tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53869833645924033772024-03-21T06:17:30.882-07:00BLENDED FAMILY"BECOMING A BLENDED FAMILY MEANS, MIXING, MINGLING, SCRAMBLING, AND SOMETIMES MUDDLING OUR WAY THROUGH DELICATE FAMILY ISSUES, COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIPS AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, HURTS AND FEARS. BUT THORUGH IT ALL, WE ARE LEARNING TO LOVE LIKE A FAMILY"Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-36806526696827304582023-07-24T19:32:00.002-07:002023-07-24T19:59:34.923-07:00It’s a Family in a Blender<p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">“<b><i><u>Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Proverbs</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">3</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">:</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">5</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">-</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">6</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;">NIV</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">There is no better word to describe the blended family than “blended.” When we consider the challenges of this new family unit, it can often feel like you’ve been thrown in a blender—stirred, chopped, sliced, and beaten to a pulp. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">The variety of different opinions, philosophies, and approaches coming together at one time frequently contributes to the confusion and chaos. Some days you will barely be able to hold it together. After all, you and your spouse were brought together by love, but only after navigating the trauma of a divorce or death—and perhaps some healing is yet to come for you or other members of your family.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Meanwhile, a new household needs to be established, and your parents, children, and even extended families may have all kinds of opinions on the relationships involved and how they should work.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> Old patterns, to some extent, will need to be <b><i>unlearned</i></b>, and some new models will be invented. This can be especially complicated for children. Familiar with one parenting style, they now have to learn another; the learning curve is only steepened if both biological parents remarry. And thus, this change is challenging for all involved. Both parents and children are likely to experience confusion and frustration at times.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">One | It’s going to take time.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Husbands and wives are required to make each other a priority; this is hard in a newly blended family. It may take extra effort to work through differences, so don’t just storm out of the room physically or emotionally—lean into the conflict. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Different parenting styles are going to clash, and former patterns that worked might end up changing into something new and different. These changes are uncomfortable for everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">It’s going to take time to recognize, agree on, and build this new family system. In the meantime, show respect and kindness. Learn from your partner and listen to her. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Create opportunities to brainstorm ideas on making your marriage and family function better. It takes time, but the wait is so worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Two | With children, let the biological parent lead for a season<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Upon a divorce or the death of a parent, a child’s world turns upside down. If you think about it, they are along for a ride that they did not ask to be taken on. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">This amount of change is unsettling for them emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">They need some things to remain unchanged, and one that can be constant is the voice of their biological parent in moments of stress, teaching, redirection, or discipline. So let your wife take the lead in parenting her biological children. You may not always agree with her method of discipline or how she delivers it, but you can respect the choices of your spouse. Over time, the hope is that all your children will learn to respect and love the joint discipline of both parents, biological or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Three | Create new methods and memories<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">There are so many great methods and memories you will struggle to import. This always surprises couples in the new blended family. We assume that everyone will love our old traditions because we thought they were so wonderful and had so many wonderful memories attached to them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">And of course, we are shocked when the new family system abhors them. You will have to craft <b><i>new traditions</i></b>, and it is going to take time for these ideas to catch on as your new family members accept them as their own. But be patient and hang in there. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">You are starting over, and with this restart is the opportunity to forge new patterns, new memories, and new methods of life together within this new family that God has assembled. So get creative and start building.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Four | God can do extraordinary work in a blended family<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Consider the case of Moses, son of Jochebed, who was born into an Israelite family in Egyptian slavery. Yet for his safety, he was sent down the Nile River in a basket when the Pharaoh of Egypt called for the mass genocide of all the Israelite boys. His parents, who trusted God, discovered that Moses made his way into the hands of Queen Bithia, Pharaoh’s daughter, and was raised in this royal home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">For the first 40 years of his life, Moses grew up in extreme wealth and luxury as a stepchild to the Pharaoh. This was Moses’ stepfamily. Then Moses discovered his Israelite heritage and fled the comfort of this palatial home to discover another home. Later, he headed to Midian, where he established an intimate relationship with God and married Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">After another 40 years, Moses left the desert and returned to Egypt as a prophet and leader to free the Israelite nation from captivity, leading them to 40 years of wandering in the desert.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> There he shepherded a nation of people in hopes of leading them into the land of promise. So think about that for a minute. Moses was a kid who grew up in a stepfamily yet became a father and the leader of God’s people—the man whom God used to lead His people from slavery and through whom God delivered the Law on Mount Sinai. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I would say that is a pretty spectacular story of redemption and hope for all stepfamilies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">So keep in mind that while the process may be difficult for a while, God has something special for a blended family. And if you have one, you might be raising a future leader of God’s people right now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-18019309833494167842023-07-20T14:36:00.000-07:002023-07-20T14:36:44.697-07:00Curses Caused by the Spirit of Idolatry<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Curses</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Caused</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">by</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">the</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Spirit</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">of</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Idolatry</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Certain</span></i><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> <i>men,</i> <i>the</i> <i>children</i> <i>of</i> <i>Belial,</i> <i>are</i> <i>gone</i> <i>out</i> <i>from</i> <i>among</i> <i>you,</i> <i>and</i> <i>have</i> <i>withdrawn</i> <i>the</i> <i>inhabitants</i> <i>of</i> <i>their</i> <i>city,</i> <i>saying,</i> <i>Let</i> <i>us</i> <i>go</i> <i>and</i> <i>serve</i> <i>other</i> <i>gods,</i> <i>which</i> <i>ye</i> <i>have</i> <i>not</i> <i>known.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">—<b><i>Deuteronomy 13:13,
KJV<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This
verse is the first mention of Belial in the Word of God. The Lord identifies
men who attempt to lead His people <i>away</i> <i>from</i> <i>Him</i> to
serve other gods as “children of Belial” in the King James Version. This
passage of Scripture goes on to describe their actions:<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">If you
hear someone in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell
in, saying, “Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the
inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’”—which you
have not known—then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if
it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you,
you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the
sword, utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock, with the
edge of the sword. And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the
street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the
Lord your God; and it shall be a heap forever. It shall not be built again. So
none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, that the Lord may turn
from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you and
multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">—Deuteronomy
13:12–17<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Children of Belial”
indicates individuals who were under the control of Belial. They were being
used by Belial to draw the people of God away from Him to serve other gods. It
is interesting to note that the word <i>idol</i> is the Hebrew word
which means “good for nothing, vain or vanity, of no value, thing of nought.”</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15pt;"> </span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This can be summed up in one.</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Belial, which means
tries to lead men astray to follow something that is worthless. Idols are
worthless; they have no value, and they cannot satisfy.</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The <i>first</i> <i>principle</i> we
see in connection with Belial is that he attempts to draw people away from
worshiping the true God. Under Belial are spirits that will <i>seduce</i> people
and draw them away from the Lord. As a result, the demon spirits operating
under the rulership of Belial inflict the people who have been drawn away from
the protection of God with bondages and curses that often lead to destruction.</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The apostle Paul
prophesied, “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed
to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1, To <i>seduce</i> means
“to lead away, to persuade to disobedience or disloyalty, to lead astray by
persuasion or false promises, to attract, to lure.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The Living Bible
translation of this verse says, “Some in the church will turn away from
Christ.” This is known as<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Webster defines <b><i>apostasy </i></b>as
“abandonment of a previous loyalty, defection.” I believe this is the reason
why so many churches and some denominations have abandoned the faith. Some have
even ordained homosexuals as ministers. What an abomination! This is no doubt
the work of Belial and seducing spirits to cause many PRAYERS.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: white; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;"></td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Characteristics
of the spirit<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">of
Belial<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Father, Your Word tells
me, “Some worthless people have talked everyone there into worshiping other
gods, even though these gods had never done anything for them.” You instruct me
to “carefully find out if the rumor is true” and call such action “a disgusting
thing” (Deut. 13:13–14, Make me a watchman on the wall to guard against this
worthless spirit leading those I know and love astray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Father, the spirit of
Belial causes people “to be so selfish that you refuse to help the poor” (Deut.
15:9, when the poor are their own relatives! You warn me not to be like that
and say that if that person I refuse to help tells You of the wrong I do, you
“will say that [I am] guilty.” Protect me from the spirit of Belial, who makes
people so selfish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">God, the spirit of
Belial is so perverted that it watches for strangers to visit Your people and
then demands that the stranger be given to perverse men and women to satisfy
their homosexual lust (Judg. 19:22). Keep me ever watchful, Lord, for those who
would be stolen away by the homosexual lusts of Belial. Make me a strong wall
of protection and my home a locked fortress against this spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Your Word tells the
horrible story of a traveling Levite who, with his wife, spent a night in the
home of a fellow Jew who lived in a city filled with men who were no longer
living for God but were filled with the spirit of Belial. These men surrounded
the man’s home and demanded that the Levite be given to them for homosexual
relations. Rather than protecting his wife, this Levite threw his own wife out
the door, and she was repeatedly raped by these evil men and died. (See Judges
19.) Lord, teach me to heed the warning of this story and never become so
apathetic toward You that I would willingly give up my own family members to
evil. Keep me safe in the protection of Your will so that I never stray from
You and fall victim or allow my loved ones to fall victim to the spirit of
Belial.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord, when Hannah was
interceding in the temple for a son, she was thought to be a daughter of Belial
who was drunk (1 Sam. 1:12–16). Help me to recognize that the spirit of Belial
would attempt to bring me under the bondage of some addictive sin that traps
me. Help me to recognize these addictive bondages and to avoid anything that
could draw me subtly into bondage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Father, you called the
sons of Eli—priests in Your temple—sons of Belial who were living in sin even
as they pretended to be men of God (1 Sam. 2:12, Protect the men and women who
have accepted Your calling to ministry, and shield them from the hidden sins
that will lead them away from You. Break the power of sin from their lives and
keep them true and honorable shepherds who lead Your people into righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Father, like Eli’s sons,
so many church leaders and men of God today have fallen prey to the spirit of
Belial and have ended up broken, bound by sin, and unworthy to serve as Your
shepherds. Help me to pray and intercede for Your shepherds. Break the power of
Belial to lead Your servants astray. Keep them pure and holy and blameless
before God and before the people they are leading.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Father, as soon as
Samuel had anointed Saul to be king, the spirit of Belial immediately attacked
him by casting doubts to the people about his ability to lead them and by their
refusing to honor him with their gifts (1 Sam. 10:27). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The spirit of Belial was
already at work, filling Saul with self-doubt and insecurities about his abilities.
Even though he held his peace, this spirit began its insidious attack against
him, ultimately leading him to reject You and fail miserably at the job You had
called him to. Make me strong against Belial when it tempts me to doubt what
You have called me to do or tempts me to feel inadequate or inept. Make me
powerful through Your Spirit, and defeat the spirit of Belial from my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord, in times of
illness and physical distress, keep my eyes focused on You and my heart strong
in my faith that You can heal me. The spirit of Belial would try to tell me,
“You have some fatal disease! You’ll never get well” (Ps. 41:8, Help me to
reject the voice of Belial that would whisper defeat, destruction, and death in
my ear. Raise me up to strength and physical wholeness by Your power and block
the taunting’s of Belial from my ears.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord, “I refuse to be
corrupt or to take part in anything crooked.” I will not allow the spirit of
Belial to take control of my life, and “I won’t be dishonest or deceitful” (Ps.
101:3–4, I will live my life in purity and honor. I will listen only to Your
Spirit and will resist the spirit of Belial from entering my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord, worthless liars
who have been bound by Belial go around deceiving others (Prov. 6:12). I will
not be one of these worthless liars. I will speak only Your truth, and I will
only seek to lead others into the path of righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Lord, the spirit of
Belial destroys the godly value You have given us and causes us to become
worthless. Your Word says, “Worthless people plan trouble. Even their words
burn like a flaming fire” (Prov. 16:27, May I never become worthless to You.
May I never play with the fire of Belial and become burned by evil. I will not
allow the spirit of Belial to destroy my value to You and to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Dosis; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Father, Your Word says,
“A lying witness makes fun of the court system, and criminals think crime is
really delicious” (Prov. 19:28, Help me to recognize the lying witnesses in
America today who mock the godly principles this nation was founded on and
attempt to convince others that ungodliness is right. Unmask the spirit of
Belial in the voices of those who lobby for ungodly practices and rules, who
attempt to water down the righteous principles of this nation and lead us into
sinful acts and behaviors. Right the wrongs that have crept into our justice
system, into our schools and government, and that are attempting to lead this
nation into sinful practices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-29892100272891375242023-07-17T07:35:00.001-07:002023-07-17T07:35:06.911-07:00The Good Shepherd<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">““I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">John 10:14-15 NIV</span></p><p><span face="Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.333334px;"><br /><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span face="Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.333334px;">Have you ever had a great coach or teacher? </span></p><p><span face="Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.333334px;">Chances are that leader went beyond what they had to do or what they were paid to do to help you or your friends. </span></p><p><span face="Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.333334px;">Maybe they even gave up something or sacrificed their time because they cared so much. That’s what great leaders do, and that’s exactly what Jesus is describing—a shepherd who loves the sheep so much </span></p><p><span face="Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.333334px;">He gets to know each one personally and even gives His life for them. </span></p><p><span face="Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.333334px;">Essentially, Jesus is saying that’s how He feels about you. You’re the sheep! Maybe you’ve never felt like you were important enough for Jesus to know your name, but He does. </span></p><p><span face="Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.333334px;">He loves you so much He was willing to give up everything to keep you safe because that’s what a Good Shepherd does.</span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-4069382492739980232023-07-07T08:53:00.001-07:002023-07-07T08:53:55.908-07:00Hand to the PLOW<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 30.56px; font-weight: bold;">No One Who Puts a Hand to the Plow</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">Luke 9:62<br />“Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 24.01px; font-weight: bold;">Explanation and Commentary of Luke 9:62</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">Jesus was apt to explain that those who considered being his disciples would be prudent to count the cost first (Lk 4:28) because there was no going back once one stepped onto his path, that it was better to have not undertaken the journey at all than to start and then quit. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">This statement in Luke 9 comes after a section in which Jesus is addressing several who had made excuses as to why they must delay following Jesus.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">When we “put our hand to the plow” we must be ready for a lifetime of relationship with Christ, and following Christ. He has our life of service and transformation planned out from start to finish, and he is glad when we do put our hand on the plow, but let us not become like those seeds thrown on shallow or rocky soil who at once seem to rejoice in Christ, only to fall away when it becomes a struggle or we get bored with it.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">We are promised in Scripture that because God has given us his Holy Spirit, we are sealed for the day of the redemption. But those who are given the Holy Spirit of perseverance look very similar to those who get excited about God at first in the natural realm but have no staying power. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">It behooves even the confident believer to pray always for perseverance and the grace of God to continue with him, that they may finish the race and win the prize (Acts 20:24)</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p4" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 4px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 24.01px; font-weight: bold;">Breaking Down the Key Parts of Luke 9:62</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">#1 “Jesus replied,”</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"><br />The statement to which Jesus is replying is, “I will follow you Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">#2 “‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back…”</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"><br />It could be Jesus is saying that if he goes back to “say goodbye” to his family that he will have second thoughts and bring judgment on himself. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with bidding farewell to one’s family, but Jesus discerns in all these excuses a halfhearted attempt to follow him without laying down their life in a way necessary to truly receive the Kingdom of God.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;">#3 “…is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 18.6px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 18.55px;"><br />Being “fit for service” in God’s kingdom is to live utterly in the alternate reality that is the rule and reign of Christ in the midst of the current dominion of darkness on the earth. It is to be in the world, but radically not of it. Jesus commands not just loyalty to himself, but a whole new kind of existence.</span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-50287279292648556232023-06-30T09:59:00.003-07:002023-06-30T09:59:53.331-07:00MAKE ROOM 3 <p> </p><p><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">Keep expecting</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">How do you live in such a way that God can do immeasurably more in you and through you than you could ever imagine? </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">First, we identify our priorities. Then, we choose to make room for more of God by fasting. After that, we choose to put God first every day through the practice of spiritual disciplines. Finally, we expect God to move. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The truth? God created you for a purpose. He wants you to have a rich and satisfying life. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He is inviting you to become the kind of person who can bring a little bit of heaven to Earth. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The problem? So many of us aren’t convinced that God could ever use us. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The idea of God doing immeasurably more through us can sometimes feel unlikely, and for some of us it feels completely impossible. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Maybe it’s because of the bad things we’ve done, the bad things that have been done to us, the challenges we’ve experienced in our homes, or the struggles we face every day. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So many of us have had the hope beaten out of us to the point that expecting God to move in us seems like a kid’s dream instead of a real possibility. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">God wants you to dream again. He wants you to believe, maybe for the first time, what He believes about you. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">God is inviting you to imagine and to expect what could be and what should be. And God wants you to keep expecting. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He wants you to keep believing. He wants you to have hope.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Let your fast make room in your heart and in your mind for more of God by starving the doubts, the fears, and the insecurities you’ve been living with. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Let your worship of God feed your imagination and your expectation for God to move. And keep expecting. Keep dreaming. Keep believing. Why? </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Because God can, and He will, do immeasurably more through you than you could ever ask, think, or imagine. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So, will you make room? Will you put God first? Will you keep expecting? </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">Challenge:</span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Keep expecting. Stay strong with your fast and do something every day to put God first for the next two weeks! If you miss one day, commit to not missing two. Have grace for yourself (because God has grace for you) and get back at it! </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”</p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Philippians 1:20 NIV</p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”</p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Galatians 6:9 NIV</p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /><br /></span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-21124452389421416362023-06-29T14:37:00.003-07:002023-06-29T14:37:50.622-07:00Make Room 2 <p> <strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.8em;">Make Room</strong></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Do you still have your list of priorities you made last devotional ? Okay, good. When you look at that list, you probably find yourself thinking, “My life is pretty full. I have so many things that I need to do and so many things that I want to do. How am I supposed to make room for God?” </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Great question! That’s where fasting comes in. Fasting is the act of giving something up so that we can make room for God. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Unfortunately, fasting is a spiritual discipline that a lot of people don’t fully understand, so it can be hard to appreciate how valuable it really is. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Let’s take a quick sidebar and talk about spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are the things we do that help us stay in tune with the things of God. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;">As Christians, we know that we are accepted by Jesus because of His grace and not because of our good works. At the same time, we know that being a Christian isn’t just praying one prayer. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;">Being a Christian is choosing to follow Jesus every day. A common word used to describe a follower of Jesus is the word</span><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;"> </span><em style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.8em;">disciple</em><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;">.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;"> An interesting thing about the word disciple, which is another word for follower, is that it shares the same root as the word discipline. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;">The takeaway: Spiritual disciplines help us become better disciples. Spiritual disciplines will not make God love you more. There’s nothing you can do that will make </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;">God love you any more or any less. Spiritual disciplines will help</span><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;"> </span><em style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.8em;">you</em><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;">love</span><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;"> </span><em style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.8em;">God</em><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21.333334px;">more and help you better live the life He has created you to live. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Even Jesus practiced spiritual disciplines! Yes, that Jesus, God in human form, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> He prayed, He studied Scripture, He spent time with Christians, He served people, and He <em style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.8em;">fasted</em>. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Fasting is a spiritual discipline that involves giving something up so that we can make room for more of God. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Fasting helps us make room for God to work in us and through us. We live in a world today where people are busier than ever.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> That’s why fasting is more important than ever. At a time in history when people’s lives are more full of things than ever, fasting helps us make room to create space for what is most important. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><strong style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.8em;">Challenge:</strong> Choose one thing to fast from—to give up—for the next two weeks.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> Ask yourself this question: What is one thing I can give up that will help me make room for more of God?</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> If you’re not sure what to fast from, here are some suggestions: social media, YouTube, sweets, fast food, complaining, swearing, secular music. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.””</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Matthew 4:1-3 NIV<span style="font-size: 21.333334px;"> “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.””</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Matthew 4:1-3 NIV must read as well </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><br /></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-18209084501702469302023-06-27T09:38:00.000-07:002023-06-27T09:38:08.051-07:00MAKE ROOM <p> <span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 21px; font-weight: bold;">What do you value most?</span><span class="s2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Before you answer this question, can you commit to doing something that may feel uncomfortable? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Hopefully, you said yes. Will you commit to giving a </span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic;">real</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> answer instead of giving the “right” answer?</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">It’s easy to be asked that question and say the thing you think people want to hear. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Don’t settle for the easy thing. Choose to do the potentially uncomfortable thing. Why? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Because easy answers don’t make us better. And you want to become better, right? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">So, here are some questions to help you give a real answer instead of the “right” answer: </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; list-style-type: circle;"><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">What do you spend the most time doing? </span></li><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">What do you spend the most time thinking about? </span></li><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When you’re about to fall asleep at night, what are the things going through your head? </span></li><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Where does most of your money go? Clothes? Sneakers? Video games? Your car? Your bills or Rent ? </span></li><li class="li1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">If you came home from work <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>and discovered that someone robbed your house, what would be the first thing you check to see if it’s still there? </span></li></ul><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Now that you’ve asked yourself those questions and come up with answers (you did answer those questions, right?), do you still have the same answer for what you value most? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Here’s why we’re answering those questions: Most of us would agree that we want God to do immeasurably more through us than we could ever do on our own. The problem? Often, our lives are so full of other things that we aren’t giving God space to actually move through us. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">That’s why we need to make room. When we make room in our lives, we are making room for God to do more in us and through us than we could ever ask, think, or imagine. Step one to making room is to identify what matters most to us. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-weight: bold;">Challenge:</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Use the questions above to make a list of what you value most. Put the things on that list in the order of how much time, energy, attention, and money you spend on those things. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Let this be a visual representation of what you value most today. Once you’ve made the list, ask this question: </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Are my values really in the order I want them to be in? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“</span><span class="s4" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: underline;">Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: underline;">Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV</span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-62357078288742499362023-06-14T11:21:00.002-07:002023-06-14T11:21:33.786-07:00Fasting with Humility and Sincerity <p> </p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“In Jesus’s day the Pharisees fasted with attitudes of pride and superiority:</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: underline;">The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are. . . . I fast twice in the week . LUKE 18:11–12, KJV</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Anytime you are full of pride, being legalistic and religious, you can fast and pray all you want, but you won’t see many miracles. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The Pharisees didn’t have any miracles come as a result of their prayer and fasting. They had no power. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Jesus had all the miracles because He was humble and full of mercy, love, and compassion toward people.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: underline;">The Pharisees had nothing but long robes on, robes with no miracles. They couldn’t heal a headache. They couldn’t heal a mosquito bite. They couldn’t heal a hangnail. They had no power because they were not humble and showed no mercy. Jesus showed up and broke all their rules. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">He healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out devils. Then they wanted to kill him. They were not concerned about people. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">They were more concerned about their position and their title. Don’t ever get to a place where your position or title takes the humility and the mercy of God out of your life. Always be humble. Always be merciful.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We must approach fasting with humility. Fasting must be genuine and not religious or hypocritical. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">This is what God requires in fasting. We must have correct motives in fasting. Fasting is a powerful tool if done correctly. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Muslims and Hindus fast, but their fasts are merely religious. Great miracles and breakthroughs happen when fasting is done in the right spirit.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Isaiah chapter 58 describes the fast that God has chosen:</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>• Fasting cannot be done with amusement (v. 3).</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>• Fasting cannot be done while mistreating others (v. 3).</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>• Fasting cannot be done for strife or contention (v. 4).</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>• Fasting should cause one to bow his head in humility, like a bulrush (v. 5).”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Fasting should be a time of searching the heart and repenting.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>• Fasting should be done with an attitude of compassion for the lost and hurting (v. 7).</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is the fast that God promises to bless.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The enemy knows the power of prayer and fasting, and he will do everything in his power to stop you. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Believers who begin to fast can expect to encounter much spiritual resistance. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedItalicBody; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">A believer must be committed to a fasted lifestyle.</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The rewards of fasting far outweigh the obstacles of the enemy.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-19301356214033012072023-06-13T08:55:00.001-07:002023-06-13T08:55:10.701-07:00RELEASE The BREAKER ANOINTING <p> <span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 21px;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“We have established that there are some things in our lives that just can’t stay around if we are to walk victoriously and in covenant with God. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We have gone too long and too soft with the enemy wreaking havoc in our lives. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Fasting can release the breaker anointing. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The prophet Micah prophesied the day of the breaker coming up before his people. We are living in the days of the breaker.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleItalicBody; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline;">The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them. MICAH 2:13, KJV</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Lord is a breaker. He is able to break through any obstacle or opposition on behalf of His covenant people.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> There is a breaker anointing arising upon the church. We are seeing and experiencing more breakthroughs than ever before. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Fasting will cause breakthroughs to continue in families, cities, nations, finances, church growth, salvation, healing, and deliverance.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> It will help believers to break through all opposition from the enemy.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“As we have said, there are some spirits operating in our lives that cannot be overcome without fasting.</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> Some believers struggle with certain limitations that they cannot seem to break through. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A revelation for how covenant and fasting work hand in hand will change this and result in victories that would not ordinarily be obtained. A life of consistent fasting will cause many victories to manifest.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> God’s will is that His covenant believers live a life of victory and perfect peace with nothing being impossible to them.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span>Only for the Serious & Obedient Servant. </p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> </span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-46415402314831800412023-06-12T09:42:00.003-07:002023-06-12T09:42:07.456-07:00Fasting for Deliverance # 1<p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedBody; font-size: 21px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Now, therefore,” says the LORD , “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm. JOEL 2:12–13</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>YOU’VE COMMANDED, REBUKED, prayed prayers, done warfare, and shouted, but there’s more that needs to be broken off your life. It’s time to add some fasting to your warfare strategy. There are just those “kinds” of demonic strongholds that there is no other way around them. No shortcuts. You have to fast and humble yourself until that thing breaks and leaves your life.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Listen Famaliy, demons are different in terms of their wickedness. There are demons that are more wicked, more unclean, stronger, more stubborn, and higher in rank, ability, and intelligence. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">The longer a demon has been in a family or in a person’s life, the harder it is to remove because its roots go very deep. Demons such as rebellion, pride, witchcraft, Jezebel, poverty, and lack may only come out with a high level of faith[…]”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Sometimes it seems as if they cannot be dislodged, and people will get discouraged and frustrated and feel they have failed. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">In Matthew 17 the disciples of Jesus encountered a demon in a young boy and could not cure him because of unbelief. Unbelief hinders us from dealing with strongholds. It takes faith to dislodge the enemy. Fasting helps you overcome unbelief and build strong faith.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is the supernatural combination that Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 17: prayer and fasting. I am not saying that when you fast you will earn brownie points with God or that you are working your way to enjoying God’s blessings. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">We don’t fast to be saved, please God, or to go to heaven. There is no law that says if you don’t fast you will go to hell. We fast for breakthrough and revival, for family and loved ones. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some things take fasting and prayer. There is no other way around. There are those kinds of demons that just don’t give up. They are strong, proud, arrogant, and defiant. They are familiar spirits that have been in your family.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Sometimes you have to do something unusual, extraordinary, and beyond the norm to see breakthrough. Normal church, normal Christianity, normal preaching, and normal praying are not going to get the job done. Some little sweet prayer is not going to do. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Religion won’t get it done. It is going to take an anointing that destroys the yoke. When you fast, the anointing increases in your life because you are so into the Spirit. The authority of God, power of God, and faith of God comes alive when you lay aside some things and fast. You will find yourself getting stronger and stronger. Shouting doesn’t do it. It is the anointing that does it.”</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">“Isaiah 58 talks about how we can fast to break every yoke to undo the heavy burdens. Fasting makes room so that the oppressed go free. Fasting breaks bondages and causes revival. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When you are dealing with a serious issue—maybe you are dealing with something you don’t know how to handle—the best thing to do sometimes is to let go of some food for a little while. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Pray against that thing. Man may not be able to help you, and you may not know how to defeat it, but with God all things are possible.”</span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-43702900296918624742023-06-08T08:07:00.001-07:002023-06-08T08:07:15.577-07:00Blended Family 2 <p> <u><i><b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px;">Spend individual time with each child.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px;"> </span></b></i></u></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Children crave their parents' (and stepparents’) undivided attention. They need to know they are valued, loved, and heard. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">As parents, we can work to create time and space to bond and learn about each other. When blending a family, this can feel awkward, uncomfortable, and challenging, especially when you are beginning to establish new relationships with your stepchildren. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Finding time for your stepchildren and biological children may present challenges, so it takes intentionality and effort. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Biological children can feel overlooked by a biological parent because these children now have to share that parent with a stepparent and stepchildren. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">On the other hand, stepchildren may feel like they are not as loved by a stepparent. Parents and stepparents may feel pulled in multiple directions as they seek to treat every family member equally. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Spending individual time with a child helps to establish trust and shows them that you see them and that they are important. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">We cannot do this without intentionally setting aside the time to spend with each child one-on-one. Scripture reminds us that children are a blessing from God.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> As we seek to build a godly, well-blended family unit, our families have an amazing opportunity to reflect the love of Christ towards children whom God has placed in our life by design.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> Children are a gift from God, and our time with each of them is important, powerful, and transformative.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><strong style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.8em;">Prayer: </strong>Father, thank You for the precious gift of our children! Help us be intentional as we train them up in Your ways.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> We ask that You direct us in how to use our time wisely and give each of our children the special attention and guidance they need.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> Lord, make us examples of Your love and help us to guide our children in their walks with You. Use us to break generational cycles and curses by teaching our children to seek You in every area of their lives. In Your holy name we pray, Amen</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">“<u>Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”</u></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><u>Psalms 127:3 NIV</u></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><br /><br /></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-73340473148070822972023-06-07T08:44:00.001-07:002023-06-07T08:44:20.121-07:00Blended FAMILY <p> <span face="Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21.333334px;">Establish trust within your new family unit.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">One of the biggest differences between a nuclear or traditional family and a blended family is establishing trust.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"> A nuclear family has been building trust since the birth of the first child. In a blended family, trust is harder to gain and more easily lost. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">It may require a lot more time and intentionality to establish trustworthy and healthy relationships, especially with older children who are often more skeptical and guarded than younger children. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Building trust takes a lot of patience, prayer, persistence, and perseverance. Learning to trust God through that process is key to the success of a blended family.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Blending can be an amazing experience, but it also involves trials, struggles, and disagreements that can create fear and mistrust in your marriage and blended family. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Christ is our focus, and His Word is our answer. Scripture says that when we are afraid, we can trust Him (Psalm 56:3). By reading the Word of God and acting in obedience to His truth, we gain insight into how to develop trust in our blended family.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">In the process of blending, it is important to be transparent with your new spouse about how you are feeling and thinking. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Children need to be able to share their emotions openly as well. Another element in building trust is consistency. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">When children understand their boundaries and know those boundaries will not suddenly shift, they can become comfortable in trusting the new members of that family. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">Lastly, listening to each other can go a long way when establishing the trust needed for a healthy blended family.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><strong style="-webkit-touch-callout: none; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.8em;">Prayer: </strong>Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of marriage and children. May my marriage reflect Your heart in what I say and do with my spouse and blended family. Help us to steward, disciple, and train our children in the way they should go as we seek Your will for their lives and our family. If there is any root of distrust or unforgiveness in my heart from past relationships or ex-spouses, I pray that You would begin to uproot every lie of the enemy and replace them with Your truth. You are the foundation of our marriage and family. Where there is disharmony, I pray that You would bring your unity and peace. Amen.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;">“<u>When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”</u></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: Avenir, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 21.333334px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px;"><u>Psalm 56:3-4 </u></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-79699934206421232192023-02-02T16:45:00.001-08:002023-02-02T16:45:59.942-08:00Jesus Prescription for Happiness<p> <b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The Sermon on the Mount</span></b></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">5 </span></b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus saw the crowds and went up a hill, where he sat down. His disciples gathered around him, <b><sup>2 </sup></b>and he began to teach them:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-top: 15pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">True Happiness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: normal;"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor;<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!<br /><b><sup>4 </sup></b>“Happy are those who mourn;<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God will comfort them!<br /><b><sup>5 </sup></b>“Happy are those who are humble;<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">they will receive what God has promised!<br /><b><sup>6 </sup></b>“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires;<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God will satisfy them fully!<br /><b><sup>7 </sup></b>“Happy are those who are merciful to others;<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God will be merciful to them!<br /><b><sup>8 </sup></b>“Happy are the pure in heart;<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">they will see God!<br /><b><sup>9 </sup></b>“Happy are those who work for peace;<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">God will call them his children!<br /><b><sup>10 </sup></b>“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires;<br /></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: normal;"><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">11 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. <b><sup>12 </sup></b>Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> The Sermon on the Mount is a challenge to us!!! It’s a challenge to CLIMB higher and go higher in our THINKING. In our lives, and our thoughts. There are huge CROWD’S<u>. </u>but Jesus breaks away from them. And He is about to break these disciples out of their<u> </u>religious<u> </u>thinking into KINGDOM THINKING.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Happiness is found in CHARACTER not in possessions. (Every one of these BEATITUDES is something internal, not eternal, something you are , something you have)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">GOD would never ask you to do or be something that is not possible. GOD never makes his WORD, his PROMISES, or His CHALLENGES Unattainable. GOD never direct us into dead-end. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">GOD always leaves a gap. { of Dependency } You can’t practice the BEATITUDES without GOD. Which means you can’t be HAPPY without GOD.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">These BEATITUDES are not natural for us. We need GOD to instill them in us and direct us. We look to GOD to help us & he will . <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.1200008392334px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY ? Jesus shows us the way. It may take a little effort to get there but it’s doable with Jesus beside us helping us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The CoMMITTED are willing to break out of their religious thinking and embrace KINGDOM Thinking . <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 15.693333625793457px;"><o:p> </o:p></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-9904770126981865122022-11-11T06:34:00.001-08:002022-11-11T06:34:46.120-08:00FREEDOM- GREED AND GENEROSITY<p> <b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">FREEDOM- GREED AND GENEROSITY</span></i></b></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">TEXT: Luke 12:13-21<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Intro: One of the seven Deadly SIN. “Greed” I would like to examine this word or SIN Greed. We’re using them as a lens to examine our hearts, to be able to repent of sin and ask Jesus to help us build <b>virtue</b><u>. Means= behavior showing high moral standards<o:p></o:p></u></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">1. The sin of greed: </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">What is greed?</span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Webster says that it is “a selfish and excessive desire for more than is needed.” More! More! . Greed is never satisfied. The more it gets, the more it wants. More! More! More money, more stuff, more possessions , more power!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Let’s go back to our definition. Greed is “a selfish and excessive desire for more than is needed.” Desire is not wrong; in fact, it is natural and good-until it becomes selfish and excessive. But where is that line? And what is “more than is needed?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Why is greed a sin? </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Let me list a few reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Greed is a sin against yourself</span></u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">: it ruins you. A greedy person is an unhappy person: he is never satisfied, never has enough, and is unable to enjoy what he has for very long.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">ILL:</span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Have you ever said, “If I just had this, I’d be happy”? And you get it, and you’re happy… until a new, better, shinier model comes out. I have said this about , computers, cameras, phones, backpacks, gadgets…you name it. More, more!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Greed means you’ll never be satisfied, which is why Jesus warned us:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Luke 12:15</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> “<i>Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed;</i> a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Life is more than the sum of what you own; greed reduces your life to a collection of things. Paul put it this way:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">1 Timothy 6:9-10 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. </span><b><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">10 </span></sup></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Greed ruins people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Greed is a sin against my neighbor</span></u></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> when my having more means he must have less.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">1 John 3:17-18 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? </span><b><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">18 </span></sup></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Strong words! John says that if you are able to give to someone in need and refuse to do so, you don’t love God. Your love for God shows up in action-specifically the action of giving to those in need.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Greed is the cause of conflict.</span></u></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">James 4:1-2 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? </span><b><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">2 </span></sup></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Trace most wars back to their causes and you’ll <b><i>find greed</i></b>. Trace most personal conflicts back to their sources and you’ll find greed. As the saying goes: “Follow the money.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Greed is a sin against God</span></u></i></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">. Greed is idolatry, it is misdirected worship towards a false god.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Colossians 3:5</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">How is greed idolatry?</span></u></i><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> The greedy worship something other than God. Greed tries to satisfy our restless souls with things that were never met to satisfy it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In the Old Testament, idolatry was worshiping a statue; today, idolatry is greed, worshiping money, and stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Greed keeps us from God</span></u></i></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">. Luke 18 tells the story of a rich young ruler who came to Jesus and wanted to follow Him. Jesus told him:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Luke 18:22-25 </span></u></b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">“You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><u><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">23 </span></sup></u></b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. </span></u><b><u><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">24 </span></sup></u></b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! </span></u><b><u><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">25 </span></sup></u></b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">What kept this young man from following Jesus? <b>Greed.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Greed is a sin against yourself, your neighbor, your world, and your God. So how do we overcome it?<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">2. The virtues of:</span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">We overcome greed by developing a couple virtues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" style="background-color: white; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 44pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; text-indent: -26pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">A.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Generosity: to be <u>FREEDOM in giving</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-left: 44pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Generosity is<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></u><b><u><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">a quality that's a lot like unselfishness</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #202124; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. Someone showing generosity is happy to give time, money, food, or kindness to people in need. Generosity is a quality — like honesty and patience — that we all probably wish we had more of.</span></u><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The classic virtue that is usually considered the opposite of greed is generosity. To be generous is to have <b><i>FREEDOM</i></b> in giving. Perhaps the best way to pry the fingers of greed off your heart is to give. It is certainly what Jesus recommended.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 5:42 </span></b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Give to the one who asks you</span></u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 6:2-4 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">“So <u>when you give to the needy</u>, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. </span><b><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">3 </span></sup></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">But <u>when you give to the needy</u>, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, </span><b><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">4 </span></sup></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Matthew 19:21 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and <u>give to the poor</u>, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Luke 6:38 </span></b><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Give</span></u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Give! There is no better way to overcome greed than to give. One of the reasons generosity is so effective in overcoming greed is that it makes us aware of the needs of others. When I’m greedy, I’m thinking only of myself; when I’m generous, I’m thinking of others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Nothing will make you happier than when you look beyond yourself. Discover the joy of sharing! Give!<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you feel yourself growing greedy, fight back! Give!<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">B. Contentment: to be <u>satisfied with what you have</u>.</span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hebrews 13:5 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Keep your lives free from the love of money and <u>be content with what you have</u>, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Contentment isn’t usually listed as one of the Seven Holy Virtues that correspond to the Seven Deadly Sins. I’m adding it because I think it is the exact opposite of greed. If greed says “more, more”, contentment says “enough”. I have enough. I am satisfied with what I have. Would you say that with me? <i>I have enough. I am satisfied with what I have. </i>It’s very hard to say, and harder to live. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Waiting. </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">This spiritual practice has fallen out of favor in our busy society. We don’t like to wait-for anything! How many of you hate to wait in line? How many of you count the number of people in the check-out lines so you can get in the shortest line? And some bozo needs special help, and they call the manager, and you’re stuck waiting. Listen to these verses:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 27:14 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 37:7 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 40:1 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Psalm 130:5-6 </span></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. </span><b><sup><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">6 </span></sup></b><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Wait for the Lord. When was the last time you just sat and waited for God?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">How does waiting overcome greed? Greed is fueled by our impulsiveness. We see things and buy them impulsively, without waiting. But if we waited, if we let the impulse die, we’d buy less and be happier.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">“<b><i><u>For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”<o:p></o:p></u></i></b></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Mark</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">8:36-37</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;">KJV</span></u></i></b><b><i><u><span style="color: #231f20; font-family: "Museo Sans 300", serif; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p align="center" class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 9.6pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt;">We overcome greed through generosity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 9.6pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt;">If you are a greedy person, and by greedy I mean tight-fisted, stingy, frugal, selfish, penny-pinching or grasping, then you need March Kindness. You need to do intentionally kind and generous acts. You need God to do a work in your heart, and He will begin the work as you begin to give.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 9.6pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt;">This week our challenge is to give something away. I’m talking to all of us greedy people (because the generous ones have already done it 3 times since Sunday). What are you going to give?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 9.6pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt;">Personally, I gave to a friend who’s in need financially. If you need an idea,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.theimagejournal.com/landscapes/his-journey" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1982d1; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt; text-decoration: none;">you can start with him</span></a><span style="color: #373737; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 15pt;">. Let it be a springboard to generosity in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; line-height: 15.693334px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.973333px;"> </span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-75442790720326773302022-10-24T15:14:00.001-07:002022-10-24T15:14:45.648-07:00What level of Faith are you at <p> <span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Faith is like WiFi. It's invisible but it has the power to connect you to what you Need</span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16pt; text-align: center;">!"</span></p><p align="center" class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 9pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-align: center;"><span class="s1"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">But we all with open face beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord are transformed from one degree of glory to another, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor. 3:18)<o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><u><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></u></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What level of Faith are you at ? <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></u></i></b></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">1). <b><i>Imitation Faith </i></b>- This person relies on others to show him how to do most things. He cannot successfully believe God for protection, provisions, or direction until others provide an example for him to follow. This child-like faith is characteristic of many Christians who are content to just wait until they are told what to do or warned what not to do. This person has a hard time discovering truths that apply directly to his own situation from the scriptures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">2). <b><i>Lead Me By the Hand Faith</i></b> - This person insists that he be led by the hand in making difficult decisions. He lacks the confidence, courage, and boldness to trust God to take him through difficult times without supervision. Counsellors should remind this person that Christ sent the disciples out two by two to learn from their own experiences in the quest to bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ. This level of faith is when many Christians are willing to grow, but they lack the assurance in God’s promises to launch out in witnessing, service, and obedience without consistent encouragement from a more mature believer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">3). <b><i>Discovery Faith</i></b> - This person learns to develop his faith and gifts through self-discovery endeavors. He acquires new ideas and inspiration by analyzing many different ideas from scripture as well as from Godly people. He is willing to progressively try new ways to improve his ministry, personal character development, and relationships by experimenting with new applications from scripture. He is continually seeking ways to grow up into all aspects into Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">4). <b><i>Mature Faith </i></b>- This person has develop an integration of his knowledge of God, theology, philosophy, and methodology with his faith. His entire life and ministry are characterized by a mature faith that exhibits the fruits of the Spirit. This individual’s identity, roles, and responsibilities are closer to the scriptural ideals than those of his culture.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p align="center" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Conclusion: Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto you." Jesus said, "If you believe in Me, the works that I do, will He also. And greater works than these will he do because I go to the Father that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You can ask for anything in my name and I will do it." (John 14;12-14)<o:p></o:p></span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-58884531116222219482022-08-19T14:37:00.000-07:002022-08-19T14:37:17.489-07:00THE POWER OF PARDON<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">THE POWER OF PARDON</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">I want to go now into the power of pardon, going from a tight place to a for-</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">giving place. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus said it this way in Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful, for they obtain mercy." Mercy is just another word for forgiveness. Many of us have the opportunity to walk in unforgiveness, but Jesus is wanting us to </span></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;">walk guiltless before Him.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;"> He wants us to be free of any offenses that have </span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;">come into our lives.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, let's start in 1 Samuel 26:5-26. It recounts the story of David coming</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">to the place where Saul had encamped. David went down with Abishai and</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">they found Saul sleeping. Abishai said to David, "Today, God has delivered</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">your enemy into your hand; now therefore, please let me strike him with the </span></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;">spear to the ground with one stroke, and I will not strike him the second time."</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">But, David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can stretch out his</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">hand against the LORD'S anointed and be without guilt? David went on to</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">say,</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">"The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed; but now please take the spear that is at his head and the jug of water ,</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">and let us go." </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">David took the spear and the jug of water from beside Sauls</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">head, and they left. When Saul realized what had happened, he said,</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">was precious in your sight this day." </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">David replied, "The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">into my hand today, but I refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD'S</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">anointed. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">may my life be highly valued in the sight of the LORD, and may He deliver me</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">from all distress." </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then Saul said to David, "Blessed are you, my son David,</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">you will both accomplish much and surely prevail." </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;">The final verse tells us David went on his way and Saul returned to his place.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;">Reference from Prophetic Journey book</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: x-large;">Pastor Joey </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-87638601284959444252022-08-17T09:24:00.000-07:002022-08-17T09:24:15.884-07:00God Appointed & God Anointed <p> </p><p><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedItalicBody; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">David</span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"> was the king because God made him king he was not the king because he was the most qualified person. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedItalicBody; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">God Appointed & God Anointed </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A person or leader is not doing what he is doing because he is the best at doing it he is doing it because God has put him there. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="s3" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleEmphasizedItalicBody; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">God Appointed & God Anointed </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><ul class="ul1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><li class="li3" style="font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Respect God authority to place someone in a position. </span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Stay the Course. Journey of FAITH </span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Learn from your mistake & others </span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Empty yourself & Be willing to be pour into. New Wine Skin </span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Cut those heavy weight that slow you down . <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Start Cutting . </span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Cut those Pretenders friends <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that can’t wait to see you fail & fall . </span></li><li class="li3" style="font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s4" style="font-family: Menlo-Regular; font-size: 16px;"></span><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Get around some people that will encourage you & lift you up . </span></li></ul><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: underline;">Straight from the book Loyalty and Disloyalty.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s5" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">John 16:33</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Psalm 34:4–5, 8</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 26px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Romans 8:28</span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 21px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.</span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-9193499560870488832022-08-10T12:06:00.000-07:002022-08-10T12:06:42.868-07:00What do you have that GOD can use ?<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">EXODUS 4:1-5<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="chapter-1" style="background: white; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="chapternum"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> </span></b></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;">Moses
answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say,
‘The </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> did not appear to you’?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><b><sup>2 </sup></b>Then the </span></span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> said
to him, “What is that in your hand?”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“A staff,” he replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><sup>3 </sup></b>The </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"> said,
“Throw it on the ground.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses
threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it.</span><span style="font-family: Segoe UI, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="text" style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><b><sup><span id="en-NIV-1606">4 </span></sup></b>Then
the </span><span class="small-caps" style="color: black; font-family: "Segoe UI", sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text"><span style="font-family: Segoe UI, sans-serif;"> said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So, Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in
his hand.</span></span> <span class="text"><b><sup><span id="en-NIV-1607">5 </span></sup></b>“This,” said the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">, “is so that they may believe that the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and
the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God uses the shepherd’s staff here for a very simple
reason.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moses was
holding one in his hand. He says to Moses what’s that in your hand? What do you
have that God can use? <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God then says to Moses, take it and throw it on the
ground…. And when he does it becomes a snake. Moses does what many of us would
do…he runs from it. God tells him to pick it up and then it turns back into a
staff. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Notice this, as long as Moses kept the staff in his
hand it was useful, but the moment he laid it down, it became something that
was useless…even harmful. When God gives you a gift, don’t ever put it down.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 107%; margin-bottom: 8.0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Every one of us has the ability to do certain things
with our hands There is great power in our hands to do good. All we need is a <b><i><u>heart
of obedience</u></i></b>. If we fail to use what God has given to us it can be
rendered useless.<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-52026353250515450632022-07-19T07:00:00.006-07:002022-07-19T07:00:45.886-07:00Stewardship- It’s Matter of Trust <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Definition of stewardship </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The obligations of a steward, the conducting, supervising, or managing of something</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">especially : the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <b> The stewardship of money</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">“<u>Money does not change people, it unmasks them “</u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Turn to the gospel of Luke, chapter 16, where were going to read verses 10-13 </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">““<u>Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”</u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Luke 16:10-12 NIV</u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus speaks these words immediately after telling the parable of the unjust servant or the unjust steward. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the parable the unjust steward is caught squandering his master's money and is called to give an account of how he has used his master's money. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Realizing that he has been caught, he begins to use the master's money to make friends for himself so that when he no longer has a job, he will at least have friends.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Read the chapter </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meaning-Use the adjective shrewd to describe a person or thing that is smart or clever in a practical sort of way. The word shrewd is from a Middle English adjective formed from the noun schrewe "an evil person, a villain." King James “ wiser or cleaver </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> He says, "for the sons of this age are more shrewd in relation to their own kind than the sons of light."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus does not condone the steward's dishonesty, but points to how clever and shrewd he is. The moral of this parable is that if the wicked can be this shrewd in the things which are temporal, how much more shrewd-wiser should we be in our dealing with those things which are eternal?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, look at verses 10-13 (read text).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Jesus is saying that if we cannot be trusted with something as temporal and fleeting as money, He is not going to trust us with the truly valuable things of the Spirit. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we have not proven faithful with little, we will never be entrusted with much. If we are not faithful with that which belongs to someone else, who will give us something of our own? Then Jesus tells us that you cannot serve two masters, you cannot serve both God and money.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Think about money in these four simple terms.</u></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">1.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>It is a trust </b>– It is something God has entrusted to our care, something which belongs to Him but which He has given us to invest on His behalf. The idea here is that He will get a good return on His investment.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> If He trusts us with a little, and we use it wisely, He will trust us with more. That's why He says, "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much…" Money is something God has entrusted to us. It is a trust.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">2.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>It is a tool </b>– He expects that we will use it to further His kingdom here on Earth, using it as best we can to reveal His glory and to relate His gospel to those around us. To the one who is spiritually minded, money is never something which should become an end unto itself, but rather it is merely a tool, something which is to be used to accomplish a greater good.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Like a rope thrown into the water to save someone from drowning, the rope is not what is of real value, the life being saved is what is of real value. So it is with money. It has value, but only to the degree that it is used properly, only to the degree that it is used to further the kingdom of God.</u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">3.<b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is a test </b>– God often gives us something of lesser value to see if He can trust us with something of greater value. If He cannot trust us with something as fleeting as money, why should He trust us with spiritual things of eternal value?</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If He cannot trust us to make good decisions with the small amount of money that we have, it stands to reason that we cannot be trusted with the large amount of money that we may want.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And just for the record, God can give you as much money as He wants to give you and He can leave you with as little as He wants to leave you with. When we are dealing with someone who has our very heart beat in His hands, we shouldn't quibble over something as temporal as money. We should seek to pass the test and use it as He commands.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">4.<b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>It is a thermometer</b> – How we spend our money reveals the truth about our spiritual lives.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now let's just take the gloves off for a moment. If you do not at the very least tithe, if you are not investing at least a portion of the money God has entrusted to you into eternal causes, you are not a growing Christian and you probably need to take a long hard look at your life through the lens of scripture to see if you are even a Faithful at all. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That may sound like a harsh statement, but Jesus makes it abundantly clear that you cannot serve God and money. He talks about money more than heaven and hell combined.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It is clear: Jesus thought the use of money was an important thermometer of your spiritual life. If you are truly His servant, and you have surrendered everything in your life to Him, one of the most elementary external visible signs of that internal transformation is that you will walk in obedience to Him with respect to money. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Go through the scripture, from the Old Testament through the New Testament and you find the same message</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stewardship- It’s a matter of Trust </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-33085741074664050112022-04-20T21:53:00.001-07:002022-04-20T21:53:31.009-07:00Straight from the book Leadership Pain <p> <span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt; text-align: center;"><u><b>Straight from the book Leadership Pain</b></u></span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt; text-align: center;"><u><b> </b></u></span></p><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Some Christians can be sneaky, some might say devious. Everybody is smiling when they walk through the doors on Sunday morning, but behind the smiles occasionally lurk lethargy, suspicion, distrust, and sometimes devious plots to undermine the pastor’s authority and destroy his reputation. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">In addition to personal conflicts, leaders face a wide range of organizational and cultural obstacles. Let’s look at the most common ones.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><u><b>Betrayal</b></u></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">If you lead long enough, you’ll inevitably endure the deep wounds of betrayal. It’s a paradox of leadership: our efforts to help people experience the love and power of Christ create envy in the hearts of some who are watching (and receiving our love). </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Most people are grateful, but a few—and it only takes a few—undermine us with open opposition, lies, and gossip.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><b><u>Criticism</u></b></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). But it’s also true that where two or three are gathered in his name, someone is finding fault with the others. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">It’s human nature for people to try to build themselves up by putting others down, and ministry leaders are very visible, accessible, vulnerable targets. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">If they’re visionaries, they’re criticized for not being patient or valuing traditions or not caring for those who are hurting. If they’re devoted to the sick and make many hospital calls, they’re criticized for not being in the office enough to manage projects or failing to chart a bold path to the future. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">If their gifts are administrative, they’re criticized for not being a great speaker.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">The point is clear: no matter what your gifts and style may be, no matter how much you pour your heart into people, and no matter how much time you devote to your ministry, you’ll face criticism.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">The Complexity of the Job, Inheriting a Toxic Culture, Masks, Lies, and Deceit, The Conflict Between Vision and Tradition,Heartaches at Home.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Limited by Team Members</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">For years I’ve used the metaphor of a ladder to help leaders understand the influence of team members. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">In my book Who’s Holding Your Ladder? I explain that the leader’s vision is his ladder. As he tries to climb it, he doesn’t need any help to go a few rungs up a twenty-foot extension ladder. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">It’s stable and secure if he’s only a few feet off the ground. But if he wants to go higher, he needs someone to hold the bottom so it doesn’t come loose from its moorings. If the helper isn’t paying attention, the ladder could slip and the pastor could fall and be injured. </span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">So even to climb a short distance farther up the ladder, the pastor needs someone attentive and sturdy.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">If he wants to climb to the top of his ladder, the pastor will need two or three people who are just as strong and attentive as the first ladder holder. What if his vision reaches fifty feet? Or a hundred feet? The people holding his ladder determine how high he can go.</span></div><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; min-height: 20.3px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"></span><br /></div><br style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 15.84000015258789px;" /><div style="color: #454545; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">It doesn’t matter how high the vision is; what matters is the quality of his ladder holders.</span></div>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-83848671457373087792022-04-04T12:31:00.002-07:002022-04-04T12:31:37.851-07:00JACOB'S THREE JOURNEYS<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">JACOB'S THREE JOURNEYS<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Text: Genesis 28:10-22</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jacob had many journeys and struggles in his
long and eventful life. From three Jacob’s journeys we would see the process of
a sinful life turned godly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">I.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><u><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FIRST JOURNEY TO BETHEL</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: </span><span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif;"> A VISION OF GOD (</span>Genesis 28:12-13<span style="background: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif;">)</span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A safe place, A place of healing,
restoration, A place where you and I receive and conceive what GOD has spoken.
It’s a place of strength and possibility, Jacob needed his own experience with
God to solidify his birthright and his blessing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was in that safe place where Jacob
got the perseverance, motivation, and confidence to wake up and move toward his
future<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bethel means “The House of God.”
Calling it , The gates of Heaven and a place where God dwells. <o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A truly godly life begins with a three-fold
vision of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Upward, Inward, Outward </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Open Sans",sans-serif; font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<b><span style="background: white;">Vision-</span></b><span style="background: white;"> upward to God, to worship & Exalt him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>Vision</b> - inward search or motives,
Vision= outward look on the multitudes, increasing.</span></span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">II. JOURNEY TO PENIEL</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD (Genesis 32:24-30)</span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jacob had a personal encounter with
God at Peniel (“I have seen God face to face”). Whether you encounter Him on
the beach (Andrew & Peter), tax collection office (Matthew), the road to
Damascus (Paul), beside the well in Samaria (Samaritan woman), or at the altar
of the church... it is always a new and fresh start for an old life! Note the
change in name from Jacob (“supplanter”) to Israel (“prince of God”). In
troubled times do not forget your personal encounter with God for it will
strengthen you and help you realize that God is faithful and still very much
under control!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">III. SECOND JOURNEY TO BETHEL</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">: </span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">WORSHIP OF GOD (Genesis 35:1-3)</span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">His first stay at Bethel and his stay
at Peniel were brief but his return to Bethel was to build an altar to worship
God and he was instructed “to dwell there.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There is an end to our many “walks”
and travels in life. There comes a time in the life of the believer when he
finally finds rest and peace from God as he seek and do God’s will (cf. Prov.
13:15).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">CONCLUSION: Life is a journey with
the Lord. How far have we gone? Where have our striving taken us? Our entire
life should be one continuous seeking of God’s will, worship experience, and
giving of praise to God for everything.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-73933095304528631492022-03-09T19:41:00.001-08:002022-03-09T19:43:50.512-08:00Prayer Target financial breakthrough <p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Prayer Target financial breakthrough <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Heavenly Father, I ask for forgiveness for the
poor financial choices I’ve made. I gave only when I had excess not when it was
my first fruits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
fearful and insecure about how I would be able to provide for myself and my
family. I repent of my sins and ask for Your provision in the mighty name of
Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I pray for debt cancellation and financial
breakthrough to come upon my finances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please
give me the tools to strategically make lifestyle changes financially. Please
help me steward what You’ve given me. Please use this situation as a powerful
testimony of Your provision and mercy. I ask for a financial miracle. In the
mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><i><b><a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs+3%3A9-10&version=AMP" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--global-palette-highlight); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; transition: all 0.1s linear 0s; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Proverbs 3:9-10</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Amplified Bible</span></span></b></i><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><b><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Honor the
Lord with your wealth</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">And with the
first fruits of all your crops (income);</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Then your
barns will be abundantly filled</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
</b></i><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>And your
vats will overflow with new wine.</b><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Father God , I come to You with my financial
problems. The bible says that nothing is impossible in Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray
for financial breakthrough over my present and over my future. I declare
miracle prayers for money to help me with my debt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Please help me see Your heart and know Your
ways so that I may receive a total recovery with my debt. I declare that You
are more than enough. Through this prayer for prosperity and financial release,
I also ask that You will bless me and enlarge my territory to be a blessing to
others. I pray all these things in Your wonderful name, Amen. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><b><i><a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+chronicles+4%3A10&version=ESV" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--global-palette-highlight); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; transition: all 0.1s linear 0s; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">1 Chronicles 4:10</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> English Standard Version</span></span></i></b><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
</i></b><em style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Jabez called
upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my
border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from
harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.</b><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p> </o:p></span></em></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Holy Spirit, just as Paul and Silas prayed and
worshiped at an hour where it was most weary, I come to You to declare these
midnight prayer points. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">I declare Your provision over my finances just
as You’ve provided every element in my life. I declare Your favor upon my
finances with checks in the mail, debts paid off, sales increasing, I pray all
these midnight prayer points for breakthrough in the powerful name of Jesus
Christ, Amen. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+16%3A25-26&version=ESV" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--global-palette-highlight); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; transition: all 0.1s linear 0s; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">A<b><i>cts 16:25-26</i></b></span></a><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> English Standard Version</span></span><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
Philippian Jailer Converted</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the
prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so
that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors
were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.</span></span></span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></span></span></i></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">In the Name of Jesus Christ , I ask for
supernatural strength to stand firm in Your truths. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Please help me navigate through the unknown as
I hold fast to Your word. Holy Spirit, I declare Your protection over my life –
over my money. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Your truth gives me discernment so that I will
not be manipulated by the enemy’s lies. I find refuge in You and will choose to
worship You. In Your almighty name I pray, Amen. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><b><i><a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians+6%3A10-12&version=NLT" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--global-palette-highlight); font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; transition: all 0.1s linear 0s; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;">Ephesians 6:10-12</span></a><span style="background: white; color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> New Living Translation</span></span></i></b><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The Whole
Armor of God</span></span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A final
word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor
so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For
we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers
and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world,
and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.</span></span></i></b><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><b><i><span style="color: #353535; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Merriweather Sans"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"></span></span></span></i></b><p></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-84039425082130932182022-02-19T13:28:00.002-08:002022-02-19T13:28:15.472-08:00Building a HEDGE of Protection <p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Building a HEDGE of Protection <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">TEXT JOB 1:6-12 <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Here in this passage of scripture, Job was a righteous man and was
doing quite well in life. Indeed, when God can call your name to the devil for
an example of a man God approves you know he had to be quite a fellow. Of
course, that ticked the devil off and he accused the Lord of buying him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He said God hedged him in from all the trials and tribulations of
life, so no wonder Job loved God. <u>Tear down that hedge and see what happens,
said the devil.<b><i> </i></b></u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It would be nice to think God builds a hedge of protection around
everyone, but the truth is He is looking for people who have surrendered their
lives to Him to become His servant. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Do you want to have a divine hedge in your life? Then your goal
should be to become a servant of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When you hear the word “hedge,” what you think of? Most people
think of a hedge made of plants. You may have a set of hedge clippers somewhere
in your garage that you use to trim plants. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But the word “hedge” in the Bible describes something more
substantial than a bush. The Hebrew word really means “wall.” A hedge was a
defensive wall often built around a city. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The bottom part might be comprised of stones or hard packed dirt,
and there might be thorny plants on the top of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">BUILDING THE HEDGE AROUND THE HOUSES, Church Houses, Personal
House your home, And your body the House.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Church= Spiritual/ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Houses =
Emotional / Body= Sickness<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“</span></i></b><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Spirit
clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow
deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1 Timothy</span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4:1</span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NIV</span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Who are this false teachers ? Man & Women that as been seduced
By <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the minister of offense, minister of bitterness,
minister of rejection <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Causing the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>faithful to abandon
their Faith .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Dear 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.”<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1 John</span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">4:1</span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NIV</span></u></i><i><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I. THE POWER OF PRAYER<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.75pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I cannot
imagine my life without prayer. I know when I pray there is something powerful
that begins to happen in the heavens. Jesus said to pray, thy kingdom come and
thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Whatever is in Heaven, God
desires for us to have it here on this earth with us now. There is no sickness
in Heaven, pray thy will be done to heal us on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.75pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is not broke in heaven, we should have
what they have in heaven, supply every need according to his riches in Christ
Jesus. If you want the Hedge around you, you will have to pray it around your
life and believe God it is SO.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the
shadow of the Almighty.”<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Psalms</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">91:1</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NIV</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will
find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Psalms</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">91:4</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NIV</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.75pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">If God said
that we are able to move mountains through praying, don't you believe that you
can pray a hedge or wall of protection around you and your children. Come on
church, prayer is what is going to make a difference in the times we are
living. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.75pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There is a
call of prayer being given, STOP FEARING THE UNSEEN and Start Believing for the
Unseen that God is able to bring to those who will BELIEVE.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">“<u>if my people, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I
will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”<o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">2 Chronicles</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">7:14</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">NIV</span></u><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You can pray for a hedge of protection around those you love.
Parents and grandparents you should pray for a hedge of protection around your
children and grandchildren. Husbands and wives, you can pray for God to put a
hedge around your mate so they will stay faithful to you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hosea’s wife, Gomer, was an adulteress. When she wandered away
from her husband God put up a hedge to keep her from being unfaithful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hos 2:6 Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns,
and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Hos 2:7 And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not
overtake them; and she shall seek them but shall not find them: then shall she
say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me
than now.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">II. SPEAKING THE WORD OF GOD<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.75pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">A.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Everyone one
of us needs God’s hedge of protection. God’s hedge of protection around His
servants is part of God’s promise. This hedge can only be removed by God’s
permission. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.75pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">B.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The Word of
God is the promises of God in which we are to speak and believe. So as we are
reading, speaking the Word of God, the power of God's Word is building our
faith in believing for the hedge of God's protection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mat 17:20 And Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief.
For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a tiny mustard seed, you shall say
to this mountain, 'Remove from here,' and it shall remove; and nothing shall be
impossible to you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Rom 4:17 (Exactly as it is written: "I have made you a father
of many nations.") before God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the
dead, and calls the things that are not as though they are;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Rom 4:18 And who against hope believed in hope, in order that he
might become a father of many nations, according to that which was spoken,
"So shall your seed be."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.75pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">C.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Let's just
look at what Jesus did whenever Satan came after Him in the wilderness to tempt
Him while He was fasting and praying for forty days in the wilderness. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 36.75pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.75pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Calibri Light"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">D.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He spoke the
word of God and Satan did not bother or get to Him. The reason is He went in
the wilderness with the power of the Spirit and He came out of the wilderness
with the power of the Spirit of God, because He spoke the Word of truth in
which Satan could not press beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not
live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it
is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">III. PLEADING THE BLOOD OF JESUS<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A. I believe that America’s hedges are being torn down due to our
sin and turning from God and at this late stage in timeline of man there may
not be any return or redemption for the country. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Individually, all we can do is
come before Him and to be sure that we are in a place in our relationship that
He does not have to take down our hedge and allow Satan to destroy to get us to
return to Him.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Worse yet, we want to be sure that He does not have to turn our
body over to Satan allowing him to take our life though our soul will be saved.
Sometimes God looks and expects to find some of us to be used as a protective
hedge and He can’t find any.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">C. We must as the Church today began to Plead the Blood of Jesus,
because His blood is still that shield of protection around us. It was in the
Old Testament with the Children of Israel in Egypt that God was trying to
deliver them, and Pharaoh would not let them go. </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So the Lord brought His
plagues upon them and it came to destroying or bringing death to every house of
the first born son and animal would die if they did not have the blood over the
door post of the house.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><u>Exo 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night and
will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and
against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.<o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><u> </u></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri Light",sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><u>Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the
houses where ye are and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the
plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.</u><o:p></o:p></span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-11434386421684016422022-02-09T14:14:00.001-08:002022-02-09T14:14:05.493-08:00Give, and it will be given to you<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“<u>Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also
reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of
you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you
abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you
will abound in every good work.”<o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">2 Corinthians</span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">9:6-8</span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">NIV</span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Many people think the time, energy, or money that is
given. To volunteer in doing ministry, Children ministry, ushering ministry, r
even to the church is money thrown away. But God tells us that if we give to
such places with the proper heart, it is like a seed that is planted. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">That seed will eventually grow into a large plant. And
the money we have given will cause something to bloom in God’s kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">There is the story of a man who was dying and he
decided he was going to take all his money with him. He instructed his wife to
take out all the money from the bank and put it in a sack and hang that sack on
one of the rafters in the attic.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">He told her that when he died, he would grab the sack
as his spirit passed there on the way to heaven. The wife did as he requested.<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The day came and he died. The wife raced to the attic
and found all the money still there. She thought to herself, “I knew I should
have hung it in the basement.”<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there
may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if
I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from
devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit
before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you
blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Malachi</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">3:10-12</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">NIV</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God commands us to give from what we have. We don’t
want to, so He then tells us that not only do we have to give, we must do it
cheerfully. We still balk at giving our money, so He goes a step further. He
says if we don’t give, we are robbing Him, but if we do give, He will give us
so much back we won’t know where to put it all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God said for us to test Him in this and He will show
us. Now, to let us know just how important that is, let me remind you that this
is the only place in the Bible that says we are allowed to test God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">What is God doing here ? God is trying His best to get
us to part with something we hold very dear to us, so that that we can learn
how to fully trust Him with more important things – like our very souls. The
question is; will we listen?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Another question we must ask is …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">1. WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">One day, a little boy and his sister were playing
‘Noah’s Ark’ in the small wading pool in their backyard. They were using an old
shoebox for the ark, and the water in the wading pool was the flood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">After the flood was over, they were going to make an
offering, but they couldn’t decide on what to offer. The boy wanted to offer
the sister’s doll, and the girl would have no part of it. She suggested the
boy’s G.I. Joe, and the boy said ‘NO!’ to that, too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">So, the little girl ran to the house and in a few
minutes came back with an old stuffed sheep. One ear had long been ripped off,
the wool was filthy dirty, and one of the eyes was missing. But she said, “Here
let’s sacrifice this. We don’t want it anymore anyway.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The little boy agreed. The broken and forgotten toy
was given to God.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">That is exactly how most of us give to God. We are
told to give Him our first fruits, yet we take the first portion for ourselves
and give Him what left. We give Him the stuff we don’t want anymore. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We give to Him out of our convenience, rather than
from our love. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: center; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We give Him the scraps of our lives, or what is left
over after we have enjoyed the feast.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God is not a God of forgotten scraps or miserable
leftovers. God is a holy God and He deserves the first of all we have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">To answer the question of “What Should We Give?” the
answer would be to give the first portion of what we have - and the best of
what we have.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Always remember that …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">2. OUR SECOND BEST DOES NOT HONOR GOD<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">How would you feel if the president of the company you
work for called you into his office and said he had chosen you to be his
personal assistant – at a very high salary? Wouldn’t that make you feel great?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">But how would that change your daily work effort? To
most people, if something like that happened, it would make us work that much
harder so we would please him. If he had chosen us to be his personal
assistant, we would do everything in our power to do the best we could. We
would strive to honor Him with our high level of productivity, wouldn’t we?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Let me remind you that you have been called, but by
someone higher and more important than any executive. You have been selected by
God to be His personal ambassador to this earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“<u>We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though
God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be
reconciled to God.”<o:p></o:p></u></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">2 Corinthians</span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">5:20</span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">NIV</span></u><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">You have been given the duty of being God’s personal
assistant in this journey of Faith , but most of us have ignored the need to
honor Him by doing our best.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">As a Christian, it is your explicit duty to be as
obedient to God as you can possibly be. But too many Christians turn a blind
eye to obedience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a big
difference what God wants from us and what the world wants from us. And we seem
to always find ourselves standing in the middle, with our backs on God, looking
in the direction of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">In 1 JOHN it says to not love the world or anything in
it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">That includes their opinions and desires. This might
help us to focus properly. Always remember that the world is focused primarily
on comfort. “If it feels good, do it.” “Just roll with the flow.” Everything in
the world is “self-focused.” And that does nothing to show honor to God, as it
has nothing to do with any kind of sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Those who offer God their second best do not have an
appropriate concept of God. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">If Jesus Christ died for me, then there is no
sacrifice that is too much for me to give for Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">3. WHY DO WE HESITATE GIVING TO GOD?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We hesitate in giving because we are selfish by
nature. “What’s mine is mine and by the way, I want yours, too!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Another reason we don’t give, is that we don’t see any
immediate benefit out of it for ourselves. Ah! There comes that old selfish
nature rising up again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We do not need to see any benefit at all in order to
give to God as He commands. We are creatures of ‘immediate gratification.’ If
we don’t see an instant return on what we give, we quit giving. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The problem is that is all self-focused and has
nothing at all to do with being God-focused.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God has commanded us to give. If we follow God’s
command, we will not lose anything. But we will not profit at all if we don’t
do what He commands.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Another question we must ask is …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">4. WHY GIVE TO THE CHURCH?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">A church has expenses just like your home does. You
receive your money from an employer. A church receives its money from the
congregation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Let me ask you a question. If you go into your job and
do the best you can to do what your boss wants, how would you feel if your boss
short-changed you on your paycheck? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Let me turn that around. If a church strives to help
you in every way God wants it to, how do you think God will feel if you
short-change the church?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">We are talking about tithing to the </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">church but</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> let me
remind you that God does not want his church to be a house of money, but He
does want you to give to the Temple treasury. Again, the question comes back on
us. Will we give what we are supposed to, or not?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We have all heard preachers asking for money. The
church needs money to operate, but there is a right way and a wrong way to seek
it. I believe it is a violation of God’s word to tell people that God will give
them back $1,000 for every $100 dollars they give. That would be kind of like a
heavenly slot machine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">You should never give, focused on what you are going
to get back. That is a selfish act and God does not reward that kind of giving.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">We should give because we want to be obedient to God.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Someone </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">said told</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> am so broke he couldn’t rub two nickels
together. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; text-align: left;">I will</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">remind</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> you </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">of the</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> woman who put two pennies
into the collection box at the Temple, and Jesus said she would be rewarded
more than others who put large sums of money in that box. I explained that she
did the best she could out of a heart that desired to be obedient.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">To answer the question of why we give to the church;
we give for two reasons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">1. Because the church needs </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">funds 2</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">. Because we are told to</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">God wants us to get past our fear of giving. We view
it as ‘giving up’ something, while God views it as the “outpouring of a
generous and loving heart.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Close<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">“<b><i>Give, and it will be given to you. A good
measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into
your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.””<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Luke</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">
</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">6:38</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">NIV</span></i></b><b><i><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5386983364592403377.post-81776742190522117752022-01-06T08:31:00.005-08:002022-01-06T11:01:15.865-08:00Pressure,Heat & Time<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"> <strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; line-height: 1.8em; text-size-adjust: auto;">Don’t Quit Too Soon</strong></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">It takes three things to make a diamond: time, pressure, and heat. Diamonds are made purely of carbon and formed about a hundred miles beneath the earth’s surface. High temperatures and extreme pressure cause carbon atoms to bond to each other. Over time, this structure locks into place and eventually grows large enough to produce a diamond.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><i>Pressure, heat, and time.</i></b></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">What does this mean to you today? Your trials serve a purpose, so don’t run from them. Stay where you are. When you stay in your trial, you will learn more. You will grow more. You will do more. God is turning up the pressure and the heat so He can bring forth a diamond in you.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">This reminds me of the story of the Prodigal Son. I do not know what this young man was thinking when he asked for his inheritance and left his father’s house. I’m sure that he had some friends who were saying, “Man, out there in the real world everyone is having fun—parties like you’ve never experienced. Come on!”</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">He bought into the lie that the grass was greener on the other side. But after leaving home, he lost everything. He ended up broke, eating slop with the swine in a pigpen. He finally woke up to the realization that everything he had ever wanted was already in his father’s house. This young man had lived on acres of diamonds, and he never should have left.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">I have watched young people leave home because they think they can find more fun elsewhere. I have watched people leave their marriages because they think they can find someone better. I have watched people leave their churches because someone offended them. These people go off searching—trying this and that—because the enemy has convinced them that what they are looking for is out there somewhere. But it’s not!</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">This is why the psalmist asked God to open his eyes. Wonderful things might be all around you, but if your eyes are closed, you cannot see them. God did not leave you without potential. He did not leave you without opportunity. Open your eyes to the good things.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">If you know Jesus, you have a Savior who has promised to never leave you or forsake you. You are living right now in acres of diamonds.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">“<u>Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”</u></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;">Psalms 1:1-3 NIV</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note from the Acres of Diamond book Pastor </span><span style="font-size: small;">Jentezen Franklin </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-touch-callout: none; font-family: -apple-system, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 26.6667px; line-height: 1.8em; margin-bottom: 22px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p>Pastor Negronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01620244870031640717noreply@blogger.com