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FORGETTING THOSE THINGS BEHIND

"Don't Draw Back" from Antietam

PSALM 31

Teaching Class: 8-15-2010 Excerpt Clip 1 from Cross Chapel

EXCERPTS FROM CROSS CHAPEL (teaching) 8-22-2010

CALVARY: THE GREAT BREAKTHROUGH

PSALM 91

FORGETTING THOSE THINGS BEHIND

FORGIVENESS OUTLAW CANYON by Rev. Len Paxton

"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”.

"Don't Draw Back" from Antietam

THE PROMISES OF GOD

Jimmy Swaggart Preaching on the Spirit of Caleb

JIMMY SWAGGART PREACHING ON WHEN YOU GET BACK TO THE CROSS

SOME RESULTS OF DELIVERANCE FROM SIN

Our Church times

"Acts 26:18 Cross Chapel" Click here for our church service information

Teaching Class: 8-15-2010 Excerpt Clip #2 From Cross Chapel

Teaching Class: 8-15-2010 Excerpt Clip 1 from Cross Chapel

ROMANS 8 PART 2 segment 1

ROMANS 8 PART 2 segment 2

ROMANS 8 PART 2 segment 3

LET GO OF PAST OFFENSES

A CALL TO ACTION FOR AMERICA

PSALM 91

FORGETTING THOSE THINGS BEHIND

"Walk not after the flesh" Notes from Pastor Len's message

"Walk not after the flesh" Notes from Pastor Len's message

These are notes from a message I listen to that my husband did on Romans 8:1-6. (Partial notes)

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh...

Who walk not after the flesh...

Flesh: Depending on ones personal strength or great religious efforts in order to overcome sin. We don’t try to overcome sin in our own power. We do not have any power in ourselves. This is why Christians are failing today.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)...

The weapon: The Blood of Jesus, the death, the burial, the resurrection of Jesus, the word of God, the name of Jesus, all of it ties into the Cross.

The weapons of the believer’s warfare comes from the Cross.

Great religious efforts will not overcome sin. Great religious efforts will not pull us back from condemnation. What do you mean by that? Going to church, in and of itself. Reading the bible, in and of itself. Having a prayer life, in and of itself. Giving money to the work of God, in and of itself. None of these things will guarantee you victory over sin. Fasting, as wonderful and needed as it is. Prayer, as wonderful and needed as it is.

All of those things I just mentioned are good things. And as a Christian you should and you will do them. But not to get victory over sin. You will do them because victory has already been won for you by Jesus Christ. And that will bring the Holy Spirit into your life and the Holy Spirit will always lead you to pay your tithes. The Holy Spirit will always lead you to not forsake the assembly of yourselves together with the Body of Believers. The Holy Spirit will lead you into obedience so you will pay your tithes, you will go to church, and you will have a prayer life. The Holy Spirit will birth in you a prayer life. You will be a man and women of the word of God because the Holy Spirit will take you to the word, time and time again. The Holy Spirit will convict you when you don’t put time in the word. He will convict you when you are not doing right.

But we don’t do those things to be over-comers. In Christ we are over-comers.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will work exclusively within the confines of the Finished work of Christ. Our faith in that finished work, our faith in the Cross of Christ guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit and that guarantees us the victory.

If the believer attempts to live for God by any manner other than faith in Christ and the Cross that person is doomed to failure.

God help us today to heed your warnings. God is Holy and He tells us to be Holy. But how we do that is where we run in to problems. We try to do that so often through the energy and efforts of self. We try to walk after the flesh to become holy and it guarantees us failure every time. We will fail, we will fall short in the efforts of self. Because there is no power. There is only human power, which satan has power over, BUT the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is more powerful than the Law of sin and death.

So when we properly place our faith in what Jesus did for us at Calvary, realizing He alone tread the wine press, Jesus alone is powerful to defeat sin and He did it legally. He hung on the Cross and became our sacrifice, our substitute, we should have been on that Cross. Praise God He was our substitute.

We don’t walk after the flesh... We place our faith in what Jesus did at the Cross and Praise God that gives us the help of the Holy Spirit and that gives us victory.

"Walk not after the flesh" PT 2 Notes from Pastor Len's message

These are notes from a message I listen to that my husband did on Romans 8:1-6. (Partial notes)

Why did Jesus come?

Now there is a question that the modern church needs to ask itself today. Jesus did not come to perform miracles alone. As wonderful and as needed as that is. Jesus came to atone for sin and to destroy the power of sin. And to save and sanctify the victims of sin. The Lamb of God came, the Savor came, not to start a new fad or a new gimmick. He did not say show me the money and I will save your soul. Jesus came to atone for sin and to destroy sins power. And to save and sanctify the victims of sin. And that is You and that is me today. Praise God for Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:3-4 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:...

He destroyed the power of sin by giving His perfect body as a sacrifice for sin. This made it possible for sin to be defeated in our flesh. It was all through the Cross. It was all for us. He condemned sin in the Flesh. Because of what He did in His flesh we can have victory in our flesh.

The work of Christ on the Cross can do what our own efforts and abilities could never do. We could never do it in our strength. But Jesus did it. He did not do it for himself, He did it all for you.

There are many gospels out there today. The church needs to come back to the truth of the bible, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

When we understand that all things come by & from God to us by the means of the Cross. We are to make the Cross the object of our faith and then the Holy Spirit works mighty in us. Praise God!!

No true Christian wants to do the wrong thing or to sin.

Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

What is carnally minded? It is thinking that we can achieve apart from the help of the Holy Spirit. When we think that we can accomplish these great victories apart from the help of the Holy Spirit, we are carnally minded. When we think we are strong enough to make it on our own, we are carnally minded. When we think that we have got to perform and jump through hoops to be accepted to God, we are carnally minded. Carnally minded is more than watching too much television or something like that. Carnally minded is when you try to go outside the prescribed order and that is Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

We are saved because Jesus hung on a Cross.

So As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him...Colossians 2:6

"Peace" From Walton's Mountain

"Don't Draw Back" from Antietam

No Secret Here By Len Paxton

No Secret Here

Recently I have heard it said, “Those who are preaching the Cross as the only way of sanctification think they have some secret truth that no one else has.”

This is my response to that statement in retrospect.

We could go all the way back to the book of beginnings; the book of Genesis, to see that the sacrifice; the blood sacrifice, was the means that dealt with sin, restored fellowship, and it was also the way to approach God, walk with God, worship God etc… In OT times of course it was in type, pointing to the coming redeemer. Jesus Christ; God in the flesh, becoming man and being the perfect sacrifice, fullfilled in totality these types. Now in NT times, in this church age, we look back to the Cross as a finished work. Upon us placing our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the Cross 100% and adding nothing to it, we are then partakers of all the benefits and blessings of that Finished work. This is, in reality how the believer “walks in the Spirt.” (Gal 5:16-26)

Romans 6,7,and 8 are the prolific chapters that detail the great truth of “Sanctification by Faith”, although it is found in the entirety of the Bible. All throughout the NT it is the main theme:” How the believer is to live for God. “

The New Testament is the same in everybodies Bibles, so how do you say it is “secret truth.”? No secret here. One needs to simply read the Word of God and listen to and obey the Holy Spirit. Truthfully, the ones who really claim secret truth and secret knowledge are those who are mainly in the word of faith and modern prophetic movements, who are often heard to say things like, “you just haven’t had a revelation of it yet.” and “their faith is not up to this level yet.” etc and so on. These type of statements are intended to imply and portray a subtle superiority to the rest of the body of Christ. The fact that the word of faith and modern prophetic movements doctrine is false and spurious is the real reason that most of us “just don’t get it.”

On the issue of sanctification, the Scripture is very clear, ” As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” (Col 2:6) This is as plain as the nose on your face: Nope, no secret here.

The real reason that some get so angry, so furious, so indignant, is because they want to follow a “mixture gospel” that is so popular nowadays. The Holy Spirit convicts their heart about the truth of the message of the Cross; and, listen, the Holy Spirit will always convict one about the Cross because that is the true message, BUT they simply do not want to hear it. They do not want to give up their fair works of the flesh. They do not want to give up living by law,(which totally blows my mind because they can never live it or keep the law). The reason for their anger and animosity against us is UNBELIEF… They do not believe that the cross is the answer and they feel they must add to it. Therein lies the problem in a nutshell.

When they, (whosoever “they” might be) grow angry; they will accuse the messenger(s) first. They will try to kill those who preach faith and faith alone. (see Genesis 4) Then, with truth silenced and the messenger out of the way, they can continue on their merry path of destruction with no interruptions, or so they think. But thank God, God has always got a voice.. There is always a remnant who are holding to the truth. Today, that remnant are those of us who hold to the truth of Christ and Him Crucified for Salvation AND Sanctification. For that matter, the Cross meets EVERY need we have and ever will have.. Glory to God..

I challenge my reader today: read the word of God. I mean really read it. Not just your favorite verses. Let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and show you the real truth of the message of the Cross. The message of the Cross is the message of the Bible.. Yes, the Cross is there on every page. No secret about God’s true message..

Turn loose of all your preconceived notions and ideas. Turn loose of your religious traditions. Embrace the message of the Cross. It is the clear message of the Bible and the ONLY message of the Bible.

Like the words to the old, old song says: It is no secret what our God can do……

And He did it all through and by THE CROSS

"Merge Left"

As we were traveling this weekend I saw a sign that said: “Merge Left, 2 miles ahead”. Then a little later I saw another sign that said: “Merge Left, 1 mile ahead”. Then a little later another sign said: “Merge Left”. There was still a little more road and then finally you had to “Merge Left” or you would go off the road or hit the car next to you.

The Lord dropped two things in my heart about this. One We need to discern the signs times we are living in. There are some that can look outside and see the signs of what the weather is going to be, but not that we are in the last days. The signs are there.

Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

The signs show:

1. We are in the last days.
2. The Harvest is ready - Go Forth
3. Be Ready - Have your lamp full

There are many scriptures I could put here on that subject, but the next thing He put in my heart was about the leading of the Holy Spirit. As we place our faith in what Jesus did at the Cross we receive the help of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

He will teach you... He will led you... He will guide you...

As those signs give you direction so does the Holy Spirit as He leds you and guide you. He keeps you on the right road. He will show you the way to go. He points to Jesus. But unless you are listening, following, etc... you will miss the road you are to be on or you will go into a place you were not intended to be.

The Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin. Even before you commit the sin, He will led you, “Merge Left, 2 miles ahead”. He will continue to remind you, “Merge Left, 1 mile ahead. As so on.

We must listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and obey. Do not let your heart be harden to His leading.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Hebrews 3:7-9 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts...

1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit. (To disobey is to quench the Spirit)

Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God...

The Holy Spirit is our Guide. He shows us the way, but He also goes with us as helper. He influences us and aids us as we go. He leads us into truth, but this truth needs to be in our hearts, not just our heads. We can have all the head knowledge and still not hear the Holy Spirit. We must listen and obey His leading.

Here are some notes about the Holy Spirit from one of My Husband’s teaching. (these are not full notes, just part of the message)

When we place our faith in what Jesus did at the cross, that gives the Holy Spirit latitude to help us.

The Holy Spirit will not leave us. He is our helper. He holds us up. He makes intercession for us. He pleads on our behave. (Rom. 8:28) He teaches us about Jesus. He leads us to the Father.

The Holy Spirit is practical. He can warn us & prepare us to what is coming. The Holy Spirit is personal, available, adequate, dependable, & wise.

1 Cor. 2:14 The natural man can not receive the things of God, but the Holy Spirit helps us to receive & understand the word.

No one comes to Jesus unless the Holy Spirit draw him.

The Holy Spirit reveals our sin to us. He will show us things that do no belong in our lives.

The Holy Spirit will remind us of the faithfulness of God.

People say that experience is the best teacher. The Holy is the best teacher. Sometimes your experience is deceptive & sometimes leads you away from God & what He wants for you.

The Holy Spirit gives us power to live like we are suppose to live. He will only work in the confines of what Jesus did at the cross. Our faith place in Jesus & what He did give us the power of the Help of the Holy Spirit to live.

These last days are hard & will get even harder. The bible says that men’s hearts will fail them for fear of the things they see happening on the earth.

We need the Help of the Holy Spirit. I encourage you to study and learn about the Holy Spirit and why you need His help. God has provided all we need to be over comers. Walk in Him, believe what was done for you and receive the help of the Holy Spirit.

ONE TRUE GOD by Mark Harris.

"Don't Draw Back" from Antietam

Prayer for America from Antietam

“Just like Jesus?”

Sometime we say I want to be just like Jesus. I want to be more like him. But do we really? Is it just words? First I must say we are not Jesus nor are we a god. We are being conformed into His image not becoming Him. The only way this happens and can happen is if we place our faith in what He did at the Cross and then the Holy Spirit will work in us.

Sometimes we sing a song or say phrases without really meaning what the words are saying. Like “I surrender all” Do we really mean that? These scriptures show some of what Jesus went about doing. We say: “I want to be just like Jesus” Do we really mean it or is it just words??

He Preached:

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom...

He did this even though it was taking Him to a place that He would have to die for.

Love as He loves:

Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it...

The bible says we are to love like him, do we??? He gave himself for the church... What actions did He take that we are not willing to take because that means we would have to die to self. This is not just for husbands, but all believers...

Touched a Leper:

Matthew 8:2-4 ...there came a leper...And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him...

Do we reach out to others no matter where they are at in life?

He took paths that would led him to help another that by tradition He should not have helped:

John 4:3-9 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria. Now Jacob's well was there. ...There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

He had compassion:

Matthew 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them...

Matthew 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them...

He sat down and talked with sinners:

Matthew 9:10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Please don’t think this means we can go do the things they do or be like them. We are to live lives that are holy and acceptable unto God. But sometimes we pick and choose who we will talk to or we avoid others that are not christians. Who will tell them??? How will they believe unless they hear???

He offended many:

Matthew 13:56-58 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Sometimes the things we are led to say might offend others are we willing to say them anyway???

He went where others have not gone before to help his disciples:

Matthew 14:22-25 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side... But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves... And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Sometimes God asked us to be the first to step out and go somewhere or do something no one has done before, do we step out or do we stay in the comfort zone???

He took time to be alone to pray:

Matthew 14:23 ... he went up into a mountain apart to pray...he was there alone.

He was willing to give up his life, are you:

Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

He told his friend the truth:

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Sometimes we hold back because someone is our friend and we don’t want to rock the boat. This does not mean we are to play God in their life. But if we are led by the Spirit to say something to a friend do we avoid it???

There are so many other things that could be shared in this teaching, but the point is don’t sing a song or say a phrase without really meaning it. Or don’t be a surface person, on the surface you say, “I want to be just like Jesus”, but in your heart and actions you really don’t...

The bible says to examine yourself:

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you...

Jesus said not my will, but thine...

Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

We are to be a bond slave, a servant, one whose will is swallowed up in the will of the master. Sometimes we miss out on blessings because we won’t let Him have His will in our lives. You won’t go where He wants you to go, because you have other ideas. You won’t travel or say or do what He wants you to do because you have other ideas or thoughts. That is not the heart of a servant. We need more servants in the church. So many want to be a “Minister”, “Pastor”, “In charge”, but are not willing to just do what God wants them to do. Not all can be in the same office. Who will be like Stephen and serve tables? Read Acts 6, this allowed others to give themselves to prayer and ministry of the word...And the word of God increased because of it.

Only Faith in the finish work of Christ can produce what it takes to be like Jesus. We can not do it on our own, but we can look at our motives, actions, ideas, thoughts, etc... to see if we are in the faith.

"Heart Knowledge Pt 2" By Len Paxton

"Heart Knowledge" By Len Paxton

"Look what the Lord has done!!!"

The Lord has...

The Lord has delivered me & given me victory...

1 Samuel 17:37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

The Lord has stood by me and has strengthen me, when others have forsook me...

2 Timothy 4:16-17 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me...the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me...

Acts 23:11 ...the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul...

The Lord has saved me...

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Titus 3:4-6 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us...

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The Lord has given me favour...

Genesis 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

1 Samuel 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The Lord has given me Grace & Mercy...

Genesis 19:19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life...

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace...

Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Lamentations 3:22-24 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The Lord has given to you, so ye give to others...

1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

As we have had the Lord give us gifts, let us minister those gifts to others. The world really does need to see Jesus in us...

There is so much more the Lord has done. What has He done for you...

Let’s pass them onto others...

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“Got Passion”

Today there are so many distractions that many have lost there love & passion for Jesus.

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

This women in the next scriptures had such passion, love, and a heart of graditude that she did what others looked at as being wrong. She loved Jesus so much for the forgiveness she received that she did not care about what others thought about her. She worshipped him anyway!!

Luke 7:37-45 ... a woman in the city, which was a sinner, ... brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet...weeping...washed his feet with tears...wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Her passion looked past what others thought. Her passion looked past her own pride. He passion took her to a place where she was not welcome to go.

...Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, ...saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

Jesus answering...Simon... There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

...Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

You see the others around her looked down on her for what see did. Not Jesus! Her passion led her to Jesus. He had forgiven her much and that resulted in much love and much passion.

What has taken your passion for Jesus? Has the trials and hardships of live drained you of the love you felt for God when you first got saved? Where is your passion? Do you put more into your job, your friends, your family, your play, than your time with God? Is all of your energy taken up by the things of this world?

Do we take for granted the things we have received since we believed? We have received forgiveness for our sins as this women. It says she loved much, have we loved much? Have we forgotten where He has brought us from? Do we put Him first?

"God Pride?"

Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise.

"the love of one's own excellence"

Sin Of Pride - Preoccupation With Self
The sin of pride is a preoccupation with self. It is thus very fitting that the middle letter in the word is "i." Pride is all about "me, myself, and I." So even as the word "pride" is centered upon an "i," the sin itself is also centered upon "I."

Two well know examples:

1) Lucifer's fall, For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'

Satan's enmity against God began with "I". And so it is with us. If you are preoccupied with yourself, you are suffering from the sin of pride.

Ezekiel 28:17
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty...

We all like our own opinions, but that can cause pride to be puffed up with in us. We even fight to get our opinion heard or agreed with.

Why do we argue? I know... I know... I am right...

pride can led to offense

2) "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men - extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."⁴

^{Pharisee = Jimmy Swaggart’s notes, a fundamentalist, who claimed to believe all the bible}

^{Publican = Jimmy Swaggart’s notes a tax collector, referred to by Israel as a traitor & there by beyond salvation.}

^{Pharisee -} I am not like other men, I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.

How do we look at others.

Other thoughts about pride:

1. 2 Kings 14:10
   Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
   2 Kings 14:9-11 (in Context) 2 Kings 14 (Whole Chapter)
2. 2 Chronicles 25:19
   Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?

Meddle - Interfere in or busy oneself unduly with something that is not one’s concern, to touch or handle something without permission.

These men in 2 Kings and 2 Chron. we lifted up in pride.

Pride also causes you to hold on to your hurt

You do not have permission to hold on to your hurt...

We hold on to our pains. We look at others and say our pain is worse.

You have no right to hold on to something that the word of God says to let go of.

But he hurt me... But I was... This happened to me...

Why are you giving your pain more glory than God!!

Women beware the women's lib movement can cause you to not receive what God has for you. I have my rights... I know what I am doing... I am just as good as him... I,I,I...

A lot of divorces can be stopped if the spouses would humble themselves and say they are sorry... or not always have to be right...

Pride can led to deception. (I know the bible...)

We must look to Jesus who humbled himself and died on the Cross for us. We must forgive and not let our hearts be puffed up in Pride.

Pride can cause you not to seek God: Psalms 10:4

Psa 10:2

The wicked 7563 in [his] pride 1346 doth persecute 1814 the poor

Not just the physically poor, prideful people attack people they consider week. Pride causes one believer to believe that they need to be doing what the other believer in front of them is doing, ( they also believe they can do it better)

Be content where you are... God has a plan and purpose for you right where you are. He has called you for a specific task and He has you right where He wants you to be. He will lift you up in due time. If you will just hold fast to God, trust Him and follow him, He will bring you to the place He has for you...

Pride will cause you to stop having faith in what Christ has done for you at Calvary, because you are self sufficient, independent.

Lay aside your ways, your thoughts,... Only way to do that is...

Remember the process of sanctification, believe in the finished work of Christ, then the Holy Spirit will work in your life and then the outflow of that will be right living, right thinking,...

Today is a new day, start here, then tomorrow also is a new day, start here,... and again... do not let yesterdays hurts come over to today’s living.

Look to Christ, Look to what He has done for you at Calvary, let the power of the Holy Spirit work in you and let what God has always wanted for you to come into your life.

Pride can cause a person not to get saved...

Are you putting. “I” on the throne?

Pride is at the very top of the list of things God hates. "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6:16-19).

David Wilkerson:

Christians also recognize pride in others because they may appear to be stuck up, self-centered, ambitious and high-minded. But few Christians would consider themselves proud.

Pride is independence - humility is dependence. Pride is an unwillingness to wait for God to act in His own time and in His own way. Pride rushes in to take matters into its own hands. One of the greatest temptations true Christians face is getting ahead of God. It is acting without a clear mandate from God. It is taking things into our own hands when it appears that God is not working fast enough. It is impatience.

The Cross Represents the death of all my own plans, all my own ideas, my own desires, my own hopes and dreams. It is most of all the absolute death of my own will. This is true humility. Humility is associated only with the Cross. "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death at the cross. (Philippians 2:7-8). He had told His disciples, "My meat, My fulfillment in life, is to do the will of Him who sent me (John 4:34). He said "I can of mine own self do nothing: As I hear, I judge..." (John 5:30). In other words, I refuse to take matters into my own hands. I wait to hear every direction from my Father!, He who is the Light, absolute intelligence, knowing all things, humbles Himself, makes Himself totally dependent upon the Father in all things. I can't do it on My own" Jesus said.

John wrote, "As He is, so are we in this world ... (1 John 4:17). There is not a true Christian but who can say, "I really want to do His perfect will." But here is where we miss it, we set our hearts on something that we want, something that looks good that sounds logical, but is not God's will. We will fast and pray and intercede for it! Cry a river of tears! Claim it! Bind demons hindering possession of it! Quote Bible! Get others to agree with us! One of the biggest traps to Christians is a good idea which is not God's mind, a good strategy which is not His, a well-conceived plan that is not His. The question is - can your desire survive the Cross? Can you walk away from it and die to it? Can you honestly say, "Lord, maybe it's not the devil stopping me, but You! If it's not Your will it could destroy me. I give it up to the Cross! To death! Do it Your way, Lord."

It is when you go down into the grave of death to all self, all ambition, all self-will, that you hear His voice. Jesus said, "The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God... All that are in the graves shall hear His voice" (John 5:25,28), This is why thousands of Christians today are getting into trouble hearing still small voices. There is confusion, things are not coming out right, because there has been no dying to self-will. Yes, I believe God does speak to His children. You can hear His true, holy, unmistakable voice, but only after crucifixion of self-will and self-desire. Jesus heard clearly from the Father. So did Paul, Peter, John and Stephen; but only because they were dead to this world. They were consumed with doing His will only.

Examine your heart. Do not be lifted up in Pride. Humble yourself!!!!!

"The Trial of Your Faith"

1 Peter 1:6-7

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Greatly rejoice: Jimmy Swaggart’s notes refers to the time when this earthly sojourn will be finished, the Trump of God sounds, & “we shall be changed” (1 Corn. 15:51-54)

Now: in this life, just now, this moment, now at this time, at this very time, this moment...

Season: little, small, few, of time/short, of degree or intensity briefly (will pass)

Heaviness: to make sorrowful, to affect with sadness, cause grief, the throw into sorrow. to grieve, offend, to make one uneasy, cause him a uneasy,

It is necessary, there is a need of, it behooves, is right & proper necessity, lying in the nature of the case, Necessity brought on by circumstances or by the conduct of others towards us. Necessity in reference to what is required to attain some end.

Though now for a season (this to will pass) A season has a beginning & and end. We know it is coming ( Think it not strange (1 Peter 4:12-13), we are not ignorant (2 Corinthians 2:11), we are not alone (1 Thessalonians 2:14 ...for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen...), seasons come & go..(Ecclesiastes 3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...)

Trial - an experiment, attempt, trial, proving, the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy...

Manifold -all sort of adversities are temptations, or trials of faith, patience, & constancy...

Just as the Law was to show us we need a Savior, so is the trying of our faith to show us we need Jesus.

They show our weakness, our shortcomings, & the areas that we have not surrendered or yielded.

The Cross of Christ must be our only focus & when it is not the trying of our faith will show it.

In our weakness He died for us... In our sin, He died for us...

Only as we place our faith in the Cross can the Holy Spirit bring us though our trials victorious.

IF NEED BE: the “if” will be when we take our eyes off of the Cross

If need be: need/ to conform us to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...)

Sometimes it is needed... We don’t always understand why or how long... But God has a reason why He allows all things

Seasons: many types of seasons, many trials, many temptations.

That the trial of your faith (is your faith genuine?) All faith is tested(Is your faith really on and in the Cross or not? Is it on or in self? or Others? (They show our weakness, it separates the impurities..

Think is not strange

(Don’t dwell on.. Don’t meditate on... don’t even think about it... Don’t ponder, wonder... Don’t think you are the only one... Don’t be surprised & be moved from your faith...

Jesus was led to the wilderness by the Spirit.

Luke 4:1-2 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil...

God will drive us to a place to where what we have been given will be tested.

God has given us the power from the Holy Spirit to come through the wilderness. It is not in our own strength. In Christ Jesus there is no test, trial, or opposition you can’t go through.

You may be in a wilderness, BUT NOT FOR YOUR DESTRUCTION...

Don’t be afraid of the test... Remember... “IT CAME TO PASS...”

Also remember this is an OPEN BOOK test...

Reasons for testing: to show us what is in us, to show us that in us is no good thing (it is only through Him), to show us the need for a Savior, to show us our weakness, to conform us to the image of Christ...

You do not have the ability or strength to get yourself through the wilderness. You must place your faith in what Jesus did and that gives us the help of the Holy Spirit to come through it victorious. It is not about you!! It is about Him, about who He is, about what He wants to do in you...

Don’t be like Peter

Matthew 26:33-35 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

First see the “I”. I will never, I will not...

Don’t make yourself your own Savior!

Matthew 26:74-75 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

The issue is not to just prove to us that we are weak, our battle is not to be strong in our own strength, but to stay in the plan outlaid by God, “Christ and Him Crucified”. He paid the price, 1 John 3:8 ...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

He did not bring us this far to just let us go now. Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ...

What you are going through is not for your destruction... He will, He will, He will bring you through.

Hebrews 13:5 (Amplified Bible)

...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!]

GOD SAID . . . .

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I’m a Healer? If you never went through difficulties, How would you know that I’m a Deliverer? If you never had a trial,
How could you call yourself an overcomer? If you never felt sadness, How would you know that I’m a Comforter? If you never made a mistake, How would you know that I’m forgiving? If you knew all, How would you know that I will answer your questions? If you never were in trouble, How would you know that I will come to your rescue? If you never were broken, Then how would you know that I can make you whole? If you never had a problem, How would you know that I can solve them? If you never had any suffering, Then how would you know what Jesus went through? If you never went through the fire, Then how would you become pure? If I gave you all things, How would you appreciate them? If I never corrected you, How would you know that I love you? If you had all power, Then how would you learn to depend on Me? If your life was perfect, Then what would you need Me for?

WE NEED A SAVIOR!!! WE NEED JESUS!!! ONLY JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED!!!