Jesus Gives Us Power To Prevail!

Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

According to the Bible, we know that God is always the VICTOR! God is Sovereign in power and authority and when He is challenged He always WINS. In the book of Exodus, when God was bringing His people out of slavery in Egypt, Satan challenged God. God said, “let My people go,” and ten times Satan replied through his servant Pharaoh, No! God responded with ten plagues of pestilence, disease, and death. The Israelites were protected. God was VICTORIOUS! Satan challenged God again at the Red Sea. With Pharaoh's army behind them and the Red Sea before them, Moses and the children of Israel had nowhere to go except to God. God’s response, “...stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,” Exodus 14:13. God miraculously divided the Red Sea and Israel walked through on dry ground. When all of Israel had reached the other side, the waters miraculously returned to their former state drowning the entire Egyptian army. God is always VICTORIOUS!

That same Bible teaches us that Jesus will WIN this present raging spiritual war! Though the enemy rises up to interfere with our mission, our victory has already been secured. Jesus declared victory at Calvary as He proclaimed, “It is finished!” John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world, to take upon Himself the sin of all men and pay the awful price for sin. That price was the death of the sacrifice, His sacrifice. But, in three days Jesus came out of the grave to declare our final victory over death, hell, and the grave. Consequently, He embodies the Power of God to Prevail over all things, “...of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth,” Philippians 2:10. Jesus is our power to prevail. Jesus Gives Us Power To Overcome!

Be A Faithful Watchman! by Myra Boozer

It seems the weathermen are kinda like the prophets of old and of today...warning us...telling us what is taking place and what is about to happen...telling us when conditions are favorable for "Disaster." When the people heed their voice they are usually safe. If not, they may suffer days of hardship even death.

The prophet only knows in part and prophecies in part. You see, God is the Sovereign One. He is above all others for He is God of heaven and earth. I do know that He makes decisions that are sometimes based on what people do. If the people pray He listens. If the people repent, He forgives. If people seek restoration, He restores. When people humble themselves, He heals their land. If they don't, the only alternative is spiritual death.

I think the hardest job ever is to be a watchman on the wall, to be the one that has to share the bad news. "Trouble is coming! Wake up and get Ready, Jesus is Coming! Judgment is at the door." The watchman knows he must do his job and declare what he sees coming. He also knows it is ALL in the hands of our Sovereign God as to when these things take place and where.

Habakkuk 2:1-3, "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

Don't be afraid to stand your watch and share what God has shared with you from His Word. But be warned, 2 Peter 3:3-4, "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

Don't grow weary in well-doing. "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee," I Timothy 4:16. Be A Faithful Watchman!

Empowered To Finish The Kingdom Work!

Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

Are we willing to allow the Holy Spirit of God to fully possess our mortal bodies and be transformed into vessels of His Presence? God is looking for willing souls given to His service and the completion of His Kingdom work! However, we must empty ourselves of self-will and submit to being poured out as the anointing oil of His Presence upon a sick and dying world. Jesus came to save that which was lost and He still wants to save and deliver lost humanity. Can we allow the Holy Ghost to invade our minds, our hearts, and souls and reveal to us our role in His Divine Will? Are we willing to wrestle with the conflict within us as Jacob of old until God brings our deliverance and empowers us to finish His mission here? (see Genesis 32)

Can we sincerely pray this prayer? “Father God, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon us today. In this frail mortal tabernacle, we strive to become the best that we can be. Possess this clay vessel and make it unto honor and glory for Your Namesake. Fill us again and again with the nectar of heaven that we may be poured out, emptied in the perpetuation of the Gospel and building up of the Kingdom of God. Refresh us in the power of your Spirit that we may be strong, resilient, and victorious. Capture our minds, our hearts, and our souls and hold us in reserve to your Divine purpose and will. Constrain us to entertain your presence and your voice until your revelation comes. May we be like Jacob, engaged in heavenly warfare until your deliverance comes to us. Pour into us your strength, your courage, and your faith. Sustain us in this present conflict with the manna that only you can provide. Walk with us today instructing us and guiding each step we take. Open our eyes to what you are doing and where you are going. Anoint us that we may go with you to the consummation of all things and time without end. In Jesus' name! Amen.” Empowered to Finish The Kingdom Work!

What Should We Be Doing Until The Lord Returns? by Myra Boozer

In Matthew, the 25th chapter, Jesus gives parables that could help us to know what should be a priority for the child of God. First, He tells of ten virgins and at midnight the cry was made, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh." He tells us five were wise and five were foolish. Now, what was it that made them different? It was their lack of oil. Five ran out and asked to borrow from those five who had oil. The wise had to answer NO. This shows us we cannot give away what we have. Each person has to receive for themselves. When they couldn't borrow they had to leave to find more oil and the bridegroom came while they were gone.

In verse 10, "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were READY went in with him to the marriage: and the door was SHUT." This makes me think of Noah and the Ark. God shut the door to the Ark when it was time and that was all that went in. There will be no allowances for the procrastinators, the lazy, the apathetic, or the careless.

We must be WISE and be filled with His Spirit, as the oil represents the Holy Spirit. We must be watching and waiting. We must stay the course! No playing around, running here and there, doing other things that can so easily beset us. The wise virgins stayed near the door and when the bridegroom came they were READY. So, we must constantly be Watching for His Return and Listening for His sound!

Matt. 25:13, "WATCH therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." My heart says it won't be long until we hear the sound. Lord help us to be full and overflowing with Your Holy Spirit, Ready to leave when You Return!

An Elephant In The Room!

Matt. 24:38, “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

In spite of Noah's warning, this verse describes the reckless way that the people went on their usual course, pursuing their pleasures with doom hanging over them. Life continued as though nothing was amiss. The world was on a collision course with the judgment of God because of sin and disobedience. God gave them warning and opportunity to repent but they laughed at the message and mocked the messenger. For 120 years God left the door of redemption open but when time (God's time) was up, He closed the door to salvation.

The people of Noah's day “knew not until the flood came.” They would not receive the message of the coming judgment. Their attention was upon their own carnal pleasures. The flesh was the driving force in their lives rather than the care of the soul.

The Lord Jesus assures us that similar recklessness and unbelief will be found at His coming. We are living in the day that Jesus talked about. The conditions in our world parallel those of Noah's time. The general attitude toward the last day's message is that of unbelief and false security that refuses to heed any warning. Life continues as though nothing is amiss. Mankind continues to seek his way of life which is focused on selfish, carnal desires. He lives in pursuit of another enticement that will thrill the senses. All he sees is the momentary pleasure, the temporary highs. He doesn't see that he is sowing carnal seeds that will be brought into judgment. Our world is on a collision course with the judgment of God.

Noah's ark was set in the middle of their daily lives. You might say it was like an elephant in the room. How could they walk around it every day and still ignore the message of God? It sat before them as a visual reminder that God's judgment was coming. They looked at Noah working every day but refused the message of salvation. Why did they do that? Because they were driven by the temporary pleasures of this life. They could not believe that anything would change what they perceived to be in their future. God made believers out of them but it was too late when it started to rain. The door to their salvation had been shut by the hand of God and no one could open it.

Just as God brought judgment in Noah's generation, He is in the process of doing the same in our world. The greatest failure of a man is to exclude God from his life. You can allow what is coming to do the work of conviction and repent by accepting Jesus in salvation. Or, you can continue in your own way, failing to heed God's warning, and suffer the same destruction of Noah's day. Judgment is coming! We will reap what we have sown. Hear Jesus' voice today, repent, and be saved!!!

All For The Glory Of God! by Myra Boozer

I had this awesome experience three years ago! I share it here “All For The Glory Of God.” Just as the worship music swelled and the sun spread its crystal clear light through the trees, I raised my hands in glorious worship and the LORD TOUCHED ME. Thank you Jesus! He really touched me!! I proclaim, He touched me! Thank you Jesus!

I had told the Lord during the early morning hours, "I have gone my limit, I can't deal with this pain!" I must have you Jesus because I don't know what to do! This was on a Thursday morning. I was instantly touched! The pain left and I slept like a baby Thursday night with no pain! But, Saturday at 3 AM I began to get restless and not sleeping, couldn't get comfortable. The pain started to give me misery every way I turned, so I was up fairly early and I put my worship music on and this is what I saw again. With my hands lifted high, I began to praise God and declare my healing, as I watched the Sun break forth into my room and most importantly into my heart. This gave me so much hope...that I never walk alone...that He is always near and He listens when I call.

Sometime Saturday night before I was awakened at 3 am, I had a short dream...and I believe it applies to my healing. I will say before I start...I HATE SNAKES...just so you know. In this dream, I had a small baby snake in my hands. It was very cold and I wanted to warm it up (what???). So, I placed it on my chest next to my skin...and tried to warm it. The next thing I remember, it clamped down on my left forefinger and would not let go. I was not in pain or afraid, but I saw the snake in a different light and I wanted it OFF my finger. It took a while but it finally came off. That is all I remember.

This is the meaning I received...sometimes pain wants to come back and reside in our body...it comes as small pain...not like it was before (vicious) but you know, it is the same pain...you began to reason with it and think, oh I can take a Tylenol with thoughts of, "I may continue to have a little pain," and before you know it... that pain has latched back on with vengeance...not willing to let go. I must see the enemy as the enemy and recognize him for who he is. “Never give up and never give in to your enemy,” is a great rule!

I got up with a determination to seek the Lord at my window again and raise my hands in worship to the ONE who Heals. I have made it good all day. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," Philippians 4:13 KJV.

I have continued to open my blinds and raise my hands to give God the glory. I praise Him in my battle with pain. I am not willing to give up! I press on and I will continue to claim my healing in the LIGHT of His pure redemption! Thanks be unto God who gives us the VICTORY!!! Today I have Victory in Jesus, because I trust Him to help me every day that I live. No I haven't been pain-free all the time but neither have I given up. I will continue to call on the Lord and keep trusting in Him! I am determined to not lean on my own understanding because when I do, I am helpless. I live in the power of His might and continue to spread His good news because He strengthens me! All for the Glory of God!

Getting Ready To Leave? Or, Getting Ready To Stay? Conclusion

God will put people of like character into the same lot together and bring them into judgment. In Luke’s version of Jesus’ ministry, he accounts for numerous parables that Jesus used to illustrate Divine principles. It is interesting how Jesus used the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to characterize the life of a believer and an unbeliever.

Luke 16:19, “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day...”

The rich man represents an unbeliever. Not that a person has to be poor or lack possessions and money to be a believer but that the rich man allowed his possessions to stand between himself and God. The rich man had fine things IE…purple and fine linen and had a lavish lifestyle (fared sumptuously). However, it was not the things that he possessed that hindered his relationship with God but the mindset that possessed him. For him, life was one continual party and evidently, he gave no thought to the needs of others.

What is the mindset of a rich man? Jesus gives us an example in Luke 12:16, “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Life, at its best, is short. Our focus should be on completing the assignment God has given to us as His servants.

And there was a beggar named Lazarus. Luke 16:20, “And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores...” Now we see the other side of the coin. Lazarus was laid at the rich man’s porch or front gate every day. The need was obvious. There was no avoiding the dilemma of this poor man. He was really sick with sores all over his body (probably leprosy). He had to be carried not being able to walk alone. He was probably poor because he was sick. His sickness led to his total deprivation. So, why was he sick? Could it be so that God might touch the lives of the people around him? Could it be so that God might challenge every person that crossed his path? Here was a hungry, homeless, sick brother, and how many people stopped to give him aid?

Then comes the final hour! Luke 16:21, “And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” Lazarus died and was carried by angels to Heaven. The rich man died but his outcome was much different. “And in hell...” (Hades-Greek) Parallels with the Hebrew Sheol both meaning “realm of the dead.” The implication is the eternally dead without hope or deliverance.

The two people in this parable represent two different lives, two different deaths, and two different eternities. Both individuals had a choice. Though Lazarus had a life of struggle, he chose to believe in his creator. The rich man, however, chose to follow his own selfish desires avoiding the needs of those around him. Lazarus sacrificed his mortal life to inherit his eternal life with Christ. The rich man sacrificed his eternal life with Christ for his mortal life. What will be your choice? Only you can determine your destiny!

Hebrews 9:26, “...but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Getting Ready To Leave? Or, Getting Ready To Stay?