#prayer – Boldly For Him

March 14, 2020March 15, 2020

“A Banner Love”

The unthinkable happened, with the verdict guilty, the decision was sealed. Now it would take The Blood of His First Born Son to eradicate the penalty of death caused by the sin of man.

It wasn’t that long ago that God walked with Adam in “the cool of the day”, sharing His Thoughts, Plans, and Dreams for man. Now with Eyes Full of Tears, He watched with Love and Compassion as the man and woman whom He had created, “In His Very Own Image” were driven from their home. The first, “eviction” had occurred and now their home, “Eden,” the Beautiful Garden that God Had “Planted” for them was left without a caretaker. Oh, how God would miss the fellowship of His Beloved Creation! Adam, the first “man” and his wife Eve, the first “woman,” would now be removed from His Presence, as a result of their disobedience.

What sin did Adam and Eve commit, that drove them from Eden?

It was the “sin” of unbelief and rebellion against the commandment of The Lord.

In Genesis 2:15-17 (AMP) we read the commandment of The Lord God to Adam. A commandment that Adam and his wife Eve would later go on to violate;

“And The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it.” “And The Lord God commanded the man, saying, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;” “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The devastating “fall of man”, has forever been recorded for us in Genesis 3:1-8 (NKJV);

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” “And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;” “but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” “Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.” “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” “And they heard the sound of The Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from The Presence of The Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

Beguiled by the language of rebellion that the enemy spoke, and enticed by the lust of their eyes, Adam and Eve desired and partook of the fruit that God had commanded them to stay away from. Now for the first time in recorded human history, fear and shame shrouded God’s creation with a vice grip of death, that squeezed their Holy Innocence from them.

The awareness that Adam and his wife Eve had of their transgression caused them to, “hide themselves from The Presence of The Lord God among the trees of the garden.” You see my friend their, “willful” sin created a “Spiritual Homelessness” a “Vacancy of Heart” that had evicted them from, “Eden” the garden home that God had planted for them.

The domino effect of the original sin of Adam and Eve was staggering. It would go on to affect everyone who would ever be born on the face of the Earth. Thank God that He had a Holy, Divine Plan put in place long before you and I were born, to Redeem Man back to his original relationship with God.

What is this Plan?

This Holy, Divine Plan is called, “SALVATION” and His Name is JESUS CHRIST! We read about This, “Banner Love”, this Gift of Salvation in;

John 3:16-17 (TPT);

“For this is how much God Loved the world-He gave His One and Only, Unique Son as a Gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience Everlasting Life.” “God did not send His Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be it’s Savior and rescue it!”

This is Good News for you and me, my friend! Remember what happened back in the Garden of Eden? Adam and Eve sinned and through that sin, introduced, “everlasting death”. Now through our believing upon “Jesus Christ” His Son, our “Savior,” we all receive, “Everlasting Life,” as we are rescued from the effects of eternal damnation, which is eternal separation from God!

This is God’s “BANNER LOVE” for you and me Redemption through His Son Jesus Christ!

What do we do with this, BANNER LOVE?

So glad you asked! Colossians 3:12-14 (TPT) gives us the answer;

“You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourselves with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, un-offendable in your patience with others.” “Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them.” “For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of True Maturity.”

My friend since, “Love becomes the mark of True Maturity”, then we must ask ourselves the following question;

“Am I a spiritual adult”?

Ouch! A question from The Lord that hits home for all of us! I know that there have been many times that I have personally felt the “pinch”, the “grief” of The Holy Spirit when I did not respond in a manner where love was “supreme” toward others or even towards myself. When this happens in our lives, it is so important to recognize, “Why” The Holy Spirit is Grieved. You see my friend, when, “love reigns supreme through our lives”, we are the most like God! We become, Spiritual Adults by choosing to live from a “Banner Heart” as we Advance The Kingdom of Heaven with every thought, word, and action! This is how His, “Banner Love” is seen and reproduced in our lives, Glory To God!

On the other hand, when love does not “Reign Supreme” in our lives, we are then giving way to our, “old Adam self” living like the enemy and reproducing death with every thought, word, and action. This type of behavior is extremely detrimental to our lives and very harmful to The Kingdom of Heaven.

Why is this behavior so detrimental to our lives and harmful to The Kingdom of Heaven?

Simply put, when we make choices contrary to the characteristics of Christ-likeness in our lives, we are choosing to create a “hard heart” rather than choosing to live from a “Banner Heart.” An unrepentant “hard heart” will eventually lead you and others away from The Presence of God.

What is the solution to a “hard heart”?

To receive God’s “Banner Love” for our lives as the scriptures state in John 3:16-17 (TPT). When we make this decision and choose daily to live for The Kingdom of Heaven we will then develop a strong, immovable, unshakeable, “Banner Heart,” able to disciple others because we ourselves have been discipled in the ways of God.

The next step is to follow the instructions that The Lord has given us in Colossians 3:12-14 (TPT) and, “Robe ourselves with The Virtues of God.”

What are the Virtues of God that make up this Robe?

Holiness, Mercy, Understanding, Compassion, Kindness, Gentleness, Humbleness, Un-offendable, Patient, Tolerant and Forgiving.

This, my friend, is the Glorious Robe of His “Banner Love”, which was wrapped around The Tree of Calvary for you and me! Jesus Christ is His Name and when you receive Him, you will never be the same. He was Bruised and Beaten for every one of your sins, diseases, and iniquities, with The Blood of Jesus you have been Washed and made Clean. Now you are in The Kingdom of God Family! Righteous, Free and Totally Healed…..So “Be Strong and Live Free” in Perpetual Victory With The Power and Strength of “The Banner Love” of Calvary!

AMEN and AMEN!

Picture by: Brandon Morgan

December 29, 2019

“Alive And Well”

“Christ’s Resurrection is your resurrection too. This is why we are to yearn for all that is above, for that’s where Christ sits enthroned at the Place of All Power, Honor, and Authority!” “Yes, feast on all the treasures of the Heavenly Realm and fill your thoughts with Heavenly Realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Colossians 3:1-2 (TPT)

At the beginning of 2019, The Lord instructed me to write two specific blogs to start the New Year. January’s title is, “The Expected End” and February’s title is, “Inner-Action”. Now as we have come to the last month of the decade, and are about to embark on what I believe will be a “Whole New Era” for the Body of Christ in the coming years; The Lord redirected my attention back to these two blogs.

As I re-read what He had to share with us through these writings, I became keenly aware that these blogs encapsulate what He is now saying to us through this last, “Boldly For Him” blog of the year. With 2019 quickly coming to a close, The Lord wants us to know that as we approach 2020, that no matter where we are or what we may be currently facing, that as Born Again Believers in Jesus Christ, the reality of our, “Expected End” is that we are, ”Alive And Well”, In Him as we recognize, renew, develop and mature our, “Inner-Action” to the truths that are shared with us in Colossians 3:1-2 (TPT).

To fully grasp what The Lord is now saying through this blog, I think it’s important for me to refresh us on the definition of “Inner-Action.”

Inner-Action = The relationship between the mind, the will and the emotions and how they are displayed in an individual’s life through their interaction with God and others.

You see my friend we are entering a time where everything that can be challenged will be challenged regarding what we believe about our identity In Jesus Christ. It is an Era, a decade, a time that will see much fruit as well as much loss within The Body of Christ. Why?….. because of the very pressure that is coming in the days ahead that will cause many to continue to be deceived, stumble and fall in their individual and corporate walk with The Lord. That is why it is so important my friend that you and I, “fill our thoughts with Heavenly Realities, and not with the distractions of the natural realm.” Ref. Col 3:2 (TPT)

What we learn and who we learn from can greatly affect what we believe about our God Given identity In Christ Jesus. So much so that the Apostle Paul gave the following instructions to his spiritual son Timothy who was an Evangelist and Pastor in the ancient town of Ephesus:

2nd Timothy 2:15 (AMP);

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.”

The Word of God and the Truths that have been “Rightly Divided” and “Accurately Taught” to us must become so “Deeply Rooted Within Us”, that no matter what distraction, adversity or challenge may come our way; we are confident that we can live our lives as one who is “Alive and Well” because of the TRUTH that “Christ’s Resurrection IS OUR Resurrection too!” Ref. Col 3:1 (TPT)

Understanding and accurately applying this passage of scripture in Col 3:1-2, in our daily walk, as Believers is paramount to a healthy, “Inner-Action” with God and others. An overcoming “Inner-Action” that will lead to Total Victory in every area of our lives, Spirit, soul, and body, in the coming days ahead. To God Be The Glory!

How does this Biblical Principle work in our lives?

Colossians 3:3-4 (TPT) gives us the answer;

“Your crucifixion with Christ has severed the tie to this life, and now your true life is hidden away with God in Christ.” “And as Christ, Himself is seen for Who He Is, who you are will also be revealed, for YOU ARE NOW ONE WITH HIM IN HIS GLORY.”

This is not just a figure of speech my friend these are the Words of God Himself and the REALITY of Who We Are In Christ Jesus! According to the Word of God, we as Believers, have “severed the tie to this life.” Meaning we no longer are bound or have any obligation whatsoever to live a defeated life of sin, sickness, poverty, shame, etc.!

Can this be proven by the Word of God?

Yes, let’s see what He has to say to us in Colossians 3:5-9 (TPT);

“Live as one who has died to every form of sexual sin and impurity. Live as one who died to diseases, and desires for forbidden things, including the desire for wealth, which is the essence of idol worship.” “When you live in these vices you ignite the anger of God against these acts of disobedience.” “That’s how you once behaved, characterized by your evil deeds. But now it’s time to eliminate them from your lives once and for all-anger, fits of rage, all forms of hatred, cursing, filthy speech, and lying.” “Lay aside your old Adam-self with its masquerade and disguise.”

God went to great lengths for you and me my friend to be, “Alive and Well” through the Crucifixion of His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior! You see, Calvary not only Confronted, but CALVARY also DEFEATED EVERY FORM of sin, sickness, poverty, and disease for all men, for all time…PERIOD! Calvary did not console the enemy, by fearing him and accepting his slander against the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ. Calvary Confronted and Cast the evil works of the enemy out forever!

This is The Resurrection Power of 1st Peter 1:24 (TPT);

“He carried our sins in His body on the Cross so that we would be dead to sin and live for righteousness, Our INSTANT healing flowed from His Wounding.”

Therefore my friend, you and I as believers in Christ Jesus are not to console the enemy by fearing him and caving in when he attacks us with sin, sickness, poverty, and disease, we are to confront him with The Living Word of God and cast him out of our lives, spirit, soul, and body! It is not through our strength that we do this, it is through “The Blood of Jesus Christ”, that was Shed At Calvary. My friend, it is “The Good News” of His Resurrection Power that RESIDES WITHIN US that gives us, as Believers in Christ Jesus, the AUTHORITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY to Confront and Cast out the devil and all of his evil works from EVERY area of our lives!

Did God give me this responsibility?

YES! Jesus Himself tells us about this “Priceless Privilege” in the following passages of scripture:

John 14:12-14 (TPT);

“I tell you this timeless truth: The person who follows me in faith, believing in Me, will do the Same Mighty Miracles that I do—Even Greater Miracles than these because I go to be with My Father!” “For I will do whatever you ask Me to do when you ask Me in My Name. And that is how the Son will show what the Father is really like and bring Glory To Him.” “Ask Me anything in My Name, and I will do it for you!”

Mark 16:16-18 (TPT);

“Whoever believes the Good News and is baptized will be saved, and whoever does not believe the Good News will be condemned.” “And these miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will drive out demons in the power of My Name. They will speak in tongues.” “They will be supernaturally protected from snakes, and from drinking anything poisonous. And they will lay hands on the sick and heal them.”

Never doubt my friend the Power of The Name of Jesus spoken out of your mouth as a Believer in Jesus Christ! It is the same power and authority that was given to the first Disciples! As modern-day Believers it is our turn to do what these Forefathers of Faith did, to take the healing power of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, to “lay hands on the sick and heal them”, this includes laying hands on yourself! This Mandate is how we perpetuate the Eternal Message of Calvary! A Precious “Blood Bought” Message that Forever Speaks that, WE ARE, “Alive and Well” and Empowered to,

“Be Strong and Live Free…..Boldly For Him!”

November 17, 2019November 17, 2019

“But I Wasn’t Racing!”

“I wasn’t racing!” “It doesn’t matter, I won!” “But I wasn’t racing!” “It doesn’t matter, I won!” This loud and insistent exchange between two young siblings took place years ago in a crowded crosswalk in Honolulu, Hawaii. As Mark and I passed them by, we couldn’t help but smile at the older brother’s insistence that he had “won” some obviously “imaginary race” against his younger sister. After all, she wasn’t “racing” pronounced “wacing” because she was missing a few front teeth! Oh, the woes of sibling rivalry!

As I have reflected numerous times throughout the years, over this amusing and seemingly innocent inter-change between brother and sister, The Lord started to reveal to me the underlying current that the enemy was cunningly at work with to try to capture this young boy’s heart. The purpose? To keep him frantically competing in some “imaginary race” for the rest of his life.

In Hebrews 12:14-15 (TPT); we receive some practical life-saving advice from The Lord.

“In every relationship be swift to choose peace over competition, and run swiftly toward Holiness, for those who are not Holy will not see the Lord.” “Watch over each other to make sure that no one misses the revelation of God’s Grace. And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.”

My friend, there is a “Code of Conduct” that The Lord is introducing to us in these scriptures, “Swift Peace over Competition,” with ourselves and others. Notice that the first three words of the above scripture are, “In every relationship.” This includes the relationship that we have with ourselves. God knows that we can’t be, “swift to choose peace over competition” if we are not first, at peace within ourselves.

Like this young boy, if you and I choose to look at everyone around us as a competitor to be conquered, rather than a relationship to be nurtured, we will run a race of, “unholy competitiveness” against them, which will produce negative results. Running our life’s race with others in this manner will cause us to miss the Heavenly revelation of God’s Grace in our lives and the lives of those around us; fast-tracking us on a road to self-destruction. This will eventually make a way for a “root of bitterness” to begin to sprout within us that will cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.”

Why is it so important for us to adhere to this God Given, “Code of Conduct” with ourselves and others?

You see my friend when we choose God’s instructions of, “swift peace over competition” we create an atmosphere of “Grace” that nurtures those around us. This allows these precious relationships that The Lord has entrusted to us too, “Safely Flourish” in their God-given gifts and talents with confidence and ease. This Divine harmony produces a cohesive unity, a “Oneness” that Jesus Himself prayed for us to have in John 17:21-23 (TPT);

“I pray for all of them to be joined together as one even as You and I, Father, are joined together as One. I pray for them to become One with Us so that the world will recognize that You sent Me.” “For the very Glory that You have given to Me, I have given to them so that they will be joined together as One and experience the same Unity that we enjoy.” “You live fully in Me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that You have sent Me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that You have for Me.”

Friend’s as we choose to cooperate with a “Holy Oneness”, we bring the “Revelation” and “Protection” of God’s Grace into the center of our relationships. This “Guardrail of Grace,” keeps us running our life’s race with a Divine Pace of Peace, void of fleshly striving. This Divine Pace of Peace produces within us an intimate place of Holiness with The Lord! This Sacred Holiness gives us the strength to choose, “swift peace over competition,” every time! Glory To God!

On the contrary, when we feel insecure and threatened by the calling, gifts, and talents of others we will view them through the fear based, imaginary lens of “unholy competitiveness.” This “unholy competitiveness” creates within us a striving and “bitter heart” that leads to an “unholy desire” to diminish their value and worth as a called individual of God. An individual who like us my friend has been made in His Very Image! Though we may not recognize it, at the core of this heart action is an attempt to, “Silence God.”

How do we Silence God?

By suppressing and discrediting the gifts and callings that He has placed on another individual’s life. This is how God loses The Strength of His Voice to the world as we attempt to Silence Him, His Movement and His Purpose through the voice and ministry of another Brother and Sister in Christ. A voice and ministry that God Himself planned, established and set in place in order to Advance His Kingdom. My friend, attempting to “Silence God” disrupts the Peace and Perfect Unity that, “Oneness” that Jesus prayed for you and me to have.

How does this happen?

The same way it happened to lucifer, in Isaiah 14:13-14 (AMP);

“And you said in your heart, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost North.” “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like The Most High.”

Like lucifer, if we are driven by a striving “unholy competitiveness,” “We will say in our heart, I will exalt my life above the plans and purposes of God; I will sit in God’s place and judge the callings of my brothers and sisters in Christ because, “It doesn’t matter, I won!” ALL they have is MINE! I will ascend above everyone that I know, there is no one greater than me, I will make myself like The Most High.”

The pride of lucifer’s heart gave birth to a destructive “unholy competitiveness” against God. This rebellion poisoned the hearts of a third of the angels, dooming them forever to the eternal lake of fire, as they were cast from The Presence of God! Let us not make the same mistake my friend running our life’s journey with a carnal, destructive “unholy competitiveness” that attempts to silence God while leading others astray, thus breaking fellowship with The Lord.

Before we run one more step, let’s ask ourselves the following questions:

1. Like the young boy in the crosswalk, Am I racing in an “imaginary race.”

2. Who am I racing against? Why?

3. Have I participated in advancing the Kingdom of God by cultivating, promoting and releasing the gifts, talents, and callings of others without guile?

4. How can I better walk in, “the ministry of reconciliation” with my brothers and sisters in Christ?

Our God-given influence is greater than we think my friend! The Lord is adamant that we protect the “Oneness” that “Holy Unity” that will show all men that we are Passionately loved by Him. This is how we strengthen the Body of Christ and Advance His Kingdom.

My friend, if you are ready to join me in protecting the “Oneness.” that “Perfect Unity,” that Jesus prayed for us to have as we relinquish any “unholy competitiveness” from our life, then I invite you to make this declaration in the following prayer of repentance and reconciliation.

Please pray out loud with me:

“Father God search my heart. Any seed of “unholy competitiveness” that would cause a “bitter root” to grow within me and poison the hearts of others I repent of now to You. Through the Shed Blood of Jesus Christ, I call it uprooted in Jesus Name!

I say and decree that every word and action of “unholy authority” that I have spoken or acted upon that has undermined, hurt and hindered the calling and progress of my brother or sister in Christ, I repent and ask you, Lord, to reverse that damage over every area of their life in Jesus Name!

Father God remove any curse that I have spoken over my life, and the lives of others. Lord, any person that I have poisoned by spreading gossip, hurt or bitterness, would you please bring them to my heart, and show me how to address those words and actions for the sake of their restoration. I repent of this sin! Lord, I now decree Blessing over their life.

Thank You Father God for Your Divine Cleansing and Healing of my spirit, soul and body in The Name Of Jesus! Lord, with Great Joy and Expectation, I receive The Complete and Manifest Victory for all of these areas that I have repented for and requested of You. Father God, as a Cleansed Vessel I am now ready to report for active duty for my Kingdom Assignment. To God Be The Glory! Amen and Amen!

With The Holy Spirit Wind Beneath Our Wings we can now run as God taught us to run in 1st Corinthians 13:13 (TPT);

“Until then, there are three things that remain; faith, hope, and love yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.”

This, my friend, is how you and I Run Strong and Free in Perfect Unity……..Boldly For Him!

Photo: Ben White