February 6, 2008

There is a shaking going on, says the Lord God. Everything that can be shaken, will be shaken. Calamities are overtaking the earth. Fear is gripping those who are trying to hold on to what they have. The hour has come, the time is here that those who trust Me, that abide in Me, will pass through not even smelling like smoke. But those who do not abide in me, that do not trust My voice or My Word, will be in a time of great disaster. But those who will hearken to My voice will shine forth with My increase being displayed upon them. My glory I will share with no one but those whose hearts are right with Me. For those I will exalt in these days. Those who have a contrite heart and are not high minded, but mind the things of God.

The kingdoms of this world are being shaken. Most of what will remain will be rubble which will be burnt up in My fire. Financial kingdoms will collapse . Corporate kingdoms will go bankrupt. Church kingdoms will pass away. For my truth will be revealed and made known throughout the earth. I laugh at My enemies for they are already defeated. I laugh at those that say there is no God. For all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. For I the Lord God Am One God, and there is none like Me.

My remnant will prosper during this time with great signs and wonders to show forth My glory. My glory I will share with these who obey Me. With those who truly love Me. With those who will lay down their lives for this gospel. This is a time to wake up and see what is happening in the earth today. Do not despair, or fear, or doubt. But take courage, for I am with you and in you. There is none like Me. Don’t listen to or follow the doubters, those who love pleasure more than Me, those who want the sensation and emotionalism over My Spirit. But hearken unto My voice and be prepared to act and obey when I call upon you.

Acts 17:28
“For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.”

What a glorious passage of scripture! God had us on his mind before the foundation of the world. If we have repented of our sin and have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are now the offspring or children of God! In the first chapter of John it tells us that we are not here because of our parents plans, but by the will of Almighty God. John 1:12-13 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right (power) to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Now that we have been born again by the incorruptible seed of God, which is His Word, He has equipped us through His divine power with everything that pertains to life and godliness. He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light to walk holy before Him, separated from the cares and sin of this world to a place of glory and virtue. Surrendering our will and life to Christ, we now live our lives by the faith of the Son of God. This life we live is full of faith, love, peace, joy, patience, meekness, gentleness, victory, power, authority and being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. If we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, but will walk according to the truth of His Word. If we are His disciples, we will continue in His Word. And we will know the truth, and the truth of His Word will set us free from any addiction, bondage, mental anguish, disease, failure, guilt, and any stinking thinking. He has given to us the power through His name to cast down every vain imagination and every high thing that tries to exalt itself against the knowledge of God (His Word), and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

The sons of God are led by the Spirit of God. We need to move upon the earth the same way Jesus did, by God’s anointing, in the power and authority that brought glory to His Father. Jesus “went about doing good and healing all those who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). Jesus has commanded us to “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” The gospel is the good news that we can have eternal life and we have been redeemed from the curse (Deut. 28, Gal. 3:13-14). We have been changed from mortal beings to supernatural beings. God said that He is the I Am. In Him we live and move and have our being…so after the new birth, we too become eternal beings and can say, “I Be.”

In these last days that we are living in, most of the things we have put our trust or confidence in are starting to feel not so secure. Jobs, financial investments, homeland and overseas security and world wide disasters are daily in the news spreading fear and despair. It is vitally important that we totally immerse ourselves in God’s Word so we will not trust in our own resources but in our Father’s provision.

God’s Word has over 38,000 promises to us relating to every circumstance we may face in life. To lean on Jesus is to allow Him to carry the weight of our burden so that we may be at rest. The devil is working overtime to keep us focused on our problems. But Jesus says, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." (Matt 11:28-30 NLT) There is only one place we can find rest, and that is at the feet of Jesus.

Next, we have to trust the integrity of His promises to us. Not doubting His Word, but filling our hearts with the confident assurance of the scriptures. We must believe that what He has promised to us shall surely and absolutely come to pass. Abraham knew His God and what He was able to perform. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but instead he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God. Abraham was “fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.” (Rom 4:20-21 AMP)

We should not give place to doubt and unbelief because that will rob us of the Word fulfilling its promise to change our situation. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for “a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.” (James 1:6-8 NLT)

What a powerful portion of scripture! Has God the Father revealed who Jesus is to you? The Father had revealed to Peter, through opening his eyes by the Holy Spirit, that Jesus was the Christ, the Anointed One. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us that we need a Savior, and once we have received Him, He will also show us the authority that has been given to Him.

God has laid His foundation through His Son. First Cor. 3:11-12 says, “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Now we can be formed into His image and be established in the faith as we rest upon the solid Rock.

All authority has been placed in Jesus and upon His death and resurrection it has been transferred to his body, which is the church. Satan has had the gates locked since Adam’s disobedience in the Garden. But praise God, Jesus says in Rev 1:18-19, that “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” That’s something to shout about! Satan once had the keys to keep men bound, but Jesus defeated the devil in hell and now has the keys of authority to set the captives free!

Isaiah 61:1-3 says, "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, And the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly. The only way we can experience this life is to use the keys of authority to unlock what satan has had bound. These keys are found in the Name of Jesus, his precious blood and the Word of God.

Read Isaiah 61 again out loud. Wherever you see the word Me, insert your name there. Jesus has called us to do the same, and even greater works than He did, as we walk in the authority that He has given to the church (John 14:12). Use the keys that have been given to you to bind and loose to the glory of God!

As a former Building Contractor near the Florida coast, constructing a solid foundation was sometimes challenging. Our sandy soil had to be dealt with by either removing and replacing it with soil that could be compacted, or installing pilings that would extend into the bedrock. Either way, this part of the building process took a lot of time and effort. The builder must exactly follow every specification on the blueprint to ensure that when the structure is complete, it will properly perform its function while withstanding all the pressures and forces that come against it.

In verse 24, we see Jesus, who is our Chief Architect, giving instructions on how we should build our lives to withstand the storms of life. He says that we are wise builders if we hear his instructions and follow them according to His plan. There are no short cuts if we want to have a firm foundation built upon the Rock, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 28:16 says, “Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tested Stone, a precious Cornerstone of sure foundation; he who believes (trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone) will not be ashamed or give way or hasten away [in sudden panic].” AMP

Digging a footing for a proper foundation takes hard work and perseverance. The results of our efforts will be revealed when the storms of life come to test how we’re anchored. It is so vital, and in some cases a life or death situation, that we build our lives upon the Word of God, prayer, and worship. As we spend quality time in these three areas, it will strengthen our spirit, soul, and body. Now is the digging time…dig deep, persevere, and when you reach that solid rock, you can safely start to build.

Have you noticed that no matter how great a house looks on the outside, time always reveals the condition of its foundation? How about you…are you experiencing stress cracks? Are you uneven? Out of balance? Just plain crooked? Check to see what you’ve built on. Is it the sand of the world, or the tested and faithful Rock, Jesus Christ?