Persistance Brings The Answer

Have you ever been praying about something and can't seem to get an answer?
You have to be persistant in your prayer life. In God's time your answer will come.

Text:Luke 11:5-10 LB

Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this illustration: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would shout up at him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I've nothing to give him to eat.' He would call down from his bedroom, 'Please don't ask me to get up. The door is locked for the night and we are all in bed. I just can't help you this time.' "But I'll tell you this-though he won't do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough he will get up and give you everything you want-just because of your persistance. And so it is with prayer-keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep on finding; knock and the door will be opened. Everyone who asks, recieves; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks."

 Persistance and the refusal to give up brings the answer. You just have to have faith. Faith can move mountains in your life. Sometimes you have to do something in order to release your faith for your miracle that you need from God. Sometimes it takes a "prove-me offering", or fasting and prayer.

Two frogs fell into a bucket of cream. One frog decided to except his fate, so he gave up, and drowned. The other frog kept on kicking until he made butter out of the cream and he was able to jump out.

Which frog are you? Are you the one who keeps on kicking? Or are you still in the bucket? The bucket can be your circumstances. In the natural world you have no way out of your situation. The only place that you can go is up, to get out of the top of the bucket. When you look up, God is there. The Bible says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers us out of them all."

Here is another example found in Luke 18:1-8 LB:

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes. "There was a city judge," he said, "a very godless man who had great contempt for everyone. A widow of that city came to him frequently to appeal for justice against a man who had harmed her. The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she got on his nerves. "'I fear neither God nor man,' he said to himself, 'but this woman bothers me. I'm going to see that she gets justice, for she is wearing me out with her constant coming!'" Then the Lord said, "If even an evil judge can be worn down like that, don't you think that God will surely give justice to his people who plead with him day and night? Yes! He will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith [and are praying]?"

Prayer Request From Jesus

Prayer Request from Jesus, for the church.

I was reading the Bible the other day, and these scriptures jumped out at me.

Text: Matt. 9:36-38

Matt. 9:36 KJV

36. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

First of all, you have to have compassion for people. Jesus had compassion, and he took the role of leadership over the people.

It takes the love of God to win souls for His kingdom. You have to have a heartbeat for souls. If you don't have the desire, pray for it. Ask God for His Heartbeat for souls.

Verse 37-38

37. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous; but the labourers are few;

38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that we will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Our prayers must be for a harvest of souls, as well as labourers to reap the harvest. We have plenty of opportunities to pray for people to be saved. There isn't any shortage there!

We all have unsaved loved ones. Sometimes you have to pray for someone to come into their lives to lead them to the Lord. There are people who can have more effect on someone, because sometimes we are too close to the situation.

When we pray this prayer, we have to have the willingness to be part of the answer. It involves our willingness to respond to the call of the Lord on our lives.

Not long after Jesus made this prayer request, he commisioned his disciples and sent them as labourers. (Matt. 10:1) The very ones who Jesus commisioned to pray became spirtual harvesters themselves.

Praying this prayer can have a tremendous effect on your life. It is a submission to Him to do His will. When you are walking hand in hand with Him, then that is when you have His peace and Victory in your life. You are most miserable when you aren't in His perfect will.

I challenge you to pray for Jesus' prayer request, and see what He does for you in your life. You have to get on His team. Look at the word, TEAM. There is no I in it.

I feel led to pray for the people who are reading this.
Father, I ask you to move on the people to pray about your prayer request for your church. I ask you to give them a spirit of prayer, and the willingness to be a labourer in your harvest, even if it means they are just a prayer warrior for your kingdom. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.

The Joy of Sharing Jesus: You Have a Story to Tell (The Joy of Knowing God, Book 10)

Your Christian Library

Here is a list of books that most Christian Bible Colledges recommend that you have in your Christian Library. You can add to your collection whenever you can.

• Several late translations of the Bible.
• Dake Bible Dake Annotated Reference Bible-KJV
• A Bible Dictionary Zondervan's Compact Bible Dictionary
• A Bible Concordance The New Strong's Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
• Commentaries and Books on Revelations and other timely subjects 
• A Thompson Chain Reference Bible Thompson Chain Reference Bible (KJV, Handy Size, Burgundy Bonded Leather, Red Letter)
• A Book of Synonyms and a large Collegiate Dictionary Trench's Synonyms of the New Testament
• The Aprocryphia and other historical writings The New Oxford Annotated Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version
• Copies of the writings of Flavius Josephus The New Complete Works of Josephus
• Books on all subjects by Spirit Filled writers
•  Books on the cults, the occult, and Satanism (again by Spirit-Filled writers)

Holy Altars

Are you giving to God on Holy Altars?

Exodus 29:38-42 KJV

38. Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.

39. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:

40. And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.

41. And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

42. This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.

The Burnt Offering represents total surrender to God. The Hebrew word for Burnt Offering is "Olah", and it means "that which ascends." The offerings, the priests, (the sons of Aaron) and the altar were consecrated and set apart as Holy.

The word altar is translated from the Hebrew word, "mizbeach". It signifies a raised place where a sacrifice was made. Old Testament saints built altars unto God to commemorate whenever God appeared to them, or they received a revelation or made a vow.

The offering was totally consumed by fire on the altar in the Temple by the priests. The fire on the altar was not a natural fire, it came from God.

Lev. 9:23-24

23. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.

24. And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

Through the blood of Jesus, we are sanctified and made holy unto God today. The tithes and offerings are Holy, and the altar must be Holy also. The ministry and the Church must be Holy also. When the offering was accepted, the fire came out from before the Lord. That was a sign that the offering was accepted. We don't do these kind of offerings anymore due to Jesus Christ being our sacrifice. We give ministries money today instead of sacrificing animals, and giving crops.

Tithing is not an option. It was commanded in The Law of Moses, and Jesus himself said that we should pay tithes. You have an option though. If you have to redeem your tithe money for something else, you pay interest of 20% on what you owe when you settle up with the Lord. See Lev. 27:31. The Bible says to add a fifth part to your tithe.

I recently read a book about this subject, and was wondering where people where getting the 20% interest. If your tithe is the tenth of your income, wouldn't a fifth part be 5% more? I looked it up in my Dake Bible also. Dake Annotated Reference Bible-KJV-Large Print [B-KJ-DAB BLK RL LP] [LARGE PRINT] It said the same thing. I prayed about it, and then the understanding came to me. The tithe is 10%, you add another 5% to the tithe, and the fine is 5% for not paying your tithe and using it for something else.

Just be sure that you do settle up with the Lord if you do this. You don't want to interrupt the flow of God's blessings on your life. If you use your tithe money for something else, your money and the thing that it used it for becomes cursed. I didn't make this up, I am telling you what the Bible says about it.  


Are your offerings acceptable unto God? Are you giving on Holy altars? Is the ministry that you give to, winning souls for God? Do they pray for the needs of the people? Do they let the Holy Ghost lead them in their ministry? Do they subject themselves to be under the correction of the Holy Spirit? Are you totally surrendered unto God? If you said no to any of the above questions, it may cause your flow of blessings from God to be blocked. Ask God to direct you to the ministry that has a clean and Holy altar.

A Psalm For Any Situation

Psalms 91

1.  He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2.  I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3.  Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4.  He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust: his truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5.  You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

6.  Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7.  A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.

8.  Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9.  Because you have made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation;

10.  There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

11.  For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

12.  They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13.  You shall tread on the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shall you trample under feet.

14.  Because he has set his love on me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name.

15.  He shall call on me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.

16.  With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

I have been having a lot of requests for prayer for fear and depression. I felt led of the Lord to post this Psalm tonight for someone that needs it. I read this Psalm almost every day. If you are suffering from fear, depression, challenges, problems, negative circumstances, or sickness, this Psalm is for you.

This Psalm reveals that there is a secret place of relationship with God where you can experience continual provision and protection from God. The "secret place" is an intimate place of personal relationship with God. He will draw nigh to you if you draw nigh to him.

You must first believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be able to come into the secret place. In the secret place, there is total openness and intimacy with the Lord. The place where you have it isn't the issue; it is the relationship that you have with Him.

This doesn't mean that you will be immune from trouble, or any challenges in the secret place. We all face the same devil, demons, and snares, but God will keep you from the fear of these things. They won't come nigh your secret place-no matter what happens, it will not hurt your relationship with God.

The Shepherd Trilogy: A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm / A Shepherd Looks at the Good Shepherd / A Shepherd Looks at the Lamb of God

The Vision of Ezekial

I read this the other day, and looked up some more scriptures and it blessed me so much, that I decided to share it with you. In Ezekial 47, God gave him a vision of a river of living water flowing out of the temple of God.

Ezekial 47:9 KJV

"And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh"

Water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Ezekial saw a divine flow of the Holy Spirit that is being released from the throne of Almighty God. That river is alive with God's awesome power! Everywhere the river flows, it brings life and healing. That same river will release the power of God into your body to heal and set you free from whatever sickness or desease that you have. This river has the life and spirit of Almighty God in it.

John 7:37-39 KJV

"If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)"

Everything Ezekial saw was the flow of the Holy Spirit which God was going to send forth into the world. From the river of God, you can receive salvation, healing, deliverance, miracles, or anything else that you need, from salvation from your sins to raising you from spiritual death unto life. The same God that will heal you of all your diseases.  The same God that brought the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage is the same God Who has placed His Spirit within you.

Psalm 103:2-3

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases"

See also Romans 8:11, John 4:14 . If you have a need, get into the river that flows from the throne of God. This is a powerful truth, let it sink into your spirit. Claim God's deliverance in your life. Read the whole vision in Ezekial 47.

God's Covenant Based on Offerings

Deut. 15:4-5 Listen to God and obey his commandments.
Deut. 7:12-14 God promises to bless and multiply them.
Deut. 7:15 God promises to take away all sickness.
Deut. 11:23, 24  God promised to drive out all nations from before them. He gave them every place where the souls of their feet tread.

The main conditions of these blessings were based on following the commandments of offerings. When it was time to do offerings, they were not a solemn time, but a time of great rejoicing before the Lord with their families and servants. This really got me to thinking, and now when I start to give an offering, I thank God and praise Him for what he has done for me, holding my offering in my hand before I give to him. Sometimes, after I praise Him, then I tell Him my needs, and then thank Him again for the answers. 

Back then, it cost them a lot of money to bring one of their animals to the temple. In the book of Lev. it gives strict instructions to the people and to the sons of Aaron, the priests. The ram or bullock was to be brought to the temple in the presence of God. They were to lay their hands on the animal's head, and then they killed the animal before God. The priests did the rest of the work.

The reason they laid their hands on the animal's head is because the animal was taking their place on the altar. Jesus's death on the cross fulfilled the offerings, and we don't have to do that anymore. We give our money now in an offering to God. It represents us.

Something else about offerings that I have learned, is that when God speaks to me to give a certain amount, then I know that he has a harvest in mind. There are some seeds that you can plant where you don't see a harvest right away. But when God speaks to you to give, He has something in store for you. There are also times when you can give an offering to Prove God, as it says in Mal. 3:8.

Targeted Offerings are offerings that you give like a vow to the Lord, to get your needs met. For example, if I need a miracle in my finances, I pledge a certain amount until I pay it off.  In my own personal experience, I have found that when I make a pledge to a ministry for a certain amount, as I pay it off, God moves for me. The payoff of the pledge is my point of contact to get my needs met. A word of warning however. Don't ever make a vow to God that you can't keep. He holds you accountable for it. The Bible tells us of a vow that Jacob made to God. He vowed to give God a tenth of whatever he blessed him with.

One time, years ago, I made a pledge of a $1000.00 to a ministry, and forgot about it. The Holy Spirit brought it back to my memory, and I had to pay it. I asked God to forgive me for not paying it.

Victory Over Fear and Depression

A few weeks ago, I was going through a very hard time. Fear tormented me, and I was deeply depressed over my finances. I found it hard to come out of it. I cried for two or three days. I still haven't found a job, and my bills are overdue, and my unemployment is running out. God delivered me from that fear, and he can do the same for you, too.

When you fear what is going to happen, you can't have faith. Fear is the opposite of faith. You can't have faith for God to meet your needs when you are depressed, and the feeling of despair comes upon you. You can be free tonight. You have to fight, don't let Satan win.

How did I get free? I read a book by Morris Cerullo called, One Demon Spirit The fear and depression that I felt came from Satan, and it wasn't of God. When I realized that, I bound the spirit of fear, and depression. The Bible says,

Matthew 16:19

 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 Bind the spirit of fear and the spirit of depression, in the name of Jesus, and turn away from it. You will have to start changing your "self-talk". When you have a thought that is fearful, "resist the devil, and he will flee from you". Start praising God for your deliverance. He is bigger than any problem that you have.

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

The spirit of fear is the one thing that Satan uses to cripple you in your spiritual walk, and he uses it to keep you in defeat and to keep you bound. Don't let him win. It will be an on-going thing. You will have to keep on binding him, and keep praising God for the victory when he comes at you that way. 

After your first couple of hours after binding the spirit of fear, you will start feeling better. After a day or two, Satan will try it again. Just realize what he is doing, and start thinking about every good thing that God has done for you. Start thinking about how big God really is. He is greater than any problem that you have.

When Jesus was being tempted by Satan, He said "Get thee behind me Satan", then he used the word of God against him. The Bible also says to "resist the devil, and he will flee from you". "The word of God is sharper and more powerful than any two-edged sword, piercing the dividing assunder of the soul and spirit". The devil trembles when the word is used against him. "Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord".

If you are suffering from fear or depression, I want to pray for you right now. "Lord, you are the almighty God. You are more powerful than the works of the devil. We love you and praise you for the deliverance that you have given me, and I ask that you deliver this person also. You are no respecter of persons, and I bind the spirit of fear, and depression off of those who need it tonight. I ask for you to totally deliver them tonight, in the name of Jesus. We thank you and praise you for it. Amen."

The Miracle Book: How You Can Live In A Rhythm Of Miracles Using 5 Simple Steps

Cain and Abel's Sacrifices to God

Are Your Offerings Acceptable to God?

Gen. 4:3-7

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Your offerings can be unacceptable unto God. Your offerings and tithes are to be Holy unto the Lord, as an act of worship. The money you give represents you, just like the sacrifices that were offered in the Old Testament. God wants you to give to him freely. He wants you to give from your heart because of your love for him. He doesn't want you to feel pressured into giving, because he loves cheerful givers. (2 Cor. 9:7)

Cain's offering was of the fruit of the grund. Abel's offering was the firstlings of his flock, and the fat thereof. Abel's sacrifice was acceptable, and it was accounted unto him as righteousness. (1 John 3:2) It was also offered in faith. (Heb. 11:4) It was sort of a primeval picture of the atoning death of Christ. It was an atonement offering, and Cain's offering was a Thank offering.

The Lord respected Abel's offering, and not Cain's. It wasn't Cain's best offering. Cain became angry and his countenance fell. God accepted Abel's sacrifice because he was righteous, and because he offered it in faith. It was the right kind of offering to do at the time, and it pleased God. If you want God to accept your offerings and tithes, make sure you have confessed all your sins unto Him, and repent. 

Do you give God your best offerings? These scriptures show that God doesn't accept all of our offerings. Do you put God first in your giving? Do you give to him willingly, without being forced to? Do you have the right motives in your giving?

Today, we don't sacrifice animals or follow the old laws of the Old Testament, because Jesus Christ fullfilled the law when he died on the cross for us. Today, we give money to support God's work. Our money represents us. When we give to God, it is supposed to be from a loving heart. God loves a cheerful giver.

When you plant seeds for God, give him your best offerings. He will multiply them back to you.

Luke 6:38:

 "Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Do you need for God to bless you in your finances?

For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Give God your best, and then you can expect the Best from Him. A lot of people stop giving to God when they are having trouble in their finances. That isn't the way to get God to move for you. Take that step of faith, and give the devil a black eye by showing him that you believe God.

Also, search your heart and ask God to show you if there is anything in your heart and life that you need to take care of. Unforgiveness in your heart can hinder your harvest in your finances, and in the rest of your needs being met. Finally, give in faith, knowing that God "will open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that you won't be able to receive." (Mal. 3:8)

Steps For A Financial Miracle

1. Make God the source of your total supply. Line up your life with what it tells you to do in His Word. Search your heart and ask the Holy Spirit if there is any un-forgiveness that you have, and ask Him to heal you of your deepest hurts. God's Answers to Heal Deep Hurts is an excellent book to read.
2. Plant some seeds. Sow seeds where people are being saved, healed, and delivered. You have to give on a clean altar. Be sure to worship God in your giving. Thank Him for what he has done for you, and be sure to praise Him. He dwells in the Praises of His people. Sacrifice some offerings along with your tithes. After you praise Him, then pray about your needs.
3. Stay in His Word. Doubts will come your way, but you need to bind them as they come to you. "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven".....Expect God to meet your needs. Expect your miracle. When you have that knowing deep inside yourself that he has heard your prayer, begin to praise him for your miracle.

Scriptures To Stand On For Your Finances

Luke 6:38

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Matt. 21:22

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Matthew 7:7

 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 18:19

 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 21:22

 "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Mark 11:24

 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

Luke 11:9

 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

I found this in the People's New Testament

7:7 Ask,... seek,? knock. The terms are here used with reference to prayer, and these constitute a climax. Ask implies a simple petition. Seek indicates an earnest search. Knock shows perseverance in spite of hindrances. The three represent earnest prayer.

John 14:13

 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 15:7

 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:16 

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

John 16:23 

"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.

James 1:5

 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

1 John 3:22

and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 5:14 

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Deut. 28:13 King James Bible

And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

Read also the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy. It has the blessings that God promised if you follow His promises. It also has the curses that come upon you when you are under a closed heaven.

Phil. 4:19

 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus

2 Cor. 9:8 King James Bible

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

 Ephesians 3:20

 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 

"http://biblos.com" is a good site to use to read Deut. 28.


One Demon Spirit

Worshipping God in Your Giving

If you need God to move for you in your finances, you have to follow His commandments. If you aren't following His commandments, then you are living under a closed heaven, and He is not obligated to help you.
I have been studying this subject a lot lately, and I decided to share some of the things that I have learned.

Learn to Worship God in your giving. Every bit of the money that you have, came from God. All He asks you for is 10% of your income. You get to keep the 90% for yourself. I personally write out a check and hold it in my hands and thank God for everything He has done for me. You may have another way of doing it.

For those of you who think that tithing was a part of the Law of Moses, then read the book of Genesis. Cain and Abel gave God offerings, and Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. 

The Israelites brought so much gold, silver, etc. to the temple, Moses had to tell them to stop. See Exodus 35.

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJ

 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Follow His commandments so that you can claim the promises of the blessings that only He can give.

Deuteronomy 15:10 

"You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.

Your money represents you, and your heart. God sees and acknowledges it when you give with the right intentions.

1 Chronicles 29:17 

"Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You.

I have been studying how the Israelites gave offerings to God. They had different feasts and festivals and different offerings that we don't do today.

Romans 12:8

 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

2 Corinthians 8:12

 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. (NASB ©1995)

The bible also tells us that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. 1 Sam. 16:7.

Secrets from Beyond The Grave

Priming Your Pump

Have you primed your pump today? The old pumps with the long handles that we used to use, you had to lift the handle up and down a bunch of times to get water flowing.

You have to do the same thing symbolically in your spirtual walk with God. How do you do that? I will show you some scriptures on how to release God's power into your life.

Phil. 4:6 KJV

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Bible in Basic English

Have no cares; but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God.

You prime your spiritual pump by prayer, worship, and praise. You have to let your requests be known unto God. Having The word in your spirit is essential to getting your prayers answered. You get The Word in your spirit by reading it, confessing it, and meditating on it. I am not saying what some teach, name it and claim it. I am saying to get them into your spirit. Also, a good way is to write the scriptures down. I find scriptures and promises and add them in a notebook. I arrange them into subjects. Then, when I need an answer to prayer, I go to that subject.

Here are some more scriptures relating to this subject.

Matthew 6:25

"For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Ephesians 6:18

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

1 Timothy 2:1

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

 We must learn to prime our pumps in our souls. Put God first in your life. Let Him be the source of your total supply. Teach yourselves how to truly worship him. I am learning this again myself. I have been studying the sacrifices that the Children of Israel gave to God, and what they represented. They worshiped God through their giving.

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Butch, The Bull Dog

A friend of mine went to Texas and brought me back a tape of a church service. I wanted to share with you a lady's testimony that was on that tape.

She said that she and her family were on hard times. They didn't have any food in the house. She had
been standing on the word of God. Phil. 4:19. But my God shall supply all your needs according to His
Riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.

She had a bull-dog named Butch that she kept outside on a chain. Butch got loose, and went roaming
the neighborhood. He came back home with a bag full of frozen steaks, pork chops, and a few rump
roasts. He sat them on the front porch.

The lady said that she asked all of her neighbors about the meat. She found out that one of her
neighbors had cleaned out their freezer, and told her she could have all of the meat. She just said,
praise God!

There was enough meat from the freezer to feed her family for about a month, because the neighbor
gave her a lot more that Butch the bull-dog didn't steal. God used Butch the bull-dog to supply her
needs.

What kind of miracles has the Lord given you?


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