Proper Attire Required

There are several kingdom of God parables in the book of Matthew. The word parable comes from a compound Greek word paraballo, when the word is separated into its two parts, it’s para, which means side and ballo, where we get our English word for ball, but ballo means to throw— the idea is to throw along side, so two thoughts are placed side by side for comparison. The kingdom of God is God’s heavenly kingdom and is also referenced in the word as the kingdom of heaven; therefore, the words kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven are used interchangeably. The kingdom of God is like…. Each parable contains a hidden measure of truth regarding a specific aspect of God’s kingdom.

These comparisons help our physical minds perceive spiritual truths. The world we live in is temporary. The life we live now is an interview for an eternal position. The temporary kingdoms built on earth by temporary physical lives will one day be abolished and all the industrious efforts of the work that was employed in the physical realm will be judged. The work for eternal purpose will last and be rewarded. Whereas, the work for self gain and pleasure will incinerate and evaporate into a vanished wisp. It takes time for these thoughts to permeate into our spirits, that deep place where we are one with God. Our soulish man is a close neighbor to our renewed spirit that has become one with God. The soul is also a close neighbor to these members that engage the physical realm, and here, in the physical, our self breathes, feels and lives it’s temporary life. Self is connected to this temporary, physical realm as long as he remains in this earthly house.

True believers love God; however, there remains a danger of also loving self. Self can battle against the Spirit of God within us and bring us towards an even greater danger, a love for the world or the things of the world. For, we are told: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). The love of the Father in the life of the believer will produce the Jesus diet in the child of God— what is the Jesus diet you ask: Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work (John 4:34). A good prayer would be, “Lord please don’t let the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches get in the way of my eternal reward.”

God’s goodness gives us the parables to enlighten the eyes of our understanding on this side of heaven, so we can more properly navigate the journey, so we can make it to the destination and receive a lasting reward when we get there: eye hasn’t seen, ear hasn’t heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man— the things that God has prepared for those that love Him.

The parables like: goats and sheep and tares and wheat and the separation of fish remind us that narrow is the way and few there will be that journey the path towards eternal life. Parables of the treasure and pearl direct the work of our lives, only when we slow down enough to ponder what the king is saying will we perceive the value of eternal life in His words. A merchant sails the seas in a quest for the best of pearls. He is driven as he crosses every ocean and scours every cove for goodly pearls and then one day, he finds the pearl and realizes that every other pearl he ever saw, ever handled, ever thought was beautiful was meaningless in comparison— now that he found this pearl. Oh how he wishes he would have found this pearl sooner. He could have saved so much time, he could have worked so much more efficiently, he could have saved himself so much stress, but what’s important now is that he found the pearl! It is the treasure in a hidden field, and it’s so brilliant, valuable, precious and real, he begins a “going out of business sale. Everything must go!” All else must take a back seat to this pearl, to this treasure that he found. His family will think he’s lost his mind: Father, mother, brother, sister, even spouses may say he’s gone too far, but if they get in the way of this endeavor, it is they who must go, not the pearl, not the treasure. He will cling to the pearl and the treasure like it is his next breath and heart beat that will oxygenate his cells. It is life, it is reality, everything else was a mirage, how could have he been so blind for so long, how could have he wasted so much time, but what is important is that he finally found it and now nothing else, nothing else will do!

And so he immerses himself in this new industry he has found. He partners with a land owner who is also the son of a mighty king. He is offered an opportunity to put his hands to the plow, put a hammer to a nail, engage in an investment opportunity and join in this endeavor. Graciously, he is given a certain value by the landowner with which to start his investment plan. And the landowner goes away on a long journey but will one day return to assess the work that was done. His work will be inspected, it will be scrutinized. Every angle, cut and measurement will be evaluated and that which was handled with great care and excellence for the right purpose, with pure motive of what was best for king and kingdom, will be gloriously rewarded; whereas, all else will vanish like a flitted wisp of an extinguished candle— that portion of the work will be consumed by the fire of God. There will be no residual or evidence that it ever existed. It will not make it into the next life.

In the parable of the wedding feast is the invitation, the opportunity to be able to participate in the joy of the king. The landowner has returned. The goats and sheep, tares and wheat, the fish in the net—it’s all been separated. The work has been assessed, the rewards are ready and they will be distributed at the banquet. Won’t you come and partake of this most joyous occasion of the king? Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye… You are invited to the most glorious banquet ever experienced by the human creation. Join the festivities, no really, YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!

P.S. RSVP by faith— proper attire required!

So let’s start there—

1. You’ve been called but you must be dressed for the occasion

V 12, …Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless

Isaiah, come let us reason together though sins be scarlet they can be made white as snow

Speechless- to close the mouth with a muzzle— talk time is over

Connect thoughts of the light w this parable—how did they get there knowing they weren’t saved—then the videos

Talk about those videos that describe people going towards the light and then realizing that once they got to the light, they found out that they were rejected. Imagine that moment, the human spirit rushing through a tunnel towards the light, every second drawing you closer to the light and the closer to the light the greater your heart fills with hope, and then to hear, how did you get here friend? You don’t have the right covering. You clothed yourself with the things the world had to offer. You chose your way and rejected my invitation. I never knew you: cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth— speechless

Only God can judge me

So what is this wedding garment. Its not made by Armani, Perry Ellis or Calvin Klein. It’s the apparel that the Father has been weaving since He found Adam and Eve naked in the garden and hiding within the trees— the skins of an innocent animal, skins representing a sinless sacrifice that would be fulfilled in His sinless Son— Jesus is His name.

Galatians 3:27 KJV For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Galatians 3:27 NIV/NASB …for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

II. The problem is you can’t just try to get in any way you want to

You have to have your name written in the book, you have to have on the right attire, and you have to go through the right door to get in:

John 10:7-11 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

“But I didn’t know screams a voice out of the throes of Hell,” That’s not true ma’am or sir. You did know. You knew, but you didn’t care. I know you knew because the Spirit has been calling since the beginning. 6 times in this story the word call or bidden was used, each time, it’s the same Greek word in all cases kaleo, where we get our word call. The Spirit is calling, wisdom is calling

Proverbs 8:1-8

In Verse 3 of the parable, the king sent His servants. He’s been sending His servants. He sent Wisdom, you heard the concern in her voice, He sent Enoch, He sent Noah, He sent Abraham, He sent Moses, He sent, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Nehemiah, He sent John the Baptist, He sent Jesus man, He sent Peter, James and John, He sent Paul, Silas, Barnabas, Matthew, Mark and Luke. He sent all them and He’s sending me and He’s sending you. He’s sending people all over the world. The problem isn’t that no one knew, the problem is that they didn’t care   

Matthew 22:5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

Make light of- to be careless of, to neglect. I don’t really have any regard for that, because it’s not really relevant to me.

One went to his farm and the other to his merchandise. “Okay, it’s not really that I didn’t know, and it’s not exactly that I didn’t care. If I’m really honest, I was just really, really busy and compared to what I had to get done… I mean come on man. Little Jimmy had baseball, Billy Jiu Jitsu and Sally had dance and soccer. Both Tommy and I worked. It was really busy.

I want to spend a little bit of my time on the merchandise word. The Greek is Emporia. Ever heard of Drug Emporium

noun, plural em·po·ri·ums, em·po·ri·a [em-pawr-ee-uh, -pohr-]. /ɛmˈpɔr i ə, -ˈpoʊr-/.

• a large retail store, especially one selling a great variety of articles.
  

• **a place, town, or city of important commerce, especially a principal center of trade: New York is one of the world's great emporiums.

Ezekiel 27:1-3 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, 2 Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus; 3 And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen…

Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

She’s got people trapped and many of those people are people that say they love the Lord, but they don’t even realize that they are serving self and serving her and it’s a little bit harder to see than what people are willing to admit.

Praying in Tongues Vs. Prophesying in Tongues

Before we get started with the scripture verses, I would like to ask a couple questions and make a couple statements: how many people like being a part of a Spirit filled church?

In a Spirit filled church, the Holy Spirit must be allowed to move or else, the Spirit of God will be quenched.

The Spirit of God can be quenched by the leader of the church, but the Spirit of God can also be quenched by the vessels that the Spirit is moving upon to use at that moment? The Spirit of God could be quenched  by the music ministry if they are unaware or uncertain whether or not somebody is giving a word of prophecy or a word in tongues vs they are just praying or singing in tongues, which is a valid form of worship.

Nothing needs to be changed in the way we as a church are worshipping. We just need some clarification. It’s not out of order for people to come to the front and worship the Lord. This is something that the Holy Spirit is leading our congregation to do. I can tell you that the Lord loves it when our people are drawn towards the front to worship God and let me say this: most of the people coming to the front aren’t even looking for prayer, most of them are just wanting to sit in His presence and worship, “but that’s not what they do at other churches people come to the front they get prayed for”… but this isn’t other churches, this is His church, and if His people want to come…

I don’t know what you’re doing, but for me, I’m trying to be like the woman with the alabaster box— I don’t want to be like a woman. I just want to worship like her. Why? Because Jesus said of her, “To whom much is forgiven, they love much.” He gave much forgiveness; therefore, I want to love much, and  I want to sit at His feet, drink from the cup in His hand lay back against Him and hear His heart beat… did you hear that heart beat? Lub dub, lub dub, lub dub, more souls, more souls, press in, press in, seek me more, seek me more, ask for more, ask for more, keep inviting my presence, invite my presence….

Even if no one else in this church ever comes to the front to worship Him, I am going to worship Him, ain’t no rocks crying out on my shift my friend!

I think Jesus would say, “Do you see what I’m doing to you, in you?  You come here and you empty yourself out to me, and I fill you up with more of me, and then I send you out there and pour you out and then you come back in and pour out, fill up, pour out, fill up.. this is a beautiful thing, and ain’t nobody gonna tell me different. The Lord says, I love your worship Crossway! I love the way you love on me and let me love on you and don’t you let anyone steal what is going on here. If the altar gets too full and we have the people and the money, we will either build up or knock the back wall out so we can expand the altar space. Or if we don’t get more money and people, then we will just take a row out and make more space for more people at the altar, as a matter of fact, let’s move this row now, it’s been a little cramped up here.

Now, let’s go a little bit deeper with this altar worship. If you want to sing in tongues, you sing in tongues, be mindful not to be so loud that you cause confusion to the music ministry and they think you’re giving a word, if you want to sing in your natural language sing, sing, sing… Maybe be mindful that you not be so loud, I mean you can sing out loud, let’s get this straight, but don’t sing so loud that they think you’re trying to take Niya’s job. If you want to pray up here out loud, pray, just be mindful that if your praying gets to a certain decibel range they may think that you are giving a prophetic word and while we are on that, let’s say this. If you are praying in tongues or singing in tongues out loud or you are praying in your natural language out loud and then you’re suddenly moved upon by the Holy Spirit and you have a word of prophecy or a word in tongues then you need to make sure that there is a difference in the delivery, if you’re praying out loud and then it is now a word, then you need to pray louder so that the music ministry knows what is going on, and then they need to bring their sound down and yield to the gift— why? because the Holy Spirit is speaking now. They didn’t The music yields the the voice of the Spirit.

Well, if they’re praying out loud singing out loud and praying in tongues out loud and singing in tongues out loud, how will they know the difference. That is going to be out of order, No, it’s not for two reasons: 1) discernment 2) discernment

The music ministry has discernment and the prophetic vessel has discernment, Somebody says, “I don’t even know what discernment is”

Well, Hallelujah, you better pray to get filled with the Holy Ghost, because you’re going to need it where we are going. Somebody says, “I don’t know, this sounds like chaos and disorder.” No, chaos and disorder was Corinth. Well, that’s what I kind of feel like that’s what you’re trying to get us to do preacher— act like Corinth.”

No, let me give you an illustration of Corinth: Bill, Wade, Lily, Brennan, me on the count of 3– how do you know that’s what was happening? Have you read the letter? Have you read the internal evidences contained in the letter? They were eating all the bread and drinking all the wine. They were called carnal by Paul, because they were more worried about hearing their favorite preacher rather than hearing the truth, and the evidence of the correction is definitely that they were over talking each other to give words and not allowing other people to give a word. There is something that happens to believers when the Spirit starts to use them if they’re not careful, and the thing that happens is that they start to get a little bit spiritually prideful and start thinking that they are God’s handy man for the hour, that they are the only ones that can do it right. This results in envy, jealousy and division instead of unity and this is exactly what was going in in Corinth

Praying in tongues vs prophesying in tongues

Praying in tongues/ praying in the Spirit

What is the physical evidence that a person has been baptized in the Holy Spirit?

Tongues vs Holiness

Holy Spirit is one with our Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Praying in the Spirit

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

The Holy Spirit and me are praying together. I don’t understand it, but He does

1 Corinthians 14:13-14 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

Speaking/Praying in tongues edifies self

1 Corinthians 14:2-4 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Holy Spirit prays through us

Romans 8:26-- Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Praying and praising in the Spirit

1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

The difference between praying or worshiping in tongues to the Lord vs speaking in tongues out loud for the purpose to give a word to the church.

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Is tongues a language?

Tongues of men or angels?

Can the devil understand when we pray in tongues?

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

The gift of the Spirit known as a word in tongues/ multiple gifts/ multiple members/ one Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:10-11 -- To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Many membered body/ God told me that He wants to use His body

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. -- For the body is not one member, but many.

Love is the principle thing, because the love of God brings a man to repentance/ spiritual gifts are great/ prophecy is principle/ difference between prophecy and a word of knowledge

1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Paul wants everyone to speak in tongues but to prophesy is better when we are talking about edifying the whole church. When a word in tongues is given out loud to the church and then followed by an interpretation, the two gifts work together and become a prophesy

1 Corinthians 14:5-- I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

He is saying that if I come speaking in tongues without interpretation, I’m not doing you any good, but if I…

1 Corinthians 14:6-- Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

Tongues by itself out loud as a prophetic word means nothing. Now, this is not talking about the fact that you can’t be up here worshiping and singing in tongues and we have to worry about somebody thinking we are crazy and they don’t want to come back. That’s their bad. Go find a Baptist or Presbyterian church dude. We’re Pentecostal.

1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Everyone can’t sing a different way psalm at the same time, speak a different doctrine at the same time, speak a different revelation at the same time, have a different interpretation at the same time. The whole point to us coming together is that we would all be edified. Built up for the equipping of the saints to do the work of the ministry

1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

If it’s going to be done, this is how it should be done. Let’s be clear here though also. How are we supposed to know if there is an interpreter in the house if no one ever releases a word in tongues. This does not mean that we have to take a poll and find out if there is an interpreter in the house before a word in tongues ever goes forth. Maybe if the tongue came forth and you had the interpretation but were apprehensive to give it and now you feel like you quenched the Spirit, one way you could try to make it right is to go to the person that gave the word in tongues and let them know. That way they can be aware to try again if they feel the word come on them and then they try again and you will be given another chance. And you say but I can’t do it… yes, you can that’s why you were given the baptism was for boldness

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

If someone has a word and gives it. Then someone else has a word, then the first person doesn’t start another word until the second person is done. And yes, you can stop it, if you have to, because the spirits little (s) is subject to the prophet. I thought it was the Holy Spirit… it is but the Holy a spirit is working in unison with your spirit, and He will allow you to control the move in order for there to be order

1 Corinthians 14:30-32 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

Two or three and one at a time

1 Corinthians 14:29-33 -- Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Prophecy is really good for the body, because it edifies the body but do not forbid people to speak in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:39-40 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

Interesting, the two temples that had temple prostitutes and these women were oracles

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

You can’t tell me that women aren’t called to speak for God or operate in the gifts.

Acts 2:14-17 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dream

Prayers that Reach God's Heart and Move His Hand

Desperation for a move of God is the story of Hannah(Grace)! The weeping prayers of a barren womb wet the pages of the opening chapters of first Samuel. It is certain that when God sees a willing heart ready to partner with His purpose, He will lay a burden on that heart to pray according to the will for His kingdom. She did with the burden what believers are supposed to do; she fasted and travailed in prayer. Her prayers reached God’s ears and they moved His hand. Miracles are conceived in heaven when a person’s prayer intersects with God’s will. His will always surrounds saving His people for the purpose of establishing his kingdom, and this story is no different. Her heart longed for her empty womb to be filled with life, and God’s heart longs for heaven to be filled with people.

She was a desperate woman living in desperate times (Judges)—to understand the time of the Judges, is to understand how it flows within the big picture of God and His plan for the kingdom of God and the salvation of man.

Hannah had a heart for God and His will, but her heart was broken and needed a move from God. During this time, God’s heart was also broken. Her request was that God would give her a son, her promise was that she would give that son back to God. The time of the judges are marked by rebellion and disobedience of God’s people against His will. A time when His own people stopped their ears to His word. Society then was similar to the way it is now—“No king, the people did what was right in their own eyes”

Hophni and Phineas were the sons of Eli the high priest and were serving as priests in the house of God. It is unlikely that the rebellion against God’s word by Eli’s sons was ever surpassed by any other characters of the Bible. They were supposed to be leading God’s people; yet, they served themselves and performed their own will instead of God’s. The more I study God’s word, the more I realize that God has to repeatedly deal with this type of behavior from His people. I don’t mean to be negative. I know you came into the house of God to be encouraged by His word, and I believe that you will be, but I also feel as though the Lord is showing me, what He feels when His people rebel against His word, and how this isn’t something that happens only every now and then; instead, this is something that repeats itself throughout the Bible’s pages and repeats itself throughout our own lives. God’s heart is broken repeatedly by the rebellion of His people

Jeremiah 5:30 An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: 31 the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?

At times, all of us have directly disobeyed God’s word both the written word and the whisper of HIS voice. I was just sharing my testimony w Lilly and realized how many times in my life God has graciously spoken to me; yet, I was disobedient to His voice. God has revealed this to me recently as I’ve been asking Him to please let me hear His voice more clearly. Hannah’s weeping, fasted prayers for a son cross God’s ears at a time when He needed a pair of ears to hear His voice and obey His word.  God desires sons and daughters who will hear and obey. Thank God for Jesus— Amen!

John 10:17  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Before we get into the story, I would like to say, the most precious things on earth are not diamonds or gold but His word and His presence that lead His people towards truth.

Proverbs 8:1-6 1 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: 4 “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. 5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. 6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,

The Soul Man: The Presence

GLORY/ PRESENCE

Ex 24:17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.

Exodus 24:16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days

Grieved, angry, make a deal, unauthorized entry through marriage—covenant

Last week we observed the tactics… of the enemy, and his relentless pursuit to enter the temple, house, rooms…You can’t make a deal with the devil. He will tell you anything he thinks you want to hear— he wants to stay in the house. The answer is the Word of God— when they read the LAW, it was revealed that an Ammonite wasn’t supposed to be in the house of God— why? God said so, why is he here? Nehemiah threw his stuff out on the lawn— this is your eviction notice devil. That’s the right way— GET OUT!

We see in that OT story the craft of our enemy  Ephesians 4:11μεθοδεία/ wiles: deceit, trickery 2 cor 11:3 subtlety: cunning craftiness, skill beguiled: to seduce/deceive: to influence by trickery, flattery, mislead; delude. 2 cor 2:11 devices: intellect, mind. Again, In the Nehemiah story, we learned the right approach once we realize someone is in the house that doesn’t belong— tell the enemy to get out, and in Christ, we have authority to tell Satan to get off, get out, go devil. This morning we will see what could happens if we let him hang around.

I. Main thought: presence of God, desperately we need it. The presence is everything. It leads and guides, heals and makes whole, changes the atmosphere, deliverance, salvation, hope, turns bitter waters sweet.

4 scriptures on presence

In the story we will read, you will see that Cherubim— celestial beings directly associated with the presence of God. Interestingly,  Ezekiel 28:14,15– Satan is a fallen cherub. His ministry before his fall, connected to the presence, connected music: we know about music and the presence. He was expelled from the presence, so it makes perfect sense, that his desire is to cause humans, more specifically, God’s people to also be expelled from the presence.

            He is working real hard for us

3 Scriptures connecting Satan/cherub/man banished from presence/God’s plan to bring it back

cherubim associated with pushing man away from the presence and scripture showing God’s plan to restore the presence associated with cherubim

soul diagram and explaining how it’s not just blatant sin that can begin the process of separating us from His presence.

The enemy works on our self, our self, our mind, our thoughts, our will— the presence is the voice of God and He wants to speak and influence our lives, our thinking, our decisions, our members, but what happens when our thoughts get in the way? You do understand that self has to die daily, I mean the power of sin died at the cross, but there is a whole lot of you and me that has dying left to do, and our unwillingness to let self die, results in disobedience. Let’s be true to the scriptures here. Every thing is not a demon in a believer, much of this is our refusal to die, our self’s desire to live, resulting in disobedience and persistent disobedience decreases the sensitivity of hearing, leading to more rebellion and possibly a departure of the presence.

The scriptures Ezekiel 8 ❤️

The Soul Man: The Human as a Temple/House

Spirit, Soul, Body

Titus 3:5

The human as a temple/ house

• Solomon’s temple— 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 1 Cor 6:19

• House— 2 Corinthians 5:1-6 earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved– Matt 12:22-45–house-Beelzebub-strongman of house-house swept clean-heart- treasure of heart-receptacle-storage-evil treasure-good treasure

TEMPLE OF SOLOMON >>>1 Chronicles 28:11,12– upper rooms/ inner rooms

Inner Court— [body] flesh

Holy place— soul

Holy of Holies— spirit 1 Corinthians 6:17

Back to soul graphic w temple

RECON &REPENTANCE

• Examine reins: ḇâḥan; a primitive root; to test (especially metals); generally and figuratively, to investigate: — examine, prove, tempt, try (trial).Jeremiah 11:20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.; Psalms 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.:

NEHEMIAH Tobiah the ammonite Sanballat the Horonite—broken wall Prov 25:28, city of peace—

Nehemiah 13:1-9 The reading of the Law revealed that an Ammonite was not to be allowed in the sanctuary. Tobiah and Sanballat through trickery and deception, yoked themselves to Jewish women; this allowed Tobiah to gain access to the rooms within the temple. Once Nehemiah found out what was going on, he cleansed the rooms and restored them back to order

Conclusion

The wall- the room- go back to the wall— Jessica-Pamela-Pat-Bill-does that bother you if I stop there and don’t mention your name? Let me plain why I’m doing this- conflict will not only comes from outside in an attempt to get us off the wall- you can expect evil to come inside:jealousy, envy, disunity. Let me use myself as an illustration, since God showed me this would happen ex spark plug changer—He showed me, through me, this would happen, now, is the time to reveal what happened to me.

This is repentance. When a person realizes that rooms in their temple have been opened up to ungodliness and that Satan has been given a room Ephesians 4:27 room, quarter, occupancy— just as Satan gained unauthorized access into the earthly realm when Adam gave permission by yielding to sin through disobedience, Eliashib gave unauthorized access to Tobiah into the room of the temple, gained through subtilty, trickery and methods by yoking through marriage and gained access to restricted areas; we also can give access to evil by giving place, allowing occupancy to evil through permission by sin.

And the longer we let it stay, the more comfortable we get with it’s presence. The less we feel conviction. It starts to become part of who we are. In the beginning, I may have felt conviction about cheating on my taxes, gossiping about my brother

The Soul Man 4/26/23

Soul

TEMPLE OF SOLOMON

House— 2 Corinthians 5:1-6

Solomon’s temple— 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 19; 1 Cor 6:19

Outer court— flesh

Inner court— soul

        >>>1 Chronicles 28:11,12– upper rooms/ inner rooms

Holy of Holies— spirit 1 Corinthians 6:17

Nehemiah

2:10 Tobiah the ammonite Sanballat the Horonite

2 Corinthians 6:14-17

6:17-19 Tobiah marries the daughter of Shecaniah who was from Judah

13:26-28 Sanballat the Horonite’s daughter married a son of the High priest Eliashib

13:1-9 The reading of the Law revealed that an Ammonite was not to be allowed in the sanctuary, somehow Tobiah, through trickery and deception had yoked himself and gotten Sanballat to yoke himself to Jewish women, which ultimately allowed him to gain access to the rooms within the temple. Once Nehemiah found out what was going on, he cleansed the rooms and restored them back to order

This is repentance. When a person realizes that rooms in their temple have been opened up to ungodliness and that Satan has been given a room Ephesians 4:27 — room, quarter, occupancy— just as Satan gained unauthorized access into the earthly realm when Adam gave permission to Satan through sin, just as Eliashib gave unauthorized access to Tobiah into the room of the temple, access that was gained through subtilty, trickery and methods by marrying into and yoking self with the right points to gain access, we also can give access to evil by giving place, a foothold, a room, occupancy to evil through permission, through sin.

And the longer we let it stay, the more comfortable we get with it’s presence. The less we feel conviction. It starts to become part of who we are. In the beginning, I may have felt conviction about cheating on my taxes, gossiping about my brother, overeating, taking certain meds, looking at certain things, listening to certain things, but I ignored the voice of conviction, and allowed a new partner in and gave him a room, and now he’s made himself at home, and I’ve grown accustomed to his presence.

Ezekiel 8– 1 kings 2:20

8:3 the image of jealousy seated in the inner court

8:4 And the glory of the Lord was there— what hope would we have if He left? This shows us He will abide for a time

8:5 image of jealousy

8:6 Look at the great abominations that they are doing to drive me away— but you will see more

8:7 A hole in the wall

8:8 dig into the hole— don’t do it Pastor you’re digging too deep—started digging and found a hidden entrance— a hidden entrance way into the sanctuary

Ezekiel 9 people are marked on their forehead as protection against the coming wrath— in some way a type of the mark protecting the 144,000 in Revelation as opposed to those marked by antichrist

Ezekiel 10:18 the glory of the Lord departs

Ezekiel 43-44

Could it be that when we listen to music that we are inviting these people in?

When we watch certain shows that have lesbian or homosexual relations that we are allowing them in?

When we look at pornography that we are letting them in?

I mean is it possible to invite the same spirit of lil’ Wayne into your house? Would you like that? Would you like to have Lil’ Wayne over to eat?

It's Harvest Time!

Resurrection Sunday 2023

Passover—Ex 12:5 w/ out blemish undefiled

Unleavened bread—1 Corinthians 5:6-7-a little leaven, purge out the old for Christ our Passover

First- fruits— Leviticus 23:10-11 wave offering of the sheaf 2L/harvest/type of a tithe

Pentecost—

Its Harvest Time!

Harvest/resurrection        [This world is hostile to the seed of the gospel]

• Matt 13:1-5 parable of the sower- [fowls, stones, thorns]— man look, there is all kind of stuff against you but what are you going to do sit back and let the devil has his way? — He wants to produce a harvest in you—starts w the seed

• 1 Cor 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, God gives the increase- Lord of the harvest, neither he that plants nor he who waters is anything but God that gives the increase, he that plants and he that waters are one, every man shall receive his reward, we are laborers together with God, you are the field of God               Col 4:12 Epaphras [lovely]—fellow prisoner labours fervently in prayer for you

• Matt 9:38 The harvest is plentiful, the laborers few—Pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth laborers                           Spectators many—gate wide, way broad-gate straight, way narrow

• Matt 3:11-12 the fan is in His hand- it requires wind to winnow, the grain is in the barn, the chaff burned up.                                        What does it mean to winnow grain?

He didn’t just resurrect—He is the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept—the firstfruits  Jesus, it’s ripening-harvest time

                Martha your brother will rise again—I believe in the last day…Resurrection

John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live— He raised Lazarus from the dead, before He raised from the dead, because he wanted to help them believe— if you let Him in, He will prove Himself to you, He will live in you, Resurrection will enter your heart

Believing in the resurrection is essential to the faith. You can’t be a believer if you don’t believe in the resurrection

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved-say it-I believe you died, believe u rose

Understand that this is a temporary life, we can spend it on temporary pleasures or we can plan on being resurrected to eternal life—free will choice

Okay, but talk to me about now- Power of Resurrection! Romans 8:11

Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:-Philippians 3:10-11 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

There is hope in Resurrection power when things look dead

Job 14:7-9

7 “For there is hope for a tree, When it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And its shoots will not fail. 8 “Though its roots grow old in the ground And its stump dies in the dry soil,9 At the scent of water it will flourish And put forth sprigs like a plant.

Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

Jericho--A Forgotten Stronghold

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Promise— Gen 17

Egypt— world— Passover

Red Sea— salvation/baptism—crossing over into new life

Wilderness— struggle with the [flesh] after salvation

Gilgal— rolled away the reproach/ circumcision— getting right— they had been walking in

Jordan—cross from defeat to victory Joshua 3:3-6 the priests and the are ark lead the way

Jericho— the enemies stronghold attempting to prevent access into the promise

Canaan/ Israel— Promised Land- God’s promises individual victory/ our church the promises God has given

Joshua 5:4

This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt.

Joshua 5:5. Joshua tells them to sanctify themselves and then circumcises the new generation the people of God can’t move into the promises by walking in the flesh

For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised.

Joshua 5:6 They did not trust the Lord could give them the promise

For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey."’

Joshua 5:7 The first act of disobedience led to another act of disobedience

Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.

Demonic lies Casting down-demolish (literally or figuratively): — cast (pull, put, take) down, destroy.

Strongholds— a fortress/argument or reasoning that fortifies an opinion against opponent, lie stands against God

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 imaginations— a reasoning that is hostile to the faith

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down- imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Ephesians 6:11-12

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:13                                                                                              Resist/oppose

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:14.      Joint participation

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

A principle in God’s word

Matthew 13:14-15 ESV

14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

wax gross 2; to make thick, to make fat, fatten metaph. to make stupid (to render the soul dull or callous)

Hebrews tells us that the original rebels never made it in. Their bones dried up in the Sinai sun. I don’t know about you, but I’d not want that to be my testimony (Hebrews 4:1-7)

DISTRACTIONS: Blockers of the Blessing

Luke 10:38-42 NASB

Martha and Mary

38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

We don’t really learn much about Mary from this story alone, but the scripture has certainly enlightened us to what’s going on in Martha’s life:

She was distracted— she had work to do; after all, somebody has to do the work. The KJV uses the word serving instead of preparations, interesting because it’s the same Greek word used to describe how Stephen the martyr and Phillip got started in Ministry. The word in the Greek is διακονία and it’s where we get our English word deacon.

KJV Cumbered, anxious and troubled

Cumbered—dragged all around, dragged away, driven mentally, over occupied, just too busy about a thing

Careful/ anxious—to be troubled with cares, seeking to promote one’s interests

Troubled—τυρβάζω tyrbazō; to make “turbid”, i.e. disturb: — trouble. to be troubled in mind, disquieted

1 Peter 5:7  [Concern/interest (Matt 10:29-31)]

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

To throw cast upon. Anxiety                   2 sparrows, hairs, value > many sparrows

Philippians 4:6-7. [sacrifice] a place set apart/suitable.     Penury>need/hunger vs self suf

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. My life is full of anxiety & turbidity Robert is a giver Does it say make your requests known to Robert or God?

Isaiah 26:3 (mountain of the Lord perfect peace to the one whose mind is stayed upon Him And that is where I transition from Martha to Mary)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, (Unbelief)

whose mind is stayed on thee: the mind must be stayed upon Him (it cannot be Him & ?…)

because he trusteth in thee.

Luke 10:42 ESV

but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Truth for your life

There is one thing necessary: but I have clothes to do, dishes to wash, the kids have to be bathed, I have to drive them to school, I’m single, I’m not married, I don’t have any help, or the husband I do have doesn’t help— side note: There are a lot of distractions in our lives that were never God’s will. His word is so clear in so many areas, and we blatantly ignore it, and do our own will and then ask Him to bless it. That’s not how it works church. It works like this: we seek His will through His word and prayer, we submit to His will, where we’ve transgressed His will, we repent and then He sends refreshing and healing and provision and guidance moving forward.

We can get mad or we can receive the word of the Lord and recognize the areas  of our lives where we have been in rebellion against God.

Let us understand this: many people make decisions that will affect their lives for years, one example is to have children outside of God’s prescribed order. Is the child beautiful yes, until they hit two and they start talking and acting out in rebellion and you thought changing diapers was hard. What about raising a child that won’t end up perishing in hell church? What about that? Well, if their daddy would help… You don’t need their daddy’s help. You need your Father to help their daddy. You need your Father to help you. You need your Father to help your children. How do I do that? The world says smoking pot is the answer, taking Xanax, depression medicine, don’t do it by finding another man to have another baby with— those things are distractions, they prevent you from hearing the voice of God. Those things will deceive you into thinking that you’re okay. You’re not okay if you are living in sin! Then what do I do?

You cast your cares on Him! God wants to turn it around. He wants to work in your favor, but He requires something. Listen to me closely, He requires something from you it’s called repentance. He wants you to quit blaming everyone else around you and take responsibility for your rebellion against His word, and He wants you to choose the good portion and to sit at His feet and drink the cup from His hand lean against Him and breathe, feel His heart beat. He wants you to choose the good portion, so what is the good portion that Mary chose?

She chose the River of anointing that was flowing out of Jesus. We weren’t there, but Jesus was in the house, He was speaking, anointing flowing from heaven, oil flowing from His lips and her soul longs for this, and Martha is right there distracted, in the very same geographical space but distracted. You are in here and some of you are tuned in and God is saying something that can help you and you will receive His word and it will help you, and then some of you are distracted—always looking at the phone, a turbid mind with a thousand different worries, cares and concerns.

That’s Martha, she misses her moment of visitation, she chooses something else, something other than the good portion, and the result is that lusts of the flesh manifest: envy, frustration, jealousy, irritation— Jesus ain’t taking this away from Mary girl. He will take away that ugly that’s all over you right now if you let Him, but He will not take this away from Mary, for this is why He came!

The work of the ministry

The presence and anointing of the Lord will always draw attention and a crowd. Once the crowd arrives, there is always work to do. When Jesus is present, people will be present and where there are people, there are Ministry needs. Martha is serving, she is doing διακονία, so she’s trying to do good, she’s trying to serve God, but everything she’s doing is in the flesh, it’s in her own strength, there’s no anointing on this effort, and so we have these two examples of response to the presence and ministry towards the Lord: one scurries and flits around, distracted, irritated, frustrated, can’t really get much done, because she’s consumed with busy work and it only produces jealousy towards others. The other one sits at His feet and receives the oil of His presence, a time of preparation and filling for the purpose of pouring out, later she will return to His feet and bring the oil she saved and pour it back upon Him. That’s work for the Lord, that’s the Spirit of God (Jn 12:1-3 fragrance filled; Mk 14:3-9 alabaster box).

This kind of love, devotion and ministry is not for women only. I have seen this type of love written in God’s word, words from David’s pen, popping off the pages, words that will warm the coldest of hearts and bring tears to the driest of eyes. Most of these Psalms of desperation that cry out and long for God’s presence were written by King David when he was running for his life, and far away from the house of God!

Psalms 42:1-3

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?

Psalms 63:1-4

1 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. 3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. 4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

Psalms 143:6-7

6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. 7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

Psalms 43:4-5

4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Maybe the difference between Mary and David is that this is her first time there [in the presence of God] whereas, David has been there. He’s been in the field seeking, writing singing and experiencing the presence of God. He’s been in the temple. Now, he’s on the run. He can’t get to the temple where God’s presence is located. He longs for it. He’s thirsty, he’s hungry

The proper version of a Christian life and servant of God, is a working Martha whose work is an overflow from praise, it’s a pound of spikenard, perfume of praise that comes out out of the overflow of time spent in His presence like Mary.

The Testimony of Jesus: The Spirit of Prophecy

Revelation 19:5-10

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy         

Principle Point

This depicts the end. Blessed are the saints of God who trusted in the testimony of the Lamb. The bride of Christ accepted the marriage proposal. How does one get married to God? Through salvation. (In God’s eyes, a bride is faithful and a harlot is not), in this scene, she is pure. Her garment is white and she celebrates victory with her King.

The Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy

When put to canvas, the Spirit of prophecy paints the visual story of Jesus, the strokes applied with the writers quill written over thousands of years, painted through the mouths of multiple prophets, at various times, but all taking their turn to produce the work that is— THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS! The first prophecy of the testimony of Jesus comes from God Himself:

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

The rebellion of sin caused devastation for man, the spirit of prophecy provides the solution that his dying spirit needs. Man rebelled, but the source of the rebellion was the serpent, and this prophecy is directed towards towards the serpent. The serpent’s rebellion started long before the garden story, so we must understand that the spirit of prophecy will find its fulfillment in God’s judgement of the fallen angels that rebelled against God before the earth was ever created. God’s plan includes man. He will defeat the angelic rebellion using man as a conduit. When we declare this truth, we preach the kingdom of God. We preach God’s victory over evil and God’s salvation offered to man. God, prophesied that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.

The spirit of prophecy will soon find its fulfillment, this age will soon find its end. The Spirit of prophecy was for this time, for these times to prepare God’s people for service, to enlighten them to His plan.  We are the church of the (the last days). The spirit of prophecy finds it’s fulfillment in us. Moses prophesied about [us] church:

Numbers 11:27-29

God has loved/love

…Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest [God’s moving in other churches-praise God]thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

1500 years before the day of Pentecost, the spirit of prophecy, used Moses’ mouth to foretell the day that the Spirit of God would pour out His Spirit upon  the blood bought church, so that all God’s people could have the Spirit on them and so that all God’s people could be prophets, and what is their message— the blood of the Lamb that sets people free from sin, the Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the one— look no further for truth—Pilate-He is Truth!

John 18:38

Spirit of Elijah— important concept to this message

God’s people Israel were living in rebellion, king Ahab married a woman named Jezebel. Jezebel seduced God’s people and moved them away from God, she gave them Satan’s favorite religion truth intermixed with lies. Her name becomes associated with harlotry through the rest of the Bible, her spirit seduces believers away from God. If Elijah represents the spirit of prophecy, Jezebel represents the spirit of harlotry, and the war wages. The harlot and the beast are the dragon’s plan for His final deception against God.

At the time of Elijah, accompanied with great signs and wonders, God used the prophets mouth to force His people to choose how long will you limp- choose who you will serve; the God Jezebel served or the God of Elijah— the time of playing games was over.

2 Kings 2:9-15 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

I have been praying, but I believe that it’s been more of a prophetic declaration: for this church, but also for His church— God allow the mantle of Elijah to fall upon us, and that we would receive a double portion anointing of Elisha because God is just getting started and the spirit of prophecy has been moving forward through the ages of human history for such a Time as this!

The Bible tells us that the spirit of Elijah was the spirit that rested on John the Baptist.

Malachi 4:5– last prophet

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

And after Malachi Nothing – – 400 years of prophetic silence.

After 400 years of silence, the angel of the Lord comes when Zacharias is burning incense in the temple and tells him that he and Elizabeth will have a child, and this is what the angel says about John:

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

How many times have we heard the story throughout the scriptures of supernatural birth? Abraham and Sarah too old, Zachariah and Elizabeth too old, Jesus born of a virgin and for the Christian, new birth in Christ. Zacharias doesn’t  believe it because of their age, and his mouth is silenced until John the Baptist, his child is born. At this point, the Spirit of prophecy returns and Zechariah’s, mouth is opened and he begins to prophesy Jesus

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 71 That we should be saved from our enemies,and from the hand of all that hate us;     [Jezebel hates God’s people]

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,  

Gen 22:16 By myself I have sworn

18 Because you have obeyed my voice

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, [he said it to John, I’m saying it to you] shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways** 78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring [dawn/hope of light]from on high hath visited us, 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

And so he did, and so we will, John the Baptist prophesied and his message was.

Luke 3:3-4 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of

In the Spirit of Elijah and the message of Malachi and Isaiah and the voice of the Lord now will say: you [us, today’s church]will be a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

The world and the governments that were in power hated his message. The Jezebel spirit of antichrist hates this prophetic voice and will stop at nothing to shut its mouth Herodius— Herod’s wife deceitfully asked for John’s head severed and served on a silver platter.

But the true king fulfilled his prophetic mission. He went to the cross, and there he offered his sinless life in the place of sinful man. His sinless sacrifice produced a sweet smelling savor in the nostrils of God, because it was salvation For all mankind. Three days later, he rose from the dead, the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. And 50 days later, in that upper room, the Holy Spirit descended in cloven tongues of fire on the day of Pentecost, and a revival broke out that changed the world as we know it.

                              Peter’s voice of prophecy: Acts 2:17-18

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Elijah’s mantle is falling on this house. Elisha’s double portion anointing is being poured upon this house

AND SO IT WAS AT THE BEGINNING AND SO IT SHALL BE AT THE END. THE LORD HAS SPOKEN, AND HE SHALL NOT LIE. ELIJAH‘S MANTLE IS FALLING ON THIS HOUSE. ELISHA‘S DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING HAS BEEN POURED UPON THIS HOUSE, AND NOT HERE ONLY, BUT ALL ACROSS THIS EARTH. THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH, THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY THAT IS SENT TO CONFRONT THE SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL – – THAT MANTLE IS BEGINNING TO FALL. ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING WHAT I’M SAYING CHURCH? ARE YOU UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING HERE?

Moses’ prophecy will come to pass on God’s people  “I would that all God’s people would be prophets and that the Holy Spirit would be upon them.

Conclusion

Now, He is seated on His throne. He is at the right hand of the Father. He is making intercession for us, but soon, He will stand.

He will stand up in preparation to mount His white stallion.

I see Him there is no look of joy on his face when I see Him. There is a moment before he gets into the saddle. He’s standing by maybe holding the horses reigns, in His other hand is the sickle that He will use to reap the vine of the earth to put them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. This is not the day that He was looking forward to, it’s the same mindset He had when he was longsuffering and waiting one more day for one more to repent and be saved, but those days are over. The slaughter is about to begin:

His hair is will is white like wool…his eyes are aflame with the fire of judgment out of his mouth protrudes a sword. The sword is the power of His word and with it He will slay the rebellious with that sword . His garment is crimson, it’s been dipped in blood

At that point of human history, there will be no turning back.

There will likely be a small remnant of people that have survived and you’re hiding that do not have the mark, but the people that the king will be focused on at that moment will be those that have received the mark of the beast.

It would be the most gruesome, scene that the earth has ever seen. It’ll be a bloodbath.

The Bible says that the valley of Armageddon that the blood will come to the height of the horses bridle.

Those eternal human souls be destroyed their names are not written in the lambs book of life. They will spend eternity in a hell that was created for the devil and His angels.

Now do you see the importance of the spirit of prophecy? Now, can you see why it’s so important that the Lord give us the mantle of Elijah and the double portion anointing of Elisha, so that we could be empowered by the spirit of God to carry the last day prophecy of the testimony of Jesus Christ that says prepare ye, the Way of the Lord, make his path straight because the king is coming— you must prepare your heart for his return