There's power in confession.
In the RHEMA R.O.C.K. ministry, I've learned the importance of making a positive confession on a daily basis. What do I mean by that? Typically when we hear the word "confession", we tend to think of someone confessing their sins or of a crime. But when applied to the Christian life, confession means you are agreeing with the Word of God with your words.
An example of this would be of the salvation prayer. Romans 10:9 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Based on this verse, we see that when we make a confession in accordance with God's Word (in this case, "Jesus is Lord"), and our heart believes that word and believes Jesus was raised from the dead, we receive the awesome gift of salvation. Amen!
Back to the R.O.C.K. ministry. Every Thursday Tina and I have the amazing opportunity to lead a ministry for people who struggle with addictions and relational issues. In this 12-step program, there is a "daily confession" in which we say things together that are in line with the Word of God. These confessions are powerful and life-changing, and I've seen differences not only in my own life, but in those we minister to as well. Confession is indeed a very powerful thing!!
So what are YOU confessing today? Do you often find yourself in negative circumstances? Check your confessin'!! The interesting thing about this spiritual law is that I've seen it at work in the un-believers as well! People who have nothing to do with the Body of Christ, but have positive and upbeat words to say actually live a fairly peaceful life. Now I say "fairly peaceful" because who can have true peace without Jesus? (Amen!)
Romans 2:14-15 says, "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: which show the work of the law written in their hearts..."
This verse fascinates me because even the people who profess to be "Atheist" act out the Word of God in their lives naturally! So how much more powerful is the Christian who confesses and acts out the Word of God not only naturally, but in obedience!!
Proper confession in line with the Word of God will change your life! I guarantee it! As a matter of fact, God guarantees it too -- more so than I!!
Below is a confession the Lord had me write to start confessing of my marriage. I wrote it so both Tina and I could say it, and I printed out copies and put them on my front door, on my bedside, and on Tina's bedside. With enough time and consistency of confessing this every day, I'll see everything written in it come to pass, and then some!! Be blessed my dear friends!!
Daily Confession of Marriage
Thank you Lord for my spouse!
Thank you Lord that you blessed me with the perfect companion for me.
I believe this marriage is founded on You, brought together by You, and is therefore held together and glued together perfectly by You.
I believe that what God has brought together, no man can separate!
I thank you Lord for giving me witty ideas on how to bless my spouse.
Thank you for helping me to be proactive in thinking of ways to help my spouse, and how to show my love for him/her in ways he/she will receive the best.
Thank you Lord for uniting my cares with his/hers so we can work together for the same goals, and accomplish great things in our unity with each other and with You.
I thank you Lord for helping me to communicate plainly and in a loving manner with my spouse, and keeping the lines of communication open to what You have for both of us.
Thank you Lord for my spouse, and thank you for loving me so I can show the same love to my husband/wife every moment of every day!
Amen!!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Something Overdue...
Mark 4:16-17 (ASV)
And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;
and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.
I’ve eaten more humble pie than I’ve ever eaten in my life, and I need to apologize to you.
My first year at RHEMA Bible Training Center was a radical time of transformation and building of my faith, and what I’ve learned through my awesome instructors will stay with me for the rest of my life. I sit and wait for second year with great expectation of the in-depth things I will learn with the focus of pastoral ministry!
But why the apology? Through this media, I tried to convey what was happening out here in Oklahoma and what God was teaching me. However somewhere early on, the devil got a hold of me and blinded me to how I was conveying my messages. Without realizing, I hurt many people close to me, and was in strife even with family members for many months without even knowing why. My thought process was, “Why are we divided over this theology? This is clearly what the Bible says!” So because of the blinders on my eyes, and because of my spiritual immaturity, I became more aggressive in my messages and started attacking (sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly) people who “opposed” what I was saying.
How ridiculous! Looking back on it now, what I was saying was right, but how I was saying it, and when (timing) and why (motives) I said it was completely off base. In fact, some of what I said came completely from my flesh, said in a torrent of emotions, and not after patient prayer and consideration. I was trying to be the one who convicts, instead of letting the Word of God do that through His loving and patient work with each of us.
Thank God, much of the damage I did has been reconciled, and the Lord has worked in my heart to make me realize just how foolish you can look when making hasty and emotional decisions.
Now why bring up the passage above? Because that described me during the first few months here at school. I received all the teaching with great gladness and wanted to share it with everybody. But when I saw “persecution” arise because of it, I became overly emotional and put that emotion in my writings and responses to those who challenged me. So, “Straightway, I stumbled…”
I’m sorry, my dear friends and family. I’ve done a terrible job of portraying the great and balanced teaching I’ve received here. Through my flesh and emotions, I became the very thing I hate – that is, an immature, outspoken Christian that gives honest, balanced, Word-living Christians a bad name.
So I’m making a decision. You may notice that most of the history of this blog has been taken off. The reason for that is because I’m going to edit each post to take the emotion out of it and put the balanced Word of God in it, then re-post it. This will allow the Lord to speak to both of us; me as I edit my mistakes and remember where I came from and how much I’ve grown since then, and you through the Word that is in the refreshed and encouraging message. Rest assured, if the message does not encourage (or challenge and encourage), it will not be posted until it fits that criteria!
I’m looking forward to seeing you all very soon! Tina and I are making a trip to PA in August, at which time I will be all the more excited to embrace you all, and we can mutually edify each other!
Keep your eyes open! As the Lord told me at the end of this first year of school, “People after their first year at RHEMA think they know everything. But after their second year they realize they know nothing!” So God intends to do great things here – it’s amazing what humble pie can do! Amen?
I love you all, and hope very soon to see you!!
-Brad
And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;
and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.
I’ve eaten more humble pie than I’ve ever eaten in my life, and I need to apologize to you.
My first year at RHEMA Bible Training Center was a radical time of transformation and building of my faith, and what I’ve learned through my awesome instructors will stay with me for the rest of my life. I sit and wait for second year with great expectation of the in-depth things I will learn with the focus of pastoral ministry!
But why the apology? Through this media, I tried to convey what was happening out here in Oklahoma and what God was teaching me. However somewhere early on, the devil got a hold of me and blinded me to how I was conveying my messages. Without realizing, I hurt many people close to me, and was in strife even with family members for many months without even knowing why. My thought process was, “Why are we divided over this theology? This is clearly what the Bible says!” So because of the blinders on my eyes, and because of my spiritual immaturity, I became more aggressive in my messages and started attacking (sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly) people who “opposed” what I was saying.
How ridiculous! Looking back on it now, what I was saying was right, but how I was saying it, and when (timing) and why (motives) I said it was completely off base. In fact, some of what I said came completely from my flesh, said in a torrent of emotions, and not after patient prayer and consideration. I was trying to be the one who convicts, instead of letting the Word of God do that through His loving and patient work with each of us.
Thank God, much of the damage I did has been reconciled, and the Lord has worked in my heart to make me realize just how foolish you can look when making hasty and emotional decisions.
Now why bring up the passage above? Because that described me during the first few months here at school. I received all the teaching with great gladness and wanted to share it with everybody. But when I saw “persecution” arise because of it, I became overly emotional and put that emotion in my writings and responses to those who challenged me. So, “Straightway, I stumbled…”
I’m sorry, my dear friends and family. I’ve done a terrible job of portraying the great and balanced teaching I’ve received here. Through my flesh and emotions, I became the very thing I hate – that is, an immature, outspoken Christian that gives honest, balanced, Word-living Christians a bad name.
So I’m making a decision. You may notice that most of the history of this blog has been taken off. The reason for that is because I’m going to edit each post to take the emotion out of it and put the balanced Word of God in it, then re-post it. This will allow the Lord to speak to both of us; me as I edit my mistakes and remember where I came from and how much I’ve grown since then, and you through the Word that is in the refreshed and encouraging message. Rest assured, if the message does not encourage (or challenge and encourage), it will not be posted until it fits that criteria!
I’m looking forward to seeing you all very soon! Tina and I are making a trip to PA in August, at which time I will be all the more excited to embrace you all, and we can mutually edify each other!
Keep your eyes open! As the Lord told me at the end of this first year of school, “People after their first year at RHEMA think they know everything. But after their second year they realize they know nothing!” So God intends to do great things here – it’s amazing what humble pie can do! Amen?
I love you all, and hope very soon to see you!!
-Brad
Monday, April 25, 2011
And of His Fullness...
I just stumbled on something awesome.
I was in prayer, and reading through Ephesians 3, I came to Paul’s prayer in verses 14-21. What I want to focus on is the last part of his prayer, verse 19-21. Take a look with me:
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Now when I saw what I have in bold in verse 19, I hollered out loud! You mean to tell me I can be filled with the fullness of God Himself? It sounded too good to be true! Looking into the Greek, the words “Ye might be filled” here mean; “to cause to abound, to render full, to cram as in a fisher’s net, to perfectly supply.” So we get the idea of having an exact measure, but then even more crammed on top of that!
I wasn’t satisfied with just one scripture when I saw this, so I asked the Lord what more proof He could produce for me. He immediately brought me to John 1:16 where it says:
“And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.”
This is getting even more awesome! By receiving through faith the mighty empowering grace of God we have been filled with His fullness!! It still seems too good to be true, so I went digging further, trying to prove this wrong. But the more I dug, the more right and true it became. Look at John 1:12;
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power (right, privilege) to become the sons of God…”
This told me even more! Since I’ve received Jesus, He gave me the right and privilege to become a son of the Most High, meaning I am part of His family. And if a part of His family, then a full benefactor of the inheritance that is in Christ, because I am a co-heir with Him!
But I’m still not satisfied! I still didn’t feel convinced after having 3 witnesses of this truth. I’m still out to prove it wrong, because it just seems too good to be true. Much to my surprise, God had more! Look in Colossians 2:9-10;
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power…”
What is this saying exactly? Since I dwell now in Him, I am made complete in Him. Furthermore, since I dwell in Him, I dwell in the fullness of the Godhead, therefore I have the fullness of the Godhead in me because my spirit is joined with His (and this is ONLY because of what Christ has done that I can say that statement)!
This is still too good to be true. I must be missing something…something must not be right here. I looked further, and found AGAIN, it is absolutely right!! Ephesians 1:22-23 says:
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
So if I am part of the church, I am part of His body. And if I’m part of His body, I am part of the fullness that fills HIM. This shows to me the character of my Covenant Partner. God made Himself to be our fullness, so that we can be made His fullness.
I can’t disprove it anymore! The statement, “…that you might be filled with all the fullness of God” is absolutely something we can obtain here in this earth in this life! After spending time trying to prove my thought wrong, I only ended up proving it more right! There’s a verse in Psalm that brings in the Old Testament confirmation, it’s found in chapter 16, verse 11:
“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Guess what; do you know where we’re seated, spiritually speaking? At the right hand of the Father, in Christ!! It says so right in Ephesians 2:6;
“…hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
How can we possibly receive this fullness of God? By faith, with the knowledge that you are seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ, receiving everything that Jesus is receiving because when He receives, we receive!
I can now without any doubt in my heart say this in faith; “I’m filled with the fullness of God Himself by faith because I’m seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ!” AMEN!!!
Bless you, friends! I trust this helps you if you have low self-esteem or suffer from some form of depression. Remember, God loves you and is not mad at you anymore!! Christ did an AWESOME work on the cross for us, and being made covenant partners together with Him, we share in all the benefits that He has!!
As always, don’t take my word for it! Study the scriptures yourself and get your own revelation from this!! Who knows, you might even find out more than you expected!!
Yours in Christ,
-Brad
I was in prayer, and reading through Ephesians 3, I came to Paul’s prayer in verses 14-21. What I want to focus on is the last part of his prayer, verse 19-21. Take a look with me:
“And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Now when I saw what I have in bold in verse 19, I hollered out loud! You mean to tell me I can be filled with the fullness of God Himself? It sounded too good to be true! Looking into the Greek, the words “Ye might be filled” here mean; “to cause to abound, to render full, to cram as in a fisher’s net, to perfectly supply.” So we get the idea of having an exact measure, but then even more crammed on top of that!
I wasn’t satisfied with just one scripture when I saw this, so I asked the Lord what more proof He could produce for me. He immediately brought me to John 1:16 where it says:
“And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.”
This is getting even more awesome! By receiving through faith the mighty empowering grace of God we have been filled with His fullness!! It still seems too good to be true, so I went digging further, trying to prove this wrong. But the more I dug, the more right and true it became. Look at John 1:12;
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power (right, privilege) to become the sons of God…”
This told me even more! Since I’ve received Jesus, He gave me the right and privilege to become a son of the Most High, meaning I am part of His family. And if a part of His family, then a full benefactor of the inheritance that is in Christ, because I am a co-heir with Him!
But I’m still not satisfied! I still didn’t feel convinced after having 3 witnesses of this truth. I’m still out to prove it wrong, because it just seems too good to be true. Much to my surprise, God had more! Look in Colossians 2:9-10;
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power…”
What is this saying exactly? Since I dwell now in Him, I am made complete in Him. Furthermore, since I dwell in Him, I dwell in the fullness of the Godhead, therefore I have the fullness of the Godhead in me because my spirit is joined with His (and this is ONLY because of what Christ has done that I can say that statement)!
This is still too good to be true. I must be missing something…something must not be right here. I looked further, and found AGAIN, it is absolutely right!! Ephesians 1:22-23 says:
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
So if I am part of the church, I am part of His body. And if I’m part of His body, I am part of the fullness that fills HIM. This shows to me the character of my Covenant Partner. God made Himself to be our fullness, so that we can be made His fullness.
I can’t disprove it anymore! The statement, “…that you might be filled with all the fullness of God” is absolutely something we can obtain here in this earth in this life! After spending time trying to prove my thought wrong, I only ended up proving it more right! There’s a verse in Psalm that brings in the Old Testament confirmation, it’s found in chapter 16, verse 11:
“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Guess what; do you know where we’re seated, spiritually speaking? At the right hand of the Father, in Christ!! It says so right in Ephesians 2:6;
“…hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”
How can we possibly receive this fullness of God? By faith, with the knowledge that you are seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ, receiving everything that Jesus is receiving because when He receives, we receive!
I can now without any doubt in my heart say this in faith; “I’m filled with the fullness of God Himself by faith because I’m seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ!” AMEN!!!
Bless you, friends! I trust this helps you if you have low self-esteem or suffer from some form of depression. Remember, God loves you and is not mad at you anymore!! Christ did an AWESOME work on the cross for us, and being made covenant partners together with Him, we share in all the benefits that He has!!
As always, don’t take my word for it! Study the scriptures yourself and get your own revelation from this!! Who knows, you might even find out more than you expected!!
Yours in Christ,
-Brad
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Scriptures for the Wall
This is a short list of scriptures about three topics: Healing, Strength/Energy, and Relationships/Anger. Great for printing out and putting on the walls in your house so your home can be filled with the Word of God! Be blessed with these great scriptures!!
Healing
Matthew 8:16-17
When the evening was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
Acts 10:38
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
John 10:10
The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
1 John 3:8
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Galatians 3:13-14
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.
Psalm 107:20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Energy/mind
Psalm 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 3:5
I laid me down and slept; I awoke; for the LORD sustained me.
Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation.
Joshua 14:11
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Psalm 18:32
It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature.
Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Relationship/Anger
Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Philippians 2:14-15
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
Colossians 3:12-13 (WNT)
Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own people holy and dearly loved, with tender-heartedness, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
bearing with one another and readily forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must forgive.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Be blessed with these, my friends! Share this with anyone you can! It's an awesome tool to fill your home with scriptures and make it a safe-haven for you and your family!
Your brother in the Way,
-Brad
Healing
Matthew 8:16-17
When the evening was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
Acts 10:38
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
John 10:10
The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
1 John 3:8
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Galatians 3:13-14
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.
Psalm 107:20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Energy/mind
Psalm 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 3:5
I laid me down and slept; I awoke; for the LORD sustained me.
Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you.
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation.
Joshua 14:11
As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
Psalm 18:32
It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect.
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature.
Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Relationship/Anger
Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
Philippians 2:14-15
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;
Colossians 3:12-13 (WNT)
Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own people holy and dearly loved, with tender-heartedness, kindness, lowliness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
bearing with one another and readily forgiving each other, if any one has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also must forgive.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Be blessed with these, my friends! Share this with anyone you can! It's an awesome tool to fill your home with scriptures and make it a safe-haven for you and your family!
Your brother in the Way,
-Brad
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Saving Family
You AND your family will be saved
There’s something that has been laid on my heart recently concerning the burden of a man’s family. Can I believe God for my whole household to be saved when not all members are saved? Can my household believe together in agreement about the Word of Jesus Christ? Can we all be filled with the Holy Ghost and with power together, in one accord, to accomplish the works of the Great Commission?
As I thought on this, the Lord led me to what’s called the “Precedent Setting Passage.” Or basically it’s the first time something is mentioned in the Bible that sets the precedent for every other time it is mentioned in the scriptures.
There are two precedent setting events in the Bible in relation to entire families believing together; one Old Testament, one New Testament. Let’s look first at the Old Testament reference – one of my favorite books in the Bible, Genesis.
Short version; God says He’s going to bring a flood on the earth, and picks Noah out of a world that had only wicked thoughts continually (Genesis 6:5). So we read the faith-building statement in Genesis 6:18:
“But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.”
I could camp on how God said “You will come into the ark,” and how that signifies God was waiting for them inside the ark, but that’s for another time. For this study, we need to look at Genesis 7:1,4-7,10:
“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.”
I put some emphasis in there to show a couple things. We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17), so we can conclude that Noah had faith and believed God (Hebrews 11:7).
But what of his family? It seems from this passage that they simply followed what Noah did without question. But let’s put ourselves in their shoes.
His wife probably said something like, “Really, Noah? It’s going to ‘rain’ as you call it? What’s rain? What’s a flood? Nothing like that’s ever happened before! And we’ve been in this boat for seven days without anything happening!”
After all, these people were humans just like us (except they lived A LOT longer than we do). But Noah believed God. So what I see happening here is that Noah’s belief was so strong and so led by the Spirit of God that his whole family caught on to it, and God saved all of them. Therefore, one man’s belief brought his whole household into salvation! Amen!
Let’s look now at the New Testament and see what we find as the precedent-setting event. In John’s Gospel the 4th chapter, Jesus comes back to Cana of Galilee and is met by a nobleman. This man’s son was sick in his house at Capernaum. Now while writing this study, I discovered something awesome: Cana of Galilee is about 10 miles from Capernaum, which if you walk that distance by foot, it’ll take you a while to go that far! This man had a strong faith in Jesus, and he walked 10 miles or more just to receive a word from the Man he had only heard about!
Anyway, this man tells Jesus of his sick son, and asks Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus responds by saying “Go your way, your son lives.” What is even more awesome is the man’s recorded response, this is in John 4:50 – “And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.”
Are you seeing the pattern I’m seeing? A Word from God is given, the people believe the Word given to them, and it produces results. But look at verses 51-53:
“And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.”
Again we see this man’s belief was so strong that it influenced his entire household! The miracle of his son being healed was because of his belief in Jesus’ word, then that healing brought his family into belief in Jesus and His words! Are you seeing this?
Did you receive a word from God about your family? Are there members of your family that aren’t saved? Be hopeful! Look to God and He will give you comfort and peace about your family members!
Now this isn’t something to base a doctrine on, but it certainly is encouraging! From what I know about my dearly beloved Father, He LOVES when His children believe Him and have faith in His Word, because when we do, He ALWAYS moves on our behalf! And it’s not because He does what we tell Him to – far from it! He does what HE SAID He would do! Are you catching this?!
Faith in God’s Word works, every time. Not only does it work, but faith in God is contagious! We’ve seen in the Bible the two precedent-setting events that I believe can still apply to us today. If God gives you a word concerning anything, when you believe it with all your heart, your family WILL see your faith working and grow closer together as they are brought into that faith with you!
I love you all, and am believing God with you for mountains to be moved in your family!
Your brother in the Way,
-Brad
There’s something that has been laid on my heart recently concerning the burden of a man’s family. Can I believe God for my whole household to be saved when not all members are saved? Can my household believe together in agreement about the Word of Jesus Christ? Can we all be filled with the Holy Ghost and with power together, in one accord, to accomplish the works of the Great Commission?
As I thought on this, the Lord led me to what’s called the “Precedent Setting Passage.” Or basically it’s the first time something is mentioned in the Bible that sets the precedent for every other time it is mentioned in the scriptures.
There are two precedent setting events in the Bible in relation to entire families believing together; one Old Testament, one New Testament. Let’s look first at the Old Testament reference – one of my favorite books in the Bible, Genesis.
Short version; God says He’s going to bring a flood on the earth, and picks Noah out of a world that had only wicked thoughts continually (Genesis 6:5). So we read the faith-building statement in Genesis 6:18:
“But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.”
I could camp on how God said “You will come into the ark,” and how that signifies God was waiting for them inside the ark, but that’s for another time. For this study, we need to look at Genesis 7:1,4-7,10:
“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.
And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.
And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.
And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.”
I put some emphasis in there to show a couple things. We know that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17), so we can conclude that Noah had faith and believed God (Hebrews 11:7).
But what of his family? It seems from this passage that they simply followed what Noah did without question. But let’s put ourselves in their shoes.
His wife probably said something like, “Really, Noah? It’s going to ‘rain’ as you call it? What’s rain? What’s a flood? Nothing like that’s ever happened before! And we’ve been in this boat for seven days without anything happening!”
After all, these people were humans just like us (except they lived A LOT longer than we do). But Noah believed God. So what I see happening here is that Noah’s belief was so strong and so led by the Spirit of God that his whole family caught on to it, and God saved all of them. Therefore, one man’s belief brought his whole household into salvation! Amen!
Let’s look now at the New Testament and see what we find as the precedent-setting event. In John’s Gospel the 4th chapter, Jesus comes back to Cana of Galilee and is met by a nobleman. This man’s son was sick in his house at Capernaum. Now while writing this study, I discovered something awesome: Cana of Galilee is about 10 miles from Capernaum, which if you walk that distance by foot, it’ll take you a while to go that far! This man had a strong faith in Jesus, and he walked 10 miles or more just to receive a word from the Man he had only heard about!
Anyway, this man tells Jesus of his sick son, and asks Jesus to come and heal him. Jesus responds by saying “Go your way, your son lives.” What is even more awesome is the man’s recorded response, this is in John 4:50 – “And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.”
Are you seeing the pattern I’m seeing? A Word from God is given, the people believe the Word given to them, and it produces results. But look at verses 51-53:
“And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.
Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.
So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.”
Again we see this man’s belief was so strong that it influenced his entire household! The miracle of his son being healed was because of his belief in Jesus’ word, then that healing brought his family into belief in Jesus and His words! Are you seeing this?
Did you receive a word from God about your family? Are there members of your family that aren’t saved? Be hopeful! Look to God and He will give you comfort and peace about your family members!
Now this isn’t something to base a doctrine on, but it certainly is encouraging! From what I know about my dearly beloved Father, He LOVES when His children believe Him and have faith in His Word, because when we do, He ALWAYS moves on our behalf! And it’s not because He does what we tell Him to – far from it! He does what HE SAID He would do! Are you catching this?!
Faith in God’s Word works, every time. Not only does it work, but faith in God is contagious! We’ve seen in the Bible the two precedent-setting events that I believe can still apply to us today. If God gives you a word concerning anything, when you believe it with all your heart, your family WILL see your faith working and grow closer together as they are brought into that faith with you!
I love you all, and am believing God with you for mountains to be moved in your family!
Your brother in the Way,
-Brad
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