Hard Hearted

Happy Sunday!

Well, 2014 is winding down.  What a year it has been!  Death, destruction, and too many reports about what Kanye and Kim are doing! LOL!  I had the privilege of seeing all my children this week. My youngest son, Timothy, and I talked about some of the hard things we experience in this life.  I encouraged him to always remember, Life may be hard, but God is Good! The psalmist sang it years ago, "Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34:19 (Amplified)

So what can we take from this year? And what things will we leave behind? Awesome question!  

The Apostle Paul experienced far more negativity than we have and he said, "I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back." Philippians 3:12-14 (Message) Another translation says, "forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead". (New King James Version)

Let's forget the negative. No matter how hard it may be, let's move into the New Year with positive thoughts, hopes, dreams and goals!

Don't be hardhearted! I know, I know...you don't think it's possible for you to be hardhearted, you're a good person after all! But our hearts are hardened to the things of God by unbelief. If you are shocked, surprised, and amazed at a miracle of God your heart is hardened. If you relate more to the natural than the supernatural, your heart is hardened. Mark 6:50-52 says, "Jesus was quick to comfort them: “Courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned, shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn’t understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated their hearts." Did you get that? The disciples had just experienced the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand and yet they were terrified by a storm. If they had considered the things that Jesus had already done and trusted him they would not have feared.

Andrew Wommack has several teachings about hardness of heart. I recommend them to you, they can be accessed via his ministry web site. He says, "Likewise, if we were not so dominated by considering the natural, we would not be surprised by the supernatural. We should expect to see the miraculous power of God manifest in our lives all the time. But the truth is, our hearts have become hardened toward God and His supernatural power because of our failure to stay focused on spiritual things."

Let's forget the negative!  Let's embrace the positive!  Let's spend more time meditating and studying the Word of God! Let's soften our hearts to the possibilities with God! Remember, "Nothing, you see, is impossible with God." Luke 1:37 (Message)

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Faith For Healing

Happy Sunday!

I prepared this message earlier in the week.  I was and still am so encouraged by the information. I never imagined that my brother would not survive. I thoroughly expected a miracle. So what now?  That's what I was asking God.  The Word says, "let God be true, but every man a liar". Romans 3:4 (King James Version)  So, I'm choosing to believe that God is not a liar!  His will is that "we prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper". 3 John 1:2

Dr. Barry Bennett taught a lesson entitled, "Faith For Healing".

No one wants to think that they aren't believing.  We all have a belief system in our heads which sometimes, many times we confuse for Faith.  When our minds are renewed and we have believed with our minds, we think that this is Faith. But Faith may actually be something else.  Let's look at Faith from another vantage point.  The Word says, "God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3 (King James Version)

A great part of our lives is spent renewing our minds.  This is totally scriptural because Romans 12:2 says, "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind". (King James Version) The problem is that Faith is not from the mind, Faith is from the heart. Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (King James Version) 

Many times when Jesus healed individuals he proclaimed, "According to your faith be it unto you." Matthew 9:29(King James Version) Faith is not static, Faith is alive. Faith is not a formula. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (King James Version)   Faith is in the realm of the unseen.  We have to believe it before we see it!

Mark 10:46-52 recounts the story of Blind Bartimaeus. He was positioned on the roadside to beg.  He heard that Jesus was coming his way.  He began to scream, "Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me!" (King James Version) Bartimaeus was blind, but he wasn't stupid!  He had heard about the things Jesus was doing, "How that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." Luke 7:22(King James Version)  He knew by revelation and by the teaching of the prophets, that Jesus was the Messiah!  The phrase "son of David" refers to the Messiah.  He was proclaiming that Jesus was the answer to his need or problem.  Those around him, told him to shut up!  But he cried out even louder!  If some one can shut you up, you don't know that you know that you know!  But if you've seen it in Faith, you won't be stopped! Think about the four men that brought their friend to Jesus.  They couldn't get in through the door, but they made a hole in the roof!  When you are in Faith, you will do what you have to do! The blind man made a demand by Faith on the mercy of God, and Jesus stopped.  Look at what happened then, the same people that told him to shut up, now encouraged him. Don't be swayed by people!  They will tell you that their uncle died from that same disease, then when you get healed they will say "I knew you would make it!"

"Bartimaeus cast aside his beggar’s robe and stepped forward, feeling his way toward Jesus." Mark 46:50 (Voice)  Don't miss this!  He threw away his identity! That beggar's robe identified him as a beggar.  He knew his life was going to change. He knew by Faith he would not be a blind beggar again. He wasn't healed yet, but he believed!  Jesus asked him, "What do you want from Me?" (Voice) He could have asked for anything!  Season tickets to an NFL teams games, the latest Maserati, or millions of dollars. But he asked for his sight!  He knew he could do a lot more if he could only see! Jesus said, "Your faith has made you whole. Go in peace." (Voice)

Proactive Faith - Proactive Faith seizes the moment!  Proactive Faith wakes up in the morning and proclaims, "This Is My Day!" The woman with the issue of blood was demonstrating proactive Faith she said, "within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole." (King James Version)

Reactive Faith - Reactive Faith hears a word and responds.  They may have had no idea their lives would change that day, but they responded immediately and they were healed. Think of the man laid at the Pool of Bethesda.  He'd been in that condition for 38 years!  He had no idea his life would change with a simple question from Jesus. "Do you want to get well?” John 5:6 (Message)

Inactive Faith - Inactive Faith hears the Word and does NOT respond! Inactive Faith is just waiting and hoping.

Dr. Bennett used this analogy.  Think about walking into your bedroom and your cute little dog Fluffy is on the bed.  Fluffy knows she is not supposed to be on the bed. You use your authority and tell her to get off the bed.  No problem. She moves off the bed immediately!  The next day you walk into the bedroom and there is a large black, one-eyed, German Shepherd on the bed.  He growls.  Now, you have a different attitude because you don't know that dog.  All the authority you have with Fluffy doesn't translate to this dog.  This is what sometimes happens in regards to sickness.  We think we know who we are in Christ, then the Doctor says we have 3 weeks to live.  We don't know that dog!  What do we do now?  Glad you asked! We use our Proactive Faith and the authority of the Name of Jesus, and we tell that dog to get off the bed! We rebuke the sickness in the Name of Jesus!  Who's in charge? You or the Dog?

Romans 10:17 says, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (King James Version)  Don't miss this!  Faith and hearing are two different things.  You get faith by hearing, and you get hearing by the Word of God!  When your heart hears the Word Faith comes.  There are two types of faith, Human Faith and the God-kind of Faith.  Human faith has potential. Positive thinking is human faith.  The God-kind of Faith has only ONE source, the Word of God! You must hear and believe the Word of God. Dr. Bennett used this example. He was waiting to be picked up at the airport.  The associate pastor asked the congregation, "Who wants to go with me to pick up Pastor Barry?"  A group agrees to go, but they go to the train station. The pastor is not at the train station.  The group decides to pray that he comes to the train station. Then when that doesn't work they fast, pray, and praise God.  Meanwhile, the pastor is waiting at the airport.  You can't pray for more faith. You can't fast for more faith. You can't praise for more faith.  Faith has ONE source! Hearing the Word!

Jesus made time to pray and commune with God.  He knew the prophecies from the Old Testament. Jesus said, "I’m telling you this straight. The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything he is doing." John 5:19 (Message)  He knew that he needed a word from God to do what must be done.  We also need a word from the Lord!  Contrary to popular belief we do have a word from the Lord...the BIBLE! Get in the Word, and let the Word get in you! Don't try to do what Jesus did if you won't do what Jesus did!  Jesus was the word made flesh and he said in St. John 15:5, "For apart from me you can do nothing!" (New Living Translation)

"So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever." 2 Corinthians 4:18 (New Living Translation)

Get the Word. See the Word in your heart. Act on the Word.  Faith is aggressive! Faith grows! Faith overcomes the world! Feed your Faith the Word of God, and your doubts will starve to death!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Would You Please Grow Up?

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas continued his series entitled, "Put God First".  This week's sermon was called, "Would You Please Grow Up?"  He used Hebrews 5:11-14 as his reference scriptures. The New Living Translation says, "There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong."

Living things grow!  The true sign of death is the cessation of growth.  The main purpose of our salvation is growth.  Jesus spent three years training his disciples.  He wanted to ensure their ultimate success after he left the earth.  We have to be intentional about our spiritual growth.  Matthew 5:6 promises, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (King James Version)  The writer of Hebrews compares the believers to infants.  Infants rely on others for their nourishment.  They can't take care of themselves.  But mature individuals are able to feed, clothe, and care for themselves and others.  The writer says it's about time we grow up.  There are people waiting for what we have to offer. Our neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers can be blessed when we mature. 

Psalm 1 describes a blessed mature man or woman in this manner, "He is like a tree planted beside streams—a tree that produces fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. He succeeds in everything he does." (God's Word Translation)

We are counting down to the New Year!  Let's decide to grow up, to flourish like a tree planted by the river, and to be a blessing to everyone we come in contact with!

Love and prayers, Cynthia

Don't Miss Your Blessing!

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Alexis A. Thomas began a series entitled, "Put God First!"  The series will cover four important commitments we Christians should make.  The first sermon in this series was called, "Don't Miss Your Blessing!"  Bishop used Hebrews 10:23-25 and St. John 20:24 as his reference scriptures.

When we were growing up, there was no question about our schedule for Sunday. We knew exactly where we would be and what we would be doing.  We were going to church and that was that!  Our society has changed.  I was discussing with my family this Thanksgiving, how on Sunday's and even on holidays, stores were closed, gas stations were closed, and if you forgot to get butter for your mashed potatoes you may have to ask your neighbor or family member for a stick of butter. Bishop reminisced about getting his clothes ready for Sunday on Saturday, and getting a whipping for wearing his Sunday clothes during the week.  I had to chuckle when he said this.  One of my favorite movies is BAPS.  In one scene, James expresses his love to Mickey.  He tells her all the things he desires for her.  He tells her she shouldn't have to wear her "Sunday clothes on Wednesday".  LOL!  God wants you to have the best!  He only asks you to get it his way..."But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well." Matthew 6:33 (Common English Version)

"So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching." Hebrews 10:23-25 (Message)  Bishop encouraged us to attend to attendance!  

He said we should show up because...

1) The Gospel is being preached...the Gospel is the good news.  We are inundated with bad news everyday.  We need to hear some good news!  Matthew 11:5 says, "the good news was preached to the poor".  What would be the best news a poor person could hear?  Well, I would think it would be that they don't have to be poor any more. The Good News is that Jesus has paid the price for our salvation, healing, deliverance, and prosperity!

2) Revelation is Being Released...Jesus taught in parables. Believer's hear the parables and can understand the hidden meanings.  Jesus even encouraged Peter and acknowledged that we get revelation from God, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are." Matthew 16:17 (Message)

3) Your Presence Makes a Difference...You may not think you matter, but you do! Someone is encouraged by your attendance!  Someone is watching you and patterning their life after yours.  They may never reveal it, but it happens.  Your presence is an inspiration and a testimony to what God can do in your life and in theirs.  My sister, Jacque has been battling Lupus for many years.  She posted a meme on Facebook, that poked fun at the fact that some Lupus sufferers don't look sick.  We are all fighting battles.  When you "fight the good fight" other people can see that it is possible.  Think of the power your testimony will have when others find out you didn't let anything or anyone get you down.

St. John 20:24 says, "Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them." (Common English Version)Thomas was not in attendance when Jesus appeared to the disciples.  He was at home discouraged, and sad that Jesus had been killed.  He couldn't believe the report of Jesus being alive.  When he finally saw Jesus and touched his wounds, he believed. Jesus told him, “So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” John 20:29 (Message)

Love and prayers, Cynthia