When a baby is born, biologically it has everything needed for adulthood. So is the case when we are born again spiritually. Everything we need for a stable, mature relationship with God has been provided through Jesus Christ. However, we need to grow into it! There are stages of spiritual growth that we need to recognize and allow to take place in our lives.
Although the book of Haggai is only two chapters, it is full of spiritual relevance for the day in which we live. God speaks to His people, who had the task of rebuilding the temple and exposes the fact that they had become disinterested and apathetic in their duty. In similar fashion, God's people of today are in danger of becoming too "busy" for the things of God. We too must consider our ways!
As followers of Jesus Christ, our faith will be tested. These times of testing are like a classroom - we may not like it, but the end results can be very rewarding. Our trials are to serve as a means of moral and spiritual growth. Don't think it strange that you are being tested, rather rejoice that God's grace is sufficient to sustain you through it!
The final hour is here and God is asking if we have any last questions for Him. You can have all the knowledge of the Lord in your head and in your heart but truly knowing the Lord is having an intimate relationship with God through Christ. This relationship cannot be taught, learned or acquired. In 1 Samuel, chapter 3, it tells us that Samuel did not yet know the Lord. Samuel was learning to be a priest and serving but did not yet know Him until the Lord revealed himself to Samuel. Our lives sometimes unravel and troubles come. Real fulfillment, satisfaction and solutions all come from knowing the Lord. What would happen in life if you had a true relationship with God, do you know the Lord?
Jesus is the Son of God, Lord of Lord's, King of Kings and one day we will all see Him, know Him and bow before Him. This is a time in America where we should not be silent as Christians. Evil is growing around us. The world has a new brand of ethics and morality and some of our churches seem to be joining this move. We need to get on the right path, get to know Jesus and stand on the Rock - that will stand for all eternity. Our Lord Jesus is the foundation, the Cornerstone. What foundation or truth are you standing on?
The Holy Spirit comes like a fire to purify, enlighten, warm, melt and consume. The scripture warns us to not quench or dampen the Spirit's work in our lives. This can happen when we refuse to respond, have an inadequate/chilled response, or an exaggerated/disruptive response to the Holy Spirit's promptings. We are called to be led by the Spirit!
Some things in life we will not be able to understand or explain at all, but there are a lot things, God wants us to see very clearly. Our eyes are opened by the leading of the Holy Spirit; it is not possible to live a supernatural life by natural means. It is a true statement - if we are left to ourselves - we will create our own perspective. Everyone has a different perspective - that will change as we grow and mature in Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that we have the mind of Christ and it's because we have access to the Holy Spirit. If we have the mind of Jesus Christ we can know the heart, plan and will of God. God is about making things better, redeeming the situation. What are you doing to make your church, your home, your community a better place?
Brother Rick Clendenen came and gave a prophetic word for this year. The church will be more of a demonstration of Christ than just the manifestation of Christ. We need to know the time and season we are living in - read 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. Everything can be found in these verses for us to live in this time; how to be the church, how to watch our personal attitude and the need to trust God for His grace. Brother Rick closes with the keys to survival for the church in the last days.
Kevin Ramsby, Senior Pastor at Revival Tabernacle in Detroit, shares his amazing testimony of how he survived a home invasion where he was stabbed 37 times. Kevin was seconds away from eternity when he heard four words, "They still need you." In Mark 11:23-24, the bible tells us when you are facing the mountains in life - ask and believe you will receive - believe that God will move the mountain. We all have mountains that need moved but we cannot stop there - continue to verse 25 and see that forgiveness comes before our prayers. We all have the choice to forgive and release that person, will you choose to forgive?
Pastor Tim Dilena joins us from Brooklyn Tabernacle. Everyone would all like their prayers to be answered quickly. In John 16:24, Jesus said to "ask, and ye shall receive." The hardest part that can set us off in a downward spiral is in between "ask" and "receive." God will never give us something we're not ready for. His curriculum and way of teaching us is a lot different than we think. We need to learn about what is going on in our life and the character of God. What happens when we ask a simple prayer...
