Fear Of Pain

Good morning,

I was wide awake studying very early this morning.  Afterwards, I was looking for my daily prayer outline to make some changes and came across this article from Be In Health.  It is a short three part article dealing with the fear of pain.  I thought the section on migraines is beneficial to those who suffer with migraines. The medical profession almost always treats migraines with drugs. 

In a past life I had a manager’s job with great responsibility.  With it came constant headaches, neck pain, back pain going down my legs, itching, trouble sleeping, etc.  I was a mess until I started to identify the root cause.  Fear was the root cause.  God tells us not to worry in Matthew 6:34.  Obey Him and the symptoms go away.

Understand that we live in world that man has labeled as stress and anxiety.  God has labeled it worry (Matthew 6:34).  Merriam-Webster defines worry as fear.  

Fear of Pain – Part  1

Over 4,000 fears have been named. That list includes fear of disability, fear of pain, and fear of suffering. Most people are not aware that the fear of pain can produce pain. You can also accelerate pain levels by thinking about it. Your body responds to your thoughts. Pain is not an emotional expression from your soul, nor is it a spiritual expression. Pain is a physiological expression, a physical reality. There could be a spirit of pain influencing the fear of pain in your thoughts. In the Bible, stress is called fear or being anxious. Remember, fear, anxiety, and stress are synonymous terms.

The Bible says, in the last days, men's hearts shall fail them because of fear.

Luke 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Stress and fear directly affect the hypothalamus, both immediately and long-term. This is the mind-body connection. We are designed with the ability for 'fight or flight'. The fight or flight ability is the alarm stage our body responds to when subjected to fear or stress. If the stress is not resolved, our body moves into the resistance stage. Physical symptoms begin to develop in this stage due to the long-term effects of fear, anxiety and stress. The symptoms can include pain. The hypothalamus responds to the continual influence of the fear or anxiety in the mind, which overloads the body's resources.  Eventually, the body is depleted of its ability to repair and restore itself from the stress. If not resolved, this depletion develops into the exhaustion stage. The body is exhausted from attempting to repair itself and the mind is not sending thoughts to promote healing and restoration. God has created your body to heal itself. Your body is able to repair and renew itself on a regular basis, but it does not think for itself.  It is designed to respond to the mind. Your body responds to your thoughts.

The question becomes, which god are you listening to? If your body is moving from the alarm stage, which we have all experienced, to the resistance stage and eventually to the exhaustion stage, then you are not listening to the God who created you.

The Bible says, God has not given you the spirit of fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 Fear and stress directly affect nervous impulses. Pain is a result of flaring dendrites. Pain can be a psychogenic (originating in the mind) symptom of the fear of pain.  But not all pain is psychogenic, which is pain created by the process of the mind.  Pain can be organic.

There are various degrees of pain. If you cut your finger, that pain is not psychogenic. That is organic. There is a reason for it. Pain comes also from inflammation. Migraine headaches come from vasodilatation of the blood vessels in the cranial region as a result of the over-secretion of histamine and the under-secretion of serotonin, which is a vasoconstrictor. That is all it is.

In this case, a migraine is a psychogenic (originating in the mind) pain but it produces a real pain. The root is psychogenic because it is rooted in conflict with yourself over issues you are in conflict with. (You are angry with yourself because of the conflict you feel.) That causes an under-secretion of serotonin and an over-secretion of histamine because one can have a combination of fear and self-hatred. Fear and self-hatred are two spiritual dynamics that can produce a migraine. To get rid of migraines, you have to get rid of fear and get rid of self-rejection, self-hatred and guilt. It is as simple as that. Anyone who has had migraines becomes afraid of them because the pain is debilitating.

Fear of Pain - Part 2

Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I say unto you, take no thought." The key word is thought. Fear projected into the future involves thought. You can be programmed to fear. Your body will respond when you cross the parameters of the territorial rights of what that particular fear represents. When you are subjected to one of your stressors too long or you come in contact with that forbidden item, your heart starts to race, especially in the allergic reactions. When you are exposed to it, there it is, growling at you saying, "I am here, what are you going to do with me?" "Oh no!" You panic and your mind remembers the reaction from last time.

Your mind may remember anaphylaxis (hypersensitivity); it may remember catatonia (stupor); it may remember brain fog; it may remember prickling of skin; it may remember pain; it may remember blotches; it may remember burning of the skin, and the fatigue. All of a sudden you are bombarded with what that thing represents to you physiologically. As your respiratory rate increases, the cardiac muscles start to expand and contract and you start to breathe harder. You go from the fear into the panic stage, you start to breathe harder and harder, you start to lose your breath, then you start looking for your oxygen because you cannot catch your breath.

What your doctor may not have told you is that you may have just stepped across the threshold into something called hyperventilation; rapid breathing. You are not aware of it because you are preoccupied with your stressor and the reactions. Fear and more fear.  Like begets like.  Now you are focused on the reality of your reactions. The carbon dioxide in your lungs is not being exhaled like it needs to be. The oxygen is not getting into your lungs because that is what happens in hyperventilation.

At this point, low-grade carbon dioxide poisoning begins, which is what oxygen starvation is. When your bloodstream picks up the blood of your lungs, it also wants the oxygen but there is none. The first part of the body to receive oxygen is the brain. The brain says, "Get the oxygen" but there is no oxygen there. When you do not have oxygen for your brain cells, you have fuzziness of thinking, you have disorientation, you feel confused, you feel like you are losing your mind, you feel like you are going crazy, you cannot think right. You start to lose it, you feel faint, and you think you are going to pass out. You are looking for oxygen and all of a sudden - panic moves in. That is an allergic reaction. When you get the oxygen, you take a breath. But what took your oxygen away from you in the first place? Fear. Fear is a triggering force in the mind-body connection. 

When that particular fear, or what it has put into your mind long-term, sets into motion a wide range of neurological and hormonal reactions, then it is fight or flight. God created us with that fight or flight as part of our creation in a basic stage. The devil takes the fear originated in the alarm stage and perverts it into a long-term anxiety; the resistance stage. This is how he has programmed us with a fallacy. He is a liar, a deceiver. His name, Satan, means deceiver. He is a master of deception, manipulation and control. He manipulates your response by deceiving you with a lie about the level of danger he wants you to think you have been exposed to.

Fear of Pain - Part 3

Even when the danger of the fear is gone and the battle is over, yet in the resistance stage, you are still geared up for fight or flight. When that happens, your bloodstream is filled with hormones - all sent by your hypothalamus to fight the enemy. The beginning of reversing it is when you start to take your peace. But because you take your peace and you have knowledge, it does not mean the reaction stops instantly. It takes a while for the body to respond.

The devil takes advantage of your ignorance if you are not aware of this and fills you with thoughts of doubt and unbelief. If you are applying these principles and the symptoms do not go away instantly, you may go right into more fear, unbelief and doubt, which accelerates more of the same. When you know the truth, you can be at peace while you are confidently waiting for your body to respond. If you do not fight this one, it will control you the rest of your life. 

An allergic reaction does not last forever when you are not fighting it. When you start to take your peace back and you say, "Wait a minute. I have been taught better than this. This does not harm my body." You can still be having the reaction or the feeling or the exhaustion or the sickness or the burning or the fuzziness - there are a wide range of manifestations - but the moment you take your peace back in your heart before God, your bloodstream is still filled with those neurotransmitters that have been secreted upstream and are still coursing through your system. It takes awhile for your bloodstream to clear. When you take your peace in your mind and in your heart, your hypothalamus will accept it and redirect your body to respond to your peace. 

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

You take your peace back in your spirit and your soul, even though your body is still reacting. Fear is still there, unbelief is still there. 

Remember that God will honor you in your choice to stand in peace and the hypothalamus will shut down the secreting of this hormone, but the bloodstream is still filled with it. It takes awhile for the bloodstream to finish pumping these hormones and the receptor cells to stop reacting to it until finally the reactions stop. That is the manifestation of your victory.

As you learn to fight this enemy, your mind is renewed so each time you face that stressor you no longer react like before because programming is broken. That is what happens when people take back their life. One day they are allergic to a hundred different things and a few months down the road they are allergic to none of it. The spiritual dynamics changed. They are free from that enemy. 

The battle is when you are in the situation. Scripture says when you have done all, stand. When you have gained the knowledge, you have to apply it.

What is causing your problem has a root to it. There is a spiritual bondage, a cause and effect. Some people grasp it faster than others and sometimes there are things in people's lives that just need to be dealt with before it can be removed.

There is a battle for your life. This is not mind over matter.  This is not a science. This is life.

There is an invisible enemy out there that has been controlling mankind for many, many hundreds of years. But he can be defeated and when he is, God gets the glory. The enemy gets dethroned in the heavens and we get lifted up above him and it is to the glory of God. This gives us a place of trusting God and believing in Him. God is greater than evil.

When you are in the face of evil, when you are fighting your battle, you do not know you are victorious until you look around afterwards and you say, "Well, I won." When you are in the battle, you do not feel very free.  Jesus said, "If you continue in my word...you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free"  John 8:32.

 

New Year Resolution

New Year’s Resolution - a promise that you make to yourself to start doing something good or to stop doing something bad on the first day of the year.

I have not been big on New Year’s resolutions.  I thought resolutions were stupid because I failed to live up to the resolution, so why continue doing something that I could not live up to.  I remember back in the day when I used to work out at the gym on a regular basis and every year you would see the gym packed to capacity in January.  Without fail, only the faithful would be left in February.  All the others that had a New Year’s resolution to work out, lose weight, and become fit would drop out.

The message today is not about making a resolution or a vow, but a commitment to God to start doing better and making a greater effort to stop doing things that are bad.  This commitment cannot be for just a month or two.  Rather, it has to be a permanent change of life.  Yes, I am calling you out (as well as myself) because God wants us to rid ourselves of our old nature and develop a relationship with Him.  We need to task ourselves with taking our relationship to the next level.  Simply by reading this, God will be watching to see what we will do with this challenge.  Be careful not to let the enemy turn this into guilt and condemnation.  God does not expect us to be perfect, but He does expect us to make progress in our walk with Him. 

First, let’s examine (Galatians 6:4) how we present ourselves and identify the sin in our lives.  Take into consideration how sin will manifest in our physical (actions) which does not represent Jesus Christ.  Below are a few of the many things we have to work on.  I am sure God will convict you of additional areas of your life that you may have to address. 

Anger – Many times anger is so natural in us, that we can’t see that this anger makes life miserable to others. (Proverbs 29:22).  Your anger will bring fear to the people that you come into contact with.

Worry – Worry is another name for anxiety or stress.  In reality, these words can be called fear.  Examples are fear of man, fear of losing your job or money, fear of the economy, fear of being late, fear for our children or family, fear of not being accepted or loved, fear of not being what God wants us to be, etc.  There are thousands of stressors (fears) that the enemy has convinced us to worry about.  We cannot yield to the fears of this world because God tells us not to worry (Matthew 6:34).

Un-forgiveness – God wants us to forgive those who offend us (Matthew 6:14).  As we discussed in a previous message, there is at least a two-step process. First, we must forgive.  Second, we must ask God to forgive us for having un-forgiveness.  Also, we may need to ask forgiveness for bad mouthing this person.  Perhaps, there are many of us who need to forgive ourselves because of what we have done or have not done in the past.

Judgment/criticism – I lump these two together because where you have criticism, you will have judgment.  Criticism is bad mouthing whether it’s to a friend, family member or spouse.  Isn’t the reality shows on TV doing exactly this?  Who are we to judge (Matthew 7:1)?

Despair – Despair is actually hopelessness.  We as believers see the enemy attacking us and our loved ones over and over again.  At times we feel helpless not being able to do anything about the darkness.  Maybe you don’t see your walk with the Lord progressing to the level we would like.  Understand that Jesus is the light (John 8:12) and we are able to walk in the light.  Walking in the light means to know God and to understand that we can overcome the darkness with the power and authority given to us in Jesus name.  We must remain strong and keeping seeking God for answers.

Below are a few bullet point tidbits that may help you with a New Year’s commitment to God:

• First and foremost we must have a plan.  It starts with getting rid of your old nature and making a commitment to take your walk with the Lord to another level. 
• Reading the Word of God is the most important thing you can do to build a relationship with God.  The Word of God is God Himself (John 1:1).  Reading the Word of God is an opportunity to know God in an overwhelming way.  Reading the word of God consistently will give you wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment.  The Bible comes alive to the reader in a way that is hard to describe.  Reading the Word of God will teach how to live, act and pray.  You will begin to hear from God and you will experience His presence within your body, mind (soul) and heart (Spirit).  With that presence you will have peace and comfort like never before.  Reading the Word will change your physical appearance.  People will see a change in your countenance that reflects the light of Jesus Christ.  With all these benefits, is there a reason why we are not immersed in the Word of God?  Can television, video games, or worldly things provide us with what the Bible provides?
• We must look at what we do with our time.  How much time do you devote to God?  Do you just give Him crumbs and expect Him to give you a feast?  There are 168 hours in a week.  How many hours do you give to God?  How much do you pray to Him?  Simply put, prayer is talking to God.  God hears every prayer and if we don’t pray, He can’t hear to answer our prayers.  He calls us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• Are doing what Jesus did in His ministry?  How consistent are you in sharing the Gospel, casting out unclean spirits, speaking in the Spirit or healing?  Jesus is very clear on what he wants us to do in Mark 16:15-18.  This is not an option and He tells us He will be with us until the end of the age if we follow this commandment (Matthew 28:20).  It is mandated that we take this out to the market place to preach the Gospel and set the captives free.
• Are we accessing the Helper?  The Helper is there for every part of our life and especially our prayer life.  John’s Gospel introduces the Holy Spirit’s role in spiritual growth.  The New Birth and the baptism in the Holy Spirit furnish the believer with the life and gifts of the Holy Spirit, including the ability to pray in Spirit power.  The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, Helper, Advocate, and Guide.  He is our source of true spiritual understanding.  He lifts up Jesus and builds up believers, enabling them to live the Christian life.  The Holy Spirit is the power (Acts 1:8) that we received to help us overcome.

We all have an opportunity this day to take our relationship with God to a higher level.  It is time to change our ways and ask God to forgive us for not putting Him first.  We have to choose to follow God or follow the one who seeks to destroy us.  Our worldly ways are not working out as you can tell.  The choice should not be a hard one, but it is apparent how difficult it has been as the world continues to get darker by the day.

I pray that God be with you as you start on a new journey with Him.

Amen and Amen!

 

Galatians 6:4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

Proverbs 29:22 An angry man stirs up strife, And a furious man abounds in transgression).

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.

John 8:12  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Mark 16 15-18 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

Forgiveness - A Two Step Process

Greetings,

 

I want to take a moment to share with you a message that I have never heard taught.  It has to do with un-forgiveness towards the offender and the person who has been offended who must ask seek forgiveness from God for being offended.  

 

Forgiveness: A Two Step process

 

Step One.  You’ve all heard the forgiveness message over and over and over again.  We are to forgive those who have offended us over and over again as it says in Matthew 18:21-22 where Jesus says to forgive “seventy time seven”.  In reality, this is symbolic, as we are to forgive even if it exceeds seventy times seven.  We continue to forgive them until we are not pinged by the thought that caused our un-forgiveness. 

 

Many people have un-forgiveness towards people that have been dead for years and it should not be an issue.  But it is an issue because we have a record of wrongs against offenders both dead and alive.

 

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.  Matthew 18:21-22  

 

Step Two.  Jesus says to love your neighbor as you love yourself (as God loves you).  Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  So, if we took offense and have un-forgiveness, it is contrary to what Jesus said and that is to love our neighbor.  Therefore, we are in sin for having un-forgiveness towards the person who offended us.  We are to go before God and ask Him to forgive us for having un-forgiveness towards the person who offended us or we go to bed with un-repentant sin.

 

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins (for having un-forgiveness)." Mark 11:25.  Are you with me?

 

I want to share some things that have really helped me in dealing with offenders and un-forgiveness.

 

1. Separate the sin from the person God created. 
2. Love the person, hate the sin. 
3. Look at the person the way Jesus would have looked at the offender.  With love and compassion.
    

We must understand what Jesus knew and that is “they do not know what they are doing.”  We are to forgive them and understand that they may be in bondage and don’t recognize the offenses they have committed.  It does not mean we have to endure their offenses.  But, we must forgive them and love them as God loves us and them. 

 

Lastly, our un-forgiveness compromises our immune system and cause many health issues.  Therefore, we must forgive and seek forgiveness. 

 

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34

 

Don’t ever let your adversaries become your master.  In other words, don’t let their sin control you.

 

Tony Sanchez

Water Baptism

Question: "What is the symbolism of water baptism?"

Answer: Water baptism symbolizes the believer’s total trust in, and total reliance on, the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as a commitment to live obediently to Him. It also symbolizes unity with all the saints (Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God), that is, with every person in every nation on earth that is a member of the body of Christ (Galatians 3:27-28 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female;  for you are all one in Christ Jesus). Water baptism expresses this and more, but it is not an entrance into Christianity. Instead we are baptized because our Lord commanded it and because we obey Him. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit).

Before we are baptized we must come to believe that we are sinners in need of salvation (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God). We must also believe that Christ died on the cross to atone for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was resurrected to assure our place in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures). We then turn to Jesus, asking Him to forgive our sins and to be our Lord and Savior, and the moment we do that we are born again, our eternal salvation is guaranteed, and we begin to die to ourselves and live for Christ (1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time).  At this time we are qualified to be scripturally baptized.

At the river, pool or baptismal font, we let ourselves be completely immersed in the water. This symbolizes burial with our Lord; we are baptized into His death on the cross and are no longer slaves to self or sin (Romans 6:3-7 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin). When we are raised out of the water, we are symbolically resurrected—raised to our new life in Christ and to be with Him forever, born into the family of our loving God (Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God ).

The fact that baptism is not a prerequisite for salvation is best seen in the example of a saved man who was not baptized in water, the criminal on the cross (Luke 23:39-43 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”   But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise”). This self-confessed sinner came to acknowledge Jesus as his Lord while dying on a cross next to Him, and he asked for salvation and was forgiven of his sins. Although he never experienced water baptism, at that moment he was baptized into Christ’s death, and he then was raised to life by the power of Christ’s word (Hebrews 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high).

Christians have been commanded to be baptized, and we should do so out of obedience to, and love for, our Lord Christ Jesus (John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments). Water baptism is the biblical method of baptism because of its symbolic representation of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Proclamation:

1. The act of saying something in a public, official, or definite way: the act of proclaiming something

2. An official statement or announcement made by a person in power or by a government

Call on the Helper

Call on the Helper

It was not my plan to share this piece with the men’s ministry here, but when the urging from the Lord is there, you do as He says.  It was something that I received a week previous to the men’s ministry.   I thought it would be nice to share with you as well.

In John 14:16 it says “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.”

Who is the Helper?  John 14:26 tells us, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Not only is the Helper and Holy Spirit one and the same, but the Helper will teach us all things and help us remember all that Jesus said to us.  Jesus has sent a Comforter who is just like Him.  The Helper will do in Jesus absence what Jesus would have done if He were physically present with you.  The Helper (Holy Spirit) assures continuity with what Jesus did and taught.

It is rare that believers in the church call on the Helper in their prayer.  Nowhere in Scripture does it say to use the Helper only part-time or not at all.  The Helper was sent so that He would abide with us forever. Why is the Church ignoring this vital part of our walk with God?  We are doing ourselves an injustice by not calling on the Holy Spirit for the battle with:

Warfare

Difficult decisions

Overcoming sin

Temptation

Healing

Rejection

Anger

Despair

Bondages

Attacks from people

Satan

Etc.

Every prayer should include calling on the Helper as we pray in Jesus name to our Father in Heaven.  Immerse yourself in the Word of God and call on the Helper and He will teach you what you need to know to ensure victory over the enemy.  Peace be with you all.

In Jesus Name,

Tony Sanchez

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

 

 

What God’s Word has to say about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

 

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

 

Mark 1:8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

 

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire

 

John 1:33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’.

 

Acts 1:5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

 

The words of others, Old Testament and New Testament, On the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

 

Isaiah 28:11-12  For with stammering lips and another tongue  He will speak to this people, To whom He said, “This is the rest with which  You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”;  Yet they would not hear.  Compare with: 1 Corinthians 13:21 In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips  I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”  says the Lord.

                                                                      

Why the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

 

Luke 24:49  Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

 

Indwelling Power for our lives.

 

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

 

John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

 

The Early Church and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit:

 

Acts 1:2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen.  Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.  Acts 11:15-17 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”  Acts 19

 

How do I receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?

 

Desire!  John: 37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

 

Ask!  Luke 11:13  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

 

Believe!  Acts 2:38   Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

Receive!  Acts 8:17  Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

 

With the empowering of the Holy Spirit, you will be able to fulfill the destiny God created you for and deliver God’s Word effectively.  Just as your received salvation, you must personally receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.  You do not have to beg for the Holy Spirit but you do have to ask.  As you pray, keep in mind that receiving the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is not cerebral (relating to the brain).  Rather, it is from your heart (spirit within).  Pray this prayer:

 

My heavenly Father, I am a believer.  I am Your child and You are my Father.  Jesus is my Lord.  I believe with all my heart that Your Word is true.

 

Your Word says that if I will ask, I will receive the Holy Spirit.  In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I am asking You to fill me to overflowing with Your precious Holy Spirit.

 

Lord Jesus, baptize me in the Holy Spirit.  Because of Your Word, I believe that I now receive Your Holy Spirit and I thank You for it.  I believe that the Holy Spirit is within me and by faith I accept it.

 

Now Holy Spirit, rise up within me as I praise my God.  I fully expect to speak with other tongues as You give me utterance.

 

Now, begin to thank God and praise Him for baptizing you in the Holy Spirit.  As you do, there will rise up within your spirit certain words and syllables that are unknown to you, so by faith, speak.  Don’t speak any more of your own language.  You can’t speak two languages at the same time.  Just begin to speak the syllables that are on your lips. 

 

You are no longer alone.  The Holy Spirit is the Comforter and our Helper Who will abide with your forever.

 

It was only after Jesus Christ was Baptized in the Holy Spirit that he was able to perform so many miracles.

 

Praying in the Spirit is a very powerful when petitioning the Lord and in spiritual warfare.  Pray in the Spirit throughout the day as you are lead by The Lord Jesus Christ.                     Tony Sanchez 2-2008

Is This What God Wants For My Life?

IS THIS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR MY LIFE?

Temptation: 1. The act of tempting or the state of being tempted especially to evil: enticement.2. Something tempting: a cause or occasion of enticement.

Thesaurus: the pressure to give in to a desire.

Suggestion: 1a.The process by which a physical or mental state is influenced by a thought or idea. 1b. the process by which one thought leads to another especially through association of ideas.

Thesaurus: a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation).

Genesis 3:1 [The Temptation and Fall of Man] Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 

Temptation and suggestions from Satan and the dark kingdom never seem to cease. The devil is out there to devour us (1 Peter 5:8 ……because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour). It is a full time job trying to overcome the temptation and suggestion from Satan.

I want share something with you all on how to fight the temptations and suggestion that Satan uses as he tries “to steal, and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10) mankind. 

I was driving in my car and all of sudden a great temptation/suggestion hit me hard.  It was so great that I immediately wanted to act on the temptation and I was willing to do it right then without regard to the consequences.  All of sudden I was led by the Lord to ask a question out loud and it went like this “IS THIS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR MY LIFE?”  In essence I was asking myself if I wanted to commit this sin.  More importantly, I was asking Satan and his dark kingdom the same question at the same time.  Without a doubt, I knew the answer to the question.  Without a doubt, Satan and his dark kingdom knew the answer as well causing the Tempter to leave immediately.

Needless to say I was both shocked and overwhelmed at the results.  What an amazing thing to have happened to me.  The Lord gave me an awesome experience of how powerful His kingdom is and how it operates.  I knew that I was onto something.  God allowed me to experience the keys to the kingdom (Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”).  I was able to bind up and loose the temptations. 

I could not share this with anyone until I was able to test this method that was given to me.  Several times the temptations came and I was able to recognize them.  I was quick to ask the question “IS THIS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR MY LIFE?”  Every single time I was able to resist the temptation and they had to flee just as it says in God’s Word.  (James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you).  I submitted to what God wanted me to do and I received His mercy and blessings.

It is my prayer that you when the temptations/suggestions come from the enemy, you will ask the same question:

“IS THIS WHAT GOD WANTS FOR MY LIFE?”

Answered Prayer

Answered Prayer

I want to take time to share a praise story about my grandson Zechariah.  We’ve had him most of his 15 years and he has been a blessing.  Unfortunately, his parents have chosen not to be a part of his life.  Consequently, he suffers from rejection, abandonment, and an unloving (unloved) spirit. 

Rejection is a spirit of fear and the spirit of fear can cause many physical manifestations like headaches, severe migraines, back aches, stuttering, panic attacks, seizures, and many other issues including sweating.  Zechariah had an issue with sweating.  It started the first few weeks of high school last year.  He had great fear with how the other kids would accept him and he did not know how they would treat him and with that came great fear.

I was blessed with being able to take him to school each day and during the ride I had an opportunity to pray with him.  Throughout the year we prayed about many things and especially healing of his sweating issues.  I had an opportunity to teach him from Scripture about fear as well.

Week after week we continued to pray and week after week Zechariah continued to sweat.  He expressed his doubts and said on more than one occasion that our prayers were not working.  I had to explain to him that I had no doubt that God would heal him if we continue to pray and that he needed to be patient (longsuffering).

The end of the school year came and the summer vacation started and ended.  A couple of weeks later Zechariah came home from school and said that he is not sweating anymore and he asked me why.  I said: “Grandson, we prayed almost every school day last year asking God to deliver you from the fear that was causing you to sweat.  We were consistent in binding up the spirit of fear and casting the fear out.  God answered our prayers.  I had faith that God would heal you in the name of Jesus.”

The power of prayer in the name of Jesus is the only weapon we have against the dark kingdom.  It is only effective if we pray without ceasing.  We cannot pray without ceasing if the world keeps us so busy that we don’t have or won’t take time to pray.

Every day I pray for my family because I know the enemy is trying to destroy them.  Understand, if you don’t make an effort to pray for your family without ceasing, Satan will do everything in his power to destroy them without ceasing.

Nehemiah 1:5-6 And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your^] commandments, ⁶ please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night……..

Blessings,

Tony Sanchez

Submit to Goverment?

Greetings to all.

I was sitting at the light on two separate occasions today and as the light turned green, several cars where still racing across the intersection. Not one or two cars but a caravan of about 9-10 cars.

I remember a few years ago at a different church, almost nobody was stopping at the stop sign.   There is a stop sign in my neighborhood where almost everyone is rolling through the stop sign.

No big deal you say?  Believers and non-believers alike, without knowing it, are going against what God says in the Bible.  A stop sign or a red light means to stop.  Not obeying traffic laws is rebellion.  Rebellion starts small, but it gets bigger and bigger in all areas of our life.  After a time, we come to a point where we think that many things in the Bible don’t apply to us or we simple ignore them.   Not a good place to be.

Submit to Government

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  The authorities that exist are appointed by God.   God does not approve of corrupt government, ungodly officials, or unjust legislation.  Sometimes, however, in punishment for the sins of a people, or for other reasons know to Him, God allows evil rulers to have authority for a time.  Ideally, God grants authority to serve good ends.  How that authority is exercised will be the accounting of each to whom it has been given. 

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work.  Christians are citizens of heaven, but they also must fulfill their obligation toward civil authorities.

This is such a simple thing that we have been desensitized to.  What other areas are we failing to identify as sin?   If we think we are too spiritually mature to fall, we should beware.  The Bible portrays the sins of past spiritual leaders as a warning to us to remain humble and to be open to correction.  We do this by identifying our actions and we determine (discern) whether this is what God wants for us.

We constantly need to reassess our personal walk with God in honesty before Him.  Each of us is responsible and will be held accountable for our actions and attitudes.  Be sober in yourself assessment.

Galatians 6:3-5 (NKJV) For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.  For each one shall bear his own load.

Fallen Angels

Greetings,

Today, Bob who is a brother in Christ asked me why I have not sent out any writings recently.  I told him that I have several things the Lord has given me, but I started a new job and I have not made time to share.  My thought is that God does not want to hear our excuses and especially my excuses.

What I am going to share with you is what was revealed to me and it is a warning of what is to come.  We as a Body of Christ are not preparing ourselves for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, we are not equipped to overcome Satan and the demons in his dark kingdom.

Matthew 24:21 (NKJV) ²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Matthew 24:21 (NLT) For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again.

We are fortunate that most of us cannot see the evil spirit world because it is not a pretty sight.  There are a few who can see and they will tell you that demons come in different sizes and are extremely ugly, wicked and evil.  On occasion according to some in the ministry, Satan will manifest in the physical.  I am not sure if demons manifest in the physical but many of us can feel the presence of evil spirits as they come to bring fear to the Saints.  Fortunately, God has held them back.  He has not withdrawn His protection yet, but that will change as this world gets more and more wicked by the day. 

We know that God’s angels manifest in the physical as it says in Genesis 18:1-5 Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. ² So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men (two were angels) were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, ³ and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. ⁴ Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.” They said, “Do as you have said.”

The world will get to a point of wickedness where we simply cannot imagine at this present time.  The evil that is showing up in movies is not close to the evil that is about to be released on this earth.  God will remove His protective covering and Satan will be free to bring terror and all the wickedness at his disposal.  This is the tribulation that Jesus talks about in Matthew 24.  It was revealed to me that once God lifts His protection, Satan and his fallen angels will manifest in the physical and bring terror and most will be clueless on what to do.  Essentially, we will have hell on earth.  I can’t elaborate much more because this is all that I got. 

My prayer is that you all immerse yourself in the Word of God so that His Word will prepare you for the coming of Jesus Christ.  His Word is needed to get through these evil days and the evil days to come.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (AMP) Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people),  Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.

Tony Sanchez 8-11-13