THE GLORY OF GOD

THE GLORY OF GOD
Meeting March 31, 2017

There are three things that I want you to focus on today concerning the glory of God.

First…What is the glory of God?

Second…Walking in the glory of God.

Third…How to unlock the mystery of Gods glory.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7    ⁶ For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

He gives the light of knowledge of His glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ through us.

This precious treasure, this light and power that now shines within us, is held in a perishable container. Which is our weak and frail bodies.

The message of salvation in Christ Jesus has been entrusted by God the father to frail and fallible human beings.

Gods power dwelling in us, even though we are weak. God uses us to spread the gospel, and He gives us power to do his work. Our responsibility is to let people see God through us.

What is the glory of God?

Gods glory is the manifested presence of God in you through Christ Jesus, His resurrected son: made manifest in your life by faith through the Holy Spirit.

The hope of glory is Christ the anointed one in us… Gods own son.

Romans 5:1-2   5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Keep in mind the two-sided reality of the Christian life, on one side we are complete in Christ Jesus, and our acceptance with him is secure, on the other hand, we are growing in him and becoming more and more like him.

We feel both the presence of Christ and the pressure of sin. We enjoy the peace that comes from being made right with God, but we still face daily problems that help us to grow.

Second… walking in the glory of God.

Romans 8:18   ¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

What we suffer now is nothing compared to the Glory he will give us later.

Romans 6:14   ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Sin will never again be our master, we are free under Gods favor and mercy.

Today, we can’t walk in the very presence of God the father, because of sin in our life.

His own glorious presence would zap us off the face of the earth.

We as believers are in His Glory thru Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We can walk in the glory of God because of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, after we make him Lord of our life.

The glory of God or Gods presence flows thru Jesus. Giving life to the body, which is the believers or the church.

John 1:4-5    ⁴ In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

⁵ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

His life is the light that shines thru the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John is saying, we are the body of Christ. In Him was life.

John 10:10   ¹⁰ The thief cometh 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.

Acts 5:15   ¹⁵ Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

It goes to say, that At least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them that they might be healed.

Mark 16:15-18   ¹⁵ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

¹⁷ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

When Christ Jesus finished his work on earth, he sent the Holy Spirit to us to empower us with the same anointed power he had. He gave to the disciples.  We are to be doing the same things that the disciples did, because his word tells us to do just that.

John 14:12    ¹² Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

We are working under the divine anointed power of the Holy Spirit. Just as the disciples and Jesus did. There is only one power of the Holy Spirit.

Third … how to unlock the mystery of Gods glory.

The church fails to understand that it wasn’t Peters shadow that healed them. It was the manifestation of God’s glory that surrounded him.

The very manifestation of the presence of God himself.

That is why God put hope in you to expect the Glory, not just the healing.

God wants us to lift our expectations higher than that. He wants us to expect the glory.

If we do that we will have the rest.

There is healing in the Glory, there is finances in the glory. Everything you need is in the glory of God.

If we had the revelation of the truth that the anointed one lives in us, we would act like a different church. The people are his church.

The word which is the revelation of God will, takes us into His Glory.

This won’t work on paper. It has to work inside of you. Remember the glory is the presence of God, in you, in Christ Jesus.

In other words, that warm glowing feeling that we get from the glory of God within us, but is not of us.

God says the whole earth will be filled with His glory.

The word glory in Hebrew means… Heavy with everything good.

This actually means God is heavy with everything good that you could ever want or need.

Ezekiel 8:2   ² Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

Here Ezekiel is describing the glory as the fire of God, The wind of God, the smoke of God and the fullness of God.

It’s all the glory of God, because the glory refers to the supernatural life and the very essence of God… the very power that makes Him God.

You might say that kind of awesome glory is reserved for God and God alone. But not according to the bible.

Psalms 8:5   ⁵ For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

This is telling us that in the beginning that man was crowned with that glory.

Do you know what it means to be crowned with his glory?

When God put his hand on Adam and Eve’s head and crowned them with His glory, he crowned them with His own presence.

It means to anoint or poor on. They began to shine just like God shines.

That is why they didn’t have to wear clothes. They were clothed with the glory of God.

But their glory was lost to mankind when Adam sinned.

Man, regained that glory by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, and the same power in you in Christ Jesus.

STANDING IN THE ORDER OF FAITH

STANDING IN THE ORDER OF FAITH

Lesson for March 24, 2017

In God’s divine order of faith, the first thing you must do is hold your ground. You must refuse to let doubt and fear enter into your consciousness.

Ephesians 6:10-12    ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Whatever you are standing for, continually pray and give praise and thanks to God for the answer.

Praise and thanksgiving keeps moving things along. That is what you do while the clock is ticking. While you are waiting for the manifestation of what you prayed for.

Psalms 67:5-6   ⁵ Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.

⁶ Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.

The depth of your praise will determine the magnitude of your harvest. Praise and thanksgiving will accelerate the time that it takes to supernaturally see the results.

You can get to a place in the game of life that you can get through life’s challenges by total emersion in God’s word.

Make every prayer a statement of faith. Affirming that we already have, when we pray, and what we say after the amen is extremely important to the outcome. Victory and defeat are in what you say.

Proverbs 18:21   ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

This is where the battle is won or lost, in the words we speak and declare. If Satan can steal your words and get you to doubt the manifestation of what you are asking for won’t come to pass.

1 John 5: 4-5   ⁴ For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

⁵ Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Every day we have to encourage ourselves in the Lord. We can make statements of faith as easy as statements of doubt and unbelief. It is our choice.

Matthew 12:36-37   ³⁶ But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

³⁷ For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

We are working in a word system. We have no choice that we are working in a word system. We however do have a choice of the words we speak. We can control the situation of what we speak.

It is thinking faith words, that leads us to victory. Believe you receive when you pray. Pray once and receive it by faith. Faith is now.

Matthew 6:6-8   ⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

⁷ But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

⁸ Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

If you pray seven times about the same thing, six times were in unbelief. Speaking unbelief nullifies your prayer.

Thank God for answering your prayer. Don’t dig up your seed thinking it didn’t work.

Start seeing yourself succeed, not fail. Decide what you want from God, locate scriptures of what you want from God.

Get those scriptures at least two or three, and firmly fix it down in your heart. Speak the promises, not the problem. Meditate on those scriptures.

When you tell God what you want, believe you already have it. You have to take it by faith; Grace gives, faith takes.

Once you pray, there are things you must do to receive the manifestation. Keep the word working, and refuse to allow fear or doubt to enter your consciousness.

See yourself with what you prayed for; get the vision on the inside of having what you prayed for. Make it words over matter. Not mind over matter.

Romans 13:14   ¹⁴ But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Make no provision for failing. Let every thought and desire affirm that you have already received what you prayed.

Never permit a mental picture of failure to enter your mind. Eradicate all thought of failure. Eradicate anything that does not contribute to your faith.

All thought of failure must be removed. If a thought of failure comes into your mind just say, Devil that was not my thought, I cast it out in the name of Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3    ³ Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

You have to protect your mind. Our mind is the most important thing when it comes to our faith. We must keep our mind stayed on the word of God.

Deal with your thought life, because it can defeat you, take control over your thoughts, think before you speak.

Thoughts are governed by observation, association and teaching. We have to guard ourselves against every thought of failure that comes into our mind.

When Joshua and Caleb spied in the promise land they were thinking, we will win this war, however the other 10 that came back were thinking failure.

Stay away from things and places that do not support your affirmation of success and that God has heard and answered your prayers.

Make plans as though they are already a reality. Money is not an object. If you can conceive it, you can have it.

You will never see the miracles and promises of God that will move you from the problem to the solution until you come to understand the divine order of faith.

1 Corinthians 14:40   ⁴⁰ Let all things be done decently and in order.

Follow that set order and you will get the desired results you desire: ignore that divine order and you will end up frustrated and defeated.

To get that word into your heart where it can do some good requires more than just listening. It requires meditation.

If and when you have a problem, before you do anything else you must clearly define and understand the nature of the problem you are facing.

Is it spiritual, physical, emotional or financial? Whatever it is, the first step is conquering it. It is facing it head on and identifying what it truly is.

You might be surprised how many believers reach out in search of a solution to a problem they haven’t really pinpointed the root or the origin of the real problem.

I see people all the time who are struggling to get free from their problems all the while they are listening to everyone and everything but Gods word.

If you have a problem, get in the word, seek Gods solution. Then pray asking Him for His solution to your problem.

Once you have released Gods power through faith filled words of prayer, believe that you received what you prayed.

Amazing...

God has been so good to us. A little over a year ago we started a bible study. We started with a little group of four friends from our church.

The bible study grew over this year and now every Friday we have anywhere from eight to 16 souls willing to study the word with us. We learn, we laugh and sometimes we cry for one another.

The lessons are the same ones I put on my blog spot. That way I can share them all with you. Thank you for going to my blog spot and sharing the word with us. I hope it has helped you to learn more about Gods word, and get closer to Him.

If you know anyone who is having hard ships in their life, encourage them to go to the blog spot. It may help them in their life walk. 

This bible study has especially blessed me. I love all the wonderful things we are learning about the word. It has also helped me to get close to God and my Christian sisters and Brothers. I have come to love them all dearly.

So here is to Friday nights and studying the word. If you are in the neighborhood, we start at seven. I can honestly say it has been a blast. It is amazing.

God bless you one and all and draw you ever nearer to Him.

DECEIVED IN BY LYING SPIRITS

DECEIVED  BY LYING SPIRITS

Sermon from Friday March 17

2 Thessalonians  2: 1-3    Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

² That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

³ Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Falling away means there will be a great rebellion against God, and the man of lawlessness is revealed.

2 Thessalonians 2:7   ⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one holding it back steps out of the way.

The lying spirits of Jezebel and the Anti-christ of today will lead to the man of lawlessness.

2 Thessalonians 2:11   ¹¹ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

The work that this anti-christ will do is already going on, look at America, look at the rest of the world, their eyes have been blinded to the truth.

Matthew 15:   ¹⁴ Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Our leaders are blind, and still they choose to lead, thinking they are doing the right thing. Strong delusion has been sent for eight years to let America know they need spiritual guidance to fulfill Gods great plan.

Daniel 2:21   ²¹ And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Sometimes we wonder if God is still in control. We just had eight years of deception and lies with a leader with almost limitless powers, and all the time he was tearing America apart.

But from verse 21 we see that God is in control and he does remove kings and He does change the times, and he does set up kings as He chooses.

The foreign ministers of France and Germany are due to reveal a blueprint to effectively do away with individual member states in Europe.

In what is being described as an ultimatum, under the radical proposals. E U countries will lose the rights to have their own army, criminal law, taxation system, or central bank.

With all those powers being transferred to brussels with a blueprint to effectively do away with individual member states and control a continent wide European Army.

We are talking about a world power of the first order.

Massive amounts of young men have been entering Europe but very few of the women and children. The percentage of refugees are 72% men, 15% children, and only 13% women.

From the media images, you would think that mostly women and children are crossing into Europe… Fake news.

History proves that a country that ends up with high numbers of such individuals, men, show a dramatic increase in violent crimes.

These nations with such a high number of unattached males are more likely to engage in an aggressive military action.

These young males are the labor force that will be the army to rebuild the war-ravaged land, or the military age men to protect it.

These people are bringing the very evil they say that they are fleeing from with them.

One of the terrorist leaders said the terror attacks where good, but the way to defeat America was through immigration, and out breeding non-Muslims.

As you know Britton is also getting out of the union…NATO…

MATTHEW 24:5-7   ⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

⁶ And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Nation will rise against Nation, the word translated Nation means, ethnos… from which we get the word ethnic, like ethnic cleansing.

Jesus was talking about people of groups banning toward other people or groups, not so much as a country against a country.

The migrant crisis in Europe has different ethnic groups rising up against one another across the continent.

In 2016 nationalism exploded into main stream European politics. We also saw it in the United States, the American melting pot, showing signs of desegregation. Black lives matter is a good example, also women’s rights groups.

Recently the wall street Journal said from Brexit to Trump, to the rise of Nationalists parties across Europe, the old division between left and right is giving way to a battle between self-styled patriots and confound globalists.

The word confound means to mingle and blend so that forms or natures cannot be distinguished… to throw into disorder and to confuse an oath of a bash, astonish, baffle, confuse, defeat, dismay, intermingle, mix and terrify.

The United States took in about 11,000 Syrian refugees and only 56 of the 11,000 were Christians. Even though the U.S. congress and the U.N. have officially declared that what is happening to the Christians in Syria is genocide… ethnic cleansing.

Jesus said, in the last days we would face persecution. Our Christian brothers and sisters are facing it right now.

The bible also talks about a time, when many will cease to teach and preach sound doctrine.

Last year Pope Francis accused Donald Trump of not being a Christian because of the Mexico wall. According to this pope you are saved by holding the right political view. The Vatican city is surrounded by a wall…

Ephesians   2:8-9   ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

In December, he declared those who resisted his reform within the catholic church is being inspired by the devil.

I think we all know that we are not redeemed by political views, but by the blood of Jesus Christ.

We have entered into a new error of lawlessness, where crime is not just suffered on Bourbon Street, but in small towns and corner offices, and in the halls of government.

Jesus warned that lawlessness would be a hallmark of the last days of this age.

The great scourge of the last days is deception and delusion.

Matthew 24: 4-5   ⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

2 Corinthians 11:13   ¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

False prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. That is why Jesus said HEED.

2 Thessalonians 2:11   ¹¹ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

Context shows that the lie referred to here is: the belief that the anti-Christ is god

Finding a church home.

   Is there something of a spiritual nature going on in you life? Need an outside, unbiased, honest opinion? Contact ME
                     

 I've raised 5 children and been married for almost 20 years. Any questions are welcome. Just like with my kids, I will give you honest feedback.


My Husband I worked as Evangelist for a while and visited many different Churches. It was very interesting to see how each church operated, and to teach Gods word wherever we went. We loved all the people we met. We found that for the most part, people are the same everywhere.

We had the habit of going to this one church when we didn’t have any engagements. It became familiar to us. We both, Andy and I enjoyed the people and the pastor’s messages. The people became fond of us and after a year or so it became clear to us that our path was about to change.

The pastor needed our support and we decided to join the church we had learned to love. We were greeted with open arms by this loving church. We have not done any more evangelizing and are there full time now.

RESISTING THE DEVIL

RESISTING THE DEVIL

Lesson for 3;10;2017

We did this lesson not long ago but I think it bears repeating... We need to know where and how to stand against the devil. .

James 4:7   ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The word submit means to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit, and to Gods power.

Don’t’ allow Satan to tempt you into fighting a spiritual war with carnal weapons.

Faith of a believer can access grace: in Gods grace we can command and cancel Satins power with Gods power and our authority. We can bind demonic power because greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world.

Ephesians 6:10-11   ¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

It is our authority, using Gods power of his might that allows us to have this victory. It allows us to stand against the wiles or strategies of the devil.

Satan often attacks our emotions, our self worth, and even our trust in God.

God’s righteousness is the body armor that protects and ensures our safety against Satins attacks.
With Gods perspective we can see beyond our circumstances, and know that the ultimate victory is ours.

Ephesians 6:12   ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

These who are not “flesh and blood” are demons over which Satin has control. They are not mere fantasies, they are real.

We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat believers, who is Jesus’ church.

When we believe in Christ, these beings become our enemies.

They will try every devise to turn us away from Jesus, and back to sin.

Even though we are assured of victory, we must stay in the word until Christ returns.

Satin is constantly battling against all who are on the Lords side.
We need supernatural power to defeat Satin and God has provided this by giving us the Holy Spirit: within us and His armor surrounds us.

Matthew 16:18   ¹⁸ And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

If and when circumstances arise from this devil and you feel discouraged, remember Jesus’ words to Peter.

The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The rock on which Jesus would build his church has been noted as (1) Jesus himself, his work of salvation by dying on the cross… the finished work.

2. The confession of faith that Peter gave and that all the true believers would give.

Luke 9:1-2   Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

² And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Note here Jesus’ method of leadership: He empowered his disciples. He gave them specific instructions so they knew what to do.

Luke 9:4-5   ⁴ And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
⁵ And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
 
Also he told them how to deal with tough times, and held them accountable.
When the devil realizes that you are going to stand up against him, he will flee, but you must resist.

James 1: 5-8   ⁵ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
⁶ But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
⁷ For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
⁸ A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.
By wisdom, James is talking not only about knowledge, but about the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances.

Whenever we need wisdom, we can pray to God and he will supply what we need.

Christians don’t have to run around in the dark hoping to stumble upon answers. We can ask God for his wisdom to guide our choices by the Holy Spirit.

Having wisdom means practical discernment. It begins with respect for God; it leads to right living and results in increased ability to tell right from wrong.

God is willing to give us this wisdom, but we will be unable to receive it if our goals are self centered instead of God centered.

We can’t be double minded. A doubtful mind is not completely convinced that Gods way is best.

To stabilize our wavering or doubtful mind we must commit ourselves totally to God.

The promises of God are completed through His covenant of spiritual laws to mankind that was set into motion at the death on the cross of Jesus Christ.

The words, it is finished set the spiritual law of grace into such an amazing source of power, that grace of God is sufficient for meeting every need, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Gods grace is unmerited favor and it is all we need.

IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

                                                            OUR MEETING 3-3-17

2 Chronicles 7:14    ¹⁴ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God is saying, stop seeking His benefits and seek Him. We are not to seek His hands, but seek his face.

If you’re not where you need to be this is a good time to get right with God. He only cares about your answer to one question, “do you want Me?”

God is coming back to repossess the church and there is only one thing that stops Him… he is not going to pour out his spirit where he doesn’t find hunger for His presence.

Not being hungry for Him has forced people to live without Him in His fullness. He will only come when you are ready to turn it all over to him. But you have to be hungry.

Matthew 3:1-2    In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

² And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Repentance prepares the way and makes the road of our hearts straight. Repentance builds up every low place and takes down every high place in our lives, church, and families.

Repentance also prepares us for his presence. In fact, you cannot live in His presence without repentance. Repentance permits pursuit of His presence.

It builds the road for you to get to God, (or for God to get to you). How long has it been since you laid aside everything that ever occupied you and ran down the road of repentance to pursue God.

When you pursue God with all your heart, soul and body, he will turn to meet you and you will come out of it ruined for the world.

If you are hungry for God, I have a promise from the Lord for you. He said, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

Our problem is that we have never really been hungry, so I am not asking what do you know about Him, I am asking you do you know Him.

When people get just a little touch of God mixed with a lot of something that’s not God, it turns them against the real thing. People don’t sense Gods presence in our gatherings because its just not there.

People have come to the churches time and again only to find too much man and too little of God there.

Over and over we talk about the glory of God covering the earth. But how is it going to flow through the streets of our cities if it can’t even flow down the aisles of our churches?

If Gods glory can’t flow through the aisles of the church because of seducing spirits and manipulating men, God will turn and go somewhere else.

Matthew 5:6   ⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

No matter what you need or feel you lack in your life, what you really need is the presence of God and the way to get it is to get hungry for it.

If we can get hungry, then He can make us holy. There has to be more than what we are seeing. One reason I know there is more is because of those who have encountered more.

Once you experience God in His glory, you can’t turn away from him or forget his touch. There will be a driving passion in your heart that will whisper to your spirit like nothing you have ever dreamed of.

You will say I know there is more, the reason I know there’s more is because of those who have encountered “the more”

And we are never the same after our experience with the Lord.

Once you have had a “God encounter” you will never rebel against God. That is why Paul said, “I know whom I have believed”.

2 Timothy 1:9-12   ⁹ Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

¹⁰ But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

¹¹ Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

It seems that believers have more of a “man encounter” with our programs and bi-laws, than a “God encounter” with the unforgettable Majesty and power of the Almighty God.

What believers need is a Damascus road experience like “Saul or Paul” encountered with Jesus himself.

Acts 9:3-5    ³ And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

⁴ And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

⁵ And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Churches and most believers want to see the manifest presence of God in their life, however for divine reasons, God chooses to reveal himself more strongly in one place than another.

One reason is; are the people seeking His face, because His presence and his favor flows wherever His face is directed.

God told all his people for generations that if they would seek his face and turn from their wicked ways, “then” he would hear from them and heal their land.

The only thing that is going to turn the favor of God toward us is our hunger for Him.

Psalms 32:8   ⁸ I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

God is present with you and other believers in a worship service, but how long has it been since your hunger caused you to crawl up in Gods lap.

To reach up and take the face of God to turn it toward you, that’s what God desires, His face is what we should be our highest focus.

When the anointing of God rests on human flesh it makes everything flow better. The purpose of the anointing is not to make man like you but to make the “King like you”.

The anointing, whether it falls on us individually or on a congregation during a service, is not the end.

The purpose of the anointing is to help us make the transition from flesh to glory. When the glory of God comes, our flesh will be so weakened by His presence that it is un-necessary for man to do anything other than behold Him in His glory.

We want God to change the world, but he cannot change the world until he can change us. In our present state, we are in no position to affect anything.

But something is happening in the body of Christ. More and more of us are unwilling to play the old religious games.

Something like a warrior spirit is rising up within us.

Time and time again we ask, why can’t I win my friends to the Lord, why doesn’t my family members seem interested in God?

The answer may shock you, but the reason people who know you aren’t interested in your God may be because you don’t have enough of the presence of God in your life.

No matter what you do, without His presence, you will be just another somebody to those around you.

Our churches are filled with people who want Gods things, but not more of God. They want revival but not the reviver. They want the hand of God but not the Face of God.

Christians are not hungry for God. They want all His blessings, they want all His gifts, they want the best portion, they want, they want, they want. But they won’t turn from their own way of thinking.

God wants us to seek His presence and seek His face and to get serious about Him. At the end of the day we most likely manufacture memorized words, lay back in His presence just long enough to say our memorized string of words and deliver our wish list.

Then we Jump up and run off to continue our frustrated rat race lives. Often, we never seem to find that place of perfect peace.

All God wants us to do is seek Him and trust Him. He is waiting to receive our most intimate worship and praise.

He has set before you an open door, but you will have to face Him. You cannot back your way into the door of eternity, you have to walk through the door.

I am not saying this because you don’t know Gods word, on the contrary, I am saying this because the Lord wants to develop a new level of intimacy with His people.

He wants us to know Him, not just about Him. When will we hear Gods still small voice saying, will you just love me?