'Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even
more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who
speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be
built up.' 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 (ESV)
I
was recently challenged to remove old wallpaper in a house that we are
restoring. It is strippable they say. So with steamer in one hand and
putty knife in the other I climbed the ladder. I descended the ladder.
And again and again. Climbing and descending a hundred times that day,
with handfuls of complete strips and piles and piles of the tiny
residues of the past that would not budge without a fight. Paper covers
up so many sins of the past. It has got to go! Sadly, it was a battle
against paper and glue and all fought with only weapons of the mind,
muscles and steam. Gladly, it did bring its intended results.
Results?
For me it was so many sore muscles. Sore muscles and sore knees. Sore
knees and two large garbage bags of 1980s floral print of pretty little
pink flowers. Sins of the past? Defeated. Did I tell you that I have
amazing grandsons? So inappropriate for future all-boy stay-overs. That
which remains is only the sheet rock and all the notes that the sheet
rock hangers and finishers had left for those that were to come after.
Those
that were to come after? That's me! Those notes they left me? Funny and
concise. Meant only for one certain audience and set of eyes. Telling
me where I am to go; north, south, east and west. Telling me what the
builder (the one reading the blueprint set of plans) had intended. Paint
here, varnish there, wallpaper everywhere. Arrows. Light switch here,
power outlet there. Arrows pointing up and arrows pointing down. Arrows
pointing right and arrows pointing left. So many directions and yet...I
plan to paint. Light mint. Past meets present.
I
am living in the present 21st Century of good and bad feelings. So
isn't that a lot like the Word of God? It brings Good feelings. It
brings feelings of regret. But mostly, how it encourages, edifies and
directs me. I can see the signs of the times and analyze the message for
the day which may be bad and compare that message to how the stripping
wallpaper times that I am living in are just what He will use to get His
Good message and blueprint set of plans to me. Arrows and directions
from Him just for me! I am listening.
Good
messages are just what I need. What a Gift. Even now, how the Holy Word
of God directs me to desire His gifts. The Word directs me to pray in
the heavenly language. The Word of God directs me to be a prophet and
even more to use that gift to prophesy to others. The Word of God
directs me to allow God's Holy Spirit to move me and to use me to help
God edify others. Just as He encourages me, I am to be an encourager!
Encouragement
comes to us directly from God through His Word, His creation and the
prophets. His type of encouragement is Spiritual and is more than just a
kind word such as, 'have a nice day' or, 'you look good today'. Those
types of encouragement are nice, but He leads us to help build up the
Church in more powerful and take authority kind of heavenly ways. The
kind of ways that cause us to look up and that we need for the moment.
In
His Way, He directs us and teaches us. He exposes our sins and forces
us to deal with them. He uses us to speak for God Himself. We are to
speak the words that we hear directly from God with the Words He gives
us. We are to prophesy Words from Him of life, health and joy. So we
strip away at the things that hide us from the Truth of God. We pray for
the Gifts of God. We reject sin and receive Jesus as Lord.
Dear
Father. Thank you for your gifts of Tongues and Prophesy. Strip us of
the things that are not of You. Make us usable. Defeat our enemies.
Anoint us. Use us to edify the Church and to build up one another with
Words of Power and Truth. Lord have Your way in us.
We
pray this forty-forth day before the election and thank you that You
are in it. We hear your words of encouragement to us every day. We
believe that you are directing the paths of those that are fighting on
the front lines, give them wisdom and strength Lord, as we intend to do
our part at the ballot box. Thank you for the vision you gave our
Founding Fathers. Thank you the for the Holy Spirit that continues to
speak to us and through us and anoint us for Your Glory.
In Jesus's name we
pray. Amen.
Source: 'Drummingthemessagehome', September 20, 2019 post.
'When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last— the Living One. I was dead and, see, I am alive forever and ever! I also hold the keys of death and hell .' Revelation 1:17-18 (EHV) Dear Father. Because of You and who You are I do not fear. You are Divine. You are Eternal. You are God. You were here before the world began and will be here at the end. Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son Jesus Christ, the Living One, to die for me. I recognized that I was a sinner and I made Jesus Lord of my life. Though You suffered and died, I know that Jesus lives and that He is my life source. Without Him I am nothing. He has complete authority. He has the power over life and death. He controls not only when I die but where I will go after I die as well.You comfort me with Your Word. Let me be forever grateful and obey Your Word and live my life for Him. Jesus, You alone hav
'We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan. ' Romans 8:28 (VOICE) One example of God's love can be seen in the book of Esther. Lessons from the Bible can reassure us of God's love for us and they show us that His ways are good and so much higher than our own. How powerful. In Chapter three, the evil ideas of Haman, to have all the Jews exterminated, had been decreed by the king, and the money set aside in an account for the diabolical deeds and the date was set on the calendar for the bloodshed! That part is so incredible, that one man was given that much power. Just imagine it if you were a Jew. The date for the destruction of your entire race was set and the preparations to follow through with it were being made. Thankfully, our God is greater. Our God is able. He is able to confuse the bad plans of men in power. O
' Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual' Daniel 3:19 (NIV) To the leaders that are unprepared for the likes of young people full of passion. For the wicked rulers who demand men to bow a knee to them, and worship them like gods. To the world that has lost its way and punishes the faithful to the extreme, even death. We pray for thee. Let the world know that we worship no one but the One True God. Amen. Dear Father We pray for evil leaders that desire to turn their nation into evil. We lift up righteousness and righteous leaders, we lift You up. You are the One True God in whom we serve. You are the Holy God in whom we believe. You provide the God-fearing leaders that we need when we need them. We pray for those leaders. We pray for more people with courage to refuse to bow the knee to mere man. Even when we live in times when there seem
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