¿Qué es Al acecho detrás de la oscuridad?

¿Qué es Al acecho detrás de la oscuridad?

Porque, aunque andamos en la carne, no militamos según la carne. Porque las armas de nuestra milicia no son carnales, sino poderosas en Dios para la destrucción de fortalezas, derribando argumentos (pensamientos) y toda altivez que se levanta contra el conocimiento de Dios, y llevando cautivo todo pensamiento a la obediencia a Cristo,
2 Corintios. 10: 3-5.

Introducción

No estamos comprometidos sólo a un partido de fútbol, ​​un videojuego, un partido de baloncesto o un parque de juegos. Estamos comprometidos en una guerra. ¡Estamos en guerra y el campo de batalla es tu mente! Satanás quiere controlar todos tus pensamientos. Nuestra responsabilidad es combatir esos pensamientos de maldad y pensar en Cristo. Lleva tus pensamientos a la obediencia a Cristo. Nuestras armas son poderosas a través de Dios. Es la biblia, la oración y a través de nuestra entrega al poder del Espíritu Santo. Como piensas.? ¿Qué pasa por tu mente? ¿Qué o quién está controlando tus patrones de pensamientos? Una persona cristiana debe mantener su mente en las cosas de Dios.

Nuestra mente

Los pensamientos son tan poderosos que pueden hacernos daño o pueden ayudarnos. En Proverbios 23:7, ‘Porque cuál es su pensamiento en su corazón, tal es él. ¿Cómo piensas cuando estás solo? ¿Quién controla tu mente? Muchos están solos con sus propios pensamientos. ¿De qué hablas contigo mismo?

El que gobierna su mente, teniendo dominio propio (controla tu mente) es más poderoso que conquistar una ciudad. Prov. 16:32.

Tú guardarás en perfecta paz a aquel cuyo pensamiento en Ti persevera, porque en Ti ha confiado. Isaías. 26:3

Como una ciudad cuyos muros son derribados es una persona que carece de dominio propio. Prov. 25:28.

Porque no nos ha dado Dios espíritu de cobardía, sino de poder, de amor y de dominio propio. 2 Timoteo 1:7

Nuestra mente carnal está en enemistad con Dios.
Tu mente debe ser disciplinada. Hay que enseñarle a pensar en lo que es la voluntad de Dios. Tu mente no quiere hacer nada de lo que Dios quiere hacer con nosotros, para nosotros o por nosotros. Estamos alienados y separados de Dios. Tu mente tomó esa decisión. No se someterá a la voluntad de Dios.
Porque la mente carnal es enemistad Dios… Rom. 8:7

Esto es así porque la naturaleza corrupta tiene una actitud hostil hacia Dios. Se niega a ponerse bajo la autoridad de las normas de Dios porque no puede. Rom. 8:7

Y vosotros, que en otro tiempo erais enemigos y enemigos en vuestro ánimo por las malas obras, ahora os ha reconciliado. Colosenses 1:21

Tenemos una mente cegada
El diablo tiene poder sobrenatural para cegar tu mente si se lo permites. He visto el poder del enemigo no solo con los incrédulos sino también con los creyentes que dejan que su mente se apodere de las tinieblas. He visto a hombres y mujeres cristianos dar lugar al diablo en sus mentes y terminar en situaciones terribles. Estos hombres y mujeres provenían de hogares cristianos, pero dieron lugar al diablo y experimentaron situaciones terribles. Son llevados cautivos por Satanás. El Espíritu Santo que puede abrir tus ojos a la verdad cuando lo dejas. Él es un caballero y no te obligará.

“a los cuales el dios de este siglo cegó el entendimiento de los incrédulos, para que no les resplandezca la luz del evangelio de la gloria de Cristo, el cual es la imagen de Dios”. 2 Cor. 4:4

Mente dudosa
Muchas personas, incluso cristianos, dudan constantemente de la bondad y el cuidado de Dios hacia ellos. Siempre están preocupados por el mañana.
Y no busquéis lo que habéis de comer, o lo que habéis de beber, ni seáis de mente vacilante. Lucas 12:29

Persona de doble ánimo
¿Cuántos cristianos llaman mentiroso a Dios su Padre diciendo que están de acuerdo con lo que dice las escrituras en un minuto y al siguiente dejando que las circunstancias gobiernen sus mentes y situaciones? Cuando dudas, pecas. Cuando vacilas, pecas. Muchos están divididos en este momento entre su deseo de amar y servir a Dios, pero sienten la atracción de sus deseos pecaminosos. No puedes tenerlo de las dos maneras. Debes elegir a quién seguirás. Hay un camino ancho que lleva a la perdición y un camino angosto que lleva a la vida eterna. En esa puerta estrecha está la Cruz de Jesús. Y todo se decidirá primero en lo que harás acerca de Cristo en tu mente.? ¿Es Cristo un mentiroso? ¿Es Cristo un loco? ¿O es Él el Hijo del Dios viviente? Tu debes escoger.

“Todo lo que no es de fe es pecado.” Rom. 14:23

Pero que pida con fe, sin vacilar nunca; porque el que vacila es como una ola del mar, empujada y sacudida por el viento. Porque no piense ese hombre que recibirá algo del Señor. Un hombre de doble ánimo es inestable en todos sus caminos. Santiago 1:6-8

¿Cómo corregimos nuestras mentes?
Para corregir nuestras mentes de acuerdo con la palabra de Dios implica disciplina. Cuando venimos al Señor Jesucristo, nuestro espíritu nace nuevo. Somos nuevas creaciones y tenemos un nuevo espíritu que vive en un cuerpo y una mente que no han sido renovados. En nuestro andar con el Señor Jesucristo debemos tomar el control de nuestras mentes. Como pensamos así hablaremos. Y como hablamos así viviremos. Lo que sale de nuestra boca es lo que hemos estado pensando. Nuestras palabras nos localizan y hablaremos las palabras del mundo o serán de acuerdo con nuestra lealtad a Dios.

  • Renovar
    Así que, hermanos, os ruego por las misericordias de Dios, que presentéis vuestros cuerpos en sacrificio vivo, santo, agradable a Dios, que es vuestro culto racional. Y no os conforméis a este siglo, sino transformaos por medio de la renovación de vuestro entendimiento, para que comprobéis cuál sea la buena voluntad de Dios, agradable y perfecta. Rom. 12:1-2
  • Conoce lo que tienes en Él
    Como todas las cosas que pertenecen a la vida y a la piedad nos han sido dadas por su divino poder, mediante el conocimiento de aquel que nos llamó por su gloria y excelencia, por medio de las cuales nos ha dado preciosas y grandísimas promesas, para que por ellas llegaseis a ser participantes de la naturaleza divina, habiendo huido de la corrupción que hay en el mundo a causa de la concupiscencia; vosotros también, poniendo toda diligencia por esto mismo, añadid a vuestra fe virtud; a la virtud, conocimiento; al conocimiento, dominio propio; al dominio propio, paciencia; a la paciencia, piedad; a la piedad, afecto fraternal; y al afecto fraternal, amor. Porque si estas cosas están en vosotros, y abundan, no os dejarán estar ociosos ni sin fruto en cuanto al conocimiento de nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Pero el que no tiene estas cosas tiene la vista muy corta; es ciego, habiendo olvidado la purificación de sus antiguos pecados. 10 Por lo cual, hermanos, tanto más procurad hacer firme vuestra vocación y elección; porque haciendo estas cosas, no caeréis jamás. 11 Porque de esta manera os será otorgada amplia y generosa entrada en el reino eterno de nuestro Señor y Salvador Jesucristo. 2 Pedro 1:2-11
  • Piense a propósito

Por lo demás, hermanos, todo lo que es verdadero, todo lo honesto, todo lo justo, todo lo puro, todo lo amable, todo lo que es de buen nombre, si hay alguna virtud y si algo que merece alabanza, pensad en estas cosas. Las cosas que habéis aprendido y recibido y oído y visto en mí, haced; y el Dios de paz estará con vosotros.
Filipenses 4:8-9

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Sit, Walk, Stand-The Epistle to the Ephesians.

Sit, Walk, Stand.

The Epistle to the Ephesians.

 Introduction.

We are going to be looking in the Epistle to the Ephesians written by the apostle Paul. Chapters 1 through 3 have to do with our position in Christ. This is based on doctrinal considerations.

The second part will be a practical experience in this world. Chapters 4-6.9 has to do with our life in this world. And chapters 6:10 -24 has to do with our attitude to the enemy.

The keywords in Ephesians are the following.

Our position in Christ.– Sit.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:6.

Our life in this world – Walk. As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Eph. 4:1.

Our attitude towards the enemy – Stand. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  Eph. 6.11.

The life of the believer always presents these three aspects- to God, to man, and to the Satanic powers. To be walking in accordance to God’s workings in our lives be must be fulling and properly understanding; our position, our life, and our warfare.

Sit-Positional Sanctification.

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. Eph. 1:17-21.

And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:6-9.

The word SIT reveals his secrets of having a heavenly life. Christianity is not begin with walking it begins with sitting. It states in Hebrews 1.3 that Jesus Christ who made purification of our sins SAT down at the right hand of the Father. Equally understanding that our individual Christian life hidden in Christ is by faith and we also are seated together with Him in the heavens. Christianity does not begin with a big DO but with a big DONE. The Christian life from start to finish is based upon the principle of utter dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ and His work at Calvary.

In other words, our life, our load, our future, our everything depends on the Lord not ourselves. Our Christian life totally depends on the finished work of Christ. Our Christian life starts when we understand what Father God provided for us in Christ Jesus. This means that we are to REST in and on the promises of God given to us in the scriptures.

The Range of the Finished Work of Christ

We are not just sinners saved by grace. We are his people filled with the Holy Ghost. We are filled with Him. We are dead to the power of sin and its dominion.

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. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. Rom. 6:4-9

Walk-Progressive Sanctification.

We understand that the Lord Jesus has done everything for us but it does not end here. In our natural life like our spiritual life walking follows sitting. Our walking is our response to us now receiving. It is our practical outworking of our heavenly position here on earth. This is called progressive sanctification. Are we just acting like Christians or are we acting like the children of God filled with love. In each and every situation we face we must ask ourselves what does God want from us? What can we learn as His children?

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Eph. 4:1-2

So, I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. Eph. 4:17

But you did not learn about Christ in this manner, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:  that you put off the former way of life in the old nature, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Rom. 4:21-23

And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Eph. 5:2

For you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light— for the fruit of the light[c] consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Eph. 5: 8-10

 Christian Relationships-Brotherly Love

Old Testament said an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth.

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they?  And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matt. 5:43-48.

Nothing does more damage when we as Christians try to demand our rights from others. The principle of the cross is the principle of our conduct. The secret is understanding that He, Christ Jesus, has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. 2 Pet. 1:2-11

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph. 4:32

We all face challenges. We all face difficult people and situations. The Lord promised us that in this world we will have obstacles but rest in Him because He has overcome these things. How do we overcome?

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Eph. 3:20.

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Col. 1:29

Redeeming the Time!

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Eph. 5:15-17.

We must understand that this scripture is talking about our practical outworking of our lives here on earth. Yes, there is time and the harvest is rich and we really need to move on the behalf of the Lord preaching the gospel. We need to be ready to preach the gospel in every situation. As the Lord opens the doors in different places on the job, in different family gatherings, at school where we are studying, in the ministries of the Lord has given us. We take full advantage of the time that we have with the prisoners at the prison we are ministering. we speak with the offices that are there, prisoners, and any other staff that we can about the Lord Jesus Christ. We readily have abundant supply of tracks and Christian books as gifts to different people. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is it give us power To reach people. We need to be wise and how we try to reach out. It must not be an arrogance but in love truly understanding that this is the Lord ‘s will that none should perish. It is always a question of time because many of us waste so much time on unnecessary things.

 Stand- give no place to the devil.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Eph. 6: 1018

We are at war.

We are not engaged in just a football game, a video game, basketball game or a playground. We are engaged in a war. We are at war and the battlefield is your mind! Satan wants to control your every thought. Our responsibility is to fight those thoughts of evil and think on Christ. Bring your thoughts into obedience to Christ. Our weapons are mighty through God. It is the bible, prayer and through our surrendering to the power Holy Ghost. How do you think? What goes through your mind? What or who is controlling your thoughts patterns? A Christian person must keep their mind on the things of God. We must stand in the name of Jesus and push back against the kingdom of darkness. We are overcomers and we need to rest in the victory wrought by Christ Jesus. Christ has already conquered Satan but we must stand against his attacks on us and those who God has put before us.

We have the Name of Jesus. We have the Word of God. We have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. What has Father God called you to do? God will never call you to do something and has not given you the grace to do it.

The Christian life consists of sitting with Christ, walking by Him and standing in Him.

Johnny Ramirez- From Prison to Praise!

I met Johnny some 40 years ago under the outreach of the Solid Rock Ministry through Rev. Ma Bean. It was under the Solid Rock Ministry I gave my heart to Jesus in 1972 where I found Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I was working as a custody officer where I first heard the gospel under her ministry and went forward with the inmates giving my life to God as well. I have been walking with the lord Jesus for 50 years now and it is amazing to see how God can change lives.
Johnny is presently serving a life sentence in State Prison in California. He is a young man who has tremendous faith. Johnny also took several classes in Psychology and Sociology from me back in 2020 and 2021. He did an excellent job receiving a letter grade of A in all of his classes. While his stay at Lancaster State Prison he attended all of the Sunday Christian services without fail. He has been recently transferred to a level 2 prison at Avenal State Prison. I am in the process of writing a support letter for him to the Parole Board. Please keep him in your prayers.
Johnny stated that he praises the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for saving him and filling him with His Holy Spirit. He stated that his sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.
1 John 1:9
Johnny stated that though he is in prison physically he is at peace spiritually and emotionally. The love of Jesus fills him daily and sustains him continually. He further stated that we are not consumed because of the compassion and mercy of God.

Let freedom Ring!!!

What is Lurking Behind the Darkness?

What is Lurking Behind the Darkness?
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments (thoughts) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Cor. 10: 3-5.

Introduction

We are not engaged in just a football game, a video game, basketball game or a playground. We are engaged in a war. We are at war and the battlefield is your mind! Satan wants to control your every thought. Our responsibility is to fight those thoughts of evil and think on Christ. Bring your thoughts into obedience to Christ. Our weapons are mighty through God. It is the bible, prayer and through our surrendering to the power Holy Ghost. How do you think? What goes through your mind? What or who is controlling your thoughts patterns? A Christian person must keep their mind on the things of God.

Our Mind

Thoughts are powerful either to harm us or to help us. In Proverbs 23:7, ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. How do you think when you are alone? Who is controlling your mind? Many are alone with their own thoughts. What do you talk to yourself about?

He that rules his mind, having self-control (control you mind) is more powerful than to conquer a city. Prov. 16:32.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Isa. 26 :3

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.
Prov. 25:28.

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

Our Carnal Mind is at Enmity against God.
Your mind must be disciplined. It must be taught to think on that which is God’s will. Your mind does not want to do anything that God wants to do with us, for us, or through us. We are alienated and separated from God. Your mind made that decision. It will not submit to the will of God.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God… Rom. 8:7
This is so because the corrupt nature has a hostile attitude toward God. It refuses to place itself under the authority of God’s standards because it can’t. Rom. 8:7
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled. Col. 1:21

We have a Blinded Mind
The devil has supernatural power to blind your mind if you let him. I have seen the power of the enemy not just with unbelievers but with believers who let their mind be taken over with darkness. I have seen Christian men and women give place to the devil in their minds and wind up in terrible situations. These men and women came from Christian homes but they gave place to the devil and experienced terrible situations in their lives. They are led captive by Satan. The Holy Ghost that can open your eyes to the truth as you let Him. He is a gentleman and will not force you.

“ whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
2 Cor. 4:4

Doubtful Mind
Many people, even Christian are constantly doubting the goodness and care of God towards them. They are always worried about tomorrow.
And seek ye not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubting mind. Luke 12:29

Double Minded Person
How many Christian call God their Father a liar by saying yes one minute and the next by letting circumstances govern their minds and lives. When you doubt you sin. When you vacillate, you sin. Many are torn right now between their desire to love and serve God but feel the pull of their sinful desires. You can’t have it both ways. You must choose who you will follow. There is a broad road that leads to destruction and the narrow road that leads to eternal life. At that narrow gate is the Cross of Jesus. And it all will be decided in what you will do about Christ in your mind first. Is a liar? Is he crazy? Or is He the Son of the living God? You must choose.
“Whatever is not of Faith is Sin.” Rom. 14:23
But let him ask in faith, never wavering; for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:6-8

How do we fix our Minds.
The fixing on our minds involves discipline. When we come to the Lord Jesus Christ our spirit is born a new. We are new creations and have a new spirit people that lives in an ungenerated body and ungenerated mind. In our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ we must take command of our minds. As we think so we will speak. And as we speak so will we live. What comes out of our mouth is what we have been thinking. Our words are locators of either the world and I loyalty to it or God in our loyalty to Him.
Renew
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rom. 12:1-2
Know what you have in Him
His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Thereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, using all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Therefore brethren, give diligence all the more to make your calling and election sure, for if ye do these things ye shall never fall. 2 Peter 1:2-11
Think on Purpose

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you.
Phil 4:8-9

Jericho, Alters, World.

Jericho, Alters, World
Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control. Prov. 25:28

What is your Jericho?
Matt. 20:29
“And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.”

Broken Down Alters
I Kings 18:30
“He repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.”

Love not the World
I Jn. 2: 15-17
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Introduction
I think the biggest problem we have as Christians is that our loyalty is divided. I know that I have made many mistakes in my life and if given the opportunity I would do things different. But one thing I know I can’t live in the past. I must look at my present situation and ask what is keeping the blessings of God from me. I need to look deep into my heart and see what I need to do to put things right with God. I must be quick to forgive, quick to love, quick to forget.

What is your Jericho?
Jericho is a very significant place in the Bible. Most of the prophets and kings confronted their enemies at Jericho. Israel could not enter into the promise land until Jericho was destroyed. Did you know that Jericho can be a very different place for different people? Jericho can be a place where you have a weakness in some area of your life. Your Jericho might be sexual temptation. Your Jericho might be not walking in love. Your Jericho might be talking about others behind their backs. Your Jericho might be overspending and buying things you don’t need. Your Jericho might be not giving to others. Your Jericho might be overcoming alcohol, drugs, smoking, etc. Whatever Jericho might be in your life it is a place whereby YOU MUST through progressive Sanctification overcome it with the strength of God. Until you overcome your Jericho’s with the power of God you won’t enter into your promised land!
Jericho’s can be a very lonely place in which no one understands your situation. And it is not important that others understand as long as you understand that which hinders the power of God in your life. We must become VERY SERIOUS to get rid of those things that hinder the power of God in our lives. But when we surrender those secret things to God then we will see God’s power come alive in us. The above scripture states that when they left (Jesus and His disciples) Jericho then the multitudes followed. We must leave our Jericho’s behind us then people we see God’s power in our lives. Then they will follow because they see God working in us and through us.
What is your Jericho? What is hindering God working to His fullest in your life? Put those struggles and temptations behind and you will enter into that promise land of peace, joy, and abundant living.

Broken Down Alters.
Before Elijah decided to rebuild the alter that was broken down, he had to clear out the brush around it. We also need to clear the brush in our lives before God can begin is home improvement. That brush might be for some of us pride, resentment, anger, unforgiveness, jealousy, envy, pornography, lying, or stealing. Whatever is the brush in your life you need to ask God for forgiveness, so the rebuilding can begin. God will give you strength to get rid of it. God pledges to help you if you are truly tired of those things in your life that separate you from Him.
How do we rebuild the alter of our heart? We need to take a clean-cut stand for Jesus. Until you do, you will stay as cold and unresponsive as a stone. No matter what has broken down the altar, build it up. Remember God loves you. He is on your side. He wants the best for you. He wants you to succeed but it has to be His way or no way. You decide!

Love not the World and its Influences!
We must keep our bodies under. We must be disciplined in our thoughts, our speech, and our life. The first usage has to do with the material universe, the world under the dominion of Satan. The second usage has to do with unsaved people. They do not love God. They are enemies of the cross. The third usage has to do world system governed by Satan. Satan is the originator of evil and resistance to all that is holy at every level. Including secular ungodly education, politics, music both secular and alleged sacred that is filled with doubt, etc. We must ask ourselves, “How is this thing affecting my relationship with Father God?”
• Lust of the Flesh- sexual appetite, physical gratification.
• Lust of the Eyes- our sinful nature, mental gratification or pleasures.
• Pride of Life- empty, boasting, how vain life is.

Religion can’t help you!

Religion can’t help you!
John 3:3 (AMP)
“Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.”

Religious Person
Jesus is having a conversation with a very religious person. However, this person had come to the realization that his religion was not working for him. He prayed, went to his religious services, gave money, and helped people but he still felt empty! He realized that religion does not work.
Jesus did not come to establish a religion. Jesus came to establish a relationship between us and God the Father through His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. We need to come to the point in our lives that we truly understand that we are lost and empty without Christ’s intervention. What is that intervention? It is called being born again. What does this mean? It means that we understand without Christ we are lost and empty. We understand that without God there is no hope! It means we give control of our lives over to God and ask him to forgive us of our sins. We ask God to come into our heart and make us BRAND NEW!

Saved at the Cross
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Cor. 5:17-21

Believe in Your Heart and Confess with your mouth! Rom. 10:9-10.
This is the formula for healing, salvation, deliverance, everything you need in Christ Jesus. He has already done it. He will not do anything new. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life!
• It does not happen by being a member of a church.
• It does not happen because you give to a charity.
• It does not happen because you help an old person cross the street.
• All of these things are good, but it does not meet the conditions of God to become His child.

Salvation is a Gift!
For by grace you are saved through faith; it is not of yourselves; it is a gift of God.
Eph. 2:8
Jesus is knocking on Your Heart!
When you are born again God comes to live in you. You are forgiven of your sins. God gives you the power to have an abundant life. An abundant life is having peace in the midst of the storm. Why? Because Jesus is our peace! God is a gentleman. He will not force you, but He will knock on the door of your heart asking you to open up and let Him in.

We are complete in Jesus!
In Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority. Col. 2:10
As He is, so also are we in this world. I Jn. 4:17

Walk in the Power of Jesus.
You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38

Brandon’s Testimony; From Prison to Praise!

My earliest memories take back to a five year old child living with my mother and my big brother Gary. My biological father Gary Baker left us when I was three, for which I was blamed. My brother would always say it was my fault that my father left us. It got worse as he would say that I was adopted, that he left me hurt and confused as I felt unacceptable and lonely in this world.
Shortly after my dad left, my mother got a new boyfriend who is basically a monster and beat me and my mother. The first time I called 911 the police arrived at our house and did nothing. Admittedly left my mother‘s boyfriend turned his rage onto me. As he smacked me across the face he yelled at me and threaten to kill me and my mother if I ever snitched on him. I never called the police again however they abuse did not stop.
As a child I used to wet the bed. If he caught me in the morning, he would roll up a newspaper and put my face into the mattress and smack my nose saying I need to be trained like a dog.
Eventually Child Protective Services got involved as my mother’s boyfriend smacked me and drag me around by my shirt at McDonald’s in Azusa where I lived at the time. Nobody interfered, but at least the police were called and I was taken out of the situation. After that I was sent to live with my father in Pomona. This was in the midst of a crack era and where we lived was a hotbed for crime and gang violence. Vividly I can recall police and army tanks battering rams crashing into living rooms, helicopters, and gun shots at night.
During this time, I can recall my father ‘s preaching at church he was what was known as a fire and brimstone preacher. I was never told about the love of Christ, so my psychosocial construction of reality regarding God was that he was angry all the time and I was going to hell.
Death was so prevalent in my life I became numb to it. I witnessed my first murder at the age of six and several more thereafter. Whenever someone died I would hear my dad‘s voice you’re going to go to the lake of fire forever. Three years later I was sent back to my mother and I witnessed a double murder at the time the police and gang members with asked me repeatedly what I saw it was too much and I was glad to move back with my mom.
Eventually my mother left her boyfriend and we settled in West Covina which I consider to be my hometown. But prior to that I never had stability and I went to seven different schools by the time I reach the fifth grade. I was a serious problem for my mom and my little brother. The hurt that I internalize was projected on to them. Eventually I transitioned into a teenager and I projected that hate onto my peers. At the age of 13 I began running the streets and joined a gang that’s when things went from bad to worse. The gang lifestyle gave me a false sense of acceptance. I became a full-blown alcoholic at the age of 13 and was sent to juvenile hall before my 14th birthday. Going to juvenile hall solidified what I have been told my whole life nobody cared about me and I was worthless. So my life spiraled out of control I gave up on school and home I dedicated myself to the gang. Because I was involved in gangs my mom kicked me out of the house at the age of 15. I found myself homeless, sleeping on park benches, bus stops and even stealing cars just to sleep in the backseat. I would rob and drugs to make enough money to rent a motel once in a while.
I had the memory of my close friend lost I attempted suicide twice both times playing Russian roulette. I can see the hand of God working in my life however I couldn’t see it then all I envisioned was Dante in a lake of fire just like my dad used to say.
By the age of 18 I was a very violent person. I committed a home invasion and was sentenced to 75 years to life. I am truly remorseful and repented for this crime. I saw no reason in my life for redemption. I was sent to Folsom prison which was extremely violent. It was all about survival. The mindset that I had led to violence And I wound up in solitary confinement. During this time, I read a lot but not once did I pick up the Bible. My mother said that she was praying for me but it fell on deaf ears because my reality was a living hell. A decade later while I was in solitary confinement at another prison, I read my first verse which was Psalms 37:4.
My Nana Thelma used to send to me ‘The Daily Bread” and I would read it mostly out of the respect for her and I did admire her trust in God. However, It took 15 years into my incarceration for me to find God. It was miraculous how it happened. The worst day in my life became the best day of my life. It was Thanksgiving of 2015 I was going to kill myself that day. I was placed on C status which means you’re treated like you’re in the hole but you’re not in the hole. You have no appliances, no phone calls, no visits. Being without those things is bad enough but seeing others have them and you don’t leave you in a sense of depression was something I was acquainted with. At this time my mother was very ill I did not have long to live. I remember writing her a goodbye letter that basically was turning into a suicide note for myself. I bought 3 grams of heroin and overdose in prison. I never used hard drugs before But I thought these 3 grams in my veins were take me out of my misery. After dinner, something happened that interfered with those plans they were visitors and the tears a pastor his wife and also escorting them. We all couldn’t wait for them to leave so we could pass contraband. The pastor‘s wife said to me Jesus loves you and that caused me to laugh out loud. I told him I’m ready to die and you’re going to tell me that Jesus loves me what a bunch of BS. After that I walked away from the door. The pastor said to me God is with you and that Cell son he hears you suddenly I was interested. I asked them why you with your families since this is Thanksgiving Day. The pastor said Christ never forgets the prisoner and his wife said because we love you. I was puzzled how can you love me if you don’t know me I asked. She said I don’t have to know you I know God. As they walked away the warms that was in my heart went with him I was prepared to finish my plan. But they came back and the pastor said brother Bandon we forgot to pray for you. I don’t understand what he was saying when he prayed but it felt in my heart that’s something that I never felt before, tears were streaming down my face. The pastor said spend time with God Brandon, He hears you. I lost the words to say but I found more tears it was uncontrollable and all the demons of abuse, trauma, and pain rushed me at once and I thought about all the wrong things I did it made me cry even more. I was able to shout out three words I am sorry God I yelled and the tears stopped and peace fell upon me. I felt that I was no longer in prison I was in the presence of the living God and I hadn’t been cast away. Psalms 37:4 became a reality to me and God gave me a new heart and a desire to have a relationship with Him. I have no relationship with my biological father but I do have a relationship with my father in heaven and he doesn’t like the thoughts I had as a child. I’ve seen myself for the first time that God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Prison ministry is important because true rehabilitation comes repentance and that comes from the Holy Spirit so I’m truly thankful for the love and support of all involved in the prison ministry as Jesus tells us in Matthew 25: 31–45. “If you did it for the least of these you, did it for Christ.”

What are you listening to?

What are you listening to?
Rom. 10:17; (KJV)
“So, faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Introduction.
I like to listen to people because their words locate them in regard to what they believe. The bible says out of our heart the mouth speaks. This is of course not out physical hear but what we treasure the most in our life. Where the heart is also what you treasure the most. The problem is that we don’t spend enough time in meditating and studying the Word of God.

What is faith?
The epistle of Hebrews 11: 1 state that, “NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].”

What does this mean? It means that even though you can’t see something happening right now you believe it because the word of God says it’s so. For instance, Psalms 23:1 state “The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall not want.” You look at your check book and you see you are down to nothing and it’s still a long time before you are going to get paid. What do you do? You confess what the word of God states and not what you five senses tell you.

Scripture also states that we “walk by faith and not by sight”. 2 Cor. 5: 7. Once again we look to what the word of God says about our circumstances and not what our circumstances are saying.

What are you Listening to?

Have you ever really analyzed what you are watching and hearing every day? The news is filled with doubt, murder, desperation, wars, famines, and anything else that is negative in the world. Have you ever asked yourself why they don’t report about all the good things that are going on in the world? Why don’t the news stations report on the work that Christians are doing around the world? There are many very good organizations feeding people, building houses for the poor, helping inner city kids, and helping the elderly in the United States and around the world. The reason they don’t report on good things is because the entire world is in the hands of the evil one and he uses the media to keep people living in fear and bondage.

Victorious Living

The key to living a victorious life is not attending church every once in a while. The key to living a victorious and abundant life comes from studying and practicing the word of God. God has filled His word with so many precious promises to lift us up and set us free. Some people say I just don’t have the time. But these same people will turn on the television in the bedroom every night and watch it for three to four hours until they fall asleep. If you take time to read the word of God and spend less time watching the TV, you would see how much your life would improve.

Remember how you think is how you will believe. And how you believe is how you will live!
Read the word of God and you will see how much your faith will grow!

Double Minded!

Double Minded!
Introduction.

There are teachers that can teach from their limited experience and there are teachers that are called and anointed to teach the Word of God.
Faith begins when the will of God in known. To know the will of God you must know the Word of God. Whatever you need from God you must find the promise in the Word of God. Once you find it you believe in your heart and confess it. This is the key to victory.

Scripture to be Examined
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom. 12: 1-2.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith (the heart), with no doubting (the mind), for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8. (KJV)
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:5-8. (NLT)

God’s Will
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17 (KJV)
Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17. (NLT)
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11 (KJV)
So, if you sinful people (hard-hearted, stubborn) know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them) how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. Matthew 7:11 (NLT)

What is Faith?
Faith is always in the present. Hope is in the future.
Now faith is the assurance or the confirmation of things we hope, it is the guarantee and the evidence of things not seen. It is the conviction of their reality- faith comprehends as a fact what cannot be experienced by physical senses. You can doubt in your head and believe with your heart! Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11: 6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Remember faith is that means it is in the present. That means you have believed that you have received what you had hoped for so therefore you thank God that it is done. The devil will fight you; he will put negative thoughts in your mind, and they will die unborn if you do not confess them. Confess and thank God for the answer to your request.
Fight the good fight of faith. Be strong in the Lord and the power of his word. Resist the enemy and all the thoughts that come to your mind. He would try to negate the blessing that God has promised to you.
Our Faith is measured by what you are speaking! If we confess weakness, disease, and poverty than we will have what we say. If we confess that we are more than able, victorious, and walking in health and prosperity than we will have (eventually) what we are confessing.
Speaking the Word of God continually will eventually get it into your heart. Your head will resist but keep speaking the Word!

Listening, Speaking, and Doing
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36, NIV
Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) Hebrews 10:23
And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Rev. 12:11
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[a] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11: 22-25

Is the Sacrifice of Christ Enough?

Is the Sacrifice of Christ Enough?
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again, I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Gal. 5:1-6.

Introduction
At the time of the writing of Paul to the Galatian Church was very important because they had become very unpredictable and inpatient and curious for the new. Many Jews lived in the cities of Asia minor and there was a constant effort by them to pervert the gospel of Christ. (1:7).
While many insisted that salvation was in Christ works was also necessary for salvation. Judaizing was behind this legalistic error and many Galatian Christians or beginning to yield to it and the bondages of observing certain days, month, years times religious holidays, etc. Paul destroyed all arguments that were in favor of mixing the law with faith by pointing out that Abraham was justified by faith alone 430 years before the mosaic law was given. Paul pointed out that a mature Christian was not because they kept the law but because of the Holy Spirit through progressive sanctification. The law is divided into three parts the ceremonial law, civil law, and the moral law. They once again tried to introduce to the Galatian church the ceremonial law given in the mosaic law to be acceptable to God for Salvation.

Freedom in Christ-Positional Sanctification
Your salvation can’t never be earned. It is a gift not by works. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph. 2:8-9.

Stand Firm
Resist the temptation or false teachers that say you need to do something else to be acceptable to God. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. I Cor. 16:13

Don’t be Entangled Again.
Resist this trap of both man and Satan. Do not become snared from within. The yoke is to carry something that you were not to carry.

Legalism- Fallen Away from Grace
• Yoke of Slavery-Religious Ordinances. Circumcision was part of the ordinances of Jewish ceremonial law. They felt this made them acceptable to God. The Jewish religion like other religions is based on works.
• Jesus only movement.
• Water Baptism-is identification not salvation
• Baptized in the Holy Spirit- gives us power to complete the work of the gospel, but it is not salvation.
• Fasting-good when God directs you.
• Constantly in Church. Church will not solve things you need to fix.
• Self-righteous person- always criticizing others because they think they are God.
• Who is your neighbor?
• Hypocrisy

Following the Law breaks our liberty and salvation in Christ.
• Your union with Christ is broken.
• You fall from grace because you trust your works more than the cross of Calvary.
• You can’t be saved by works and Christ.
• Consequences for broken Communion.
o Diseases attacking your body.
o Unanswered prayers.
o Lack of peace in your life.
o Hard to get along with others.

Faith expressed through Love-Progressive Sanctification
We are not justified by love but our faith is a living act of love towards others. Repent to restore Communion with God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. Rom. 12:1-2