4-5) So, let's remember and recall to our mind and keep growing in our joy of our salvation!  Let's do it again.
 
Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,
     This is a message that I will be ministering on from time to
time.  For since we are in the last days, and evil and the darkness that
is covering the earth, these spirits are the ones that cause the love of
many to grow cold.  We have to recognize and take our rights and
stand.  We will continue where we left off discussing on our authority as
believers.  We ended talking about the Ephesians 6:10-12; Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high
places.  Principalities means
the first; the preeminent one, a position of authority of a chief ruler (the prince demon) the first one in a series.  Powers is the leading and
more powerful among spiritual potentates; power over physical and mental
choices or permissions) tries to influence choice.  Rulers of darkness
of this world is the spirit of the prince of this age of demons [they
rule of the age or time by and with ignorance respecting divine things
and accompanied with immorality and ungodliness during a specific
time period.  Spiritual wickedness in high places are demon spirits that
rule by depravity, iniquity, wickedness, malice, evil purposes and evil
desires that exist in the lower heavenly regions to affect larger
scopes.  We come against these spirits by "being strong in the Lord" and by His grace, [the ability of God upon
our inability].  Remember we saw last
week that Holy Spirit is the power to meet every evil tendencies and
authorities.
  So what is authority?  "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19) The first one; power is exousia
which means the ability or strength with which one is endued; which one
either possess or exercises the power of influence and of right
(privilege); the power of rule or government (the power of him whose
will and commands must be submitted to by others.  This
is the kind of power we recognize in a police officer when he steps out
in the middle of traffic and sticks his hand out and all cars and
trucks come to a halt.  Surely his physical frame could not stop any one
of those cars, but it is his authority to do so, given by the
government that is recognized and obeyed.  The second word for power is dunamis, which is strength, power, ability; inherent power that resides in a thing (demons in this case) by virtue of its nature.  We
have authority given to us that is recognized by all spiritual beings.  These principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, and
spiritual wickedness in high places must obey the authority because it
has been delegated by God, the highest authority.  So, authority
is delegated power.  It's might, ability, or force is designated to one,
to act or represent (God).  Its value depends on the force behind the
user and its government.  It is the right to control, command, or
determine and settle issues.  The believer
who is fully conscious of the divine Power or
Government behind him and of his right to this authority, can face the
enemy without hesitation or fear, concerning any area that concerns
their life.
     In closing this authority has been given to every believer who believes and receives.  Listen and meditate on this: Ephesians 1:19-20;
"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s
power for us who believe Him.  This is the same mighty power that raised
Christ from the dead and seated Him at the place of honor at God's
right hand in the heavenly realms."  The
power that raised Christ from the dead is the inherent power that is now
in us by Holy Spirit living in and through us.  This is God's great
immeasurable, unlimited, and surpassing power, which we have been
given.  This is the "authority power" [exousia-dunamis], that the enemy must recognize and obey! 
 
Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,
     I have been praying and believing for certain issues that have
come up in my family.  My mom has been attacked in her body.  She is 82
years old and has never been sick.  Now, there has been an attack on her
body and my father is being attacked with worry and concern for her.  I received a call the other day that my brother may have contracted
the "West Nile Virus."  I have also been standing against some other trials
and tribulations that I have encountered in my immediate family.  In
other words, the enemy is trying to cause confusion and distraction, we
must remember that this is the purpose of the "cares of this world".  We
all know that life is full of challenges and difficulties, but the Word
is the answer to our everyday challenges.  We must be discerning and be
quick to stand on the Word of God, and not allow the cares to keep us
distracted from what the Spirit is doing and from hearing God.  Do not let them enter into your heart and choke the Word and make it
ineffective.  They are designed by the enemy to keep us from doing the
Word of God.  Here is a personal word that I am sure you will benefit
from as well.
     The Spirit of the Lord says;
          Examine your own lives, to see if you
are in the faith.  If you don't, you will find yourself doing things
little by little that you never would have done, because of your love
and honor for Me and My Word.  Now the enemy has you wiping it away with
comments like; "He understands and He knows."  You must have
a high regard for My Word and know that I watch over My Word to perform
it in your life.  Do not think that I Am like everyone else for I Am
not, I never change and My Word has been proven true.        
     Once you have found My character and My
heart I expect you to be like Me concerning those areas that I have
revealed Myself to you about, areas that are unchanging, fixed, and
immovable!  Then you are imitating your Father, not being tossed to and
fro by every wind of doctrine.  Not being persuaded by the constant
changing ways of man's mind, neither by going about doing your own ways,
those things that please you, without any regards to Me and My ways.  This behavior is not the way of the Kingdom, neither is it the way of
those who are called  by My name.  The enemy thought like this, and it
was this kind of self-elevation that took him to the depths of hell.  It
will not be so for all who honor Me as their God and Father, they will
realize and know for themselves that My way is the only Highway, bringing them to the promise.
     Even as darkness covers the earth, I Am,
only, and always, will be the Light.  I will enlighten your dark days so
that even your darkness will be light to you.  This will happen as you
lean on Me and begin to see as I see.  For I Am the way, so I Am always
leading you in the right path.  This is where your faith and trust in me
will be strengthened.  We are stepping into the season of restoration
which will be like the brightest light turned on in the midst of
darkness.  I will restore the joy of your salvation, I will restore what
has been stolen from you, your dreams, your vision, your calling, your
anointing, and your children will be restored.  With Light
comes clarity for all of these things and to walk in the fullness of the
restored!  Don't be shaken by darkness for I Am your Light.
     "Examine
yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you
not realize that Christ Jesus is in you unless, of course, you fail the
test?" (2 Corin. 13:5)
     And the cares of this world and the
deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, choke
the word and it become unfruitful. (Mark 4:19)
     "And I
will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the
canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which
I sent among you." (Joel 2:25)
 
Love,

Pastor D.