Tuesday, April 29, 2008

God's Word Is Truth Not Satans'

When the enemy tries to come in and steal God's word from our hearts, we have to be strong, and take a stand against his lies. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. BUT, GOD comes to give life and give it more abundantly. Why do we confess God's word over ourself and then as soon as the enemy tries to throw something at us, we let fear come in and steal our victory? God says the victory is ours, the battle has already been fought and won by Jesus. No weapon formed against us shall prosper. So why then are we listening to the enemy of fear? Fear will grab us so quickly and try to snatch the victory away from us, but God says, we are His and the enemy cannot take us away. HALLELUJAH!

John 10 v 27-30...."My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."......

Thank you to my friend and prayer partner Linda, We all need a Linda in our lives, someone who we can call when we need prayer but not just prayer, but someone you know believes and has the faith that you have. Someone you know will not drop the ball, but will see what it is that is coming against you and rebuke that enemy with you.

When someone calls you for prayer, they are not calling you so you can start talking about the problem and building the problem up. NO, they are asking you to stand in agreement with them against this problem, and rebuke the enemy and don't give the problem any life. So the next time someone calls you for prayer, pray for deliverance with them, instead of getting in the boat with them and the problem, pull them out and help them come back to their faith, and walk back across that water to Jesus and not stay in the boat with the problem.

We all at times need a strong prayer partner like Linda, I hope when any of you need prayer you will call or write and ask me to pray with you and to stand with you in agreement. But, I will not get in the boat with you, I am going to yank you out of that boat. AMEN!
And remember this point of prayer, sometimes someone may need prayer about an area in their life that they are not proud of, but need help in, when you cover someone in prayer, that does not give you the authority to go and talk about it with others. That is not being a prayer partner, that is being a gossip. AMEN!

So choose your prayer partner carefully and prayerfully.
God bless you each with a strong, faithful prayer partner like Linda in your life.
I Love you all
Neta

Being Obedient In All Things

When you are suffering a trial, look into your life and see when maybe you did not obey God somewhere. It may be so small that you didn't give it a second thought. But God Did!

Sometimes, we think we know better than God. I mean if the Holy Spirit told us to do something, and we dismiss it as thinking it is insignificant, then basically we are saying that we know better than God, in this matter.

God showed me in my own life, how by being disobedient to something that He was dealing with me about, that I was causing division in my house and the word says that a house divided against itself will not stand.

Luke 11 vs 17-23.....but He knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, gaurds his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. he who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.....

Another point here is that if someone or something comes against you, whose armor is stronger than yours, you will lose your peace and begin to succomb and fall into their snares. Your armor is the word of God, not just the word of God but the word of God mixed with Faith and spoken out loud. When you speak the word of God, it is as if God Himself is speaking and His word spoken will not come back void. So when God tells you to do something don't dismiss it as that you will do it later, or just thinking well, that won't be so bad if I do not do it. God would not waste His time telling you to do something, if He did not mean for you to do it.

And the third point in this scripture is he who does not gather with Me scatters. This is telling us that if we are not working with God and doing what He tells us to do, then we are like scattering His angels in other directions instead of bringing them together to help us fight our battles. In other words, we are trying to fight on our own strengths and our own understandings and not with God's army of angels that He has at the ready for us when we use His spoken word.

God gives us the authority to speak what He says into action, all we have to do is be obedient.
Stop trying to fight your own battles, and be obedient to what God is telling you to do.

God Bless you each one with Victory in all your battles
Neta

My God Is Bigger Than That

We are always saying how big our God is, how awesome God is, and when we get a cold, or virus, we say we are healed in Jesus name, and we receive our healing. THEN, let a doctor tell you that there is something more dramatic going on, let them use the "C" word, in referring to us, and BOOM, we fall apart. We start wringing our hands, LORD, what am I going to do? LORD, how am I going to get through this?

First of all, how fickle is our faith? Why do we think God can heal a cold, but He can't heal something like cancer, or other bad diseases? This is the same God that you say you believe that He spoke the entire universe into existence, right? This is the same God, that you say you believe that He created the moon, stars, sun, the firmament, the waters, in other words the heavens and the earth? This is the same God, that you say you believe that He forgave all of your sins, and that you will live in eternity with Him one day, right?
Then why do we put Him in a box when someone says the "C" word. Why do we think a word is bigger than God? You see when someone says the "C" word, they give life to that word immediately and they blow it up so big, that they think God, Himself has no control over it. If you believe that God, Himself made you, then why in the world would you not believe that He has the power to take something out of you, that does not belong there in the first place. We need to magnify God to what His word says He is, instead of what our little minds are trying to make Him out to be.

Someone shared with me, that when they were faced with a bad situation, they were trying to let fear slip in, and then God showed them, that fear will sneak in and steal the word, steal your victory from you, but Jesus says, He did not give you the spirit of fear, but of power, peace and a sound mind. You can not have a sound mind, peace or power if you have fear in your life. So when the enemy tries to rear its ugly head and give you fear over your situation, then you need to immediately with Faith, speak the word of God over your situation. Remember to put the word of God on your situation. Now, the enemy has to flee. That does not mean that he will not try to creep back into your thought life, but you have to stop him immediately when he tries to creep in and rebuke him out of your mind, Jesus did not leave you with a sound mind just so the enemy could come and disturb it with doubts. The Lord tells us, that we have authority over the enemy and that nothing by any means shall hurt you.

Luke 10 v 19...."Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."......

Notice, He said, ALL the power of the enemy, and NOTHING shall hurt you.
We need to quit putting limits on what God can do. He did not in His word, say well, I can heal this or that, or I can do this or that. NO, He said you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Not just some of the little insignificant things, but ALL things.

Read Mark 2 vs 8-12....But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins".. HE said to the parlytic, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!"......

Jesus is probably thinking, where do you base your beliefs? Why is this easy to believe, but not all that I say? What kind of faith do you have in the word of God? Do you believe the entire book, or just what is easy for you to believe?

One of my favorite passages in one of my books I have is
That which God has not planted is dissolved and rooted out of my body in JESUS' name. 1 Peter 2:24 is engrafted into every fiber of my being and I am alive with the life of God. (Mark 11:23, John 6:63)

1 Pet 2 v 24....who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed.....

Mark 11:23...."for assuredly I say unto you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says".............

John 6:63...."It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life"........

So, no matter how big you think your problem is today, first of all, put it in the right perspective, it is not bigger than GOD! AMEN!

I hope this blesses someone as much as it has me today.
Love you all and God bless you
Neta

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Again I Say, REJOICE!

When we are in a pickle, or in a bad way waiting on a report back from a doctor's office, or about a job, or whatever. We should be praying to God in praise and thanksgiving, rejoicing in His goodness and thanking Him for the good report, before we ever even get it back. This is called praying with faith. We as children of God cannot pray out to Him in desperation for deliverance over our situation, because that would be double-minded. We as children of God have already been delivered. I saw this in my devotional today, that when a sinner prays, he prays out of desperation, but when a child of God prays, he prays out of thanksgiving, rejoicing for a good report.

God says when we pray out of thanksgiving and good cheer, that He will give us a peace of understanding, that He will guard our hearts and our minds through Christ Jesus. Now wouldn't you rather have a peace and understanding in your heart and mind over your situation, instead of worrying over something? I know I would. So next time you go to God with your prayers, go to Him with thanksgiving, already praising Him for the good report. Amen!

Phil. 4 v 4-9.....Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.......

Neta

Friday, April 18, 2008

The Awesome Power of God

I was awestruck by a scripture last night, while Rob and I was doing our nightly devotional. I mean I know I have probably read this scripture numerous times but something caught my attention last night like never before.

Exodus 33 vs 20-23...but He said, "you cannot see My face; for no man, shall see Me, and live." And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not seen.".........

It struck me how awesome and powerful God truly is, so much so, that His power could wipe you out if you looked upon His face. Now that is what I call power. There is no other power that comes close to this kind of power. So you see, what ever you are dealing with, God says, come stand here by my side, while I pass my glory through and around you so that nothing can come near you as long as you are abiding by my side. Because nothing can withstand the power of God that is surrounding you. WHOOOO!! HOOOO!! If that does not set your hairs on end, I don't think you are breathing. So you see, how can sickness, or poverty or diseases come near you if you are surrounded by the Magnificent Glory of God. It just can not. When He tells us to stand on the rock, He is telling us to stand on the foundation that Jesus has given us. We have the word of God to build our foundation. When we stay in His word, we are in His presence, and when we are in His presence, NOTHING can come near us to harm us, or steal the word of promise from us. That is why the Lord told us to pray without ceasing, and to keep the word on our lips and in our hearts always.

Man, I don't know about you but the presence of the LORD will never be the same for me again. When I think about that power that is so great, He has to hide our face from it, I just get goose bumps. I love the LORD, our God. What about you. Give Him praise today. HALLELUJAH!!

Neta

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Body Of Christ, Joints Working Together

Tonight while at church, God gave me a tid-bit off of what Pastor John was preaching. He was talking about the Family of God, and about having unity and peace, and then he started talking on confrontation. That is where my tid-bit from God came in. He was talking and illustrating with his hands how when joints rub together, and even though this is not exactly how he put it, the idea hit me that when two joints rub together against each other, how this sometimes causes inflammation in the joints, this can lead to worse things like arthritis of the joints and a host of other joint ailments.

Well, this is like the body of Christ, and we are the joints working together in the body to keep the body walking straight, functioning properly. But sometimes there is confrontation in the church family, and this causes division among the joints, so to speak. Sometimes though we need confrontation in the form of communication, like Pastor John said. All confrontation is not bad. In other words, you have to be willing to communicate and not just get your feelings on your shoulders and walk off. You need to communicate with the joint that you are having aggravation with. It is like putting on the Ben-Gay to soothe the pain. But sometimes communication is not enough, there also needs to be prayer, this is like the sling that will hold the joint still while it is being restored. And we all know that God will bring the restoration to the body of Christ.

So what part of the body of the family of Christ are you playing? Are you the aggravation in the joint, are you the Ben-Gay that soothes the pain, or are you the Communication and prayer that will support the joint to help bring the restoration to the body of Christ, so that division does not occur?

We as a Family of God, need to all pray for each other daily, to keep our joints lubricated with prayer, so that division does not occur. I sense that we need this now more than ever, and I hope that God will use me as a sling, or lubricant to help restore His Family, so that there will be peace and Unity in the body of Christ.

We can not pick and choose whom we will love in Christ. Our commandment from God is this. That we love our neighbor as ourself. And like Pastor John said, this is not a suggestion, this is a commandment. God did not say, do this if it makes you feel good. No, He said DO IT!

1 John 4 vs 20-21...If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God must love his brother also.....

Sounds like He is pretty clear on what He is telling you here. So you can not get mad at me, because I say the word says you have to love your brother, and that is not your biological brother, that is your brother in the family of God. And in the family of God, we are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ, so that means everybody, (not just your denomination, but all denominations in Christ). In other words, you can not take care of your joints properly, if you have a grievance against your brother. If there is any un-forgiveness toward your brother or sister, you are causing inflammation in the joints of God's church family. So there needs to be communication and prayer applied, to bring about restoration.

Neta

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

All Parts Have to Work to Move Forward

We read over and over how Christ tells us we are one body, one faith, one spirit.

Ephes. 4 vs 4...There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.....

We are told how one might be the eye, and another, the tongue, or ears. How one might be the foot, and one the leg. Well, when we get ready to go out into the mission field, or into the world to speak the gospel of Christ, we need to make sure all of our body is with us. The body can not move forward if all the parts are not moving together in sequence. Have you ever seen the kids on field day running the 3 legged race, where two kids are tied together with a strap around their two legs, so they are running with 3 legs instead of 4. Well, if they do not get in sequence with their two legs tied together and use those legs as one, they will stumble and fall. It is the same with Christians taking the message out into the world. If we do not get together, and live like Christ tells us to live, if one of us stumbles and strays off the path, others will look and will judge us all by this ones actions. You see we need all of our parts working in the body of Christ. Just like in the churches, if some do not do their part, like helping with the nursery, cleaning the church, greeting the visitors, teaching the youth, then the body will start to stumble and if another part does not jump in to catch us, we will fall. We need to quit causing some parts of our body to work harder because we are not doing our part. After a while the part doing all of the work will wear down. Christ says we are one body, so lets start acting like one body so that we may move forward and take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Ephes. 4 v 11-16....And He Himself gave some to the apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, and the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love..........

So let us become one like Christ intended and when we send someone off into the mission field, let us send them with our prayers, and support, and let us not stop with the sending off, but continue to pray without ceasing for them and standing together with them on their work in Christ Jesus.
Neta

I will be gone now for about 2 weeks. I encourage you all to go to the blog site, and re-read some of the tid-bits there. I will re-join you with more tid-bits when I land at my destination.
I will be seeking the Lord while traveling across the US, and I will bring you what He gives me when I get settled in.
Love you all
Homey, Neta, Netris, Huz whatever name you might know me by.
http://godstidbitstome.blogspot.com/

God Gives You Treasures

While reading in Proverbs the other day, Rob and I came across yet another passage of scripture telling how God gives you riches and wealth. Actually this scripture is telling about treasures and wealth of a different type.

Prov. 8 vs 21...That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.

This verse is telling how wisdom leads you to these things. Before anything else God created, there was wisdom. And you know it is true, it helps to have wisdom to understand the ways of finances. You re-call the parable where Jesus is teaching about how can He trust you with alot if you can not handle the little first. That is why He encourages you to study the word of God, so that you may be given wisdom into how to handle your affairs. We all could use some wisdom in our lives, on how to raise our families, how to take care of our finances, how to walk in love toward others, how to take care of our bodies. I believe if we would spend more time getting into the word of God, and soaking in His wisdom, we would all find our lives running so much more smoothly.

While at WOL, sister Becky told us once when she was delivering the message, how she likes to read 1 Chapter of Proverbs, and 5 chapters of Psalms a day, and in a month you would have read PS and PROV. I think if we would do this over and over again, we would finally start soaking up some of the wisdom that is found in these 2 books. So, I challenge all my readers to read these and lets see how much easier life becomes for us, and how we can better handle situations that arise in our lives. I know I personally could always use a little more wisdom.

Prov. 8 v 32-35... Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gate, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD;..........

Neta

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Glorify God With One Mind

God wants us to be of one mind. Now this is not saying we all have to think just a like. No what this means, is we all need to believe in the word of God and what He has to say. God says we are to receive one another, just as Christ loved each of us. In other words, no matter what this one or that one may look like on the outside, no matter what they may have been taught and brought up to believe, we need to love them where they are and love them into the kingdom of God.

So many times we as Christians, want to only love other Christians, and to look down our noses on people of other faiths. We are always quoting the word about how we are to love our neighbors, and we even quote on how we are to love our enemies. But yet we somehow think that we do not have to love people of other faiths. We just want to condemn and talk about them. One of the worst is when people talk about Catholics. For some reason, people are mis-led into believing that Catholics are not Christians. I do not understand where they get their teachings from that lead them to believe this. You see sometimes people take just a little bit of what they hear and mix their own thoughts with it, and come up with the wrong conclusion.

I know that the Catholics have a different doctrine than some other denominations. But each denomination does have their own doctrine. And that is just it, these are denominations, this is religion, not Christianity. I know from being in the Catholic church myself, that there are those who think that they will get to heaven just because they were Christened as a child. I have to blame that on the old teachings of the church. The word is clear about how you enter into heaven. But yet the same people believe that their baby will still go to heaven even if the baby has not been christened yet. Do you see the double-mindedness here? How can you say you go to heaven just because you are Baptized, but yet if you are not you will still go to heaven. You see, they take the part of the word about being of the age of accountability as the way to heaven for the child that was not baptized before death, but then they hasten to get their children baptized as a baby, so that they will not die and go to hell. Number 1, you going to heaven does not have anything to do with whether or not you were baptized. There is only one way to heaven and that is through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as your savior. So you would have to be of the age of accountability, in order to make the decision to make Him your savior. In other words if a baby or a small child dies, and has not been baptized, or has not came to the age of making an informed decision as to follow Jesus, they are most certainly not going to hell. The God, I serve is not one who would condemn a baby or small child to hell, just because they were not baptized with water. So for all those who are rushing to get their children sprinkled, your time would be better spent in starting to teach your child early on all about Jesus and how He wants to be with them for eternity. We are so quick to buy all these learning toys for our children, but what about the best book of all for teaching our children. The word of God. Yes, they have little children's bibles that have the stories written so that even little children can understand the word of God. In fact, didn't Jesus say, that unless you come to Him like one of these little children, you will not enter into His Kingdom.

Matt 18 v 2-3...Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.".......

In other words, you need to be taught also what the word of the Lord says. We are not any of us, so grown up in the word that we know it all. We need to be continually taught on a daily basis the word of God. Just like a baby can not live without being fed milk and food, you can not live without being fed the word of God.

Romans 15 v 4-6.....For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ......

I know I got a little side tracked, but having been a Catholic, for a while and a born again child of God at the same time, I know how it feels to be judged by others, just because of what denomination you call yourself. We as Christians need to quit fighting with each other about what our doctrine says, versus their doctrine, and go out into the world and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ as He told us to do. We need to be of one mind, one church, one body of Christ, if we are ever going to do any good for building His Kingdom. Let's quit tearing the Kingdom down and start living as one family in Christ Jesus. AMEN.....
Neta

Monday, April 7, 2008

Wives Tales- Superstitions- Word Of God

Why is it so easy to believe old wives tales, or superstitions passed down, and yet people find it hard to believe the Word of God. It is the same with people who go to psychics to have their fortune told to them. Why is this person who has only been on the earth a short time, so much more believable than the Word of God which has been around for over 2000 years? Did you ever stop to think about that? Why would someone who decided one day to start a business as a fortune teller, buys some little toy magic ball to look into, or some tarot cards that are sold in all magic shops, or mystic shops around the world, probably even in some department stores, why would they have more accreditation than the creator Himself of all the earth and the heavenlies. I mean He created the very stars that these nut jobs are trying to tell you they can predict your future from. I am confused. People say we as Christians, are peculiar. Why is it that we are peculiar because we believe documentation from over 2000 years ago, but these people are not peculiar, because they make up what ever they want and then sell it to whomever will pay for it?
And people pay big bucks for this. Yet the word of God is free to all who will listen.

The word of God tells you how you can have eternal life, and have it abundantly. The word tells you how God wants to bless you with all good things, excellent health, prosperity, salvation. Yet some people would rather throw money away to someone who can not guarantee them anything. I mean do they give you a written guarantee that you will get rich, that you will live a long life, or that you will spend eternity in the heavenlies. No, they can not guarantee you anything. But yet the word of God does guarantee you that if you do what God says, and believe with the Faith God tells you to believe with, you will have what the word of God says. Because when God says it, it has to be brought about, because God can not tell a lie.

It just amazes me at how quick people will jump on board with someone who just started some new movement about how you can believe what ever way you choose and its ok, we just all want to get along together, and when someone is generous they are doing God's work, where do they get that? Certainly not from the word of God. Works without faith get you nowhere. Just like Faith without works will get you nowhere. The anti-christ will come in the form of a generous well liked person, because that is what he comes for, to deceive and confuse those who are following God. And do not be mis-led by the word (he). There are many helpers with the anti-christ who may be in the form of a woman. Someone who gives and gives so generously, then tries to put a twist on these actions and lead people away from Christ. A person who diligently works to the good of others, only one day to try to inject their beliefs about how the Lord Jesus is not the only way to heaven and to salvation, when God, Himself clearly says that Jesus is the only way. I mean who is their god that they believe he would have more power than the God who created them?

There is not one God for this one, and one God for that one. No there is only one God, and He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the author and finisher of your life. He created you from the spoken word in the beginning and He will be the finisher of your life. So do not look to fortune tellers for your future, just open the Word of God, and you can find your entire future right in the pages of His word.

Jer. 50 v 36....A sword is against the soothsayers, and they will be fools. A sword is against her mighty men and they will be dismayed....
(soothsayer meaning fortune tellers) Sword meaning the sword of God

Daniel 2 v 27-28..Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, "The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.......

Rev. 22 v 14-15...Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie....

John 10 v 25-30... Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one."......

Ephes. 2 v 8-9....For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.....

Revelation 2 v 4-8...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." and He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.".......

I say all of this in love for you through Jesus Christ who lives in me.
Neta

Friday, April 4, 2008

Take Up Your Bed

We all at one time or another have had to take up our bed and walk. When we read this we immediately think of the man with the infirmary and Jesus says take up your bed and walk, and the man gets up, picks up his bed and walks out healed. Well, sometimes our bed might not be a sick bed, maybe it is a bed of a different nature. You see when we do not do what the word of God says, we can be bound to different types of strongholds. For instance in tithing, if we do not give back to God what is His like He tells us to do, and more importantly if we do not give it with the right heart, then we may be stuck in a bed of poverty. Or if we walk around talking about others, and complaining all the time, then we may be just spending our days wallowing in a bed of misery. (In other words, nothing going our way, and we are just miserable and negative all the time, and we want everybody else to be miserable with us.) Or maybe it is a bed of sickness, and we just can't seem to get our healing.

Then we need to do what Jesus told this man to do, and "PICK UP OUR BED!" I just do not see how He could make it any more clearer than that. In other words, quit whining and letting the devil keep you down, PICK UP YOUR BED AND WALK AWAY FROM THAT STRONGHOLD. You need to get a revelation of what Jesus is saying here. He is saying that the only thing holding you in that bed is YOU. He already said it was finished. Now you just have to believe it and PICK UP YOUR BED!!! The ball is in your court now, do you have the faith to PICK UP YOUR BED AND WALK?

I know someone right now who is picking up their bed, and they are determined to get out of that bed. I am so proud of this person, and I know that they will not return to this bed, because they have finally gotten tired of being in that bed. Sometimes, you just have to get so fed up with being held down by whatever your stronghold is, that you just say forget it, I am getting out of this bed, and this bed is not carrying me any longer, I will PICK IT UP and take back control over my life, and my LORD will give me the strength to endure. AMEN.

Matt. 9 v 2....Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.".......

Matt. 9 v 4....But Jesus, knowing their thoughts said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise and walk?" "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins," then He said to the paralytic, "Arise take up your bed, and go to your house." And he arose and departed to his house....

If you truly believe that Jesus can forgive all sins, then why would you doubt that He can do something as simple as healing you?

So if you feel like this is you, then I say again, PICK UP YOUR BED!!! Start seeing yourself out of that bed, and hold on to that image, and believe what Jesus said and you too will PICK UP YOUR BED AND WALK. HALLELUJAH!!!!

Neta

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Put The Word On It

Sometimes we are in a pickle and we just can't seem to find what we are looking for in the word of God to get us out. Well, I get these sent to me all the time, and I find them to be a good quick reference when you need them. I always suggest people cut them out and laminate them and put them in your bible, so when you are trying to find that scripture that you need to help you out that day, it will be handy at your fingertips. I call it putting the Word of God on it. In other words, see what God says about it and then speak the word of God over your problems, and see how fast they will clear up. Here are just a few. Don't just read them and memorize them in your head, get them down into your heart, and before you know it you won't need your cheat sheet any longer, you will just know where to look. Neta

You say: "It's impossible"
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: "I'm too tired"
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: "Nobody really loves me"
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6)

You say: "I can't go on"
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: "I can't figure things out"
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: "I can't do it"
God says: You can do all things
(Philippians 4:13)

You say: "I'm not able"
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: "It's not worth it"
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: "I can't forgive myself"
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: "I can't manage"
God says: I will supply all your needs
(Philippians 4:19)

You say: "I'm afraid"
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: "I'm always worried and frustrated"
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: "I'm not smart enough"
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: "I feel all alone"
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Praying Into Empty Space

When you pray, do you really go to the throne of God with your petitions, or do you pray into the air. Do you just pray into empty space. Because if you do not believe that you receive when you pray, you are basically just praying into empty space.

You see when Christ died on the cross for us he took our bodies (our sins) with Him on that cross, so that we could be reconciled to the Father for our sins. He took all the suffering so that we would not have to taste the sting of death. And then when He left us, He told us He was leaving His helper with us. That would be the Holy Spirit. So we as believers could be made one with Him. So if we are indeed one with Him, then when we go to the throne of God with our petitions, (our prayers) then it is the same as if He, (Jesus) was going to the Father and asking for Himself. And you know that the Father is not going to deny anything that we ask, if we ask with faith, and believing and if what we ask lines up with His word. If we could just grasp that we are joint heirs with Christ, that we do belong to the royal family line, then we would have no problem believing that we will receive what it is we ask for. I mean if we are truly taking our prayers to the throne, and not just speaking into empty space with a practiced prayer that we pray over and over. We have to really pray with our hearts and not just out of habit praying into the air so to speak. The next time you get ready to pray for something, think about it first, did you search out God's word to see what He says, did you reach down into your heart for the words to speak to the Father, are you really seeking Him first. I mean when we were children and we wanted to ask our parents for something, we would think over and over what we were going to say, how we could best make our point to them about what we wanted, we would really look at how we presented our petition to them, how can we put this so that they will be in agreement, well don't you think you need to do the same when you go to your heavenly Father about something? I mean you do not have to go begging, because the word says He wants you to have the desires of your heart, but you do need to go believing and with faith that He will grant you what you ask. That is why we sometimes pray in the spirit, because sometimes we do not understand what it is we really need, but God does, so we pray in His understanding, then we know we are truly in the presence of God seeking Him for help in our situation.

Ephesians 3 vs 14-23....For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints, what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes all knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever AMEN>.....

According to the power that works in us. That power would be our faith. In other words, next time you pray, pray knowing that Christ is going with you to the Throne of the Father to intercede on your behalf, because that is how much He loves you. He wants us to have it all. Don't just speak hollow words into the air. Pray with your whole heart to the Father.

Neta

Covenant of Peace

While reading in IS. the 54th chapter the other day, Rob and I were really captured by some scripture that just confirms over and over what we say about how God does not bring harm or misery on you, that He will only bring good to you.

IS 54 v 9-10...."For this is like the waters of Noah to Me, For as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has mercy on you....

IS 54 v 13-15....All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established, you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.....

IS 54 v 17.....No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from ME," says the LORD.....

WHoo Hoo, do you get what this is saying? Do you see what your inheritance from the Lord is? You are the righteousness of the Lord. He says so right here. He says your enemies don't stand a chance against you. Your enemies, being in the form of sin, sickness, or whatever. He says right here that He is not the one that assembles against you, and that no matter what they throw at you, they shall not prosper. And this part we all need to pay close attention to, because this speaks to us as well, "every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn" be very careful that you do not speak against one of God's children judging them because you will be condemned. You see this is a two way street, we do not just get all the good things God has for us, we also must be obedient to what He says. And when we are, He says His covenant of Peace will always be there with us. That is so good, it just about makes me jump up out of this chair. You do not have to be in turmoil over anything, You have the peace of God with you always, turn to Him and let His peace comfort you. AMEN Isaiah is such a great book, I would encourage each of you to read it this month and receive revelation from it, about who God really is to you and what HE wants to do for each of you.

Neta

Are You Catching Anything?

We have probably all read the story about when the disciples went out fishing all night and did not catch anything. Then the next morning Jesus was standing on the shore and hollered out to them, "did you catch anything" They answered Him no. So He tells them to cast the nets to the right side of the boat, and they do so, and then they catch so many fish, they can not even pull the nets back into the boat.

Now I know this story is telling about Jesus showing Himself to the disciples for the third time since His death, but to me there was something different in this story. You see Jesus tells us all to be fishers of men. To bring them into the kingdom. When we go out fishing, what kind of bait do we use? Are we using any bait? And are we fishing in the right waters, are we fishing from the right side of the boat? And if you have ever been fishing, you know that fishing takes patience and time. You can not just throw your hook in and expect a fish to bite it and jump right into the boat with you. No, they are going to circle around and watch that bait, and see what that bait is going to do next, then if the bait is steady and doesn't make any sudden changes, then they will bite, but then they are going to give you a run for your money, they are going to twist, and swim with all they have trying to let go of that hook so they can be set free. You might end up with a fish, or you might end up with a half eaten worm. What are you going to do then? Are you just going to give up, or are you going to cast your line back into the water and try again?

You see when we are trying to witness to others about Christ, when we are fishing for men, we can not just give up every time our fish gets off the hook. No, we have to be steady in our walk with the LORD, so that person sees, that we are what we say, we are not just preaching at them, we are actually living what we preach. We have to be constant with our love for them, and when we show them the love of Christ, and they jump off the hook, we can't give up on them, we have to be persistent in our prayers for them. And when we are fishing in waters where no one is biting, then maybe we just need to change to the right side of the boat. Maybe we need to change lakes all together. But never do we need to give up and throw our pole in the water and just quit. We were told to be fishers of men, but now our fish have to be cleaned. And that is where Jesus comes in. He will clean our fish for us. Our job is just bringing in the nets full with fish. And when we have caught so many our nets are heavy and we are afraid of them breaking, God will mend them for you and have them ready for your next fishing trip. Next time you see people coming to the altar to receive the Lord, just think of that net being filled with a multitude of fish getting ready for Jesus to clean.

John 21 v 3-6....Simon Peter said to them "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, "Children have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." And He said to them, "Cast your nets to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.....

Matt. 4 v 19....Then He said to them, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men."......

So you see, you really have the easy part, fishing, Jesus has the part everyone dreads. Cleaning the fish. Isn't it amazing how easy He makes it for us? We just have to do our part. So, I say why don't we all take a day off from our busy lives, and do like Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer and go fishing. (But let's go fishing for the Lord.) AMEN

Neta