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

Good Morning,

The Spirit of the Lord says;

As you increase your pursuit of Me, you will begin to hear and see the activity that is going on in the heavens on your behalf. We are busy working on the final touches, for your advantage and favor! As you pray in the spirit you will press pass the hindrances of the mind of your own understanding. You will cause your spirit to be more attuned with Holy Spirit. Thereby receiving insight and wisdom that is high above this world's ability to comprehend. You will also avail yourself to My grace, My ability over and upon your inability. You will synchronize and cooperate with the desires of the Kingdom. Your praying in the spirit will raise your level of intuitiveness. You will be more sensitive to the sounds and the movements of Holy Spirit. As you pray more in the spirit, you will understand My heart and My will, your desires will then line up with Mine. This increasing prayer will motivate you to push past the ordinary and into the extraordinary of My gifts that I have freely given to you. You will recognize the greatness in you, because of My grace that is upon you. You will now walk as mature children of God, in the days ahead, doing what My children should do. You will imitate Me in more than one way. Signs and wonders that were meant to follow this great company of believer's will greatly intensify during this season. Still, My mature children will remain humble. They will not lower My standards to accommodate men. My standards always lift men up, they never degrade. Compromise will not be named among these mighty people of prayer. They, rightly divide between good and evil, they are not led astray by much words.

Get ready to arise and soar, to be elevated to new levels in My Spirit. To see things in the light of My eyes. You will no longer be satisfied to live ordinary, you will aspire to live the Kingdom life. A phenomenal and supernatural life should be normal for My mature children. I have made everything that is heavenly, accessible to My own. Now, all of the earth is awaiting your next move. Will you pray in the spirit more? Will you unlock hidden mysteries that I have made ready for your use? I have given you the keys. Open up and begin to flow, for out of you will come living waters. It is enough to breathe new life into all that are around you. Go forth in prayer and rejuvenate, resuscitate, restore, replenish and recreate your territory!

Here is one of the scriptures that I have been meditating on. Go and do likewise! I Corinthians 2:5; 7-10; "So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God….But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God — {that wisdom} which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny].

"No longer satisfied to live ordinary. You will aspire to live the kingdom life."

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear

Good Morning,

The Spirit of the Lord says;

My children are learning what it means to be inaccessible, safe under the shadow of my wings. I will deliver My children from the pestilence that walks in darkness. As all those around them are falling because of the great shaking, My children will see their ministering angels that work on their behalf. Heaven is at divine attention, waiting for My children to decree the Word over their lives and to stand and see the salvation of the Lord!

At the same time there will be a great falling away from My house. Many will become discouraged and dismayed because of the calamities that are coming to this world. They will desire to gather to them those who would teach them only what brings their flesh delight. While My holy people will not compromise My Word. Those who have not been intimate with Me, will side in with unbelievers who do not know My heart nor My ways. You can not entertain worldly ideas concerning My Kingdom, only in My Word is revelation and understanding found. As you see the judgments that are coming upon the earth, many will say, "a loving God would not allow these things to happen". Yet, I have endured the atrocities of sins from mankind and I have extended My mercies to all. Because of their choices, these things have come, because of the hardness of men's heart against Me, harvest has come for the seeds that they have sown. Yet, I still cry out, "Come, all who are weary, come!" I will deliver and save those who will acknowledge Me and live their lives according to My Word. They will experience a mighty move of My supernatural abilities. Now is the time to run with My message to a world that is thrown into turmoil. Raise your voices high, saying, "This is the way, walk in it, come to My Father's House where there is forgiveness of sins." Be bold in this season, for you will be snatching them from the very fires of hell and utter torment. I Am anointing you, afresh to do this work and great signs and wonders will precede and follow you. You must be about the Father's business, do not be entangled with the affairs of this temporary life.

You are in the middle of one of the most important times in Our history, Kingdom rising against kingdom, nation against nation, catastrophic events and disasters occurring in every place on this earth. People are lovers of themselves, haters of good, unholy and lovers of pleasure. The love of My people have even grown cold. This is the time for My true Church, My Bride to look up, all of heaven's doors are available for you. Awake, arise, and shake from you all that has kept you mesmerized. I have turned up the Light, so that you may walk in all the righteousness, and have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness.

Isaiah 60: 1-4

Love,

Pastor D.

Scripture References: II Timothy 3:1-5; Isaiah 60:1-4: Matthew 24:5-12

Ears to Hear

Good Morning,

We must be about Kingdom business, like never before. One of the things that Father God is serious about us not having is 'selective' hearing concerning His Word. Obedience is the requirement for holiness to be worked in us. As believer's we have had the luxury of picking and choosing our 'favorite' scriptures. Most of the time though, these 'favorite' Words have to do with us getting what we want. How about we give to God His wants. This is a covenant relationship, both parties are to give and receive. Right now our Father desires "holiness'. Remember the scripture that we read back in December on holiness, Hebrews 12:14 – "Strive to live in peace with everybody (hmm, that's a challenge) and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will ever see the Lord.' That is the Amplified Version of the Bible, how about another translation, something we can understand, alright. Here is the same verse in the NLT, "Work at living in peace with everyone and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord." It really doesn't matter which translation you read it from, the Word is telling us to live holy lives if we want to see the Lord, both here and in our eternal future. The definition of holiness is sacred, consecration, dedicated, hallowed, blameless, devoted to the service and worship of God. In case we will not look up the words like sacred, dedicated, hallowed and consecrated, here are words that we all comprehend. Holiness is to commit yourself with faithfulness and zeal to give up all that concerns self (money, talent, thoughts, effort, for the advancement of God. Profound respect and affection shown in service of God, (the church at large could 'selah' pause and calmly think on that). Truly, we sashay in God's presence particularly at church as if He isn't saying or doing anything worthy of our attention. I mean really if you had an appointment with your doctor at ten o'clock, and you came in at eleven, more than likely you would not get his attention. You know it is true, you would have to reschedule, and I bet you would get there on time that time. We seem to disrespect God in how we serve Him in more than being on time. We don't want to praise Him, because He did not do what we wanted the way we wanted. I will not go there today. Back to the definition, holiness is the practice of showing love, honor and admiration, and deference. Respect mingled with awe, excited by the sacredness of God. Obedience to Deity. (this definition was taken from the Noah Webster 1828 dictionary)

The Bible says that we are to pursue holiness. We saw that it means that we are to follow in order to overtake it, to accomplish it, to practice it. I Peter 1:13-16 says, "Therefore prepare your minds for action (we have to get our renewed mind in on this, because as a man thinks so is he), :keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace (God's ability upon our inability; in other words we have supernatural help to do this) to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children (holiness) do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, (before you were saved), but like the HOLY ONE who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior, because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I AM holy." Obedient means to hear and do; by compliance or submission; coming under the control or command of (God's) authority; to perform or behave as directed, often without question or attempt at independent decision; (that is what most parents expect from their children; because we love them) to act or react in conformity with (God's Word); to fit ones conduct to perform as directed. The key to holiness is willingness to obey. We are to be holy by obeying God in our behavior (our conduct; manner of living or conversation; the manner or ways in which a person conducts themselves; to conduct oneself in a correct, obedient or proper manner.

Let us meditate on this. Hear and obey equals our holiness. Doers of the Word are blessed.

1 Peter 1:16

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear

Good Morning,

I have a prophetic word to share with you today, that was given on Sunday, but before I do, I'd like to share one of my childhood encounters. When I was growing up, there was one verse that I would say almost everyday. The verse came from Matthew 5:8; "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." I read it on a plaque that hung in our home. I use to think that one day I would see God. As a child I had several unusual and unexplained encounters. Twice I was asleep and I was awaken to this small light that touched my feet. Fear gripped me and I could hear myself screaming, inside of me, it was not coming out. I knew my sister, who was asleep right next to me, could not hear me. I tried to move my arms to touch my sister and I could not move at all. I was paralyzed with fear. Another time I saw this same small light appear upon the door in my bedroom and this same stifling fear caused me to freeze. Then once I was visiting my cousins in the country. My cousin and I were going to camp out in the car. Nightfall came and there were no street lights out in the countryside. We fell asleep and I woke up suddenly. Out in the distance there came this same small ball of light coming towards the car and then it disappeared when it came to the door. Needless to say when I could move I woke my cousin and got out of there.

I told you these accounts to let you know that these encounters were sent to me as a child to prevent me from ever desiring anything remotely to do with the supernatural things of God. The enemy tries when we are young to steal, kill and destroy the great plans and purposes of God for our lives. In other words don't let your past experience hinder the future move of God in your life. Line everything up with the plumb-line of the Word of God.

The Spirit of the Lord says;

Get ready for the greatest move of your God that this generation has ever known. I Am placing everyone in their most effective position, to be the most powerful and profitable instrument for the Kingdom. Signs and wonders will accompany my children to the intensity of their surrender to My anointing. The sound that the voices of My people are uttering have opened up the treasures of heaven. Unfolding the riches that I have kept for this moment that all may see and know that I Am God. Moving in healings, miracles, demonstrations of My glory and splendor, to offer to the downtrodden and poor, true hope and peace. I Am calling forth the pure and holy to begin to truly see their God. I Am great and I do great works. Manifest, manifest yourself, is one of the sounds that I hear from My children. I will manifest Myself, through My children in various ways. Spiritual illumination for the good and the profit of My children.

Yet beware that old enemy of ours will try to cause a spirit of confusion. He will try to reflect My move with his works of darkness. To those who do not have a pure heart it will be easy to be deceived and misled by these works. I have told you before, that in the last days that there would arise false prophets that would perform signs and wonders. They are sent to imitate and thereby bring confusion and division among people. As those who walk in the light of My Word get stronger in the enlightenment to their eyes of understanding. There will come a greater divide between those who don't, and won't walk in the light. They will be filthy still. Sin will darken their eyes and grave darkness will come that will cause many to believe a lie. Deception is running alongside trying to overtake truth. Many will no longer be able to see because of this. This is now the time that your good will be evil spoken of. People will no longer want truth, they are looking for messengers that will tell them only what they long to hear. This is why truth will be persecuted.

When you see all these things, you must look up, for your redemption draws near. It is not time to hold your head down in despair. Yes, I have heard the sound of my people, crying wisdom, wisdom, revelation, revelation! Now you will truly know the great power that is working in you. Now you will see evidence in a diversities of operations and varieties of ways coming forth. Keep the light on, it will increase!

Matthew 5:8

Love,

Pastor D.

Scripture References: I Corin. 12: 3-11; Ephes.1:17-23;II Timothy 2:19-26; II Timothy 4:1-4;

Ears to Hear

Today we will continue to discuss, ‘holiness’. We will discover in order to pursue the holiness that God’s Word requires there has to be adapting, adjustments and alignments.

Good Morning,

Today we will continue to discuss, 'holiness'. We will discover in order to pursue the holiness that God's Word requires there has to be adapting, adjustments and alignments. Adapt which means to make suitable or to fit for a particular use, purpose or situation, by means of changes or modifications; to adjust oneself to to particular conditions or ways; to acclimate or bring oneself into harmony with the new environment. God has always commanded us through His word to adapt our thoughts and thereby acclimate our lives to the way that the Kingdom of God operates. "Do not be conformed to this world (age), fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs, but be transformed (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]."(Romans 12:2)

We should continually yield to the Word, allowing it to work in us that perfect will of God. As we yield daily to the Word of God in our day to day lives, the process of adapting is taking place. This year 2010, God is intensifying the levels of our adapting. Every bit of testing, trial, or tribulation that you encountered last year is the springboard that has sped up your adapting. Because you did not quit, or give up on your God or His promises, you will experience a faster pace of being able to adapt to the Word of God.

Adjustment brings us to a more satisfactory state; to bring to a true or effective position; to reposition for improving performance; to come into conformity or adapt to achieve an harmonious and behavioral balance; to change the position for a better fit or appearance. The Father's plan and purpose is for each one of His children to be the best you, that you, were meant to be. Some of us have been in the wrong positions, whether in ministry, family, occupations, even some in our gifts, talents and personality. As we adapt to His Word we will begin to see things in our lives reposition so that we can give or be in the highest performance of our lives. We will begin to see a brand new person on the scene. It will be the one that we were made and born to be. All adjustments will make us more effective in every area of living in the Kingdom of God. The Master Potter is making adjustments to achieve the perfect balance. "Then I went to the potter's house, and behold He was working at the wheel. And the vessel He was making from the clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so He made it over, reworking it into another vessel as it seemed good to the potter to make it." (Jeremiah 18:3-4) "But now, O Lord You are our Father and we are the clay, and You are the Potter and we are all the work of Your hand." (Isaiah 64:8)

Finally, alignment means to make proper adjustments in order to obtain optimum performance; to bring into line those things that are crooked or out of line; having all parts in proper relative position. In this year the Body of Christ will mature us to the place that we come into alignment with one another in order to do the great work of the ministry of God. This will be the year that the world will look with eyes of jealousy to the Church, as she become the prepared and mature Bride of Christ. "Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I Am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Phil.2:12-13) In our holiness we will reflect the image of our God in every facet of His character. We will be consecrated for God's purpose as we shrink away from any and all that would offend God, and this year you will be more adapted, more adjusted and more aligned than all of the years before. It is our time to arise and shine!

Isaiah 64:8

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear

Good Morning,

The Spirit of the Lord says;

There are multiple outside changes that you will see in this world and its system. You are not to be moved by what you are seeing, you are to be moved only as I direct through and by My Word. The earth is reeling back and forth like a drunkard under the weight of sin and transgression. Even though this world will shake and totter, I have commanded that it will not harm you. You will be untouchable if you will continue to be found under the shelter of My Word. My children do not live by the realities of this world system, but by the truth of My Word. Know that every outward change is in line with My prophetic Word, in order to bring about My end results. It has been spoken and now it is running to be fulfilled. Be glad about it!

Those who have allowed Me to realign and reposition their lives for the promised blessings, by yielding to the transitioning season, will see their desired haven. My changes were not from past hurts, bitterness, neither from strife or your own preconceived resolutions. My changes, have not come from a place of the works of the flesh. The changes that I have allowed to work in you are driven by a desire to fulfill and walk in My Word. You do not need to confer with flesh and blood concerning the perfected work that I Am doing in you. The works of flesh diminish your capacity for change. I have given to you a heart to be turned towards the changes that I desire in you, so that you may partake of My goodness. Surround yourselves with those that are running to the goal to win. They are not being derailed by the obstacles of living, they keep on the paths of righteousness. Their hearts belong to Me.

I have heard the longings of the heart of My true bride. I Am showing Myself strong on their behalf. I will place over My faithful bride, favor, at this time. I will pavilion the faithful under a cloud of favor. My children will come forth with all manner of precious treasure, both spiritual and natural. Hear Me, My Church must not be stagnant in her love for Me. She must awake, arise and let the world see her great love for Me, by simply cleaving to My Word. Many around are letting go of their first love that We once shared, that saddens Me, yet I keep My eyes upon those that are growing deeper still in love with Me and My Word. I have hearkened to the voice of faith that is motivated by My love.

I have always had a remnant throughout all times, and I will have a remnant even now! They are cut away from the cloth of the ordinary to become the extraordinary. This is the day of new beginnings for My holy remnant. The light of My glory will reveal to My faithful ones the hidden revelations that I have kept for them at this season. I have ordained that these good works be prepared in you for this day. Because you have put your complete trust in Me alone, your way will be like a well lit highway!

As I heard this Word from the Lord, this is the scripture that was highlighted in my spirit. Amos 9:13; "Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed and the mountains shall drop sweet wine and all the hills shall melt (that is everything heretofore barren and unfruitful shall overflow with spiritual blessings)." All that is left for us is to do is obey, believe and receive.

"I have heard the longing of the heart of my true bride"

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear

Good Morning,

I would like to share with you a Word from the Lord that our church received on Sunday the 3rd of January 2010. The background of this message has to do with a deep season of worship that we were in at our church. The Lord had directed us to seek His face until… Because of men faces and even some of the people's desire to stop having so much worship, we shifted back to the norm. This is God's reply:

The Spirit of the Lord says;

You were running so hard to the beat and the light of My glory, who hindered you? Was it not the enemy of your soul? For he knows that as you keep running towards Me the light of My glory would turn into an all consuming fire. A fire that would destroy all that has hindered and kept you from truly hearing My voice. Your worship and praise to Me was a sweet burning sacrifice. Your worship created hunger and desire for more and more of Me, and a thirst to live in My Presence. You fell away because of religious notions and ideas. Now, I Am awakening you to pass the stares of old religious ideas that have kept My children eating old stale manna. Come up to the fresh and the new! Let Me surprise you with all that I have to drench your lives with My goodness and mercy, My power and glory. Yes, I will saturate you with Myself.

Bring to your remembrance how you started to run at the beginning of this year past. Fire, wind and rain, I used them all to sweep and clean My house, for you are My house. My Word was being intertwined with the power of My Spirit. Your worship was alive! Now I Am breathing this fresh new breath upon you to recover and regain what was yours. Jump into the river of My flowing glory. Be covered over with all of your Great God.

In order to come up higher, you must forget about yourselves, and the opinion of man as to what true worship really is. I will make known to you My desire, which is to be truly worshiped. Let Me lead you into the quest of genuine worship, for I will take you from glory to glory. Keep turning up the fires of worship and the fire of My Word and you will find the real you, for it is meant to burn all flesh up, so that all that is left is holy. You once labored so hard to enter into My rest, do not fall short now. Restore yourselves back to the 'love' of worshiping Me. Press beyond the curtain of the flesh and reason and walk boldly into the holy of holies. Enter in to the holiest and be made whole.

John 4:23

Love,

Pastor D.

Scripture References: Jeremiah 23:29; Malachi 3:1-3; Hebrews 12:28-29; John 4:23-24

Ears to Hear

Good Morning,

The year 2010 will hold for us plenty of adventures of faith. The Lord has been speaking to me about delighting myself in Him. Too often we are waiting on that "something' or that 'someone' to give us delight, our delight should always be based upon our relationship with God. Then our lives would become more stable and fixed, because all of the other things are temporal and fleeting. Then and only then we would enjoy every moment of our lives, based on our delight in God and not in the ever changing 'things'. Delight means a high degree of pleasure or satisfaction. Delight is a more permanent pleasure than joy and not dependent on sudden excitement. This delight comes with its own reward. Psalms 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desire." Now I am advocating that we just take pleasure in God because He is good, even when we are not aware of His goodness to us. To just 'do' the Word of God since it is our part of the covenant. We must keep pursuing the works of righteousness, until our heart's desire is His Word, first and upper most in our lives. "I take delight (a high degree of pleasure and satisfaction) in doing your will, my God for your instructions are written on my heart." (Psalms 40:8) Our focus this year should be in taking pleasure and satisfaction in doing the Word even when others are not. Isaiah wrote these verses after telling about all of the blessings and benefits that would come to those who are planted like great oaks in the Lord. Are you one of those great oaks, one that is rooted and grounded in His Word and not easily moved by circumstances whether conditions are favorable or not? "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments and as a bride adorns herself with jewels." (Is. 61:10) Notice the small word will – to make a choice, willingness, intention and consent; it expresses simple desire; used to express frequent or habitual action or tendencies. Greatly rejoice means to the highest degree and intensity; magnanimously, be glad in and take great delight in and pleasurable satisfaction. With preceding promises such as; double share of honor; ancient ruins being rebuilt; foreigners being your servants; feeding on treasures of nations; and possessing a double portion of prosperity; Isaiah's great delight is in the Lord, not in the 'things' that the Lord provides. This year as we delight in the Lord He will in turn give us the desires of our heart. So let's take great pleasure and receive the highest degree of satisfaction in the Lord. Let's make an habitual action and frequent tendencies to do the will of the Lord.

Psalm 37:4

Love,

Pastor D.

Ears to Hear

Good Morning,

As the year ends and the new year is upon us, we can expect more
changes. We will find that most of the effective changes are those that
will happen within us. We will see that we are made of tougher and
greater quality of character than we perceived. We are made in His
image. This will enable us to keep on moving closer to the Father,
while others that may have run with you at one time drop out. Here is
the message that the Lord spoke to our church on December 27.

The Spirit of the Lord says;

Do not fret over the transitions
and changes that I have allowed in your life. Most of the things that
have been removed; whether people, familiar situations or
circumstances, would have obstructed you from reaching the ultimate goal
or position that I Am bringing you to. Some familiarities would have
been an obstacle, while others would have been a deterrent to keep you
from running unhindered. Others would have caused you to be snared by
the enemy of your soul and stopped completely. Let them go! These
obstructions in your life have hindered you from the clarity of great
revelation. These revelations are necessary in order for these times
of transition. These changes have all been about bringing My people up
to a higher level, changing how you see and what you see as being
genuine and real. Now you must release the load of weights that have
caused your run to become sluggish and tiresome to you. Your flight
will be glorious, as you and I, shake from you all that would detain
you from reaching your proper place and position in Me.

I have already spoken to you that
the way would be narrow and not many will choose that way. The way
is made so that your eyes should only look forward and stay focused on
Me and all that is vital to the Kingdom and its advancement. This
narrow, constricted passageway will lead you to the wide open spaces of
living in the realms of My Spirit. My Holy Spirit
has been directing your course, you may have struggled on this course,
yet you did not fight against Holy Spirit. Because you chose to yield
to Holy Spirit, you will reach your destination with more power, more
glory, more anointing, more wisdom and more understanding of Me and My
ways. You have now entered into a new position and place of authority,
because of your endurance during times of transition. New keys are now
placed in your hands for the opening of doors that you thought were
locked to you. You will enter boldly now without fear or shame. You
will walk into your promised territory, holding your head high, for you
have kept the faith and stayed true to Me and My Word. Your focus
remained on Me and the Kingdom, even through the darkest times of
change. For your faithfulness you will abound with blessings and
rewards. You were not lead astray by the lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, or the pride of life. These three have slain many strong men
of faith, yet, your love for Me remained strong. I Am well pleased with
you, My children. Keep moving on the path of holiness and your
destination will always be glorious! Stay focused and My light will
forever brighten your steps into the right position of holiness.

Love,

Pastor D.

Scripture References: Mtt. 16:19; Rev. 3:7-8: Mtt. 7:14; Hebrews 12:1-2; I Corin. 9:24-27

Ears to Hear

Good Morning,

We will continue to discuss holiness of the heart, which is simple obedience. We saw that King David
had a repentant heart, when his sin was revealed by the Prophet Nathan.
There was even serious consequences of his sin, even after he had
repented. When we sow seeds, there is an expected harvest, whether good
or bad. God is not mocked whatever seeds we sow that and that alone
will bring our harvest. (Gal.6:7) The scripture goes on to tell us; "For
he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the
flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the
Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." "But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. " (Gal.6:8 and verse 4)

Now, let's look at the heart of another king and how he responded when the sin of his heart was revealed. Remember a simple definition for holiness is obedience to God and His Word with a yielded heart of humility. We
will pick up the account after Samuel the prophet told Saul the king,
to wait until he came to meet with the king and offer the sacrifices of
The Lord for the armies of Israel. You can read I Samuel 13:1-14. "
Saul waited seven days, according to the set time Samuel had appointed.
But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from
Saul. So Saul said, Bring me the burnt offering
and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering [which he
was forbidden to do]. And just as he finished offering the burnt
offering,
behold, Samuel came! Saul went out to meet and greet him. Samuel said,
What have you done? Saul said, Because I saw that the people were
scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days
appointed, and that the Philistines assembled at Michmash…. So I forced myself to offer a burnt offering." (that is usually how we say that we ended up in sins, shortcomings, faults etc.) "And
Samuel said to Saul, You have done foolishly! You have not kept the
commandment of the Lord your God which He commanded you; for the Lord
would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your
kingdom will not continue; the Lord has sought out [David] a man after
His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince and ruler
over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded." We
must obey God in the simple things, that is the testing and proving
ground for the one who will obey. We can not go around picking and
choosing what we'd like to do and nullifying the rest of God's Word, because it is difficult on our flesh.

Now let's see if there was a heart change in king Saul.
Samuel gives Saul a Word from the Lord, that he was to utterly destroy
all of the Amalekites, men, women, infants , ox, sheep, camels and
donkeys. We know that Saul took the king of the Amalekites alive, and
he kept the best of the sheep, ox, camels, all that was good, Saul
kept. Listen to the voice of the Lord; "Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not performed My commands. And Samuel was grieved and angry [with Saul] and he cried all night." (I Samuel 15:10-11). Samuel
went to meet Saul and of course he heard and saw Saul's disobedience to
the Lord. Saul, blamed his sin and disobedience on everybody else.
Samuel reminded Saul that when he was small in his own eyes, God made
him ruler over Israel. He told him again of the assignment that the
Lord sent him on, to utterly destroy the Amalekites. Yet, Saul
consistently said that he did obey God. (I Samuel 15:18-20) "And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." Listen, to the very next words, get it in your heart! "For rebellion (disobedience to God's Word) is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness (insisting on your way, becoming hardhearted to God) is
as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the
Lord, He has also rejected you from being king. And Saul said to
Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the
Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their
voice. Now, I pray you pardon my sin and go back with me that I may
worship the Lord.(verse 23-24) Do
you notice the difference of the heart of Saul compared to the heart of
David? Saul hasn't yet repented of his sin. He wants to look right in
the eyes of his people. The words that he is saying are not coming from
a broken and contrite heart,(the one that God will not despise). They
are coming from a prideful and arrogant heart, that needs to be noticed
as one that is respected. Why do you say that Pastor D? Let's look at
Saul's heart. "And as Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of Samuel's mantle and it tore. And Samuel said to him, The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it
to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. (David) And also the Strength of Israel will not lie or repent; for He is not man that He should repent. Saul said I have sinned, yet honor me now, I pray you. Before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.' (verses 27-30)

Saul did reap his harvest, for not repenting. He
lost the kingdom and also lost his mind and the respect of the people
that he was trying to impress. Obeying God is better than any sacrifice
that you think is more worthy than yielding to His Word. When we sow to
the flesh we reap a harvest of death and decay. Remember, "If you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. But
if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the
mouth of the Lord has spoken it." (Isaiah 1:19-20) It is the heart that consents, or is willing to obey that ends up obeying. Will to obey and you will obey!

Love,

Pastor D.