Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Jezebel Spirit

The Jezebel spirit is not discussed in the church even though this spirit, which has no gender, played a dominate roll in 1 Kings in the Old Testament and plays a dominate roll in the world today. Jezebel is also mentioned in Revelation 2:18-22 18“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman[c] Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. Appears Jezebel plays a significant roll in the corrupt church.

Elijah called for a showdown with the God's of Baal and our God. He challenged and defeated 450 prophets of Baal. Jezebel certainly was not pleased with Elijah. 1 Kings 19:1-2 1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

Elijah, God's great prophet, ran to escape from Jezebel and was so depressed he wanted to die. How could such a great prophet who defeated 450 prophets of Baal fear Jezebel?

I believe we underestimate this spirit and fail to understand how prominent the Jezebel spirit is in our world today. Jezebel is known as the evil queen of Israel who murdered prophets and threatened the life of Elijah. She was an idol worshipper, murderer, thief and manipulator. She operated in illegitimate authority when she stole Naboth's inheritance. The spirit of Jezebel inflicts poverty, infirmity, divination and a spirit of religion. Jezebel also brings confusion, fear and doubt into lives and circumstances. Though this evil power has no gender, the seductive methods of prostitute are used to entice us into compromise in any area of our lives. It took Jehu to come against Jezebel and slay her. 2 Kings 9:30-33 30 Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window. 31 Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?”
32 And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. 33 Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot.
Rather than slaying Jezebel as Jehu did, we are easily seduced into tolerating her spiritual seductions!

Understand this: The Jezebel spirit is about control and she will use harlotry (Hollywood) and witchcraft against mankind to get us to sin and to take our attention away from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The demonic principality of Jezebel will abort destiny if we do not pray and war against this seductive spirit.

It is my prayer that we gain knowledge about the dark side so that we know how to battle for our souls and the souls of our loved ones. Time is getting short.

Blessings, Tony

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Transforming Your Mind

Greetings brothers and sisters.

A sister in Christ who has been a believer since 1987 was sharing about her walk with Christ in our bible study Saturday night. She was a little frustrated and confused on what else to do, as she was experiencing many obstacles in her walk. Like so many of us, we know what the Bible says but little in the way of how to apply what we read to our lives.

Too often we are conformed to this world. (Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.) In other words, we are caught up with with all these things in our every day life that may not pleasing God. Unfortunately, we are not always aware of these habits that we have developed that need to be eliminated. Sometimes we are aware of these habits and in our flesh we fight the need to change.

Paul urges us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed away from this world. To become transformed involves a process of change. Transform means metamorphosis as in the process of a caterpillar endures as it is transformed into a beautiful butterfly. The entire process involves death to an old identity, experiencing a season of change, and becoming an entirely new creation. This process is exactly what we believers experience as we are transformed into the image of Christ.

The enemy cannot have a hold on us if we renew our minds with His Word and perfect will. The process of renewing our minds involves three steps. First, we must be willing to change. Second, we are to present ourselves to the Lord as sacrifices in holiness. Third, we must not be conformed or fashioned to this world. All three steps are dependent upon our becoming saturated with His Word. By daily reading His Word, our minds are fashioned and we come into agreement with His perfect will. As we implement what we learn, we can dethrone the enemy. And as we digest His Word, we gain knowledge and understanding of who we are in Christ Jesus. As result, a new identity emerges devoid of our old habits. Therefore, empowered to defeat every strategy of the enemy.

My prayer is we transform ourselves by applying what you read in God's Word to our lives.

Blessings to you all,

Tony

Friday, March 5, 2010

Book of Habakkuk - The Walk of Faith

Habakkuk provides a beautiful picture of how to move from doubt to faith, from confusion to understanding, and from fear to hope. He asked genuine question, waited for God's answers, and accepted them. He put his hope in God and experienced His presence. In faith, he looked beyond his present circumstances to God, placing his hope in God's saving grace and absolute faithfulness. He set his heart and his eyes on God.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

Understand that is acceptable to acknowledge the difficulty of your situation. However, like Habakkuk, focus your attention on God rather than on your circumstances. Remember that circumstances will change, but God remains the same. Put your hope in God's ability to save you; He is present with you in even the most difficult of times. Choose to rejoice in the Lord, regardless of the way you feel. Trust that He will enable you to overcome.

1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it

Hebrew 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I pray God will bless your day.

Tony

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Offenses - A Major Hindrance

Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.

Offenses (unresolved bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness in broken relationships) grieve the Holy Spirit and undermine the unity and prayer vital to revival. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, the flow of His power, counsel, and comfort is stymied, and the enemy is given opportunity to accuse, torment, imprison, and ultimately defeat us. This blocks our ability to give or receive God's mercy because our relationship with Him is compromised, and the church is prevented from presenting the glory of God to a community. If we repent of our offenses to God and make things right before others (Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift), we can live in the power of an "ungrieved" Holy Spirit. Thus released from anger and bitterness, we can expect continual revival, abounding in the grace of His forgiveness, mercy and kindness (Mark 11:25-26 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”)

Do you have someone that you need to forgive? Better yet, have you offended someone and need to apologize and ask forgiveness? So often we look at others and their offenses against us and forget to remove the plank out of our eyes to see how we have offended them.

May God shed His blessings on you.

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Saturday, February 27, 2010

Book of Amos

Amos exemplifies God's commitment to forewarn His people of impending judgement in order to give them the opportunity to repent. God sent the prophet Amos as His spokesperson of warning to Israel. Like a trumpet blown to warn a city of attack, so God peaks through His prophets to warn His people in order to save them from destruction.

As I have been reading the Old Testament, I have come to realize how important a message it conveys in respect to our present culture. We have to understand that we are not any different than the people Amos is warning in his day.

Amos 3:67 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it? Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

Understand that, motivated by His love, God brings warning through His prophets in order to save His people from harm. God send instructions to the prophets by a direct word. We as believers should warn as the prophets have done. Like the prophets we have received a word from God. It is called The Bible.

Allow the godliness found in the Bible to be your life's standard. Ask God to show you any places in your life that deviate form His standard. By His grace, submit those areas to the Lord. Ask God to conform you to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

May God bless your life.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

First Blog

Dear brothers and sisters,




I just set this blog up for one purpose and that is to share the uncompromising Word of God. My intent is to convey what God says in His Word (Bible) and not what man says or understands, Proverbs 3:6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.




It is my hope and prayer that God will lead me to share what is right and correct using His Word that has been around since the beginning. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God.




Blessings to you all and may God be with you in your journeys.