"ONE SACRIFICE" By Len Paxton

"Healing for Today?"

Here is just some thoughts and scriptures about healing.

David said, “I cried unto the Lord & He healed me”. Ps. 30:2

Ps. 107:20 He sent His word & healed them.

Ps. 103:2-3 All His benefits, includes healing.

Mal. 4:2 He will arise with healing in His wings.


Healing fulfilled:

Mat 8:16
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with [his] word, and healed all that were sick:

Mat 8:17
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses.

A few people healed:

1) David cried unto the Lord & He healed him. (Ps. 30:2)
2) Those who fear Him, keep His covenant, & does His commandments (will get the benefits in Ps. 103)
3) He healed for the sake of those who brought the sick unto him.
Centurion’s servant = Matt. 8:5-1
Peter’s Mother-in-law = Matt. 8:14-15
The rulers daughter = Matt. 9:18-26
The friends = Mark 2:4-12
4) Jesus could not do mighty works because of their unbelief, you must believe.

More:
Matt. 23:25 He healed all who came unto Him.
Matt. 8:1-4 He healed the Leper by His word - He said, “I will”.
Matt. 8:15-16 He cast out demons & healed them.
Mat. 9:1-8 He healed & forgave the Paralyzed man.
Matt. 9:32-33 Healed the dumb man.
Matt. 12:15 Healed them all.
Matt. 20:34 &22-23, Healed the blind.

There are many, many more examples.

Exd 15:26
And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee.

His word is health to us:
Pro 4:20
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Pro 4:21
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Pro 4:22
For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Why does it say in Is. 53:5 we are healed and in 1 Peter 2:24 We were healed.
In Is 53:5 it is a now healing. In the old testament they had to do sacrifices regularly. It could never put healing in the past or behind them. Because Jesus had not yet come. BUT...
After Jesus came now we can say:
We are healed. Past, it is done & always will be that way. Today can’t change what Jesus did. No more sacrifice for it. “IT IS FINISHED”. (We must receive it)


Malachi 3:6 “I am the Lord, I change not”

What He did, He will do again. Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

Satan is the originator of sickness. Job 2:7, Luke 13:16, Acts 10:38










But what about after Jesus was off the earth?

Jam 5:13
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Jam 5:14
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Jam 5:15
and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.


Act 3:1
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].
Act 3:2
And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Act 3:3
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
Act 3:4
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
Act 3:5
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Act 3:6
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Act 3:7
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:8
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

1Cr 12:9
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

Act 5:15
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid [them] on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Act 5:16
There came also a multitude [out] of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Act 8:7
For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Mat 10:1
And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

There are many other scriptures.

YES, HEALING IS FOR TODAY!!!!

"Miracles" By Len Paxton

"A Day to remember"

There are many things going on each day, we need to stop and take time to build a gingerbread house. This was a day we spent with our 5 year old niece. It took a long time to build. We had to put some candy on the house and we had to eat some. Put some more on and eat some more. One piece at a time. It takes time to build a house. But most of the time we are so busy with our daily activities that our house does not look as pretty as this one. Take the time out this holiday session to say a kind word, to take a meal to someone in need, and to really see that life is what you make it. God wants us to be his hands and his servants, going about doing good. But we go right past the people who really need us. Take time today to build your own gingerbread house.

“The “I”s have it”

Heb. 13:5 ...for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

Heb. 10:16-17 This is the agreement (testament, covenant) that I will set up and conclude with them after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their hearts, and I will inscribe them on their minds (on their inmost thoughts and understanding),
    17 He then goes on to say, And their sins and their lawbreaking I will remember no more.

Gen. 9:15-16 I will [earnestly] remember My covenant or solemn pledge which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy and make all flesh corrupt.
    16 When the bow [rainbow] is in the clouds and I look upon it, I will [earnestly] remember the everlasting covenant or pledge between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

Ge. 50:21 Now therefore, do not be afraid. I will provide for and support you and your little ones. And he comforted them [imparting cheer, hope, strength] and spoke to their hearts [kindly].

Ex. 3:14 And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!

Ex. 6:6-8 Accordingly, say to the Israelites, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will free you from their bondage, and I will rescue you with an outstretched arm [with special and vigorous action] and by mighty acts of judgment.
    7 And I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that it is I, the Lord your God, Who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
    8 And I will bring you into the land concerning which I lifted up My hand and swore that I would give it to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage. I am the Lord [you have the pledge of My changeless omnipotence and faithfulness].

Ex. 15:26 Saying, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God and will do what is right in His sight, and will listen to and obey His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord Who heals you.

Jer. 16:21 Therefore [says the Lord] behold, I will make them know--[yes] this once I will make them know My power and My might; and they will know and recognize that My name is the Lord.

Jer. 31:33-34 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, says the Lord, I will put My law within them, and on their hearts will I write it; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
    34 And they will no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know Me [recognize, understand, and be acquainted with Me], from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will [seriously] remember their sin no more.

Ez. 32:11-26 For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I Myself, will search for My sheep and will seek them out.
    12 As a shepherd seeks out his sheep in the day that he is among his flock that are scattered, so will I seek out My sheep; and I will rescue them out of all places where they have been scattered in the day of clouds and thick darkness.
    13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and will bring them to their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
    14I will feed them with good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be; there shall they lie down in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
    15I will feed My sheep and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord God.
    16I will seek that which was lost and bring back that which has strayed, and I will bandage the hurt and the crippled and will strengthen the weak and the sick, but I will destroy the fat and the strong [who have become hardhearted and perverse]; I will feed them with judgment and punishment.

Rev. 2:7 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Rev. 2:10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.

Rev. 2:17 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (conquers), I will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone, which no one knows or understands except he who receives it.

Rev. 3:10 Because you have guarded and kept My word of patient endurance [have held fast the [b]lesson of My patience with the [c]expectant endurance that I give you], I also will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial (testing) which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth.

Rev. 21:7 He who is victorious shall inherit all these things, and I will be God to him and he shall be My son.

Det. 31:8 It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit--depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].

1 Chr. 28:20 ...Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

“GO AHEAD, I GET THE CROWN”

In the last days there will be more and more persecution for the church. We will suffer for standing up for Jesus. For living a godly life. For choosing to be devoted to God and His ways. A lot of the time it can even be those who are closest to us. We must know what the word says about persecution and the end thereof.

As in the movies we can say, “Go ahead make my day”, or my version, “Go ahead, I get the Crown”. Many may try to change you and your path, but you must endure to the end.

In 2 Timothy we read we will have persecution. We will be made to suffer for our religious stand. BUT...

2 Tim. 3:12 Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].

But... We are blessed and we will receive the crown of life. No matter what people say or do to you, keep the end in sight. Keep the faith. Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience and in the end you will be the one with the crown.

James 1:12 Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

We are not to fear what man can do to us and they will do things. The main goal of the enemy is to steal your faith. Without your faith you will not endure to the end and you will not receive the crown. We must be loyally faithful even unto death. Death in this life or the next. Paul said we must die to self. Some will have to die physically too.

Rev. 2:10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.

1 Peter 5:4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror's crown of glory.

The other goal of the enemy is to shut you up and to censure you. He wants you to stop telling other of Jesus and His saving power. But, we must not let others stop our voice. We must even yell the louder. Tell other more. We are going to share in the suffering of Christ, but rejoice, you know the outcome. We WIN!!

1 Peter 4:13-14 But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly].
    14 If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ, blessed [are you--happy, fortunate, to be envied, [i]with life-joy, and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition], because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

Luke 6:22-23 Blessed (happy--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition--and to be envied) are you when people despise (hate) you, and when they exclude and excommunicate you [as disreputable] and revile and denounce you and defame and cast out and spurn your name as evil (wicked) on account of the Son of Man.
    23 Rejoice and be glad at such a time and exult and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is rich and great and strong and intense and abundant in heaven; for even so their forefathers treated the prophets.

We shall suffer affliction, tribulation, and persecution, BUT, nothing can separate us from Christ’s love. We are His and not even the most powerful person on earth can change that. We are MORE than conquerors. The enemy is going to try to tell you God doesn’t love you anymore. You are too bad, you have suffered to much, just give up. The enemy is a liar.

Rom. 8:35-39 Who shall ever separate us from Christ's love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?
    36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.
    37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.
    38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,
    39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Nothing the enemy does will prosper. He will try over and over again. But be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world. Look at this next scripture, it is our heritage to have peace, righteousness, security, and to triumph over the opposition.

Isaiah 54:17 But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.

The last thing we must remember is to not let anyone take your crown. This means do not let them seize it from you. Do not let them take it from you by craftiness or fraud. Do not let have access to your crown. Do not offer them your crown.

Rev. 3:11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown.

Many fall because they give up and give place to those who are of the devil. We must not let them steal what God has given us. NO matter who they are. We might think that our enemies are people we do not know. But satan will use those closest to you. So protect your crown. Endure to the end. Receive your Crown and Keep it. Tell them “Go ahead, I get the Crown”.

“SLOW DOWN”

JAMES 1:19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.

Today we are in a world of speed. Fast food, fast internet, fast cars. Everyone is in a hurry. We get ourselves in so much trouble because we don’t slow down. There are so many misunderstandings between people because we don’t slow down to really hear what the other person is saying. The first part of the scripture says we need to quick to hear, a ready listener. Most people are so caught up in their own world, what they are going through or what they have just come through, that they don’t take the time to listen to others.

We as Christians need to look at the rest of the verse as well and take heed to what it is saying to us. We need not be as the world is and go through life as fast as we can. We need to slow down. The next part talks about being slow to speak. WOW, does anyone do that today? When something is said that we don’t like, we jump right up and say what is on our mind. We are cruel in what we say. We don’t watch our words and we hurt others by what we say. There are many scriptures that warn us not to do this.

James 1:26 (Amplified Bible)
If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

James 2:12 (Amplified Bible)
So speak and so act as [people should] who are to be judged under the law of liberty [the moral instruction given by Christ, especially about love].

Our words can really hurt people and they go deep into a persons heart.

Proverbs 26:22
The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport [to some, but to others are like deadly wounds]; and they go down into the innermost parts of the body [or of the victim's nature].

Proverbs 18:8
The words of a whisperer or talebearer are as dainty morsels; they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
This is what people who are evil and against God do, we must learn and not be like them.

Psalm 5:8-9 (Amplified Bible)
Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way level (straight and right) before my face.
    9 For there is nothing trustworthy or steadfast or truthful in their talk; their heart is destruction [or a destructive chasm, a yawning gulf]; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter and make smooth with their tongue.

This is what we should be saying as we slow down our speech.

Psalm 19:14 (Amplified Bible)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.

We want what we say to glorify God and be acceptable to Him. The bible has so much to say about what we say. Be slow to speak.

The next way we need to slow down is to be slow to take offense. Most of the time when we get offended it has to do with our pride. We must choose not to take offense. Being offended is an emotion. It may start with a thought and grow as we ponder that thought.

Acts 24:16 (Amplified Bible)
Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense toward God and toward men.

We must avoid offense towards God and man. We must control ourselves.

1 Peter 4:8 (Amplified Bible)
Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].

We must remember that Satan is the accuser of the brethren(Rev. 12:10) and he is a liar and we do not want to be like him. He will try to convince you that someone has done you wrong and that you deserve better than that. Satan tries to divide people because he knows that there is power when we are together and agree.

Matthew 18:19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

He knows that when we are divided we will fall. He knows that if we are divided he can conquer. We must not have a spirit of offense.

Matthew 12:25 (Amplified Bible)
And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand.

Most offenses are imagined. Satan will try to stir us up. A misunderstanding or miscommunication can cause division. Satan will try to blow things out of proportion so we become divided. When people become offended they become resentful and bitter. This can led to the next part of James 1:19, Anger.

We must be slow to anger.

Matthew 5:22
But I say to you that everyone who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire.

Ecclesiastes 7:9
Do not be quick in spirit to be angry or vexed, for anger and vexation lodge in the bosom of fools.

Eph. 4:26
When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.

Proverbs 15:18 (Amplified Bible)
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger appeases contention.

Proverbs 15:1
 A SOFT answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

Eph. 4:31
Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).

Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.

The bible has so much to say about how we live and conduct ourselves. The only way we can do or not do any of these things is if we look to what Jesus did for us at the cross and therefore receiving the help of the Holy Spirit in our lives to help us be Slow in a fast world.

In this scripture it seems to have a natural progression. If we don’t be quick to hear, we won’t be slow to speak. Then if we don’t slow down on what we speak then we won’t be slow to take offense. Then if we are not slow to take offense, then we won’t be slow to anger. It will be easier to be slow in anger if we are quick to list, slow to speak, and slow to take offense. Father help us today to not get caught up in the world of speed. We want our lives to be acceptable to you. Open our eyes as we go through our day to what we are saying and how we are reacting to what others are saying. We want to glorify you. Change us Lord. Help us to “Slow Down” today. In Jesus name, AMEN!!!

WHY WE CAN BE FORGIVEN-VIDEO BY LEN PAXTON

“It is time to Repent”

True repentance is done freely. We don’t repent just when someone else has found you out or discovered your sin.

1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

When we freely admit our sins, it is God’s nature to forgive us.

When we repent we are cleansed right away from all unrighteousness, all that is not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, & action.

Repent means to turn from sin, change directions. Sin is anything against God, His ways, His standard, His word, & His law. Once you turn, change direction, you must turn to Christ, depending on what He did at Calvary to forgive you, for mercy, & for all that comes with salvation.

When we do repent, turn, & confess our sins there will be a time of refreshing.

Acts 3:19 So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord...

There will even be recovery from the damages of sin. PRAISE GOD!

SIn leads to more sin & becomes a downward motion. You get deeper & deeper & become in bondage to it. The only way out is to repent, to look to what Jesus did for you at Calvary, & with the help of the Holy Spirit who gives you power to overcome.

You will perish if we do not confess & turn from your sins. (turn with abhorrence)

Luke 13:3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent (change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), you will all likewise perish and be lost eternally.

Wow, what a strong word Abhorrence. Today sin is so excepted that we just glaze over it. Things that we thought were sin when we first got saved, are no longer sin (or is it).

Acts 26:20 But made known openly first of all to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout the whole land of Judea, and also among the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance.

We need to live our lives worthy of our repentance. If we truly have repented our lives will show it.

We need to live a life of repentance. Looking to Jesus Daily. (Heb. 12:2) Trusting daily. Die Daily to self. Humble yourself daily. We live & move & have our being in Him daily. We walk in the light daily. We walk in the Spirit daily. We look for help of the Holy Spirit daily. Just because you did things yesterday does not mean it carries you through today.

His mercies are new every morning. We can have a new day each day. Yesterday is past, tomorrow is not here, today is the only day we can live.

We were buried with Him so we could live in newness of life.
Rom. 6:4 We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.

We all have sinned. Rom 3:23-24 So it doesn’t matter if you are just getting born again or you have been saved a long time, you must repent & turn from anything that does not & is not of God. And then turn to Jesus.

We do not take the time to repent. We do not repent enough. We have excepted sin so long that we deceive ourselves into believing that we are OK and it is not sin.

I heard something yesterday that hit me strong. Rom. 6:7 whatever a man soweth, that will he reap. There are times we sow bad seed & weeds grow. A bad crop grows & repentance is the only way to kill those weeds & bad crop.

To take heed, Repent, turn to God or you will reap what you sow!!!!

"Jesus is praying for you"

Wow, This is Jesus interceding for His disciples & beyond(US). His words, the words of my Savior. He loves us so much that He is ever interceding for us (How could we fail? when we have such a one who has & is praying for us.) We win & have won because we are covered with His prayers. We are not alone. When we feel like we are or feel like no one is praying for us, we must think again. Read the following prayer for you!!(If you don’t want to read the whole thing at least read VS 3, 9, 13, 15, 17, 20 & 26.)

John 17:1-26
1 WHEN JESUS had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You.
2 [Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him.

3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.
4 I have glorified You down here on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do.
5 And now, Father, glorify Me along with Yourself and restore Me to such majesty and honor in Your presence as I had with You before the world existed.
6 I have manifested Your Name [I have revealed Your very Self, Your real Self] to the people whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have obeyed and kept Your word.
7 Now [at last] they know and understand that all You have given Me belongs to You [is really and truly Yours].
8 For the [uttered] words that You gave Me I have given them; and they have received and accepted [them] and have come to know positively and in reality [to believe with absolute assurance] that I came forth from Your presence, and they have believed and are convinced that You did send Me.
9 I am praying for them. I am not praying (requesting) for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they belong to You.
10 All [things that are] Mine are Yours, and all [things that are] Yours belong to Me; and I am glorified in (through) them. [They have done Me honor; in them My glory is achieved.]
11 And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are [still] in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your Name [in the knowledge of Yourself] those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are one].
12 While I was with them, I kept and preserved them in Your Name [in the knowledge and worship of You]. Those You have given Me I guarded and protected, and not one of them has perished or is lost except the son of perdition [Judas Iscariot--the one who is now doomed to destruction, destined to be lost], that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
13 And now I am coming to You; I say these things while I am still in the world, so that My joy may be made full and complete and perfect in them [that they may experience My delight fulfilled in them, that My enjoyment may be perfected in their own souls, that they may have My gladness within them, filling their hearts].
14 I have given and delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world.
15 I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one.
16 They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.
17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
18 Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
19 And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicate, consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth.
20 Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching,
21 That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.
22 I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one:
23 I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.
24 Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me] may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me]; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
25 O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You and has failed to recognize You and has never acknowledged You, I have known You [continually]; and these men understand and know that You have sent Me.
26 I have made Your Name known to them and revealed Your character and Your very [c]Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them.

Satan wants us to feel alone. He wants us to think that no one cares and no one is praying for us. That is a lie. Wow, we have a Savior that not only died for us so that our sins are forgiven, past, present, & future, but He has & is praying for us so we can have eternal life.

VS 3 And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.

1) To know HIM
2) Have Eternal life

He wants us to have Eternal life & to know the only true God & to know Jesus who God has sent. He did so much just so we could have these things. He is still praying for us. We also have the Holy Spirit interceding for us.

Romans 8:26-39

26 So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
27 And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God’s will.
34 Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us?

VS 31 says What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]

So if We have these praying for us, how can we fail? The next scriptures also say who can separate us from Christ’s love? NOTHING & NO ONE!! Be encouraged today. You are LOVED! You are NOT ALONE! You do have someone praying FOR YOU!! You will NOT FAIL! You will MAKE IT! God is for YOU!!s

“Why Fear”

Why does satan use fear?

When people fear they revert back to their old nature. Fear is not a part of your born again nature. Your new nature is of God.

2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any person is [engrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

When you give your life to God & except what Jesus did at the Cross you no longer walk as one in darkness. We do not follow after the flesh (the old Adamic nature).

Satan wants you to walk in the old nature to be like him, not God. He will lie to you, deceive you, and try to make you fear so you will be like him and not like God.

Rom. 8:1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.

Satan wants you to walk in fear so condemnation will come upon you. He wants you to walk in fear so you will live & walk after the dictation’s of the flesh. Satan wants you to be controlled by the flesh. But when you are born again the Holy Spirit comes to your aide so you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Rom. 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit.

Satan wants you not to have peace. Vs. 6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever]. But we can have peace in God. We do not have to fear life and what life holds.

Vs 7 The carnal mind is hostile to God. Satan tries to put fear on you so you will revert back to your old ways. Carnal thinking, walking in the flesh is all hostile & against God.

Satan wants you in bondage. Rom. 8:15 For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

Fear paralyzes you so you can not cry Abba Father.

Satan wants you to make decisions according to the flesh. Fear causes you to make wrong decisions. You become stupid & all you have learned of God does not flow from you.

Your flesh will control you, unless you are controlled by the Holy Spirit. Fear is a Spirit and it controls you if you let it. And God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power & love & a sound mind. Fear has torment and it takes away your power.

Gal. 5:16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

Satan knows that if he can get you to walk continually in fear you will have your part in the lake of fire(Rev. 21: 8) And you will be separated from God forever.

Fear causes anger, bad feelings towards others, slander, lying lips, & much more from the flesh. Satan wants you destroyed. He does not want you to walk with God in peace. Fear takes faith from you & without faith it is impossible to please God.

Fear causes you to look at self. You do not look at God and what He can do, you only look at your shortcomings and what you can do in the flesh. Fear stops you from living and Jesus came so you might have life and have it more abundantly. He came to destroy the works of satan.

The devil is a destroyer and he wants to destroy your peace, your joy, & every aspect of your born again life and your walk with God.

Fear causes you not to hear God’s voice. God wants to walk with you and talk with you. He does not want you to fear.

Ps. 62:8 Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Ps. 115:9 O Israel, trust and take refuge in the Lord! [Lean on, rely on, and be confident in Him!] He is their Help and their Shield.

Ps. 23 1 THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.

4 Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

Is. 12:2 Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation.

Ps. 46:1 GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.

God is here for you. You do not need to fear. Satan is a liar and the father of all lies. Trust God and walk with Him. Resist all that satan would try to put on you. Do not let fear have a place in your life. Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. You can do it with God. All things are possible in Him. Do not fear!! Trust!! God is not going to tell you about tomorrow, he wants you to trust Him. Though things change and you don’t understand, God knows all. He already knows what will happen one minute from now, one hour from now, one year from now, and He has it all under control. So don’t let fear control you or have any part of your life. FEAR NOT!! TRUST HIM!

“Fear of People”

Matt10:28 And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Gehenna).

God does not want us to fear people. Others do have influence over us if we let them. Others can make you feel things and do things that God does not want for you. It is important that we see things the way God wants us to see. Do not Fear men!

John 8:20 Jesus said these things in the treasury while He was teaching in the temple [[c]court]; but no one ventured to arrest Him, because His hour had not yet come.

He said His hour had not yet come, so no one had power over Him, save only that which is given by the Father. NO ONE has power to do anything to us, unless God allows them to. Do not give others power over you because of FEAR.

Heb. 13:6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

I will not fear what man can do to me!!!!

PS. 56:4 By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

2 Tim. 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

God has not given us a spirit of fear. It is the enemy that uses fear to control people.

Rom. 8:15 For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

Fear brings bondage. God wants us to be free. He does not want us to be in bondage to nothing or no one.

Rev. 21:8 But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the contemptible and the cravenly lacking in courage and the cowardly submissive, (THE FEARFUL & UNBELIEVING) and as for the unbelieving and faithless, and as for the depraved and defiled with abominations, and as for murderers and the lewd and adulterous and the practicers of magic arts and the idolaters (those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything other than God) and all liars (those who knowingly convey untruth by word or deed)–[all of these shall have] their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is the second death.

WOW, The fearful are listed with the murderers, sorcerers, etc… will have their part in the Lake of fire which burneth with fire… & liars (in word & deed)

Fear breeds unbelief. Why do we fear man??? When fear comes we cowardly submit to whoever & what ever has brought the fear, therefore giving it power over us. But great is He that is in us that he that is in the world. We must submit to Jesus & what He did for us. (…he that the Son set free is free indeed)

Is. 8:12-13 Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy [or hard, or holy]; neither be in fear of what they fear, nor [make others afraid and] in dread.

13 The Lord of hosts–regard Him as holy and honor His holy name by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].

Do not cause others to fear. Do not spread fear. Honor God and Him only. Fear Him and Him only.

Phil. 1:28 And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.

Do not let others intimidate you. They only want destruction and they want you to be side tracked from what God has for you. If you have fear He will deliver you!!!

Ps. 27:1,2,3,5,13,14 - THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, [even then] in this will I be confident. For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; in the secret place of His tent will He hide me; He will set me high upon a rock. What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

We do not have hope without God!!!

Ps. 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Deut. 31:8 It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit--depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].

Is. 8:11-15 The people were in fear of an invasion. Their enemies were very close. Isaiah told them to fear God only. Fear is an enemy of faith. Fear takes away your peace. It can rob you of your trust in God. God is our shelter & hiding place. Ask God to not let you fear people & fear Him only! Fear not. DO NOT FEAR. The Lord will fight for you. Just as He did for the children of Israel. He brought them out of Egypt to the Red Sea & had them camp there, fully knowing that the Egyptians were coming. When the Israelites “saw” the Egyptians they became exceedingly frightened, they did right at first, they cried out to the Lord. But then fear took over & they became forgetful of all the miracles & all that the Lord had brought them through. Long story short the Lor went between the Israelites & the Egyptians. Ex. 14:20 (so that one came not near the other all night) vs. 14 “The Lord will fight for you, & you shall hold your peace & remain at REST.”

vs 13 Moses told the people:

1) Fear not

2) Stand still (firm, confident, me undismayed)

3) see the salvation of the Lord

Which He will work for you TODAY!

Be on the watch. DO NOT fear people. If we let fear of people stop us we will not receive what God has for us.

Rev. 3:11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown.

Rom. 8:35-39 Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword?

36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.

37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.

38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,

39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We must not let anyone take rob us of our crown. No one can separate us from God. We must stand firm. We must not fear what man can do to us. Hold fast to your convictions and to your faith. Man is nothing compared to our God. Do not let anyone manipulate you into believing them or fearing them. You are a child of God. He will fight your battle and you will have battles. Be of good courage!! We are overcomers!! Look to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. DO NOT FEAR MAN!!!! BE NOT AFRAID!! What can man do??? NOTHING!!!! We have might God. Serve Him and Him only. Fear Him and Him only. Do not let anyone have any power over you!!!!!!!!!!! Fear has torment! God is love and perfect love cast out fear. Serve God and Him only! Fear God and Him only!

“Fear of Failure”

There are many types of fear. One that grips a lot of people today is the fear of failure. We try to be perfect because we don’t want to fail. We don’t want to fail our family, our friends, ourselves, and God. But this can steal your joy and can stop you from growing and going forward in God.

When you fear like this it will stop you from getting involved with something you were asked to do, because you are afraid to fail. God almost always ask you to do things that you can not do. He wants us to depend on Him. With fear of failure you won’t walk out on faith and just do what ever God ask you to do. You won’t take risk. This will limit you and your service for God.

The fear of failure can put one into depression. You feel though you let everyone down and that you are not worth anything. Once you are depressed it can be hard to come out of it. You have no motivation & little hope. Fear of failure has turned many to drugs and drinking. We must remember our life & who we are is not based on our success or failure.

Many people have feared failure, Moses did. Exodus 4:10 (Amp.)

“And Moses said to the Lord, O Lord, I am not eloquent or a man of words, neither before not since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech & have a heavy & awkward tongue.”

One of the first things people do when they fear failure is to make excuses to why they can not do something. God does not want us to do this. Many times in the bible the first thing God says to people when He ask them to do something is Fear Not! He knows that people will not go forward and do the great things He has asked if they are afraid. Fear hinders us from doing what God wants us to do. We must remember we are not to do anything in our own strength & wisdom. (do all things unto the Lord, You can do all things through Him)

God answer to Moses: “and the Lord said to him, Who has made man’s mouth? or who makes the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefor go & I WILL BE WITH YOUR MOUTH & will teach you what you shall say.

See God is with us. He will teach us. He has made us who we are. He is our strength.

Gideon was just like Moses. Judges 6:15

“Gideon said to the Lord, oh Lord, how Can I deliver Israel? (first we question God, then here comes the excuse) Behold, my clan is the poorest in Manasseh, & I am the least in my father’s house.”

But again God answers Him: “surely I WILL BE WITH YOU…” vs 23 “DO NOT FEAR”.

See God will always be with us. He will teach us and show us what and how to do what ever He ask us to do.

It is not what we do or not do that gives us relief from the fear of failure. It is because God sent His Son Jesus to die for us, so we could have life, even though we did not deserve it. He does not kick us our when we fail. He forgives us & cleanses us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

We have been justified and forgiven. He has succeeded, so it is not weather we succeed or fail that matters. It is what He did!! We have right standing with God because of what Jesus did at the Cross. 2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 10:17.

Rom. 5:8 While we were yet sinners Christ Died for us. (We were failures, when he died for us)

Christ alone is the source of our peace. We do not need to fear failure, because He is our strength.

Isaiah 64:6 For we all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness (OUR BEST DEEDS OF RIGHTNESS AND JUSTICE) is like filthy rags or a polluted garment; we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind, take us away (far from God’s favor, hurrying us toward destruction).

Our best deeds are like filthy rags. WOW! We go around Fearing failure and even our best deeds are like polluted garments. There is nothing we can do without God that means anything or is good for anything. (without Him we are nothing) So lets stop making excuses and lets stop fearing failure and lets “GO FORTH” and do what God has called us to do without fear!! He said He would be with us. He would provide for us. As He told Moses “Have I not made your mouth?” He can give us the words to say, the deeds to do, and the strength and wisdom to succeed. So do not let Fear of Failure hinder you. Let God be God and follow Him. He will not leave you, nor forsake you!!!!!

GOD NEVER CHANGES BY REV. LEN PAXTON

"BLUE ANGELS IN TRAVERSE CITY"

TRAVERSE CITY BEACH BUMS-A DAY AT THE BALL GAME

"THE SEEKER-SENSITIVE FAD" By Len Paxton

The new catch phrase in the church today is to be "seeker-sensitive". In a nutshell, churches have a brief praise and worship service, and then the people sit and listen to some kind of teaching for about 20 minutes. Then they are dismissed. The so-called leaders of this movement make it very clear that you are not to call anyone a sinner, never preach about sin, and you are not to sing songs about the blood of Jesus. These things might "offend" the seeker.

In these new modern so-called churches, the first time anyone preaches against sin, confronts evil, experiences a strong move of the Holy Spirit, or in any way deviates from the normal routine, these "seekers" will seek something and somewhere else because their sensitivities have been offended.

Was Elijah being insensitive when he told old Jezebel that she was going to the dogs? [1 Kings 21:23]
Were the kings of Israel concerned about people's opinion when they destroyed the groves, ran off the sodomites, and tore down the altars of Baal?
Was John the Baptist being insensitive when he called religious hypocrites "a generation of vipers" [Matt. 3:7]?
Was Jesus being a seeker-sensitive leader when He called the same kind of people " whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" [Matt. 23:27]?
What about Peter when he spoke under a drop dead anointing that fell on people who lied to the Holy Spirit [Acts 5:3-10]?
Did Paul teach us to become seeker-sensitive when he advised turning someone over to Satan [1 Cor. 5:5]?

Lets just face it. None of the above prophets or apostles or even our Lord Himself would be invited to minister in many contemporary churches in America today. The fear of offending a sinner or awakening a lethargic Christian would overwhelm the pastors. Most pastors would choose not to allow such radical statements to be made from their pulpits.

It seems that far too many are more concerned with the seeker than they are with the Holy Spirit. Most have left out God all together. When the true presence of the Holy Spirit is working in the church, strong messages would be received because the Holy Spirit touches the attitude and the heart.

We do not need seeker-sensitive preaching; we need Holy Spirit sensitive and anointed preaching. This would produce conviction and conviction leads to repentance.. That is what is needed.We need to love people with an intense love that will not compromise the truth and the anointing.

The message can be strong, firm, and, at times, rebuking. However, with the compassion of Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, it will be effective. We need the Holy Spirit working among us to change the hearts and lives of people.

"WHY WE CAN BE FORGIVEN" By Len Paxton

Forgiveness is of such importance to each of us that we must realize that the basis for our forgiveness is the Cross of Jesus Christ. We can be forgiven only on the basis of what Jesus did on our behalf. Before Jesus suffered and died on the Cross, Isaiah the prophet gave us a picture of what He was to do and why He was to do it. In Isaiah 53 Isaiah describes the suffering death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

" Surely He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:4-6

That is the basis of God's forgiveness. It does not compromise His justice. The justice of God was fully and finally satisfied because Jesus became our substitute and took our iniquity, our rebelliousness, and our guilt. Isaiah and Paul both emphasize that none are excluded from the need of forgiveness. [Romans 3:23]
It may not be some atrocious crime of murder or rape that each of us is quilty of, but Isaiah says that we have all gone astray. We have all turned to our own way. We have been rebellious. We have been self-pleasers. We have lived by our own standards. We have robbed God of His glory. This is all summed up in one strong word of scripture, iniquity.
But thanks be to God, the Lord laid on Jesus the iniquity of us all. The Hebrew word that is translated " laid on Him" is a vivid word. It means " made to meet together on Him". All of the sins, all the burdens of men, all the guilt, of all ages, of all races, past, present, and future, came and met together upon the person of the Lord Jesus Christ as He hung on the Cross.

Jesus did not die for His own sin. He never sinned. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him.
Please take note how closely linked healing and forgiveness are. Many times people are seeking healing, when what they really need is forgiveness before they can be healed. It is also true that, at times God does heal people who are not forgiven as yet. We also see that the consequence of forgiveness is peace. Because Jesus was punished on the Cross for our sin, God offers us peace and reconciliation. On the Cross, Jesus was our substitute.

We cannot earn our forgiveness. Period..
In Romans, chapter 4, Paul bases his teaching on the experience of Abraham. Paul points out that Abraham did not earn his relationship with God. Abraham was justified because he believed, not because of what he did. Read Romans 4:1-5
If we lead perfectly good lives then we would have received the reward of righteousness as a due. But Paul says because none of us has led perfect lives, we cannot claim it as a due. We have to receive it out of God's graciousness as a free gift to us. Paul then goes on to quote the words of David in Psalm 32. He talks about "blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." [verses 1-2] When we receive Christ and what He did for us at Calvary; our sins will never be counted against us...
Paul continues by telling us in Romans Chapter 4:20-25 that it is Christ who was raised to life for our justification. As we put our faith in what Jesus did for us at Calvary this becomes a reality for us. We are justified through faith in the death of Jesus on our behalf. When all our sins are forgiven us because of our faith in Jesus, we are reckoned righteous with the very righteousness of Jesus Himself.

When God forgives us through our faith in Christ, He does not partially forgive us. God totally forgives us. Lets look at Micah 7:18-19. "Who is a God like unto you, who pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."
Isn't that so beautiful? Everything that we have ever done wrong-- everything that could ever make us feel guilty, every accusation that the enemy could ever bring against us-- God treads them under foot and then hurls them into the depths of the sea. If God has forgiven you then you are forgiven.

God's forgiveness is total. In Isaiah 43:25 God speaks to His people: "I, even I, am He Who blots out your transgressions for My Own sake, and will not remember your sins."
When God forgives us, He gives us a clean record. It is as though what has been forgiven had never taken place.Not only does God blot out the record, but He blots it out from His own memory. He says that He will not remember our sins any more.
When God forgives, He forgets... All because of Calvary...

"DID JESUS DIE SPIRITUALLY?" By Len Paxton

In a word, no He did not.
The Jesus died spiritually doctrine is one of the most brutal attacks on the finished work of Christ upon the cross in todays church. This heresey is promoted mostly by the so called word of faith movement. This bogus doctrine has been made popular by false teachers such as E.W. Kenyon and Kenneth Copeland.

Paul says in 1 Cor 2:2 "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." Quite clearly the New Testament teaches that redemption was paid for by Jesus Christ, on the Cross. 1 Cor. 1:18 says "For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God". Every aspect of Salvation is carried out as the believer recieves the truth of Christ and Him crucified. The Jesus died spiritually doctrine attacks both who Christ is and also the finished work that He accomplished on the Cross of Calvary.

These people teach that Jesus' physical death on the Cross was not sufficient to redeem all mankind. They say that Jesus was defeated by satan at the Cross. Nothing could be any further from the truth. The majority of the word of faith teachers say that Jesus was impregnated with a sinful demonic nature. They wrongly interpret 2 Cor. 5:17 and teach that Jesus became a sinner. He did not...

Let me say it loud and clear, JESUS DEATH ON THE CROSS AND THE SHEDDING OF HIS PRECIOUS, INNOCENT, AND PURE BLOOD IS WHAT PAID THE PRICE FOR MAN'S REDEMPTION...

Jesus did not become a sinner. He became the perfect sin-offering. Calvary was not a defeat, it was where the eternal victory was forever won.. Jesus did not have a sin nature and He never one single time sinned. ever. PERIOD...

These false teachers also say that Jesus went to hell and burned there as a sinner and then was born again in hell, and that, they say is how redeemption was won. Kenneth Copeland even went so far as to say that God told him that he [Copeland] could have done the same thing if it were physical death that paid the price. This statement is utter, raw BLASPHEMY...

The Bible says " How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God".[Heb. 9:14] and " By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all".[Heb. 10:10] You see my friend, it was on the Cross and by the shedding of His Holy Blood that Jesus paid the sin debt and broke the power of sin over us..

Jesus Christ did not die spiritually. He had never sinned. Jesus Christ did die physically and shed His Pure blood for our sins. If we will recieve Christ and what He did at the Cross, we can be redeemed and live a holy life.

These people who teach the false Jesus died spiritually doctrine expose themselves that they have opted for a redemption plan that God will have nothing to do with... You cannot be saved unless you are saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The Cross is the only way.

“HAVE YOU SUFFERED LIKE THIS”

I always say that we need to be thankful for what we have in life. There is always others that are worse off than us. When you start feeling down, just look around, listen to the news, there are people going through some very tough things. This does not make light of what you are going through, but we need to stop looking at our self all the time. I heard a person say about a preacher once, “he teaches you how to help yourself.” I just thought that is one of our big problems today is “SELF”.

Have you suffered like JOB?

Job 1 & 2 talks about Job’s life. He had 7 sons, 3 daughters, 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys & a very great body of servants. He lost them all. All of his children were killed in one day. Then he was smote with boils from he soles of his feet to the top of his head. (BUT he did not sin with his lips) Have you suffered like this?

Have you suffered like PAUL?

2 Corn. 11:25-27 states: in laborers more abundant, in stripes above measure(beaten often), in prison more frequent(for preaching the gospel),in death oft, of the Jews 5 times received 40 stripes, save one. Thrice was he beaten with rods, once he was stoned, thrice he suffered shipwreck, a night and a day he was in the deep. in journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by his own country man, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness & painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger & thirst, in fastings often, in cold & in nakedness. Have you suffered like this?

Have you suffered like Jesus?

Matt 26:47-56 Betrayed with a kiss, spit on, slapped, put in prison. Stripped & a crown of thorns placed on His head, mocked, beaten, crucified. Isaiah 53:1-12 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.. Surely he hath borne OUR grief’s, and carried OUR sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for OUR transgressions, he was bruised for OUR iniquities; the chastisement of OUR peace was upon him; and with his stripes WE are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his OWN way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of US all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my (US) people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was nay deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear THEIR iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, an made intercession for the transgressors. Have you suffered like this?

There is always someone who is worse off. There are people who have had a life worse than you.

Have you suffered like those of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11?

Heb. 11:35-40 and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection: & others had trial of cruel mockings & scorings, yea, moreover of bonds & imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in the sheepskins & goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, (of whom the world was not worthy) They wander in the he deserts, and in mountains, and in dens & caves of the earth and these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. (Heb. 12:4 You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring our you [own] blood) Have you suffered like this?

Have you suffered like those of today?

“Earthquake claims 10,000 in India”. “Thousands perish in Bangladesh’s flood.” Earthquake devastated China, over 62,000 killed and are without homes, food, etc…” “Tornadoes sweep the Midwest and kill many, leaving many homeless.” “ drunk driver kills a child.” “over 3 million homeless and an additional 5 million poor people that spend over half of their income on housing, leaving them on the verge of homelessness.” “people are dying of cancer, in a horrible way”

On April 15, Pastor Vic Vicera, his wife, Beth; and Pastor were shot at when an unknown assailant stormed Pastor Vicera’s home in Mindanao, Philippines, and started shooting. Pastor Vicera was killed in the attack. (for his faith in Jesus Christ)

There are so many more today that are hurting & suffering in so many ways. Too many to list. Have you suffered like these and many more?

As I searched the web for more hurting people I just wanted to cry, the hurting people are great. I am concerned that we are not a thankful people. The bible does say that in the last days people would be unthankful. Don’t let that be you. Take time to help others. Stop looking at yourself and what you are going through long enough to realize that you are not alone, you are better off than most people. Cry out to God. Pray for others. And if you are one who has suffered so much, then you have hope. When we place our Faith in what Jesus did for us at the cross we have hope. We are not like those without hope. Many commit suicide today because they have not hope. You are loved, you are blessed, you can make it through. Life is hard, BUT God is good. We can reach out to one another and lift those around us up. Don’t ever think that you can not do anything about those things around you. Maybe all someone needs today is your smile. Can you do that? Can you volunteer to help the homeless or the hungry? If we are reach out, the world would be a better place. When you get down just think Have I suffered like this?

THE CUP OF SUFFERING - By Rev. Len Paxton

St. John 18:11 " Then said Jesus unto Peter, put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it ?"

This cup very often points to some kind of suffering. God is in control, even of our suffering. No one likes to suffer. I do not enjoy suffering. I did not wish to be the victim of injustice nor to be apart from my wife and loved ones. I did not wish to hear all of the sad stories of all the broken lives around me. But God allows the things He allows for a reason; His reason.

God's reasons for allowing suffering in our lives are never for our destruction. Read Romans 8: 18,28.
When we drink deeply from the cup of God; He is revealed in us and to us. The Glory of God is resident within us and can only be revealed when we come to the end of ourselves.

Sometimes it is as if we must force ourselves to choke down a bitter cup. Why ? We do it because we believe in the Fathers bigger picture. You see, your suffering is not your end. Yes, Jesus died on the Cross, but He rose from the dead; thereby making our redemption complete. The suffering is only a part, not the whole. Our completeness is awaiting us on the other side of the storm.

God's purposes for us are always good, no matter where we are today. He has called us to His glory. God has equipped us to rise above any challenge, any struggle, any suffering; and be more like Jesus when we are through to the other side of the storm. Read Romans 8:37.

The purpose of God's intense glory is often to change people &/or circumstances. So, we yield to a cup from our Father. We often do not know the " why", but still we yield to God in the midst of questioning. We echo Jesus words in Gethsemane " Nevertheless, not My will but thine, be done." [ Luke 22: 42]. As Jesus dreaded the coming brief separation from the Father, I too have dreaded my separation from all I know and love. But as I have learned to trust God, He has revealed a little of His glory in my heart and this increases daily.
We are coming through the storm. We will not die in the storm.

We will drink the cup and although it is bitter; we know that the future God has for us will be filled with His Glory. Parts of our character may die, but we will experience the resurrection of God's Glory in that area of our lives. The Lord will use the cup to accomplish His purposes and to make us what He desires us to be.

Suffering accomplishes another purpose as well. It often allows us to see some things from the perspective of Christ. If you have never suffered, it is difficult to see things from the perspective of those who do suffer. Jesus bore intense pain and only when I bear intense pain can I even begin to understand something of His thoughts and Love. Sometimes, I have prayed and told Christ that I couldn't stand much more. He spoke to my heart and said " I know how you feel, I've been there too." Then I realized that in my suffering I could identify with Jesus in a way I had never known before. Jesus and I are brothers in suffering and now I can see some things from His perspective.

Times of trial and suffering are never pleasant but God's purpose can & will be accomplished as we learn to respond correctly to the cup that the Father gives us to drink. We must never lose sight of Christ and Him Crucified. Our victory is through the Cross.

This was originally a partner letter that I wrote during a very difficult time in my life.
Angie and I had suffered betrayal at the hands of people that we cared alot about. It is our prayer that if you are in the midst of any kind of suffering today, that this message will encourage you. We love you.
Posted by Rev. Len Paxton at 3:37 PM 0 comments

Below you will find...

Below you will find 3 excerpts of our telecast. You can view them in their entirety, as well as many others at www.acts2618.com As you view them here , I believe you will want to watch the entire series.
I feel that these excerpts will be a blessing to your spiritual life. Please, when you have time, visit the www.acts2618.com site; as well as our You-Tube channel.
Thank you and God Bless.

"HAVE YOU SUFFERED LIKE THIS?"

“HAVE YOU SUFFERED LIKE THIS”
May 30, 2008 by angiepaxton


I always say that we need to be thankful for what we have in life. There is always others that are worse off than us. When you start feeling down, just look around, listen to the news, there are people going through some very tough things. This does not make light of what you are going through, but we need to stop looking at our self all the time. I heard a person say about a preacher once, “he teaches you how to help yourself.” I just thought that is one of our big problems today is “SELF”.

Have you suffered like JOB?

Job 1 & 2 talks about Job’s life. He had 7 sons, 3 daughters, 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys & a very great body of servants. He lost them all. All of his children were killed in one day. Then he was smote with boils from he soles of his feet to the top of his head. (BUT he did not sin with his lips) Have you suffered like this?

Have you suffered like PAUL?

2 Corn. 11:25-27 states: in laborers more abundant, in stripes above measure(beaten often), in prison more frequent(for preaching the gospel),in death oft, of the Jews 5 times received 40 stripes, save one. Thrice was he beaten with rods, once he was stoned, thrice he suffered shipwreck, a night and a day he was in the deep. in journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by his own country man, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness & painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger & thirst, in fastings often, in cold & in nakedness. Have you suffered like this?

Have you suffered like Jesus?

Matt 26:47-56 Betrayed with a kiss, spit on, slapped, put in prison. Stripped & a crown of thorns placed on His head, mocked, beaten, crucified. Isaiah 53:1-12 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.. Surely he hath borne OUR grief’s, and carried OUR sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for OUR transgressions, he was bruised for OUR iniquities; the chastisement of OUR peace was upon him; and with his stripes WE are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his OWN way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of US all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgression of my (US) people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was nay deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear THEIR iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, an made intercession for the transgressors. Have you suffered like this?

There is always someone who is worse off. There are people who have had a life worse than you.

Have you suffered like those of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11?

Heb. 11:35-40 and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection: & others had trial of cruel mockings & scorings, yea, moreover of bonds & imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in the sheepskins & goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, (of whom the world was not worthy) They wander in the he deserts, and in mountains, and in dens & caves of the earth and these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise. (Heb. 12:4 You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring our you [own] blood) Have you suffered like this?

Have you suffered like those of today?

“Earthquake claims 10,000 in India”. “Thousands perish in Bangladesh’s flood.” Earthquake devastated China, over 62,000 killed and are without homes, food, etc…” “Tornadoes sweep the Midwest and kill many, leaving many homeless.” “ drunk driver kills a child.” “over 3 million homeless and an additional 5 million poor people that spend over half of their income on housing, leaving them on the verge of homelessness.” “people are dying of cancer, in a horrible way”

On April 15, Pastor Vic Vicera, his wife, Beth; and Pastor were shot at when an unknown assailant stormed Pastor Vicera’s home in Mindanao, Philippines, and started shooting. Pastor Vicera was killed in the attack. (for his faith in Jesus Christ)

There are so many more today that are hurting & suffering in so many ways. Too many to list. Have you suffered like these and many more?

As I searched the web for more hurting people I just wanted to cry, the hurting people are great. I am concerned that we are not a thankful people. The bible does say that in the last days people would be unthankful. Don’t let that be you. Take time to help others. Stop looking at yourself and what you are going through long enough to realize that you are not alone, you are better off than most people. Cry out to God. Pray for others. And if you are one who has suffered so much, then you have hope. When we place our Faith in what Jesus did for us at the cross we have hope. We are not like those without hope. Many commit suicide today because they have not hope. You are loved, you are blessed, you can make it through. Life is hard, BUT God is good. We can reach out to one another and lift those around us up. Don’t ever think that you can not do anything about those things around you. Maybe all someone needs today is your smile. Can you do that? Can you volunteer to help the homeless or the hungry? If we are reach out, the world would be a better place. When you get down just think Have I suffered like this?

“God is in the midst of His People”

Matt 18:2 For wherever 2 or 3 are gathered (drawn together as my followers) in (into) my name, there “I AM” in the midst of them.

We take so lightly the presence of God. He is with us all the time.

He loves when His people come together. He loves when they worship & learn of Him together.

Malachi 3:16 (AMP) Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another, & the Lord listened and heard it, AND a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who revered & worshipfully feared the Lord & who thought on His name.

WOW, God listens to us when we gather together in His name and talk about Him. He writes it down as a parent would record their children's life. He writes it down in a book of remembrance. And someday as the next verse says “He will publicly recognize us as His jewels, His special possessions, His peculiar treasures.

He loves us and He loves when we gather in His name.

Ps 133:1-3 Behold, how good & how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar & shirts of his garments [consecrating THE WHOLE BODY] ...for there the Lord has commanded the blessing even life forevermore [upon the high & the lowly]

God does not want us to be alone. We are stronger when we are together.

Ecc 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have good [more satisfying] reward for their labor; for if they fall, then one will lift up his fellow; But woe to him who is alone when he falls & have not another to lift him up!

Heb 10:23-25 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the HOPE we cherish and confess and our acknowledgment of it, for He who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. ANd let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir us (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, NOT forsaking the assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, BUT admonishing (warning,urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

Hard times are coming and we need each other. We need to help one another. Reach out to your fellow brother and encourage him.

God loves when His children come together and help each other. He loves it so much that He has a book of remembrance. Just as we do for our children. I can see God saying “Oh look at my little ones, look how they help one another, That is my child, Oh how I love them”. He cares so much for us and He wants us to be together in hope, in Love, in unity, IN HIM!!!!

"NO TURNING BACK"

By Rev Len Paxton

“And Jesus said unto him, No man,having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”. [Luke 9:62]

By the grace of God, I started out living for Jesus many years ago. Along the way I have stumbled and made many mistakes and missteps. Always and without exception, when I reached out for the Lord to pick me up, He did.
Never has there been a time when He left me to my own devices or to wallow in my defeat. Because of the finished work of Christ upon the Cross, I am saved today and preaching this glorious gospel. Whether on the mountaintop or down low in the valley, the object of faith has always remained the same; Christ and Him Crucified. There is no other solution for any of us nor do we need any other.

We live in a world today that is very, very different from the world at the time I received Christ. Today, political correctness is all the rage and tolerance is demanded. Compromise is on the lips of many top christian leaders these days. Nowadays, so many in the church are trying to mix Jesus in with the rest of their “stuff”. In the world of seeker-sensitive evangelism it is a crime to mention the word sin or to call men sinners. I never would have gotten saved had not a true man of God told me that I was a sinner that needed a savior. I did not receive Christ for life enhancement; I received Christ to escape the wrath to come. I have broken the laws of God, as we all have, and can do nothing myself to set it right. I need and in fact must have, a savior.
I did not receive Christ to merely “enjoy the trip”, I want to be saved from the judgement at the end of the trail. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only way that man-kind can become right with God again and though that is not popular today, I will never quit preaching it. It is the truth!

No power in this world [or in the church for that matter] can compel me to change my convictions just because a mob wills it.
Our enemy, satan, would love for us to stop preaching the true gospel and the message of the Cross. Because the moment the preaching of the Cross stops, people stop getting saved.[ 1 Cor. 1:18, 21-23]
When a preacher like Joel Osteen states that he never mentions the Cross or sin, how can people truly be saved?When we allow a man like Rick Warren to try and bring all religions together in our christian churches, what does that say about the significance of our faith in the Lamb of God? And by the way, isn’t Jesus enough purpose? Did not Jesus provide us with the real “Purpose Driven Life” when He went to the Cross?
Why do we seem to think we need some fad to take the place of what Jesus did for us at Calvary?

Just like David did, you and I need to stop hiding from the things we fear and go after them face-to-face. Shake no hands with the enemy. If you are a true gospel preacher, then do not negotiate with the powers of hell. Don’t flirt with your enemies and do not let them flirt with you. The enemy and his demons are not in charge of me. Refuse to allow anything or anyone to conform you to the spirit or the ways of the world. Do not be conformed, but be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ.[Rom.12:1-2] We need to boldly march into these last days and follow the path least chosen instead of following the path of least resistance.

The world and the modern liberal, seeker-sensitive church can do as it desires; But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. [Joshua 24:15]. Its high time to cease halting between two opinions and choose this day whom you will serve.
As for me, I will take the way of Calvary.