Changed From the Inside Out

I have been aware for several years now that I learn best by visualizing things. Words, pictures, peoples' names, and concepts tend to “stick with me” longer if I am able to visualize them. That must be why God shares “God Moments” with me as a learning tool.

What I call a God Moment is something that God wants me to see or hear or experience. Some of these experiences don't last very long at all – seconds - and others last for several minutes, such as the scenery when Mike and I are kayaking. God just makes them “pop out” and become so very vivid. I treasure these times when God shares his glory with me.

Recently I had some God Moments on the way to and from work, but let me start with the one on the way to work.

How we are to Live

There are spirits of apathy and lack of personal responsibility that permeate the country today. You only have to look at the amount of lawsuits being filed in our court system today to see how this problem has gotten totally out of control. Remember the woman who purchased a cup of coffee at a McDonald’s drive thru several years ago? She put the cup between her thighs and pulled the lid off so she could add cream and sugar to her drink. She spilled the entire cup of scalding hot coffee on her thighs and pelvic area, suffering third degree burns. She sued McDonalds and was awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages. McDonalds was found to be 80% to blame while the woman was found to be only 20% at fault. Go figure?

The Obtained Inheritance - Part 2 of 2

This message about “The Obtained Inheritance” is written in 2 parts. Part 2 begins here.

Text: EPHESIANS 1:1-11 [Thompson Chain Study Bible – KJV]

WHAT ARE THE INHERITANCES WE GET IN CHRIST?

• THE KINGDOM - power; dominion; authority; peace; joy; righteousness

Luke 17:20-21: “The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation: ...for behold the kingdom of God is within you”!

Romans 14:17: “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost”!

1 Corinthians 4:20: “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power”!

THE KINGDOM IS AN INHERITANCE!!

The Obtained Inheritance - Part 1 of 2

This message about “The Obtained Inheritance” is written in 2 parts. Part 1 begins here.

Text: EPHESIANS 1:1-11 [Thompson Chain Study Bible – KJV]

I couldn’t just use the title “An Obtained Inheritance”. It had to be “The Obtained Inheritance” because THE makes the subject “Obtained Inheritance” definitive [conclusive; fixed; final]!! Because Christ is OUR ALL IN ALL! Every thing that we are and ever will be is because of Christ! Everything we get from our heavenly Father is in Christ! It’s assured, and we can have it RIGHT NOW!!

STAND

Text: King James Version

Greetings unto you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. May you continue to hold fast the Word of Truth of the gospel which was preached unto you among many witnesses - the Word of God which you learned, heard, and received by faith in Jesus Christ.

“Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised).” Hebrews 10:23

God has not changed his plan concerning his salvation for your life. For he said he would never leave you, nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5). Therefore let us continue to run with patience the race that is set before us.

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

Because God is able to perform everything that He promised unto his people!

“For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.” Job 23:14

Continue to pray because God has willed that we do this! Pray in good times as well as the bad.

“Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

At this point, you may be thinking, how can I pray when things are going bad in my life? Remember the scripture Paul wrote in Philippians.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. “ Philippians 4:13

Your strength can’t get the job done. It’s the strength of your Heavenly Father working through you. You are not alone. God is with you! Don’t allow the devil to talk you down off the Word, which is able to save your soul.

Again, God is with you, and He is your God!!!! He will strengthen you and help you! He will uphold you with the right hand of his righteousness!

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand (resist) in the evil day. And having done all, to stand. STAND!! Girt up your loins with the truth of the gospel, that the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 6:13-14 & Philippians 4:7).

May the grace of our LORD JESUS CHRIST be with you all! Amen.

~ Pastor Linda Lawrence

A Picture of Him

New King James Version Bible

As a child, I imagined God to be this fatherly figure, with a beard, and long flowing robes, peering down at me from heaven, some place beyond the blue, watching and gently correcting me, like a father corrects a child.  I was taught that God sat on a high back throne, with Jesus, His son sitting to the right, in heaven. And the Holy Spirit was with us, to guide and help us. And that some day, we would go to heaven to be with Jesus. That imagery of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit remained with me through childhood and even through much of my adult life. It was reinforced by ministers preaching from their pulpits, the same message, and for a long time I believed it to be truth and searched no farther. But, how many folks know that; “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13:11) This brings me to the title of my sermon; “A Picture of Him.”

Our Spiritual Warfare Series Concludes! Comments or Questions?

Our spiritual warfare series concluded last week!

For the last few weeks, our ministry was covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor.

We are now "catching our breath" and busy preparing new messages in the weeks that follow!

While we "pause"... we are happy to respond to any comments or questions our readers may have on the spiritual warfare series or any other messages you have read on the GWM blog! 

Questions or Comments? Please leave your thoughts in the post comments!

PRAYER & SUPPLICATION

For the next few weeks, our ministry will be covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor. This message is about the “Helmet of Salvation”, using the King James Thompson Chain Study Bible for text.

Ephesians 6:18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

The Sword of the Spirit

For the next few weeks, our ministry will be covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor. This message is about “The Sword of the Spirit”, using the New King James Version for text.

Ephesians 6:17: “And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

The Helmet of Salvation

For the next few weeks, our ministry will be covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor. This message is about the “Helmet of Salvation”, using the King James Version for text.

Ephesians 6:17: And take the helmet of salvation

The Shield of Faith

For the next few weeks, our ministry will be covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor. This message is about the “Shield of Faith” usng the King James Version for text.

Ephesians 6:16: “Above all taking The Shield of Faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace

Message 54

For the next few weeks, our ministry will be covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor. This message is about the “Feet Shod with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace” using the King James Version for text.

Ephesians 6:15: “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

For the next few weeks, our ministry will be covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor. This message is about the “Breastplate of Righteousness”, using the King James Version for text.

Ephesians 6:14: “and having on the breastplate of righteousness”

Having Your Loins Girt About With Truth

For the next few weeks, our ministry will be covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor. This message is about the “loins girt about with truth”, using the King James Version for text.

Ephesians 6:14: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth”

Armors of Light and Righteousness

For the next few weeks, our ministry will be covering the topic of spiritual warfare from the epistle of Ephesians. This epistle is a GREAT call to work, meaning live worthy of our call. To do this requires us to continually be arrayed with spiritual armor. The source of my information is from the New King James Version Spirit Filled Life Bible. This message is about the armor of light and armor of righteousness.

Armor of God Series Starts September 10th!

Watch for an exciting sermon series on the "Armor Of God" starting September 10th!

GWM Reader Feedback!

Here's feedback from our readers and how God's Word continues to make a difference in their lives!

“I'm truly glad to know that God is on the inside of me. For so long, I've been thinking through teaching that heaven was a place to go to. It's amazing to know that it's not a place, but actually allowing God to guide me through life challenges by speaking to my heart from the throne room on the inside of me. For years, I thought that all that was on the inside of me was internal body organs etc. I thank God for this message and wonder how many other people have felt or thought as I did. Thank you, Thank You.”

“This message is so awesome that it brings clear understanding as to how we should apply the word to our lives on a daily basis and believe in it. THANK YOU JESUS!!!!”

“What an awesome revelation. Continue to allow the power of God work in you for His Word will not return unto Him void.”

“WHAT A GREAT REVELATION FROM THE MESSAGE!”

 Questions or comments? Please leave your thoughts in the post comments!

The Throne Room of God

I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I was listening to the radio a few days ago and heard someone make mention of the “throne room” of God. It immediately caught my attention.

When I was growing up, I always viewed everything in relation to God as “far away” or “up beyond the blue sky.” I also viewed him as a man sitting up there in a great big high back chair (his throne), with Jesus standing at his right hand. That was the picture that had been painted in my mind of God because of what I heard preached and taught over the years. Now I have learned that God is Spirit (St. John 4:24), and he is everywhere, even in us!

Now that I’ve developed a personal relationship with God and not just having fellowship with him, he is teaching me who he is in me! That was a profound revelation for me, to know that this AWESOME God, the Creator of the universe dwells in me and in you! This is GOOD NEWS!! 1 John 4:4 “greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.”

23rd Psalm - Part 3 of 3

The 23^rd Psalm was written by David, Son of Jesse, who spent much of his early life tending his father's sheep. When David wrote this Psalm, he was writing from the perspective of a sheep and the flock's relationship with the shepherd. The idea of the sheep and the shepherd is actually taught in the Word of God to describe the relationship between believers and our Heavenly Father: Heavenly because he's from above and not beneath; Heavenly because he's from the higher realm of spiritual elevation; Heavenly because he's spirit. This is Part 3 of 3.

23rd Psalm - Part 2 of 3

The 23^rd Psalm was written by David, Son of Jesse, who spent much of his early life tending his father's sheep. When David wrote this Psalm, he was writing from the perspective of a sheep and the flock's relationship with the shepherd. The idea of the sheep and the shepherd is actually taught in the Word of God to describe the relationship between believers and our Heavenly Father: Heavenly because he's from above and not beneath; Heavenly because he's from the higher realm of spiritual elevation; Heavenly because he's spirit. This is Part 2 of 3.

23rd Psalm - Part 1 of 3

This message about the 23rd Psalm is written in 3 parts.  Part 1 begins here.

The Hebrew title of the book of Psalms is Tehillim, which means Praise – a sacred song or hymn. It was written to express the deep inner emotions of the human heart in relation to God! Many were written as prayers to God expressing trust, love, thanksgiving, adoration, praise and a longing for close fellowship. Others were written to express discouragement, fear, anxiety, deep distress humiliation and a cry for deliverance, healing or vindication. Others were written to express praise, adoration and thanksgiving for who God is and the great things He has done. Some Psalms contain important messianic sections that were fulfilled in their fullest meaning in Jesus Christ. Psalm 23 is the best loved and quoted passage of scripture in the Word of God along with St. John 3:16.

What Does the body of Christ Look Like? - Part 5 of 5

This is a continuation of the previous discussions about the body of Christ. Thus far we have reviewed 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-25, and 26-27. Part 5 will summarize the description of the body of Christ.

My 3^rd “God moment” occurred one day as I was walking across campus where I work. I saw and heard what seemed like hundreds of birds in a grove of large trees. They were singing at the top of their lungs, each in the “language” for their type of bird. It was beautiful. Individually the birds communicated to each other in their own distinctive sound or “language”, but together, they made the most beautiful music.

I can only imagine that this is what Pentecost must have sounded like – the disciples speaking “with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”. Acts 2:6 states that “when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language”. Just as birds speak their own language, we speak our own language. And I believe that God wants us to speak the truth to others in their “own language” so that they can begin to understand. As Acts 2:11 states “we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God”.

During the early morning hours, have you ever listened quietly when the birds 1^st begin to sing? First you hear 1, then 2, then 4 or 5, and as the sun begins to rise, we hear more and more. Have you ever thought about that? As the sun begins to rise in the east, more and more birds begin to sing as if the light from the east is fueling their message!

And don't the birds sing every day? Yes! Have you ever heard a bird that was singing a slow, sad song? NO! And neither should we sing a slow, sad song but rather give praise to our God! Together as the body of Christ, we should be fueled by the light from the east and give thanks for our God.

We also need to all be saying the same thing – the kingdom message. God wants us to share the message of truth individually, but I believe that He wants us to sing it in unison around the world. The volume of hundreds of birds together or hundreds of us could reach far into the community and the world.

1 Corinthians 1:10 states “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same things, and that there be no divisions amoung you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

In closing, I ask you again “What does the “body of Christ” look like?”

We are:

• a group who are distinct from others; covered in Christ & organized for God's purpose
• a union bound together by 1 source – our God
• working together – individually and as a unit – to spread the truth of the gospel
• giving a consistent message to the world

Ephesians 4:4-6 sums it up: “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are 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.”

Because He now lives in each of us, we abide with him and He with us forever. We have become the body of Christ. Amen!

~ Rachel West

This message will be posted in 5 parts.  If you are interested in reading the message in its entirety, please click on this link to download https://hotfile.com/dl/161227098/18bebe5/Message_51_-_The_Body_of_Christ.pdf.html. If you experience any problems with this download, please leave a comment so that we may assist you.

What Does the Body of Christ Look Like? - Part 4 of 5

This is a continuation of the previous discussions about the body of Christ. Thus far we have reviewed 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 and 18-25. Part 4 will focus on 1 Corinthians 12: 26-27 to further describe the body of Christ.

President Obama gave a perfect analogy of this in his State of the Union speech in January. He was about to finish his Address when he spoke of Congress and its divisiveness. I quote from his speech:

“Those of us who’ve been sent here to serve can learn a thing or two from the service of our troops. When you put on that uniform, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white; Asian, Latino, Native American; conservative, liberal; rich, poor; gay, straight. When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails. When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind.

One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn’t matter. Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates -- a man who was George Bush’s defense secretary -- and Hillary Clinton -- a woman who ran against me for president.

All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves. One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn’t deserve credit for the mission. It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job -- the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control; the translator who kept others from entering the compound; the troops who separated the women and children from the fight; the SEALs who charged up the stairs. More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other -- because you can’t charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there’s somebody behind you, watching your back.

So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes. No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we built it together. This nation is great because we worked as a team. This nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we are joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, and our future is hopeful.”

As I was listening to this ending of his speech, God illuminated it for me as another example of the body of Christ. We are 1 body in Christ, and our mission is not about ourselves but about what we can accomplish for the kingdom. I'm not talking about being members of a physical body, such as members of this church or that church. I am talking about being members of the spiritual body. As members of the body of Christ, we are raised up together as stated in Ephesians 2:4-5: “Even when we were dead in sins, God hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved); And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

God “quickened” us, or made us alive, after we had lived a life of sin and lacked the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.

1. He has “raised us” meaning he has given us new life, roused us from the sleep of religious order, from traditions of worship, from disease and death and obscurity.
2. He has “raised us up” meaning we are now in a higher position or level, a more advanced state.
3. He has “raised us up together” in 1 place, as a mass, group, body, “with” Christ, meaning in combination with Him as He is in us.
4. He has “made” us, or formed/framed us in His mind and
5. He has “made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. When we sit together, we are settled, set, in union with, and we tarry. In other words, we are not in a hurry to leave or change our location, and we are all in the same location – the higher realms of spirituality. Location matters.

Verse 26: “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”

The body of Christ feeds on each other through pollination. Pollination is the act of transferring something from 1 place to another, which begins a process for ultimately reproducing something. We usually think of pollination in the plant world, but in the spirit world, it demonstrates how we share or transfer encouragement and celebrations from God with each other. The body of Christ supports each other in times of need and rejoices with each other in times of celebration. There's power in this body of Christ. Regardless of what we are experiencing, we must continue to offer and produce God's praises.

Verse 27: “Now yea are the body of Christ, and members in particular”

We have now learned that the body of Christ has many members, is diverse in gifts and talents, and is covered in Christ; it is tempered together by God and is 1 unit with no schisms.

~ Rachel West

This message will be posted in 5 parts.  If you are interested in reading the message in its entirety, please click on this link to download https://hotfile.com/dl/161227098/18bebe5/Message_51_-_The_Body_of_Christ.pdf.html. If you experience any problems with this download, please leave a comment so that we may assist you.

What Does the Body of Christ Look Like? - Part 3 of 5

This is a continuation of the previous discussion about the body of Christ, which has focused on 1 Corinthians 12:12-14. Part 3 will focus on 1 Corinthians 12: 18-25 to further describe the body of Christ.

How have we become members of the body of Christ? Let's look at the next group of scriptures - 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, 23-25

Verse 18: “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him”. This tells us that God set the members in the body “as it hath pleased him”, meaning He caused us to sit; He placed us with care & deliberate purpose into the body of Christ; He fixed us firmly and made us immobile, and He knew when to do it. God knew in the beginning who He created us to be, and by placing us with deliberate purpose, He knew when He would need some more Sons to continue doing His work. And He was and is pleased with each of us, meaning he delights in us and loves us and loves what we are doing for the kingdom.

Verses 19 & 20: “And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.” The word “body” means to heal, preserve, save, do well, be made whole. With 1 member, He would not have a body, but with many members, God has a body of Sons to heal, preserve, save and and make the Kingdom whole. We know it will take more than 1 Son to accomplish this.

Moving on to verses 23 & 24:

V 23: “And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

V 24: For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked”

God knew that there would be issues among the carnal-minded man. He knew that the members would place too much emphasis on the flesh body instead of the spiritual body and would view others, who don't “measure up” with their dress or looks or amount of money, as less honourable or uncomely, meaning without honour or inelegant. But as followers of Jesus Christ, we are all members of one body, and we are all viewed as equal in the sight of God! He created us with different abilities and personalities to serve his purpose.

God knew that each of us would have to follow Jesus's words in Luke 9:23: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The members of the body have to put God as the priority of our lives and daily focus, or we will not be able to accomplish the goals of the body of Christ.

V 24: “God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked”

What did God do? He “hath tempered the body together”, meaning He has brought the body together to commingle, blend into a harmonious whole, combine or assimilate, mix with, to be companions, and to be complete. God knows just how to adjust the members of the body together into a harmonious whole. I can see God tapping on this person and tapping on that person OR maybe He is walloping on some of us in order to mold us together into 1 unit or 1 body! In other words, He is allowing us to face various trials and difficult situations to help us grow in the knowledge and power of Christ so that we can all mold together as the body of Christ.

Verse 25: “That there should be no schism in the body”

God said that there “should be no schism in the body”. Schism translates in the Greek as a split or gap; a division or tear. The world we live in today already has huge schisms – in families, congregations, workplaces, sports teams, governments, the financial world, etc. We so easily let our emotions take over our minds, and we react to others in ways that create these divisions – whether temporary or permanent. Our emotions such as jealousy, anger, misunderstanding, and fear begin to dictate our actions, and this leads to divisiveness in our lives and relationships with God and others.

In our Bible study of the book of Revelation, our pastor has talked about how we need to conquer our emotions and change our thoughts to put on the mind of Christ. We are all familiar with the scripture of Romans 12:2, but I really like this New Living Translation that came to me through email recently:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

1 Corinthians 2:16 states “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

So far we have looked at some descriptions of what the body of Christ looks like – the body has many members, is diverse in gifts and talents, and is covered in Christ. Part 4 will focus on my 2^nd “God moment”, which points out the desire of God to temper the body together and have no schisms. The body of Christ must work together.

~ Rachel West

This message will be posted in 5 parts.  If you are interested in reading the message in its entirety, please click on this link to download https://hotfile.com/dl/161227098/18bebe5/Message_51_-_The_Body_of_Christ.pdf.html. If you experience any problems with this download, please leave a comment so that we may assist you.

What does the Body of Christ Look Like? - Part 2 of 5

This is a continuation of the previous discussion about the body of Christ, which has focused on 1 Corinthians 12:12. Part 2 will focus on 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 to further describe the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13 “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free: and have been all made to drink into one Spirit”

We “joined” God's team when we were baptized into the body of Christ. Baptize comes from the Greek words baptizo and bapto which mean to overwhelm, wash, make fully wet, and to stain. “Overwhelm” means to overpower in thought and to cover over completely. Through Jesus's resurrection and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, we are overwhelmed, covered completely, washed, and, yes, even stained with Jesus's blood!

The word “stain” usually gives a negative connotation, such as the discoloring of our clothes or the carpet. But stain also means “a preparation (as of dye or pigment) used in penetrating the pores of wood”. Look at these cabinets – they were not this color when they were 1^st carved but a stain was added to them to give them this beautiful color. The stain penetrated the pores of the wood to completely cover these doors.

Think about our bodies in the natural – we have pores in our skin. They are minute openings in the membranes that allow absorption or passage of liquid. We put lotion on our skin and it is absorbed. We sweat, and water comes out of our pores.

What about the “pores” of our minds and hearts? In the spirit, aren't they openings that allow us to absorb Jesus? Jesus's blood has stained us and penetrated our minds and hearts and souls and has changed us forever so that we will never be the same again! “As he is, so are we”! (1 John 4:17)

Regardless whether we are talking about the Tigers or the Sons of God, we are each a part of a whole. We are joined, fused together, connected by coming into union with Christ. And we must demonstrate oneness, inseparability, uniformity, singlemindness, and consistency in what we proclaim to be the truth of the gospel – that Christ lives in us and will never leave us or forsake us!

It doesn't matter, as the scripture says, “whether they are Jews or Gentiles, bond or free”. We “have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

One of the definitions of the word “made” is:

• fitted, intended, or destined by or as if creating

God fitted us, intended for us, and destined for us to drink into this one Spirit. The Greek definition for “drink” means to “furnish drink; irrigate; give (make) to drink, feed, water”. By directing us to “drink into this one Spirit”, God is intending us to be irrigated (or refreshed) with entry or inclusion into His Spirit by feeding on His Word, absorbing his word. It was His plan all along for every single one of us!

Verse 14: “For the body is not one member, but many.”

Just as the Tigers are considered an organized group on the court, the Sons of God are an organized group in the world; a mass that is distinct and different from other masses; a group of disciples organized for God's purpose; a group that gives shape to/represents the body of Christ.

~ Rachel West

This message will be posted in 5 parts.  If you are interested in reading the message in its entirety, please click on this link to download https://hotfile.com/dl/161227098/18bebe5/Message_51_-_The_Body_of_Christ.pdf.html  If you experience any problems with this download, please leave a comment so that we may assist you.

What does the Body of Christ Look Like? - Part 1 of 5

People often talk about the “body of Christ” or the “church as the body of Christ”. Have you ever thought about the meaning of the word “body”? And I am not talking about our physical bodies. Think about examples of the use of the word “body”:

• student body - students in a school
• body of people – could be members of a community organization, a sports team
• the body of a thesis paper or an article - parts of a written document
• body of employees – large group of workers on the job
• body of a car – the main, basic framework

What does this list have in common? Each example of a body has parts to it. They include people, words on paper, and pieces of metal attached together. Each of these “bodies” would not be a “body” without the parts that bring it together, and each body is only as strong as it's parts or members.

I looked up the definitions of the word “body”, and here are 6 that I found:

• a mass of matter distinct from other masses
• a group of persons or things
• a group of individuals organized for some purpose
• to give form or shape to, embody (to give bodily form and substance to)
• represent, symbolize
• a unit; group that is a constituent of a whole

As the “body of Christ”, we are a group of persons distinct from others; a group of individuals organized for a purpose – for God's purpose; a group which represents God and His truth.

The text for this message is from 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 18-20 and 23-27. With these scriptures in mind, I want to share with you 3 very clear and distinct “God moments” in which God showed me about the body of Christ and what I think that He sees as the basic characteristics of the body.

First “God Moment”

One evening I was driving home from work after finishing basketball practice with our Special Olympics team. As I drove, my mind began to think of each individual player and why he or she was on the Tigers team. I thought about each of their contributions, their limitations, and what I thought they hoped to get out of this experience. I have never thought about them in this way before so I knew that this was of God.

On the Tigers team, we don't have the most strategy-minded, coordinated, or well-conditioned athletes who can run various plays on offense and defense. In fact, we don't even play positions because several of our players would not understand that concept. BUT we do have 13 players who have a love for the game and want to be on that court to accomplish the mission, which is to win. They may have varying levels of intellectual disabilities, but they all LOVE this game and love being in the spotlight.

At first, I wondered what it was that brought this unlikely group together -

• this group whose members did not necessarily get along with each other outside of the team practices
• this group whose members looked out only for themselves and not necessarily how they could play together as a team
• this group whose ages, intellectual disabilities, and social skills varied from one end of the spectrum to the other

These athletes were on the basketball court together because they love this game and want to play basketball for the Murdoch Tigers team. The game of basketball was what drew them together.

Similarly Jesus drew to him an unlikely group of 12 men who became his disciples. A varied group that included educated and uneducated men, a physician, fishermen, a tax collector, those who spoke well and others who found it difficult to speak in front of others. But they were drawn to Jesus as He called them, and they all immediately dropped what they were doing to follow Jesus. Jesus was the one who drew them together.

Verse 12: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

We know that we are members of the body of Christ just as is stated in Romans 12:5: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another”. We are members of Christ because Christ is the church.

The definition of “member” includes the following:

1. one of the individuals composing a group
2. a person baptized or enrolled in a church
3. Greek word for member is “melos”= limb or part of the body. I looked up the definition of “limb”, which means an active member or agent; extension or branch.

One of the characteristics of a member of a body is that of an “active member or agent”.

When I was growing up, my parents always taught me that if I was going to join an organization or club or sports team, I should be an “active member”. Being an active member means you:

1. support the purpose of the organization by actively helping to achieve its goals
2. “work” for the organization instead of sitting and watching others do the work
3. have a passion for helping to move the group to a higher level in the pursuit of its goals
4. are at the meetings of the group and other functions
5. learn to express the purpose and goals of the group to others in hopes of drawing in more members to continue to help achieve the group's goals and member base
6. you are an “agent” or representative of the group, and when others see you, they remember that group which you represent.

For the Tigers team, each player is an “active member” and wants to play to help the team win the game. For the Sons of God, this also means that we engage as “active members” of God's team. This requires study and sharing the Word of God on a consistent basis and working together as 1 body or team or unit. Our source is the same for each of us, and our source has called us to play on His team.

~ Rachel West

This message will be posted in 5 parts.  If you are interested in reading the message in its entirety, please click on this link to download https://hotfile.com/dl/161227098/18bebe5/Message_51_-_The_Body_of_Christ.pdf.html.  If you experience any problems with this download, please leave a comment so that we may assist you.

Ordinary or Extraordinary? - Part 2 of 2

Let’s recap for a minute. The enemy and system declare that we are “ordinary” beings that need to grovel and beg for forgiveness. But here is what God’s word tells us about ourselves:

1. We are created in God’s image - Genesis 1:27

2. God blessed us. Genesis 1:28 - Matthew 5: 3-10

3. Jesus dwells inside us and our bodies are holy temples - 1 Corinthians 3:16

4. We are given the powers to heal, cleanse, raise the dead and cast out demons - Matthew 10:8, Acts 1:8, and John 14:12

     So, do we call ourselves “ordinary” or are we “extra-ordinary?”

     Finally, I want to share with you how ingrained the “ordinary” label is that both the enemy and the system brand Christian Followers. My wife, Rachel, and I have had to go back into the system, and it is so disheartening to hear the negative messages that are being preached from many pulpits to God’s people. For example, in the Methodist church, each service has a “prayer of confession” in which the people are to recite out loud how they have fallen short of Grace and asked for forgiveness for their sins. 
     But, let’s go to God’s Word again and see what our Father says about sin. Romans 6: 6-7 “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” So, why, knowing that our old nature died with Christ upon the cross, must we continually confess our sins, when God wiped away those sins at the cross? 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Is it no wonder why churches - locked into the system and preaching such negative messages to God’s people - have a hard time finding people to warm their pews? Is it no wonder why people are drifting away from churches because the messages have no relevance to their soul? Is it no wonder why people critique “how” preachers deliver a message – their oratory style, their use of words, etc. - instead of “what” is the message? Our son Chris recently delivered a message at a church service, and numerous persons came up to Rachel and me after the service to exclaim “what a wonderful job Chris did!”.  But not a single person remarked on the content of his message to the congregation. How sad and telling at the same time!

     It is these very strongholds that the sons of God must tear down and open up God’s peoples’ ears to hear the entire Kingdom message! How else can these persons become free?

So, the next time you hear or read about “ordinary people who are serving God in their little corner of the world” – know that according to God and His Word, there is nothing ordinary about us! We are extraordinary! 
Amen and Amen.      
~ Mike West

Ordinary or Extraordinary? - Part 1 of 2

     I often read “Our Daily Bread,” the pocket sized devotional published by RBC Ministries, as I have my cereal and morning coffee. I like to think of “Our Daily Bread” as “diamonds in the rough.” Sometimes some of the full Kingdom message is delivered within its pages, but often times it is not. The example I am about to share with you is one of those times that the message fell short of the mark. But it is to illustrate my point and to tear down one of the strongholds of the enemy and the system.
     The title of this “Our Daily Bread” entry is “An Ordinary Guy.” It reads in part: “Steve was an ordinary guy. He quietly served in a church I attended years ago. He helped prepare communion, shoveled the church sidewalks in the winter, and mowed the lawn in the summer. He spent time with teenage boys who had no fathers in the home. I often heard him telling people at church in his quiet way how good the Lord was to him.” The devotional goes on and concludes: “Our aim, as followers of Jesus, is to do the same – to bear witness of the Light. We’re just ordinary people serving God in our little corner of the world.”

     Now don’t misinterpret what I am stating. There is nothing wrong with Steve or how he is serving the Lord. If the Lord is leading Steve in these directions and Steve is following, than certainly, as Christians, that is what we are to do.

     But what I do take exception to is the word “ordinary” to describe Christian Followers. So we now come to the title of my message – Ordinary or Extraordinary?

     Let’s look more closely at the words ordinary and extraordinary. Ordinary is defined as: “of no exceptional ability, degree, or quality; average; of inferior quality, second rate.” Interesting? Now, on the other hand, extra-ordinary has three definitions: 1. Beyond what is ordinary or usual. 2. Highly exceptional or remarkable. Or here is a definition I really like 3. Employed or used for a special service, function, or occasion. Looks like extraordinary has a few “extra” qualities than ordinary, such as beyond, highly exceptional, and remarkable.

     Clearly the enemy and the system want followers to believe we are ordinary people “serving God in our little corner of the world,” but what does God’s Word say about us as Believers and followers of Jesus Christ? I always find that to seek answers, you go to the source! Let’s see what the Bible has to say to us in regards to our place with God? 

     Let’s start at the beginning. Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” So we are created in the likeness of God! When I look in a mirror or at others, I am looking into the face of God! Genesis 1:28 “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  

     God blessed us - beings made in God’s own image - and we were given power over all swimming, flying, and moving creatures on earth! And to have a blessing is a powerful act and acknowledgement! Blessing comes from the Hebrew word “eulogeo” (eu, “well”, logos, “a word”) signifies “to praise” or “to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers” or “to cause to prosper, to make happy.” A blessing from God is a promise from the Most High that what is spoken onto us will be manifested! It is a sure thing. A done deal! And it has great power to manifest in our lives! Thank you God! 

     Jesus also taught us that certain attributes or behaviors are blessed by Him. Matthew 5:3-10: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” So poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who practice righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers who will  be called sons of God, and those who are persecuted for His name sake, are blessed by God!   

     Again, blessings are powerful affirmations and gifts to us! And since God’s word is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and never changes, than we know in our soul that God blesses us!  

     We also know that location matters! But, as Believers and sons of God, our worth is not defined or bound to a physical location. Instead, our worth is defined on how best we tend to the Holy Spirit, and it builds upon the location that lies within each of us. 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” In fact, Jesus finds us of great worth, so much so that He commands us in Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” And God grants us these powers! Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

~ Mike West

The Power of Worship

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Worship is an act of reverence [deep respect, love, and awe for God]!
Worship is demonstrating, presenting, or offering one's love to God!

WHAT DOES WORSHIP DO?
When we worship, we have come into perfect spiritual alignment with our spiritual Father, and it brings us into His presence or His face!

HOW DO WE WORSHIP?
We worship our Father in Spirit and in Truth! For our Father seeks such that would worship Him in this way! (St. John 4:23-24). The Father will seek us out when we worship Him!!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE WORSHIP?
When we worship, we win!! When we win, that means we conquer, master, gain, obtain, attain, achieve, accomplish, succeed, and triumph in all that we do! "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us"!! (Romans 8:37). "I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me"! (Philippians 4:13).

**By design God created us to praise and worship Him! (Revelation 4:11) "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created"!

That was one of the reasons for the lay-out of the tabernacle! This is the place where God meets man! "Thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the Testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat." (Exodus 25:21-22). This was in the most holy place of the tabernacle.

WHERE DOES WORSHIP TAKE PLACE?
Worship takes place in the "presence" (or the face) of God.

HOW DOES ONE GET INTO GOD'S "PRESENCE" (OR HIS FACE)?
Let's take a walk through the tabernacle!

Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His name!"

1. Come with "TOWDAH" (THANKSGIVING)! Come with extended or lifted hands. This is a sign of surrender! It's surrendering all to God! It's loving and adoring Him with all your being! "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength"! (Mark 12:30). THANKSGIVING is also an attitude of gratefulness. "In every thing give thanks" (1Thes.5:18). This attitude of gratitude (thanksgiving) will spur, stir, and invigorate your spiritual awareness of and in God so much so that it will lift you into another altitude in God! It will make you feel like you can “run through a troop” and leap over a wall!! (Phil.4:13). Then "towdah" will advance you into "tehillah!"

2. "TEHILLAH" (PRAISE)!
Keep in mind that it was in the court yard that the sacrifice was killed! This is where God wants to get out of us everything that is not like Him [that which pertains to flesh or carnality]! But know without any doubt, whatever you're going through, you must keep and use your praise! This is the key to lock the door to the works of the devil and open the door to your victory! "I will bless the Lord at all times and his praise shall continually be in my mouth!" (Psalm 34:1). Ephesians 5:19: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord!" The only difference between "hymn" and "hymen" is the letter "e". The "hymen" is the thin membrane that covers the opening of the birth canal, which is the place of "reproduction!" Singing "hymns" in the midst of your storms can produce peace and a reproduction of victory in your circumstances!! To make it into the place of "WORSHIP" [God's presence or God's face], we must press through the veil of the flesh!! The next avenue to travel into this place is "YADAH!"

3. "YADAH" (THANKFULNESS) is reverence of God [respecting, honoring, and loving Him]! Now you're ready to "BARAK" God!

4. "BARAK" (WORSHIP)! This is where you're prostrate in God [adoring Him; saluting Him; congratulating Him; making spiritual love to Him!]

WORSHIP ushers you into God's PRESENCE! Worship is where God communes with us! (Exodus 25:22) "There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee above the mercy seat." This is in the most holy place! It is in God's PRESENCE that miracles happen! When we WORSHIP, WE WIN! This means we conquer and triumph!! In 2 Chronicles, 20th chapter, the Moabites and others were coming down to fight against the people of God. But in verse 18, Jehoshaphat and Judah worshiped God! Judah does mean PRAISE!! In verse 21, Jehoshaphat appointed SINGERS that should praise the beauty of holiness, and as they went before the army, God gave them the victory!!! They knew how to PRAISE AND WORSHIP the Living God!!

WORSHIP shifts or changes things! It rearranges the atmosphere and causes things to work in your favor!!

WORSHIP will resurrect any dead situation in your life when it has been brought into God's presence!! In Numbers chapter 17, look at how God proved Aaron as priest. He had Moses to take 12 rods and lay them in the tabernacle before the Testimony, where God met with Moses. The NEXT DAY when Moses went into the tabernacle of Witness, the rod of Aaron had budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds! Keep in mind, this "rod" was disconnected from its original source, but it was still able to reproduce and bring forth!! A limb cut off from the tree can't survive! But because this "rod" was laying in GOD's PRESENCE, it was still able to produce and bring forth!! It's the anointing, God's "presence", that destroys the yokes of the devil! Come on, somebody!!! There is POWER IN GOD'S PRESENCE!!

WORSHIP confounds the enemy!! It opens doors that no man can close!! It closes doors that no man can open!! Oppression cannot stay in God's PRESENCE (FACE)! Depression cannot remain in the PRESENCE (FACE) of God!! Sickness cannot stay in God's PRESENCE (FACE)!! BECAUSE WHEN WE WORSHIP, WE WIN!!!!!!

~ Apostle Gracie Perry