Wednesday, August 10, 2011

"Oh Lord, Help Me! I Need Deliverance!"

“Oh Lord, Help Me! I Need Deliverance!”

An Excerpt from “Revelations of Deliverance”

Psalm 22:19 – “But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.” (KJV)

            Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons designated by God. One of the most powerful prayers and sincere petitions is when we cry out to God, “Help me!” The cry for help is a powerful tool and ammunition against the power of darkness. It is like the strength of a sledgehammer repeatedly thrust against a wall. Eventually, the force of the repeated blows creates a crack in the wall. Then the seemingly inpenetratable stone crumbles, as the wall comes tumbling down. So many are trapped within demonic walls of sin and bondage, and their honest, humble and earnest lamenting cry for help is the powerful blow that will lead to their Salvation, Healing and Deliverance.

Psalm 40:13-17 – “Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.” (KJV)

            When we do not feel well in our bodies, we go to a doctor and ask for help. Then the doctor asks us to describe the symptoms of our illness. If necessary, the doctor may conduct blood tests or X - rays, in order to provide an accurate diagnosis and prescription. In the same way, when something is not right in our lives, we ought to go to God for help, because He is our Helper. Yet, sometimes we go to the wrong source or wrong place for help. The vilest sinner can cry out to God “Help me!”, and receive an answer from God leading to the salvation, healing, deliverance, and restoration of their soul from a life of sin and bondage. The weakest man can cry for help and receive strength. Yet, when we ask God for help, we must mean it. The cry for deliverance is a DESPERATE cry. This cry must come sincerely from the heart, not mere lip service. When the pain and suffering of our bondage is severe, we often cry out to God for help. Yet, when the cry for deliverance does not come from the heart, we return to the same bondage. This shallow and insincere cry is insufficient for lasting deliverance.

Ephesians 6:10-13 – “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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. 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.” (KJV)

            So many, even in the church, are carriers of demons, yet calling themselves saved, sanctified and full of the Holy Ghost. Why? Because so many are too proud or blind to acknowledge their need for help, especially in the area of deliverance. It just doesn’t sound “proper” or “nice” to admit that you are full of demons. Even those who know that something is drastically wrong are unwilling to do whatever it takes to be set free from their bondage. When we cry out to God for help, we cannot demand His help on OUR terms. No! We must come to God on His terms. We must completely submit and surrender to Him. Jesus is the ONLY Way to Salvation, Healing, and Deliverance. After all, it was Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection that purchased our Salvation, Healing, and Deliverance.

2 Timothy 3:13 – “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (KJV)

            Yet, so many choose to believe Satan’s lie that we can all go our own way, and still end up in the same Heaven, here on Earth (through “blessings” of material prosperity) and in the Presence of God throughout Eternity. Unfortunately, many are deceived and many are deceiving themselves.

Revelation 3:17 – “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (KJV)

            One has to know that they need help and deliverance to ask for it. Yet, some are blind, and unable to see or acknowledge their need for deliverance. Then, when God sends a messenger to help them, they become angry and reject the help that God has sent them. One must know the areas in their life where they need deliverance. Yet, how can a blind man see? Pride is a mind blinding spirit that blinds us from the Truth that will set us free. For this reason, we must ask God for the Spirit of humility. We must also seek God’s face continually for deliverance in every area of our lives, because the deliverance process will never cease until we meet Jesus face to face in Eternity. For example, the spirit of unforgiveness often hinders our deliverance, because the TRUTH of the Scripture states that we cannot receive God’s forgiveness, unless we forgive others. Yet, how often do we, the people of God, overlook this TRUTH in our daily lives? Even in this, we must cry out to God for help. For He alone can give us the power to forgive when our heart is full of anger, resentment and unforgiveness.

Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” (KJV)

            We must humble ourselves, in order to acknowledge our need for deliverance. Then we must cry out to God, “Oh Lord, help me! I need deliverance!” It is important to realize that our cry for help is a PREREQUISITE to our Salvation, Healing, and Deliverance. We have a choice. We can choose to hold onto our pride and remain in bondage, or humble ourselves before God, as we cry out to Him for HELP and DELIVERANCE! We must use this powerful tool by crying out from the depths of our hearts, “Oh Lord, help me! I need deliverance!”

Word of the Lord: "I AM Calling Church Leaders to a Deeper Depth of Prayer!"

Word of the Lord:

“I AM Calling Church Leaders to a Deeper Depth of Prayer”

Spoken and Written Monday, July 25, 2011

James 5:16 – “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (KJV).

The Word of the Lord came unto me saying, “I AM calling church leaders to a deeper depth of prayer.” God continued to speak and reveal to me the condition of His leaders. So many leaders are not hearing God’s voice or understanding what He is saying to them. So many leaders are getting their own interpretation of God’s Word to them and His Will or Instructions. So many leaders are seeking people’s advice, rather than pressing in prayer to receive Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding directly from God, Who is our Source. If the people from whom leaders seek advice are not distinctly hearing God, they of themselves cannot tell the leaders what God is saying to them. Therefore, they advise leaders according to their own thoughts, rather than the true Word and Will of the Lord.

          For this reason, God is calling His leaders to a deeper depth of prayer, in order to receive a deeper Revelation and Understanding of what God is saying to them. When we pray intensively and press into a deeper depth of prayer, we will pray through into a place of hearing, seeing, understanding, and discerning in the Spirit. Too many of God’s leaders are on the surface level where their own thoughts and demonic interference hinders their ability to hear and discern the voice of God.

         We could never go “deep enough” in the Spirit, because there is always a deeper depth beyond where we have reached in the Spirit realm. God wants to reveal Himself in a greater way to His leaders, and He is waiting on us to press into a deeper depth of prayer, in order to receive deeper Revelation from Him. There are no limitations to the depth of prayer and intercession, where God will take us when we submit ourselves to Him. The Holy Spirit is our Helper. He is the One, Who will take us into a deeper depth of prayer, because we cannot do anything on our own. God is saying that so many leaders are trying to do the work of ministry on their own. They seek out a Word from the prophets, rather than going straight to God, Who is the Source of all Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. Leaders do not pray for themselves the way that they ought to pray. Leaders must labor intensively and extensively in prayer before the Lord, in order to effectively and accurately represent God to His people.

1 Samuel 15:22 – “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (KJV).

          God is also calling His leaders to obedience. God is saying, “I AM tired of the people’s vain oblations.” God requires obedience from His people. Jesus walked in obedience to His Father. God’s people are not walking in obedience. So often, we do as we please, and ask God to stamp His approval on it. We must first hear God’s voice clearly, in order to obey His Word unto us. For this reason, the Scripture states, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit sayith to the churches” (KJV, Revelation 2:29). Saints of God, it is time to press into a deeper depth of prayer, hear the Word of the Lord, and obey His Instructions. Let us not waste another moment. It is time to act upon the Word of the Lord: “I AM calling church leaders to a deeper depth of prayer!”

True Repentance Leads to Holiness

True Repentance Leads to Holiness

God is calling the church to repentance, which leads to holiness. A life of Holiness requires a separation from all that is sinful. Character wise, one must present them self, holy unto God. In order to live holy, one must contain or restrain them self, not being loose or unstable in thought, motive, conversation or deed. The fear of the Lord and obedience to His Law ought to restrain His people from living a life of sin and ungodliness. The desire to please God ought to lead His people into a life of Holiness and Righteousness.

Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

How can one live the life of Holiness that God requires of him? How can we give up our life of sin? How can we give up the pleasures of this world? This full and complete sacrifice and commitment to God may seem difficult, but we must rely on God, Who is our Source. He is our Strength in weakness. He is Knowledge and Understanding in the midst of ignorance and confusion. God is Everything that we need to live Holy. We have to want to live Holy. We have to really want a change in our lives. Holiness is only possible with and through the help and power of Almighty God. For He is a very present help in troubled times. The first step we can take is to cry out, “Oh God, help me!” from the depths of our soul. We must MEAN the words that we pray when we cry out for God’s help. We must not just speak words, when deep down we do NOT want to change our life style. Words alone are meaningless, unless they are accompanied with honesty and sincerity of heart.
Jesus Christ is the only answer to the sinful state of man. Jesus came as the first fruit of righteousness and holiness, so that every man who is grafted into Him, the True Vine, can bear the same fruit of Holiness.

          How would God help me? He will help us through the weapon and practice of prayer. God said that we are to present our bodies holy and acceptable in His sight, and that our lives are to be blameless. God requires that we make our lives a living sacrifice, as saints of God. We serve a Holy God. You and I are the ones who benefit from a life of holiness, through which God is glorified.

I Thessalonians 3:13 – “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

Luke 1:74-75 – “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”

          God has commanded us, “Be ye holy as I am holy.” This means that a life of Holiness is possible. Saints of God, we can live Holy with His help. To live a holy life, we must be freed from the presence and power of sin. This does not mean that we will never sin. Yet, there will be a decrease of sin and an increase of holiness in our lives. How will we be freed from sin? The blood of Jesus still flows and still cleanses sin stained hearts and consciences. His blood is still effective today. His blood will never lose its power and effectiveness.
          Holiness requires a commitment and sacrifice. Saints of God, we must commit ourselves to God, not a part, but all of us. It must be done minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, week-by-week, year-by-year, until Jesus comes again. We must be free from malice, anger, bitterness, backbiting, lust, adultery, fornication, stealing, and dishonesty. These habits are sinful.
Sometimes believers dress, speak, and behave as though they are of the world. We are to be in the world, but not of the world. Holiness must be evident in the life of the believer. What we once used to wear, we have exchanged for modest apparel. What we once used to speak, we have exchanged for a new clean and holy conversation. What we once used to do, we have exchanged for holy and righteous living. This entire exchange may not happen over night, but there WILL be a change that is evident to all.
          When sin is in the house, the vessel is not clean. God is saying that sin is in His house. Sin is manifested daily, as God’s people overstep His law. Sin is forbidden by God, yet often tolerated and accepted in His house. This ought not to be so! It was the same in Jesus’ day. For this reason, He demonstrated righteous anger and cleansed the temple, proclaiming that His Father’s house ought to be a house of prayer, not a den of thieves. How is this any different today? There is SO LITTLE prayer in God’s house, yet so much talk of buying and selling and material prosperity! The House of God has become a marketplace rather than a House of prayer and worship. Saints of God, this is an abomination to God! For this reason, God is calling the Church to Repentance, which leads to Holiness!

A Warrior's Heart - Poem

Psalm 144:1-2 - "Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me." (KJV)

A Warrior’s Heart

From the very start

In me was placed a warrior’s heart

My destiny God knew

So His art in me grew

A valiant warrior I am

Strategic warfare I understand

Gifted in the warrior’s craft

Persistence I do not lack

Struggle I knew

Because of you,

Oh lack

But I came back

With Holy Ghost glue

I became new

He held me together

Through turbulent weather

Though demonic winds blew

He shielded me from the dew

The sun and the rain

Strength I regained

When He became my shelter

Delivering me from helter skelter

To the world I go

For fight I know

And that I do very well

Nothing I sell

But His Truth I tell

So undeserving

With all my frailty and swerving

He keeps me on the straight and narrow

And aims my way like an arrow

My way is lit

The enemy is hit

This warrior’s heart inside of me

Is not sold at a fee

God’s Grace is free

Until Eternity,

Likewise, this gift inside of me

Is absolutely free.

THE MIND: THE BATTLEGROUND (Part 2)

Genesis 2:16-17 – “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (KJV)

Genesis 3:4-6 – “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (KJV)

The mind of man is a battleground. There is always a war waging between God and Satan for the minds of men, because Satan is always fighting to control men’s minds. This battle of the mind began in the Garden of Eden, when Satan tempted Eve to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Although men experience peace at times, the enemy always sits in counsel with his cohorts, planning another strategic attack against them. They counsel to devise a plan to overthrow men. They extensively study men, and discuss their next step or move of action. In fact, Satan often knows the weaknesses of men better than they know themselves. At times, men give the enemy all of the information that they need to defeat them through the words that they speak out openly. Then the enemy strategizes and moves according to this information.

Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

For this reason, we ought to watch and pray at all times. Saints of God, when we cease to pray, we cease to fight. There are different types of prayer for difference circumstance and situations. The battle of the mind REQUIRES war faring prayer. The battle is not ours. Rather, the battle is the Lord’s, because we are unable to stand against the enemy on our own. Therefore, we must allow the Lord, Who is Mighty in Battle, to fight through us. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has fought many battles and yet, He has never lost even one. He is always victorious. He has not only made a way, but He is the Way of victory for those of us who choose to surrender completely to Him.

II Corinthians 10:4 – 6 “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 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; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (KJV)

War faring prayer is a powerful and dangerous weapon designated by God to divert and overthrow Satan’s entire plan. When Jesus died and rose from the grave, He rose victoriously and entrusted weapons of warfare into our hands. War faring prayer is one of the most powerful weapons available to mankind. War faring prayer gets under Satan’s plan, roots it up, and destroys it. War faring prayer has the power to break, smash, and tear up the enemy’s plan. War faring prayer has the power to destroy all that Satan builds for his destructive purposes.

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.” (KJV)

            When we seek God’s face, God will reveal the enemy’s plan, so that we can be a step ahead of him at all times. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit will expose the enemy’s cunning and strategic tactics against us. Therefore, we must be sensitive to the presence, quickening and leading of the Holy Spirit. When we engage in spiritual warfare, we pray to defeat the enemy. When we are engaged in battle against the adversary, our prayer must be powerful and dangerous, in order to destroy the enemy’s plan. Therefore, we must seek God’s face and ask the Holy Spirit, Who is our Helper, to intensify our prayer, in order to overcome the advancing enemy. The ammunition that God gives us is the power of the Holy Spirit within our prayer, which is same resurrected power of Jesus Christ, the Mighty Warrior Himself.

            Who can stand against God? God IS Power. He is the powerful Creator, Who created power. Can you stand against the voltage of lightning? No one is able to test or control lightning, yet God is even more powerful than the power of lightning. Nothing and no one can be compared to the power of Almighty God. Satan is a mere counterfeit. He imitates everything that God does, in order to deceive men into cowering under his influence. He comes with his counterfeit ammunition of confusion, fear, doubt, unbelief and the master demonic spirit, which is lust. He confuses the minds of men who allow him to do so. He makes his uninvited, deadly entry into the minds of men, who have opened a door to him. Then he tries to destroy the minds of men, because when men’s minds are not functioning correctly, their lives spin under his control. Sometimes he is successful, when men are weak, due to their failure to watch and pray continuously.

            Satan comes with his first round of ammunition, which is confusion. He strikes and strikes hard. Fear, doubt, and unbelief are right along side to help. Men are conscious that something is wrong, but they are not praying and therefore, too weak to fight against the enemy’s attack. The enemy’s blow to their mind causes them to lose strength and a sense of direction. The enemy strikes again with fear and lust, bringing the flesh under subjection to his control. Man’s attention is diverted by the demonic storm within their mind, and they take their eyes off God. Satan strikes again. Man gets weak and loses his weapon of war faring prayer. He becomes powerless and Satan gains entry. This is the reason that men should never cease to watch and pray.

1 Peter 5:8-9 – “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (KJV)

Saints of God, we must be alert at all times, because the enemy has purposed to kill and to defeat us through the battle of our minds. Our mind is where we think and function first before we speak or act. Before we ever fall into the sin of words and actions, we must first lose the battle of our minds! That is why we should always be alert to the enemy’s devices and ready to wage war with the weapons of our warfare that God has so graciously entrusted to us. Saints of God, we must be armed for battle at all times.

The devil does not rest or sleep. So, he brings restlessness to men and even attacks men’s mind as they sleep. Men must rest and sleep. Yet, even in our deepest sleep, when the enemy is about to strike, the Holy Spirit can alert us and reveal the enemy’s plan. God speaks to us through dreams and visions. While we sleep, the Holy Spirit wages war against the enemy through the spirit of those who have surrendered themselves to Him. Saints of God, we must wear the armor of God even in our sleep, just as warriors in battle must sleep in their fatigue with their loaded rifle by their side.

This depth of warfare does not just happen on its own. We must seek God’s face constantly and pray, “Lord, teach me how to pray. Fight and wage war through me. Alert me even in my sleep to the presence and strategies of the enemy. Satan, I rebuke, bind, and cast you out from within, around, and upon me in Jesus’ name. Father God, I commit my spirit, soul, and body into Your hands and keeping. Teach me and help me to pray without ceasing. Holy Spirit, pray and intercede through me even in my sleep. Lord Jesus, cover me with Your blood, and protect me from the enemy’s devices. In Jesus’ name. Amen. ”

Saints of God, we can effectively use the weapon of prayer that God has entrusted to us, if we would stay well locked in with God. Through diligent prayer, God will not withhold anything from us. The mind is a battleground. God has commanded us to possess the land for Him. Yet, we will never effectively possess anything for God, until He has full possession of our minds.

THE MIND: THE BATTLEGROUND

            The mind of man is a battleground. There is always a war engaged between Satan and God for the minds of men. The Word of God reveals Satan’s evil intentions to be in direct contrast to God’s will and intentions for man.

John 10:10 - “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.” (KJV)

            Men have a choice between two gods, either Satan or God. The Holy Spirit is continuously calling and drawing men to submit to God. In the mean time, Satan comes with all of his ammunition to hinder men from submitting to the call and will of God. When the Holy Spirit takes up residence in men, the enemy gets angry and attempts to turn men back from following God. When the demonic forces are controlling men’s minds, Satan is leading them. Satan and God cannot lead men at the same time. For this reason, Satan is always fighting to possess and destroy the minds of men.

            The mind of man is a war zone, where wrestling matches take place. Man’s mind is a battleground where much evil dwells, because of man’s sinful nature. It is an arena where a lot of battles or fights take place. It is a place where sports and games take place such as Russian roulette. The mind is a war zone where Satan uses every weapon that has to further his purpose and plan. It is a place of action and a targeted area by the enemy.

Ephesians 6:12 - “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.” (KJV)

           Satan is an intruder, who injects evil thoughts into the minds of men. There is always an invasion by the enemy into the mind. He invades the mind with lies, deception, and temptation in order to seduce man to submit to him and rebel against God. Invade means to enter for conquest or plunder, to encroach upon to do harm or to enter or force in or upon a territory. Yet, the enemy cannot enter into our lives unless we have opened a door and given legal access for his entrance.

Matthew 18:34-35 – “And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” (KJV)

            The tormenters in this Scripture are demons. Satan and his demons come to torture men. Many Christians are in the hands of demonic torture for one simple reason, which is unforgiveness. There are various forms of demonic torture, such as health problems, mental torment, inner accusation or condemnation, emotional breakdown, repeated or chronic illness, bareness, miscarriage and other female and male problems. Chronic backsliding also opens the door for demonic torture.

            Satan’s ammunition is confusion, fear, doubt, unbelief, and the master spirit, which is lust. He confuses their minds and makes his uninvited and deadly entry into the lives of those who allow him to do so, by opening a door for his entrance into their minds. Thus, he tries to destroy the minds of men.

            Unfortunately, men often yield and submit to the devil’s lies and allow them to get into their bloodstream and to control them. Therefore, it takes a greater power to disarm the power of the enemy. Prayer is the only powerful weapon that is able to move what the enemy has placed into the minds of men. The reason that the devil defeats men at times is because they submit to the spirit of fear, which not only rests upon men, but also enters into and dwells within men. Fear is a deadly weapon of the enemy that is powerful enough to kill you.

Psalm 91:5 – “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day.” (KJV)

            Believers are not supposed to be afraid, because fear is the opposite of faith. Fear is Satan’s weapon, whereas faith is God’s shield of protection against fear and all the weapons of the enemy. You cannot do warfare when you are afraid. You cannot serve God with fear, because fear is one of the devil’s agents. It is impossible to fight the devil, when the devil resides in you.

             Fear does not work alone, but opens a door for doubt and condemnation to enter man, as well. Condemnation says, “You cannot make it. You might as well quit.” Whereas the Word of God says in Phillippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (KJV)

            We must choose whose report we will believe and whom we will serve and obey. If you listen to the lies of the enemy, you will be defeated, but if you listen to God, and believe His Word to be the truth, fear has to flee. Through the powerful weapon of prayer, the enemy will be disarmed and defeated by.

Spiritual Depth, Growth and Maturity

Luke 8:11-15 ^– “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (KJV)

God is calling His people to greater spiritual depth, growth, and maturity. Now is the time to earnestly and honestly enquire of God concerning our level of spiritual depth, growth, and maturity. Therefore, we must ask God, “What have You done in my life? What do You require of me in this time?” We must step into this new season of spiritual depth, growth, and maturity by faith, pleading with God, “Lord, make me understand!” How do we grow spiritually? Spiritual depth, growth, and maturity require greater seeking and searching through prayer. Just as a seed must die before it lives again, so we must die to live again. One must water and feed a plant for it to grow. Also, the plant must be planted in the right place. God is saying that we must die to live. In other words, we must allow the Holy Spirit to take over in our lives. We must give up, let go, and let God! We must completely surrender ourselves to God, as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable in His sight.

When we are spiritually stagnant, and there is no move of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the wrong spirit steps in and manifests in and through our lives. Therefore, we need a constant work of transformation within us by the moving of the Holy Spirit. We must honestly enquire of the Lord. “Why am I at a standstill? Why am I not growing?” When we enquire of the Lord, He will reveal the hindrances and causes of the spiritual stagnancy in our lives. Then we must enquire, “What do I do, Lord?” As the Holy Spirit reveals and speaks to us, we must obey by doing exactly what He says, and following His instructions as He leads us.

Psalm 103:1-6 – “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed”

            God is saying concerning His people, “Since I AM who I AM, and I always do as I say, why can’t man go on and grow?” The problem is not found in God, but in us. We must enquire, “Lord, what is it? What do I do now?” We must curse the spirit of fear and condemnation and move forward! God is saying that the problem is found in our laziness and refusal to pray the way we ought to pray. We are not communicating with God as we ought, by seeking His face and pressing into Him, which is required for spiritual growth. We could never pray enough. We could never seek God enough. There will always be room for more prayer, more seeking, more spiritual depth, growth and maturity.
             We will find everything we need in God, if we would seek His face. God is calling the church to repentance and spiritual growth, which is the process of moving towards maturity in one’s relationship with God, which will also flow into our relationship with other people. We must enter into a deeper spiritual depth, just as a plant’s roots must extend down deeper into the earth, as it grows. Spiritual depth involves greater intensity, profoundness, and penetration into the Spirit realm. There are no limitations to this spiritual penetration, because there are no limitations in the Holy Spirit, Who leads and carries us deeper.
            How often do we fail to do what God wants us to do, yet still want the benefits and blessings of obedience? We must give God a chance, by seeking Him through prayer. It is only through prayer that we can penetrate the spiritual atmosphere, and grow into the fullness of the knowledge of God. When we press into God, He pulls us deeper and higher in Him. Spiritual maturity can be attained through one’s right standing with God. It is a state of perfection or completeness in God. Though we have not reached perfection, we must continue to strive toward maturity and perfection.
           God is saying, “Tell my people there is a spiritual demonic storm coming in this last hour. If your roots are not deeply rooted, you will not be able to stand, but if you will sink yourselves deeper through prayer, you will be able to withstand the storms of life. For I would allow the enemy to fight you in order to stretch you. I will put you to the test. Yet, by knowing I AM your dependency, you must exercise faith by trusting Me. Build yourselves, and empty yourselves of the waste of sin through repentance. Know that before I bless, I test.”
           God is calling for the building of the ranks of His army. Are you preparing yourselves to answer this call? God is asking, “Will you go where I send you?” We must prepare to travel and accomplish the will of God. This is a command and a charge to function, by getting into the Spirit in order to stand as military men and woman of God.
           God has commissioned me to raise up an army of ministers, intercessors, and prayer warriors throughout the nations of the world. He spoke to me, “I am about to raise this prayer up. I am calling forth those who will stand. I am building the ranks of this army. I am calling forth those who will lay aside the waste of sin. I am calling forth prayer warriors, the intercessors who will prostrate themselves in preparation.”
           God is calling and crying out to His people, “Will you stand to be My voice this last day in the wilderness? This is a command, a charge. I saved you. I kept you through your slipping and sliding. I’m tired of your ups and downs. It’s standing time now. I AM the One Who chose you. I have chosen you for a time like this. Trust me with those things that seem as though there is no change. I can change the unchangeable. I AM and I have selected you through this Divine connection, ordination, and preparation.”
          Let us pray, “Lord give me a repentive heart.” We must ask God for brokenness, because repentance that comes from the lips brings no change. The dregs of sin are within us! We have to get it out! So often one’s own tongue is killing God’s people, because they are condemning themselves saying that they can’t do it! God will tell you that He elevated you and then test you. He will even use others to say, “You ain’t doing anything!” We must reply, “Lord, help me to do it!” We must trust God to complete His work of spiritual depth, growth, and maturity in our lives.

When the Storms of Life Are Raging

The Holy Spirit ministered the following Word of the Lord to me in 2001. In reference to the previous Word that the Holy Spirit led me to post, "Be Prepared: A Storm Is Coming", God is saying that this Word is also applicable to the Body of Christ today and in the days that are to come.

“When the Storms of Life Are Raging”

John 15:1-8 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (KJV)

            God said, “I am the tree and men are the branches.” God is not looking for those branches that would easily break away from the tree. Rather, He is looking for those spiritual branches that would remain connected to the tree. He is not looking for those who would give untimely birth to their fruit. Rather, He is looking for those who would conceive and bear fruit, and those whose fruit would remain until the harvest time.
            There are times when the heavy winds and rain of a storm cause leaves to fall and branches to break off trees. There is a spiritual storm that is coming, and anything that is weak will be easily broken. There is a demonic wind that is beginning to blow that will only get worse. Those who are not wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in Jesus will surely fall. The wind is blowing. Yet, men are taking this wind for granted, because they think that it will soon pass. Father, I know that you are that man in the midst of the storm.
            Many houses contain buit-in storm windows as a protective provision, just in case there is a storm. How is your prayer life, just in case there is a spiritual storm? Upon what or upon whom is your life built?
            There is such a falling away in the Body of Christ. God said, “As the branch is severed from the tree by the wind of the storm, so are My people being severed and cut off from Me by the demonic wind that comes from the spiritual storm.”
            The storms of life are raging and the billows are tossing high. In order for mankind to stand while the storms of life are raging, they have to hold onto Jesus. They have to be secured in the arms of Jesus. So many have heard of Jesus, and talk of Jesus, but they do not know Jesus. If you do not know Jesus, how can you hold onto Him? To hold onto Him you have to be close to Him. You cannot hold onto Him from a distance, because your grip would not be secure.
            There are times in a storm when the wind is really blowing. When the branches of a strong tree are blown by the wind, they bend, fly, and slap back and forth in the direction of the wind. When you would think that they would break due to the force of the wind, they bend to the ground and bounce back up again.
            There is only one way that mankind can bend, hit the ground and bouce back up again in the midst of the storm, and that is by maintaining a secure hold onto Jesus. Maintaining a secure hold onto Jesus does not mean letting go of Him when the storms of life are raging, but it means holding on to Him regardless of the severity of the storm.
            When an individual is holding onto something, they can easily let go of it when their hand becomes tired. Yet, when Jesus is holding you, He will never let you go. We are the ones who let go and pull away from God.

Be Prepared: A Storm Is Coming

Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (KJV)

God is calling His people to climb up higher in the Spirit. It is very hard or uncomfortable to climb when burdened down with a load or weight of any kind. Yet, God’s people are burdened down with the weight of sin in their lives. Almighty God is saying to the Body of Christ, “Lay aside the weight of the sin that so easily beset you. Come to Me in repentance,” saith God. “Get rid of the sin. Stop. Turn away from your sin, and come up higher. For a storm is coming, a storm that will shake this nation, of the United States of America.”
This requires a physical and spiritual preparation. For example, God is instructing us to prepare physically through the gathering of grains and securing or storing of food in preparation for the storm. God is instructing us to prepare spiritually by climbing higher in the Spirit. As God’s people, you may wonder how to climb up higher in the Spirit. This spiritual climb requires drawing closer to God. This spiritual climb requires more prayer and more time spent with God meditating on His Word. This spiritual climb requires exercising faith, believing and trusting God. We must ask the Holy Spirit to teach and help us to climb and press in closer to Him. Fear will come. Fear will seek to possess you, especially in the time of a storm. The spirit of fear paralyzes and cripples those who submit to him. We must resist fear, and trust God, because God is saying, “I AM the Man in the storm.” That means that if we trust Him, even in the midst of the storm or when disaster strikes, He will keep and protect us.

REPENTANCE - Acrostic Poem

Psalm 51:9-11 “Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” (KJV)

R id the waste
E mpty ourselves of the weight and the sin that so easily beset us
P ray sincerely without ceasing
E xhalt God in faith for His forgiveness
N ot easily tempted
T rust God
A t the cross of Christ, we must leave our burdens
N egative thoughts will be destroyed, as we
C ry and lament constantly and
E at the Word

© Vera Paul, All rights reserved, use only with permission

Lord, Teach Us How to Repent

Lord, Teach Us How to Repent

God is saying, now is the time for the saints’ eyes to be opened to the presence of sin in their lives, and their need for repentance. This will cause us to cry, “Lord, teach us how to repent!”

King David serves as an excellent model of true repentance. In Psalm 51:10, David cried, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Repentance involves a true crying out and confession of sin. There must be a continual cry of repentance. This cry must be a deep gut cry, rather than merely a mouth cry, because mankind’s bellies are full of sin. In order to repent, one must let go of pride, which would hinder him from crying out. Repentance involves vomiting, pouring out, spitting out, not holding back, but freeing us by getting rid of the waste in our lives.

Saints of God, when we truly repent, there will be a change in us. We will begin to experience break through, healing and deliverance. Then our prayer will be intensified, enabling us to climb to a higher height and deeper depth in the spirit realm. We must repent of those things that the enemy would cause us to believe we cannot speak. Repentance is a true crying out and confession of sin. We all have something to pour out. Repentance involves vomiting the past, getting rid of the waste, washing and cleansing it out of our systems. When we repent, we must believe that God will hear and forgive us in order for us to be freed from sin. Many people believe that they cannot repent, because they are “saved”, but they fail to realize that salvation involves a strive to perfection. The spirit of pride causes some to think they have already arrived to a spiritual level beyond the need for repentance. Let us not be deceived by the blind fold of pride. We sin in our thoughts, words, actions, motives and attitudes, requiring a continual repentance and turning from sin. Hebrews 10:4 states, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Therefore, we can only be cleansed with the precious blood of Jesus.

True repentance requires brokenness. In the same way that pressure must be applied to break a stick or whatever object is being broken, pressure must be applied to us. We have a choice to submit to the Holy Spirit’s application of pressure to our flesh, or to resist the process of brokenness, and reject His work of sanctification in our lives. When we submit to the pressure, it will make a difference. Our flesh will still desire to kick up its heels, but we must ask God to give us a submissive spirit, so that we do not cater to the flesh, but submit to Him. Therefore, let us continue to cry, “Lord, teach us how to repent.”