#779 / Going Nowhere, Hearing Little!

#779 / Going Nowhere, Hearing Little!

July 27, 2011 / By Ralph E. McIntosh / ralph@actsfoundation.us

 

Mrs. Winchester, heiress of the Winchester rifle estate, built onto her house continually thinking she would never die as long as she kept building! Many of the stairs went nowhere, and doors had no purpose. How easy it is to set up residence in “Rutsville” and do the same thing every day. When we do this with our relationship with the Lord Jesus, we stop hearing what He wants us to hear and doing what He wants us to do. But, we may be comfortable with living that way.

I am sure Jesus doesn’t want us to always be comfortable! (Maybe that’s why some churches have worship for an hour and I have to stand the whole time.) Have you ever noticed that Jesus’ favorite place to pray was the Garden of Gethsemane? Do you think there were padded kneeling benches there? More likely there were rocks to sit on or pebbles to kneel on. Some of our prayer times need to be labor and the pebbles of purpose need to be under our knees. I am not talking of self-inflicted pain, but when observing problems around us we can turn to kneel before the throne of God to hear what God says is the solution.

I recently was able to share with someone that most churches recognize God the Father, God the Son, and refer to God the Holy Spirit. But if Jesus sent Him as a Gift and a Comforter, why do we not turn to Him and establish relationship with Him? How could we fear a Gift and a Comfort when it was sent to us in love?
Perhaps it is time to review which stairway we are on in our climb to knowing God better. He wants us ever-climbing and wants the top of every stairway to open into heaven! Meet Him where He is. RMc

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Recommended reading: The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeshel. Recommended by beloved long-time ACTS team member, Mary Sauer. The author, a pastor, challenges every believer to cultivate the presence of God in their lives. An incredible book our team highly encourage you to read.



The Power Blessing

I bless you with a higher blessing

Than all the world can give!

I bless you with genetic stamping

That only God can live.

I cancel all the subtle cursing

Satan brought your way.

I now proclaim your faith is rising

To stop and slay dismay!



I call upon your conscience

speaking

To lead you in His Path

I place upon you Peace’ anointing

To walk in righteousness!

I place upon you His empowering.

To stop Distruct’s advance.



For yours is life to live like art,

And His, the power to give!



By Ralph E. McIntosh /January 1, 2011 / Clearwater Beach, FL

#775 Relationship through Revelation

See Conference Notice for Hawaii at end of articles        www.actsfoundation.org

#775 /  Relationship through Revelation / June 29, 2011

By Susan G. McIntosh / susan@actsfoundation.com

 When we no longer seek just the blessings and benefits of God but seek His Person, all Heaven breaks through into us. The very Spirit of Christ was placed in us when we gave our heart to Jesus.  The Holy Spirit’s job is to reveal Him to us.  The Spirit came to take the things of Jesus and show them to us (John 16:15).  Where are those things of Jesus?  In the Word and in the very Spirit of Christ that resides in us.  When the Life of Christ comes alive in us by the Spirit, then Christ Himself, flowing through us, manifests the presence of God in our lives and others are drawn to Him.  God’s Goodness and Blessing become our experience daily.

Recently Ralph and I were in a little convenience store in Richmond, Virginiaordering two hamburgers for our lunch.  While waiting for our hamburgers to be cooked, we watched one person after another come to the check-out counter to buy cigarettes, beer, or lottery tickets and most of the time, all three.  I was shocked at how much money was spent on these vices just while we were standing there waiting on our lunch order!  What really saddened me was the fact that we were in a low income neighbourhood. Instead of buying food for their families, these adults were spending money and lots of it, on things no one could eat!
Earlier I was buying a bottle of water in another convenience store and the same thing was happening in that store.  Later the manager told us that his store clears $60,000 a month just on the lottery sales!  What really surprised me was one customer bought cigarettes, beer, and lottery tickets for 30 some dollars.  She handed the man at the register $40 and only $10 of it went for fuel for her car. Considering the cost of gas per gallon is nearly $4 right now, that $10 was not going to take her far. The raw facts of society’s value system are really hard to see in action up close.  How the devil blinds people!  He is a thief.
I know Jesus is the answer to life and seeing this kind of activity confirms all the more to me that we as believers need to out telling people, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life...”  God created every person for the purpose of relationship with Him.  He is goodness and love personified.  Adam and Eve were privileged to enjoy God walking with them every day in a Garden He created just for them.  Jesus died on Calvaryto restore sweet communion with God for all of mankind.  Yet, millions of people continue on spiritually blind, attempting to find satisfaction in life on their own.  (A soul winning script is available to download and use today— www.revival.com– look at soul winning tools for script in different languages.)

It is only when revelation of God’s way and truth comes through the work of the Holy Spirit is the blindness removed. Paul said, “Christ in you, the HOPE of Glory” (Col. 1:27).  We as believers carry the answer—the HOPE of God, His Glorious self, Christ Jesus, in our hearts.  It is the role of the Holy Spirit to reveal God to us and teach us of this Christ who lives in us once we invite Him to be our Lord and Saviour. Without the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, the tendency is to try whatever comes along to satisfy the emptiness within us.  We were created for God and to fellowship with Him.  The Holy Spirit is the One who can make this happen.  When a person invites Jesus to forgive their sins and come and live within them, Christ Jesus Himself moves in but it is the Holy Spirit would reveals Jesus to the believer.  He is the Teacher, the Communicator, the very POWER of God’s Kingdom Life deposited in the believer.  The devil robs us.  God pours goodness and grace/favour into our lives abundantly!
I cannot comprehend God’s love for me, the finished work of Christ for me, nor do I have a passion for others to come to know Jesus without the Holy Spirit making these real in me.  I know a lot of people raised in the church have not been introduced to the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit of God.  However, revelation is absolutely necessary for us to enter into the type of relationship with God that He intended His children to enjoy, Amen.  Webster’s dictionary says the word reveal means to “unveil or make known through divine inspiration.”  This is the work of the Holy Spirit of God and it available to each of us!
Join me in once again inviting the wonderful Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to each of us in a mighty way this week MORE of who God is, how His Word relates to everyday living, who this Jesus is that has come to dwell in our hearts through Salvation. The apostle Paul’s prayer is mine for us all this week, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Eph. 1:17).
Paul teaches that only when the Spirit is free to fill and lead us can we KNOW the HOPE of God’s calling on our lives.  It is through His revelation n that the Word of God itself comes alive in us. It is through the Holy Spirit we are able to comprehend and receive the promises and provisions of God that are available for all of His Children.  It is only through His Truth that joy and peace are ours to enjoy.  When the Holy Spirit is at work in us we care about sharing Christ with the world around us.  Full of HOPE, we can share the God of HOPE (Romans 15:13).  It is the Holy Spirit who actives every aspect of the Kingdomof Godin and through us.  Welcome, Holy Spirit.  Be Yourself in us!  Glory.  SMc

 

 

#763 / Compassion and Authority

When we travel and minister we have found that almost everyone has a problem they are facing.  Our ministry would be short lived if we chose to judge their situations.  However, if we follow Christ's example we approach every situation with compassion and authority. The Apostle Paul reminds the Galatians, “Brothers, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.” 

The bottom line is that sin brings death and repentance is the only way to peace.  How we bring someone to that point has to be a combination of compassion AND authority.  If we only use compassion  the danger is that we might excuse the fault and leave the person to continue where they are.  On the other hand if we come only with authority, the danger is we could be legalistic, harsh and condemning.  Even Jesus said, “I come not to judge.” He did come to expose sin with authority and to offer a compassionate solution!  John 12: 47 & 48, “If any man hear my words and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world...the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

Occasionally we are faced with praying deliverance for a person under demonic stronghold.  (Actually much of this is present in the church today.)  In these cases the compassion is directed at the person and the authority is directed at the demonic presence.  There is no need to shout or pray loudly!  The name of Jesus is so powerful that at the name of Jesus all demonic forces must obey and get out of the person when told to.  They may object and even say strange things like, “We aren't in here anymore.”  But the final authority is with Jesus who cast out many demons and healed many who were ill because of their presence. 

Remember, if someone has a continual characteristic that doesn't match the fruit of the Spirit, that “personality trait” is evidence of demonic oppression.    See Galatians 5:13-26     If you would like to know more about this please let us know.

Isn't it wonderful to be reminded as we approach Easter that Christ's work, perfectly completed, at the cross and out of the tomb was done to free us from bondage to the world's system and raise us to walking in His compassion and authority.

We encourage you to join us in daily decreeing Ezekiel 37, Ezekiel 34:25-31, Psalm 91, Ephesians 3:14-21, and Romans 15:13 over every ACTS Foundation readership household.  God is melting barriers and bringing families together in His love.  He is filling His people with Hope, Peace, and Joy.