Atmosphere is Everything

 ATMOSPHERE is EEVERKyTHING 

        Scripture teaches that there are spiritual battles taking place all around us because we live in two atmosphere at the same time .  

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

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

One is a physical Atmosphere that we see, smell, hear, touch and taste. The other is a spiritual Atmosphere. We cannot see it with the natural eye or experience it with the rest of our natural senses but it very real . And it is vital that we understand more about it . 

The devil knows the power of atmosphere. That’s why most people are enticed into wrong atmosphere. 

God responds to Atmosphere as well . He is everywhere— he loves the atmosphere of Praise & of true worship from his people.  The Bible says that God inhabit the praises of his people .

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭22:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The word inhabits means  he is enthroned or feels comfortable enough to sit down in the place where the atmosphere is filled with celebration, praise, and worship. See when you fill the atmosphere with complaining, fault-finding , and murmuring it’s not inviting to the presence of God . It has quite the opposite effect . 

If you are fillies with the Holy Spirit & he is dominating your life . Then the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, long suffering , kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will become increasingly evident in your life Gal5:22-23

What kind of Atmosphere does your life have ? Are you attracting the Holy Spirit , or is the atmosphere just right for the demonic invasion ? 

Reference from the book The spirit of Python

Stay the Course #3

Endurance is KEY 

Summary: Paul gives a revealing picture of the hardships of his ministry. Nine trials are listed here, and most can be found in the book of Acts. 

What stands out to me is how Paul writes with knowledge of how some perceive him because of the trails

II Corinthians 6:3-10

The Message Bible: 3. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

       Paul writes with knowledge of how some perceive him because of the trails, but then he writes of how it really is! Example: Immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all. 

         Because of Paul and Timothy’s steadfast devotion through suffering for the sake of the Good News, it demonstrated or spoke loud that they were true ministers of God!

Endurance means, “Staying the course.” But endurance is just another word until you have to deal with a strife-torn marriage, the long road back from bankruptcy, divorce, illness and even He?

Endurance takes commitment to keep going when friends fail you, discouragement whispers ‘give up!’ Doubt says, “It can’t be done!”

Endurance takes on new meaning. It becomes your anchor in the storm, your compass in times of confusion, and the head of steam that gets you up the next hill!

James 1:2-4 NLT Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Through out the NT enduring troubles and temptations is a recurring theme. 

Failure to endure is “wandering from the truth.”

One thing we must always recognize about success, is that it is always linked to suffering of some kind. 

Edward Judson once said, “If you  succeed without suffering, it is because someone else has suffered  before you. If you suffer without succeeding, it is that someone else  may succeed after you.”

We need to remember that God knows when to discontinue a trial because its purpose is fulfilled.

Here are Three promises from His word. 

First, He said I would give you My comforting presence.

Isaiah 43: 2-5 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. 3a. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Secondly, He gives the assurance that He won’t permit more pressure than we can handle.

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Third, others are watching. As you endure James 1:5 wisdom comes. 

As you endure Romans 5 character is built and as you endure hope becomes sure because you know God doesn’t let go! Prayer.

Are you under Attack # 5

 Feeling overwhelmed & Hopeless 

Are you feeling overwhelmed by circumstances? That could be a sign that you are under attack. The word circumstances comes from two words: circum ( encircle ) and stance. ( stand). 

When circumstances feel overwhelming, everywhere you turn there is another problem, & another problem, and another problem. It is as if there is no escape, your problem line up as far the eye can see & overwhelmed you. 

This is one of the tricks the enemy uses to plant the seeds of a bad attitude. Thoughts such as What’s the use ? Why even try ? “Nothing is changing”  begin to flood your mind . 

Frustration takes hold . I read somewhere that frustration is fear that your effort will not pay off .  

It doesn’t take long for feelings of being overwhelmed to lead to hopelessness. You just feel like giving up . I want you to understand something about hopelessness. It does not come on all at once. 

When you hit that wall and just fell like throwing in the towel and quitting — that though formed in your spirit long before . 

If quitting is never a an option , then you will not want to quit when times get hard . 

You will want to keep pressing on in faith that Gods strength is greater than yours and he will see you through ever battle . 

If you are thinking about quitting, about walking away from the family of Faith . Then you are under attack. 

Gradually, little by little, the freedom to live is squeezed out of its prey. The Bible says,

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Understand this,  if the enemy can get you to lose hope, he can get you stop living by faith..

Straight from the book The spirit of Python   

Are you Under Attack ? #4

 Are you Under Attack ?

Recognize the signs: 

WEAK PRAYER LIFE —

             The fourth sign that you are under a spiritual attack is a weakling prayer life. “ Could you not watch with me one hour” ?  Jesus asked his disciples.  Then he told them , “ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. 

“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” ( Matt 26:40-41 ) Hours later Peter found himself under attack, and he denied that he even knew the Lord. 

Prayer is a discipline. There is no “gift of Prayer” it takes action on your part. It takes faith and persistence. However, there are times when even though you are faithful to pray l, you mind may work against you. 

In every failure of my life there have always been two common denominators, a dusty Bible & a broken - down Altar .  The Python strategy of Satan is to squeeze prayer and Bible reading out your daily  agenda. 

“The key to spiritual life is to inhale the word of God & exhale with prayer”

The Bible is the inspired word of God, which means it is “God- breathed” so when you read the Bible you breathe in your spiritual life . 

When you pray , you exhale, you can’t just breathe in , you must also breathe out . 

 

Reference straight from the the book The spirit of Python 

(No prayer No Power No Jesus No life) 

Are you Under Attack ? #3

Are you Under Attack ?

Recognize the signs: 

(LACK ATTACK): 

               The Third sign that you are under attack is a”Lack Attack”. There are times when it seems that all of your resources dry up at the same time. Hey bill will Piled up. You can pray bills away you have to pay them. 

But when everything starts breaking down at the same time, when business  dries up or Layoffs r announced, the car breaks down, the appliances are on the fritz, and  all kids are sick  you could be under a lack Attack, 

The enemy attacks in this way to get you to take your eye off of God and out your eyes on MONEY.  If he can get you worrying rather than worshiping, you will start making decision based on opportunity rather than anointing. 

We have seen people who were fully committed to God and growing  spiritually and then enemy hit them with a”LACK ATTACK”

They got their eyes off God and onto money. Then along come an opportunity— but not an anointed opportunity. 

Not every  “good” offer is from God. The devil can make some very good tenting offer.  Look at Jesus in (Matt 4). 

Alway remember there are 2 times in your life when you are especially vulnerable to temptation. “When you have nothing & when you have everything”

If you are going through a lack Attack and have more month than you have money, hold on focus your mind in Gods promise, not your problems. Remember his word : 

“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Does the financial solution pull you away from Gods house not allowing you to connect ? 

Does it take you away from your family ? 

Reference from the book The spirit of Python 

You being  Attack....    stay on course....  

Are you Under Attack ? #2

 Are you Under Attack ?

Recognize the signs: 

 PHYSICAL FATIGUE:  The second warning sign is Physical Fatigue. Keep in mind that we r created beings— spirit, soul & body .  If my body is weak, it allow me things to get into my mind (soul) l, & that allows things to negatively affect my spirit 

Look at Elijah after his jezebel.  After having fire fall from heaven & consume his offering & killing 859 of her prophets of Baal . 

“Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.””

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭19:1-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Many times we face our greatest attack just before a great promotion or just after a great victory . Keep that in mind when you are going through it — an attack could very well be an indication that you are about to be promoted or just had a great victory . 

Fatigue in your body wears on you minds. Your thoughts get twisted — even thinking of suicide .. Elijah told God he wanted to die ..  after he rested awhile, an angel of the Lord awakens him and fed him .  

The importance of taking a minute to recharge & go back to battle .  Wow ... 

Straight from the book The spirit of PYTHON

Are you Under Attack ?

 Are you Under Attack ?

Recognize the signs: 

1. Loss of Spiritual desire : The goal of Spiritual attack is to turn you away from what GOD wants to do in your life . First warning sign of attack is loss of spiritual desire . 
2. There is a difference between doing something merely out of obligation & doing something because you delight in it .   
3. Spiritual desire is evidenced by a heart on FIRE for God . As David said : “ O God, you are my God, early will I seek you , my soul thirsts for you . My flesh longs for you in a dry & thirsty land where there is no water”. Ps. 63:1
4. When you delight in the Lord, nothing else compares. Someone passionate for God finds pleasure in the things of God. 
5. Losing your spiritual desire rarely happens deliberately. It doesn’t take place overnight. It happens slowly , just as the python slowly, methodically begin to tighten his hold on its prey to choke the breath out, the changes in your heart are subtle. Life issues arise and begin cutting into your time in the WORD . 
6. Before long you are just too busy to read ur Bible & renew ur mind. You start felling a disconnect when you pray, and before you know it . You start spending less & less time in prayer. Soon you find reasons NOT to BE aT CHUrCh . Instead of your heart being on fire it becomes merely Lukewarm. 
7. Reference from the book The spirit of PYTHON by Jentezen Franklin 

“You are under ATTACK from your enemy”.  Antichrist spirit.     Anti- church , Anti- Bible. Anti- prayer , Anti......   

“Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, Daughter Zion, now a captive.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Stay on Course (next)

1.  “One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I drove him away from me. Remember them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites. So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task. I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me with favor, my God.”
2. ‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭13:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(1) MAKE THE EFFORT to set things right

 

Nehemiah got into the act and set things right. He reprimanded the wrongdoers and showed them what to do to make changes.

 

• See what he did to get the people to observe Sabbath and worship God:

 

• He reprimanded the people for doing business on the Sabbath

 

• He rebuked the nobles for allowing it.

 

• He locked the gates to the city, so no merchandise can come in, and he got rid of the overnight campers who were trying to beat the system or finding ways to get around the restrictions.

 

• He set Levites to guard the gates.

 

• He set up people and systems to make sure that God’s Laws are heeded and God’s ways are followed.

 

It’s never too late to do what is right.

 

• Even though God’s people had messed up pretty badly, it did not disqualify them from serving God or having a good relationship with Him.

 

• Don’t let your past keep you from doing what is right. It really doesn’t matter what you’ve done.

 

• What matters is that you begin right now to renew your walk with God.

 

Everyone fails in one way or another.

 

• Abraham attempted to deceive the King about his wife; Jacob cheated and gained his father’s blessing; Moses lost his temper, broke God’s tablets and hit the rock twice; David committed adultery and murder; Peter lied 3 times.

 

• What is important is to have the wisdom to know you’ve failed and the courage to admit it, and then take the steps to renew your walk with God.

 

(2) MAKE THE CHOICE to honour God above all else – the power is in your hand.

 

The people had reached a “spiritual high” in Chapter 10-12, but that does not automatically translate to a lifetime of faithful commitment to God.

 

Nehemiah and the people faced the same environment, issues and temptations.

 

• They had the same enemies, the same obstacles, and the same difficulties. They worship the same God, read the same Law, and had to abide by the same rules.

 

• But why was Nehemiah able to honour God, remained faithful and stayed on course? While the others failed?

 

• He was able to remain steadfast because he MADE THAT CHOICE to honors God.

 

You see this attitude through his many short prayers – we see 3 here in Chapter 13.

 

13:14 remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.

 

13:22 remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

 

13:31 remember me with favors, O my God.

 

These prayers reveal an attitude toward life.

 

• He has chosen to DEPEND fully on God.

 

• Nehemiah could have built a monument to himself. He could have written this inscription on the wall: “Built by Nehemiah the Great.”

 

• He could have looked back at his life and been proud of his own accomplishments. In fact, frankly, he has done really well.

 

• Yet these were not his concerns. He was concerned about God’s glory. He has CHOSEN the path of honoring God and obeying Him.

 

It was the same old, ancient challenge that Joshua gave to the people, when they first entered this land.

 

• “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…” (Josh 24:15)

 

• “… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

 

• You’ve got to CHOOSE for yourselves. I can do that for you. Your parents cannot do that for you. No one can.

 

Ultimately, it’s your choice. Make that choice, again and again.

 

• Each time you are confronted with an option – to honor God or do your own thing – you’ve got to choose.

 

• Ultimately, you are what you choose. Your life is a result of all your choices, coming together.

 

But God is going to guide you. When you make that choice, He will enable you.

 

• The same way He enables Nehemiah… and Moses, and David, and Esther, and Daniel, and Paul… to do the same – to remain steadfast and faithful to the end.

 

• God will give us the strength to do it right, but that choice is still in our hands.

 

• Don’t compromise. Stick to the promises you’ve made before God.

 

DON’T COMPROMISE – FUR COAT

 

A hunter raised his rifle and took careful aim at a large bear. When he was about to pull the trigger, the bear spoke in a soft soothing voice, "Isn’t it better to talk than to shoot? What do you want? Let’s negotiate the matter."

 

Lowering his rifle, the hunter replied, "I want your fur coat."

 

"Good," said the bear, "that is a negotiable item. I only want a full stomach, so let us sit down and negotiate a compromise."

 

They sat down to negotiate and after a time the bear walked away, alone.

 

The negotiations had been successful. The bear had a full stomach, and the hunter had his fur coat!

 

Compromise does not pay; it’s never worth it.

 

God never demands anything from us that is not for our own good. So NO command is a chore.

 

• Why does God want to burden us, when He tells us not to carry any burdens and desire to give us rest?

 

• Jesus: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:30)

 

We are missing out on a lot, if we are not doing it God’s way.

 

So let’s heed the word from Romans 12:9 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

 

Phil 2:12-13 "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."

 

When we are serious about "working out our salvation", God grants us the strength to do it, for He is the One who "who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."

 

From this chapter, this is what we will honors: honors God, honors God’s house, honors the Lord’s day, and honors our marriage.

 

 

STAY ON COURSE PART 2

 

1 John 4:1-6 1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

 ²This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

 ³but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

 ⁴You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

 ⁵They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

 ⁶We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

 

To achieve your goals you must foster the right attitudes, following right example, and focusing on the right prize.

 

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

 

Staying on Course

Introduction, achieving your goals

1) Many set goals but never achieve them

2) Many get side-tracked on other things

3) To achieve goals you must stay on course

God has an upward call for you!

1) God has created you for a higher purpose

2) God has called you to salvation, service, to be Christ-like

John is warning his readers they could be led off course by false teachers. They must be careful to maintain their focus on Jesus and put every teacher to the test.

Let us look at John’s advice for staying on course in the faith.

 

 

I. Don’t believe everything you hear that calls itself Christian.

A. We are involved in a spiritual conflict over the souls of men,

1. Satan, the enemy, has great power and he even dared to attack Jesus: Matt. 4:1-11

2. I doubt he had power to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world. He is a liar. However, he had enough power to take Him to a pinnacle of the temple and to the top of a mountain and show Him all the kingdoms of the world.

3. Satan wanted the soul of Jesus. One compromise, one sin, and He would have surrendered his life and His deity.

B. The world is full of false teachers. They are all motivated by the spirit of the antichrist: (Satan.)

1. Some say Jesus never really existed. He is a mythological figure like superman, Santa, or the Easter Bunny.

2. Others take Him to be merely a great teacher and leader whose time came and went.

3. Some believe Jesus to be God’s son but one of many sons and we are sons of God like Jesus.

4. Some claim Him as Savior but hardly give Him any importance. If there is nothing else to do and everyone feels fine, if we don’t have company, if it’s not too cold or too hot, etc., we might as well go to the church meeting.

C. The spirit of antichrist is at work in this falsehood.

1. Antichrist is not just one individual. It is the spirit of rebellion against God.

2. We are in conflict with numerous spiritual powers of evil. Eph. 6:12. They are very active in our day.

3. There are many false teachers. We should not believe everyone who claims to be Christian. We should certainly be able to recognize the spirit of the antichrist and reject it.

 

II. First, make sure about Jesus: any teacher or leader who does not give Him His proper place cannot be trusted.

A. He is the centerpiece of our faith:

1. If someone says He is only one of many ways to God, I believe Jesus, Who said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

2. He is more than the radar that will keep us on course. He is the One Who opened the way to Heaven for us. He is the ship and the radar and the captain and the wide blue sea all in one.

3. If one claims to be led by the spirit, we must ask what spirit. If they do not give Jesus His proper place, they are not speaking from the Spirit of God. I John 4:2, 3

B. Who does John say He is:

1. Christ. The divine Messiah promised in the Old Testament. The "seed of the woman" from Gen. 3:15. He is God.

2. Come in the flesh. Jesus - His human name. A very common name among the Jews. It acknowledges the human side of Him. He is Son of Man.

3. If He is not Son of God, then He is not perfect and unable to atone for our sins. If He is not son of man, he has no sacrifice to offer.

4. As God/man, He is our High Priest to intercede between us and God. Heb. 4:14, 15

III. Remember Whose you are: 4-6

A. You are from God: therefore, you must listen to God.

1. Does someone bring a different book or a different Jesus to your door? He is antichrist.

2. Does someone try to lead you astray into things you know are wrong? Perhaps drugs or alcohol or gang activity. They are antichrist. Stay away.

3. Is someone telling you, "Everyone’s doing it?" That’s reason enough to be suspicious.

4. Is someone saying, "The Bible is outmoded? Modern people believe differently." they are antichrist.

B. They are from the world.

1. The world listens to them. They get a greater hearing.

2. For example, all kind of falsehood has been spread in the name of science and science has disproved many of its own theories. evolution is a great falsehood most of the world believes.

3. The world refuses to hear us or accept Creationism because it would not hear Him.

C. This is why the Church is so important and love for one another is essential. If we can’t accept and love one another, we will be very lonely in the world.

1. It is important we teach the Word of God, so false teachers will be exposed.

2. no matter what the world may send forth against us and no matter how good it may sound, we have God’s Word and if we stay with it, we will triumph.

3. The best news in this passage: "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." I John 4:4

4. we must measure everything we hear by the standard of God’s word. then we will stay on course.

CONC.: Tell the story of Saul and the witch of Endor. Saul was led off course by false teaching and it cost him his life and those of his sons as well.. I Sam. 28. I Chr. 10:13, 14