A Glorious Inheritance

 A Glorious Inheritance 

                Hello and welcome to My Little House of Prayer. I am your host Dayla Smith. I am so very glad that you could join me today. Let’s open in prayer. Let’s talk about inheritance. Did you know that the Lord commands us to leave an inheritance to our children. Let’s take a look at Numbers 27 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.2 And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,3 Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.4 Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.5 And Moses brought their cause before the Lord.6 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.9 And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Proverbs 13:22 - A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

               So, we are to leave our children an inheritance. We can leave them a monetary inheritance, we can leave them property and/or possessions, but the greatest inheritance that we can give them is our faith. Our spiritual inheritance. Some would call it a legacy. Either way, this is the greatest gift that we can leave them. 

                    I have a testimony concerning an experience I had a while back. I had wonderful grandparents. Growing up, I would spend every school vacation and summers at their house. Now, I loved my grandparents and they loved me. We had an awesome relationship. They bonded with all of their grandchildren. But, if there is one thing we all remembered about my grandmother was her faith in the LORD. Be it they were of the Catholic Faith. But, my grandmother was not a normal Catholic. She grew up in the baptist faith and when she was older, the Lord called her to the Catholic faith. Some of us are probably shaking our heads right now. Let me say this, there are Catholics out there that have made Jesus Lord over their lives and asked him into their hearts to be Lord and Savior. 

               My grandmother always read her bible at night. And, she always took all of us grandchildren to church with her. On the way, she would cut up with us, but then she would get real serious with us. And would tell us of how great the Lord was to her. She would openly share her faith with us. 

                 When I graduated from high school and moved in with them to go to college, I learned that she loved to watch Jack Van Impy and his wife. She thought they were very precious Christians. She would always invite me to watch with her. I was so very lost at the time. I did not fully appreciate what I had. But, her and my grandfather both prayed me into the kingdom. My grandfather openly shared his faith with me also. The Lord used them greatly in my life. She was ecstatic when I made Jesus Lord over my life. 

                   It was at my grandmother’s funeral that I learned what she and I didn’t know. Her favorite pastor preached at her funeral. He looked at all of us with a look of awe. He told us that in all of his years, he had never seen what he got to see that day. She had left a legacy. A lasting imprint. I am hoping that I carry this on with my children and grandchildren. You see, our lives are a living epitaph. Are we allowing the Lord to write on the tablets of our hearts? Hebrews 10:16-25  16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;21 And having an high priest over the house of God;22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

                  I thank God everyday for my grandparents' influence on my life. I would not be the person I am today if it weren’t for their stedfast walk with the Lord. The LORD always leads by example. And so, He also leaves us an inheritance. It’s a holy promise. You know, “Call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved. Saved from what? The curse of sin and death. The worst death one can experience is the second death. In it, is an eternal separation from the one who loved us most. Yes, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. There will be a fire that is eternal. And, these are pretty bad. But, the weeping and gnashing of teeth is because of the eternal reminder of the decision to reject the one who took a bullet for us.

                  So, He has promised us an eternal inheritance.Titus  3:7 - That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The word says that our inheritance is eternal. Ephesians 1:11-14  11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

                If we remember, Jesus talked about our inheritance in Matthew 6:19-21  19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. So, the next question is this. We need to ask ourselves what kind of inheritance are we looking for?  Remember, this life is short lived. But, our lives do not stop here when we die. We have a whole unending eternity to live out after we die. It is on this side of eternity that we will decide what our eternity on the other side will be. You see, we have our works, choices, the times we are ashamed of the gospel, and who we affected in our lives. Good or bad. These determine what we will need to learn on the other side as well as what we will be doing for His name on the other side. 

                      So, How do we access His inheritance? First, we must accept Christ as our Savior and Lord. We must allow the Spirit of the LORD to change us from the inside out and vice versa. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

                       So, after we make this choice to follow Christ. To pick up our own cross to follow after Him. This is His promise. Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. How is this for a promise!? We are then called His children. What a promise! Glory to God in the highest.

Romans 8:1-18  8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.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.

                       So then, after we give complete control over to the Lord Jesus Christ over our lives, He promises to ever leave nor forsake

us. He will always lead, guide, protect us as long as we are willing to submit to Him and His precious Holy Spirit. Acts 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. How are we sanctified? Through the powerful sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:22-28  22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

                         So, as long as we commit to walk with Him and follow all of His examples, as long as we take up our cross and follow after Him, as long as we also lead by example, He has such glorious promises for each and everyone of us. But, the greatest is that we use our lives to be an epitaph. To leave a spiritual inheritance for our children and our children’s children. We store up our treasures in heaven that are eternal.

                I suggest that you go read the beatitudes in Matthew. He tells us there is how you store up your treasures in heaven. And here is another promise from the Lord concerning our spiritual inheritance. Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. I especially love this promise of God. I can only hope and pray that I may obtain and live up to this promise.

                       Do you want to be able to obtain these precious promises from God? Do you want to be called a child of the Most High God? If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Let me introduce you to Him. It is really simple. First you must acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a savior according to the mirror of the law of the Lord. Ask Him for His forgiveness for all of your sins and call them out to Him. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Then, forgive those who have sinned or transgressed against you. Then, repent. Repent means to change your mind concerning sinful habits. Change your choice making decisions. Let Him influence your choice making decisions as you get in His Holy Word. Ask Him to be Lord over your life. I want to pray this prayer with you. But, this is just an outline. The real work begins after I pray with you because it is a very personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

                    Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

                    If you have made the wonderful decision to follow after Christ and want the Lord to use your life as a living epistle, an epitaph; please let me know of your decision to follow Christ. Also if this message has touched your heart in some way, or you have questions and/or prayer requests. You can let me know by emailing me at my1littleafmp@aol.com or commenting below. Once again, thank you so very much for tuning in today. May you have a blessed week. I love you with the love of the Lord, but Jesus Christ of Nazareth will always love you more. 

(Close in prayer.)

I Come to You in the Name of the Lord

  I Come to You in the Name of the LORD

(Open in Prayer)

  

                   Hello and welcome to My Little House of Prayer. I am your host Dayla Smith. I am so very glad that you could join me today. I was looking at my friend yesterday. A wonderful sister in Christ. All of the sudden my heart was so heavy. I said with sadness in my heart, “Sis, this world is becoming crazier and crazier.” Then, I tuned into one of my favorite preachers. The title of his message is what caught my eye. “What Concerns Me Most” by Perry Stone. He helped me see the world as he sees it. And, what a powerful vision it was. It made my heart heavier for the people of this world. You know friends and family members that have not made Christ their LORD. People who have found it much easier to buy into the lie of this world. “Everybody’s doing it. How can it be wrong?” Guys, the hours are winding down. If the bible isn’t true, why are so many of its prophecies coming to pass? If you don’t believe me, read the bible from front to back. I dare you. And for those of us who know the word, but don’t want to look too deeply at the prophecies, I implore you to do so. For the lost and those who are not willing to leave their life of sin, the prophecies bring fear. But for those of us who are believers, it is a message of hope and our road map home. 

                   One of the things that concerned brother Perry Stone was the loss of attendance to the church. He went in depth in his concern. Which made me look at these days with alarm. He quoted from the book Jasher. Jasher 5:5 And all who followed the Lord died in those days, before they saw the evil which God declared to do upon earth. Perry Stone spoke of how Methuselah died the week of the flood. The time frame of everything that happened. He compared what happened with Noah and the flood to what is happening in the world today. This is just a condensed version of his message. I really suggest that you check it out for yourself. He is on you tube. 

                    Anyway, as I typed this title I was thinking of King David. How he faced the giant, Goliath. When everyone else in his family, friends, tribe and tongue were shaking in their boots; David faced the giant with total trust in the LORD His God. Then, I thought of the wilderness experiences of Israel after they left Egypt. But now, the title has taken on even more ways to look at this. As I thought of what brother Perry was talking about, I thought of how he started off with a look at Noah and at today, I kept hearing this scripture in my heart, Matthew 24:37-39  37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Everyone likes to quote this scripture as they look at what is happening in the world these days. 

                     Many like to quote this one also, Luke 17:26-30  26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. But, are we allowing the Holy Spirit and the word of God to convict us of our sin in the way it is intended. To repent of those sins and ask the Father for His forgiveness through His son Christ Jesus. To allow the Holy Spirit to take our lives in a new and different direction.  

                       I don’t own a Television. Yet, the LORD always makes sure that the pertinent information gets to me. If you own one and are seeing all of the chaos going on in the world today, all kinds of emotions can take hold of your heart. But, the Lord says in John 16:32-33  32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

                     If Jesus Christ is our example, then; we are to follow His example and let His words encourage our hearts. I do know this. That this is not the hour to shut ourselves in from the world. This is the hour to stand up in the boldness of the LORD and proclaim the gospel to anyone who will stand still long enough to hear it. We are to live our lives in such a way that others want what we have. People are looking for an overcoming church,not a defeated one. 

                    When the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, He pretty much told them, “Hey, I am going to not only bring you out of Egypt, but I will do it supernaturally. And it will be in such a grand way that all of your enemies will stand and take notice. After I deliver you from the evil hands of the Egyptians, you will still have battles to fight. But, if you follow me with all of your heart, soul, and mind, I will help you overcome them. I want to show Myself strong and able to be trusted in all areas of your lives. I Am that I Am will provide all that you need. I am taking you somewhere. But, you have to trust me.” 

               This conversation is in Exodus Chapter three. This conversation sounds a lot like the words of the LORD, Mark 13:1-13

13 And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!2 And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,4 Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

                   That sounds exactly like what is going on in the world today, doesn’t it? So then, if you read through their journey from Egypt to the wilderness, everything was going exactly as the LORD had told them. But, the results were not quite what the LORD had promised in the beginning. 

                    The whole point of the wilderness was to overcome all adversities by putting their whole trust in the LORD. When we read about their journey, they became a continual hardship to the intercessor and pastor. The LORD brings them to His mountain to worship Him. They get there and He asks them to come into the mountain. Instead of trusting the one who has shown Himself merciful and faithful time and again, they become afraid. Why? Because they were looking at it from a natural standpoint. God hates sin. But, He does not hate the sinner. It is our choices that can separate us, even eternally, from Him. He delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians. Why would he kill them now? Instead of being overcomers, they carried with them the defeated lifestyle they once had in Egypt. They were constantly bickering, complaining, and murmuring. Looks like a picture of most of us doesn’t it. Each and every circumstance we come to, “God, you brought us here to die.” “Lord, are you even there?” “I don’t think you hear me God. Because if you do, my life would be a bed of roses without any thorns.” Is this beginning to paint a complete picture for us? 

               You know there is an old saying that I have adopted to my Christian walk. “I want to be able to sleep at night.” “I want to be able to look at myself in the mirror without wincing.” The Lord promises in the book of psalms to give us sweet sleep. Did you know that He created our bodies so intricately that while we are sleeping it repairs itself? With that picture in mind, why would He himself harm you? Or, if He saw fit to bring you to it, why would He not bring you through it? This would be opposite of who He is and His very nature. 1 John 4:7-10  7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

              Now don’t we all start looking down our noses at the Israelites and pointing our fingers at them. We are no better than they are. If it wouldn’t be for the sacrifice of Christ Jesus on the Cross and the sweet conviction of the Holy Spirit, we would be without hope, like they were. Only those who truly walked with the LORD in those days and lived a repentant lifestyle according to the law of the LORD, made it into paradise. Heaven did not become their home till after the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. 

                  So, with this picture in mind, when we become Christians and truly decide to walk with Christ, Christ has one mission. To bring us to the one He loves most, His Father. Then, the Father brings us to the one that He loves most, His Son. The Lord Jesus Christ, with the help of His companion, begins to take us into a spiritual wilderness. The wilderness is to build our faith. Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Just like the Israelites had to battle giants both spiritually and physically, we will also face giants physically and spiritually. You Know, trials and circumstances. 1 Peter 4:12-19  12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

                      So, looking at the world today, we are faced with so many challenges. But, I am here to encourage you. Please do not let fear grip your heart. Put all of your trust in Him. He has not brought us this far to leave us. He cares for us more than anything else in this world. I am going to say this again and I do not mean this as an attack. Please ask the Lord for the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. The days are soon going to be upon us that will bring challenges, and without Him we will not make it to the end. He is there to help us make right decisions in our walk with the LORD. John 16:1-14  16 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

                  I hope this is encouraging to you. I know it is for me. We are to take what is happening in the world today to speak to the lost. That we would all ask the Lord for a burden for the lost. The loveable and unloveable. And remember, the lost will always act lost. That is why we are to be an overcoming church. Not a defeated church. We are to live out our lives as an epitaph for the lost. Not one of murmuring, complaining, and backbiting. But one of rejoicing, exalting, and loving. 

              So, I want to take time out to address these subjects. First,   If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Let me introduce you to Him. It is really simple. First you must acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a savior according to the mirror of the law of the Lord. Ask Him for His forgiveness for all of your sins and call them out to Him. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Then, forgive those who have sinned or transgressed against you. Then, repent. Repent means to change your mind concerning sinful habits. Change your choice making decisions. Let Him influence your choice making decisions as you get in His Holy Word. Ask Him to be Lord over your life. I want to pray this prayer with you. But, this is just an outline. The real work begins after I pray with you because it is a very personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

                    Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

                Second, If you do not have the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the gift of speaking in tongues, I want to pray with you. Lord Jesus, thank you so much for offering this wonderful gift to me. First, of salvation. Now, the precious Holy Spirit. I Accept your gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. I praise your Holy Name and want to know you more. The Holy Spirit promises to help me know you more. Thank you Lord. In Jesus name amen. 

        Now, begin to praise and thank Him for it. Open your mouth by faith. Let the words roll out. You will feel a bubble in your stomach. Don’t be afraid. That is the rivers of water that Jesus talks about. Let it come out. You may just have one syllable to start. That’s o.k. As you pray that one syllable, He will cause that language to grow. Just remember to praise and thank the Lord for it. For those who don’t speak in tongues right away, quit focusing on the gift. Focus on the giver of the gift. When you do that long enough, you will begin to speak in tongues. Remember He loves you and wants you to make heaven your home more than you do. He loves you and so do I. 

                Now, for those of you who have decided to follow after Christ today, I want to let you know that all of heaven is rejoicing over your decision today. I want to rejoice with you also. And, for those of you who have decided to ask the Lord for the baptism of the Holy Spirit today, I am so excited for you. Please if you have made a decision concerning either or both of these choices,or this message has spoken to you in some way, or if you have any prayer requests, please let me know by either commenting, or by emailing me at my1littleafmp@aol.com. I would love to hear from you. So, let’s close in prayer. Remember, I love you with the love of the Lord, but Jesus Christ of Nazareth will always love you more.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

 Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

(Open in Prayer)

                   Welcome to My Little House of Prayer. I am your host Dayla Smith. I am so very glad that you could join me today. What a title, huh? But, I want to talk about the many ways we lie and there is a penalty for lying. But, for Christians there is hope. You see, the LORD is getting ready to come for His bride and her maids. He wants us to be ready. Are you ready for His return with the voice of a trumpet? I am trying to be ready for His return. Some days, I feel like I’ve come so far. But yet, I still have so far to go. And with the help of the LORD, I will make it. You see His grace is so unfathomable. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52  51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, 

but we shall all be changed,52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

                  You see, for  believers, as long as we remain willing to be taught by the Holy Spirit and repent of our sinful ways, whatever sinful ways are left will be obliterated. Jesus Christ’s blood paid for the sin of ignorance. Isn’t His righteous justice awesome? Does this mean we can justify our sin and remain practicing those sins that the Holy Spirit and God’s word convicts us of not to do? Certainly not. He does not condone practiced or premeditated sin. When the LORD convicts us of sin, we are to practice asking the Lord for His forgiveness and then repent of that sin. My friend has a wonderful habit of dropping those sins the Holy Spirit convicts her of like when we handle a hot potato. She just drops it.

         Today, I feel that the Lord has impressed upon me that He wants to talk about our tongue and the sin of lying. That with our tongue alone we can sin left and right. When we begin to use our tongue to lie, that leads us to deceive ourselves and others. When we begin to use our tongue to deceive ourselves and others, it leads us into the occult. All of these end in death. Remember Jesus said in John 10:10-12  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.11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. Then, He talked of Satan in John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

                     Here are two diagrams I want to explain to you. You can also go and research if what I am saying is true or not. 

               The top two are the LORD’s four square or tetragrammical name and what each leads you to in His name. Remember Satan wants to lift up his name above the name of the LORD. Isaiah 14:12-15  12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Satan wants to set up his kingdom in our hearts. Satan was created in the beginning. But, he does not know all the mind of the Father and Son. But, what he does know, he twists.So, let us begin. 

                  So, the first corner of warfare is our speech. Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. We have to be so careful about our words. They reveal our true selves. They can not only be harmful to others, but also to ourselves. Proverbs 6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. What does the enemy want to do? Set a trap for us. He can take our words and twist them to bring harm to ourselves and others. Remember, he is like a lawyer. The book of Daniel calls him the accuser of the brethren. We can not win against him except through the precious blood of the Lamb. We need to apply it all day every day every aspect of our lives. Proverbs 18:7-8  7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. When we gossip, the Lord revealed to me we are lying. When a person is not there to defend themselves, good or bad, it is gossip. Gossip is lying. 

                   The bible says that the Lord will hold us accountable for every idle word we use. You know, words just to fill up the empty space in the atmosphere. Before I started walking with the Lord, I could not stand the silence. I always had to have noise. If I didn’t have a T.V. or radio on, I had to be talking. I would talk about anything and everything. I am still on the experiential side of taming my tongue. Now this usually shows up as a hardship when I’m angry. But, through the steady help by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am steadily overcoming.  Look at James 3:5-8  5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

                      According to Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. It says that we hold the power of life and death in our tongues. But, just because we hold that power, does not mean we will necessarily enjoy the effects of our speech. You know, “You will eat your words.” I believe this is where we get it from. And man wants to say that the bible isn’t true. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The bible is a handwritten letter from the LORD. It is our road map home. We will have to learn to tame our tongue if we are to make heaven our home. 

             Now, let’s look at  James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. Most of us know that old saying, “While you are pointing your finger at me, you better look at the three pointing back at you.” I have had a sign for years. I loved it. It said, “Discernment is God’s call to intercession.” Sometimes, the Lord reveals someone’s character or imperfections. This is not for you to run to the local prayer chain and say, “Let’s pray for poor brother so-and-so.” This is judgemental gossip. It is not for you to discuss with anyone else but the Lord. If the Lord puts this in front of you, it is because he is trusting you enough to keep it to yourself and to go in your closet and pray for them. To pray for them as if you would be the person with their character flaw or imperfection. This is the way we truly pray for one another. This is how we can give the devil an old heave-hoe. This is just the intro on the ways the enemy wants to set up his kingdom in our hearts using our tongue. Matthew 15:17-20  17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. Even Jesus knew that to eat with unclean hands means we will just make yourself ill. Where have our hands been before we eat? Washing our hands removes bad germs. But, like I said earlier, our tongues reveal our true selves.

              So, if we do not learn to tame our tongue in our speech, it will lead to a lifestyle of lying. Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. What this verse says is that we are not supposed to lie. We are not supposed to lie about ourselves or others. How many times have we heard someone say about someone, “He is a pathological liar.” What they are really saying is that that person lives a life of lying. Let’s look at Genesis 3:1-19  3 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. So the serpent entered the garden of Eden with a twist on the truth in God’s torah truth. He then got Eve to sin. Then, she sells Adam a lie that God is holding something back. So, Adam believes a lie and sins. What happens next? The Lord questions them. Why? To get them untangled from the snare Satan bound them in. Each question was to entice them to do the right thing. Be totally honest and to repent. Instead of just being totally honest, they played the blame game. And, do you see their penalty for their sin? Then, let’s look at Genesis 4 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. Can you see how the habit of lying carried on from Adam and Eve to Cain and Abel? We have to own up to our misdeeds. There is no deliverance in shoving sin under the rug. You see, the Lord is not out to outright judge us without first trying to redeem us. He wants us to make heaven our home as much as we do. He is righteous. Sin cannot dwell in His presence. Therefore, we have to be honest with both ourselves and the LORD. Just like with Cain, we can be rest assured that our sins will find us out if we continuously try to shove them under the rug and lie. Colossians 3:5-11  5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Ephesians 4:23-25  23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

                           So, we see so far that an untamed tongue can lead to a lifestyle of lying. Which has effects on generations to come. But, generational curses can be broken through repentance and the Lord’s forgiveness. But, if we don’t repent and ask the Lord for His forgiveness  it will lead to a life of deception. You know, “He lies so much that he believes his own lies.” Ephesians 5:6-21  6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. The apostle Paul warns us to be very careful. To avoid all the evils of a loose tongue. Joking profanely and even talking of things that are so vulgar, they shouldn’t even be mentioned. “It’s just a joke.” or “I thought it was funny.” Remember, we talked earlier that gossip is lying. 

                 So, a loose tongue leads to a lying lifestyle. A lying lifestyle leads to a life of deception. A life of deception brings that life into the occult. The occult is the complete worship of Satan. We are called to Worship the LORD alone. We cannot serve two masters. We can only serve one or the other. Deuteronomy 18:10-12  10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 

                   So, sin will take us further than we want to go, make us stay longer than we want to stay, and make us pay more than we

want to pay. How about we look at Annanias and Saphira. Acts 5:1-11

5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 

               Annanias and Saphira were given opportunities to change their minds concerning this choice that they were making. They did not have to choose to lie. Yet they did. They paid for it with their lives. It was prophesied in 1998 at a church that I was attending at the time that there would be a day coming as it was in the days of Annanias and Sahira. Where respectful fear will return to the Church again.

                        If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Let me introduce you to Him. It is really simple. First you must acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a savior according to the mirror of the law of the Lord. Ask Him for His forgiveness for all of your sins and call them out to Him. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Then, forgive those who have sinned or transgressed against you. Then, repent. Repent means to change your mind concerning sinful habits. Change your choice making decisions. Let Him influence your choice making decisions as you get in His Holy Word. Ask Him to be Lord over your life. I want to pray this prayer with you. But, this is just an outline. The real work begins after I pray with you because it is a very personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

                    Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(close in prayer)

Let's Make Sweet Music Together

 Let’s Make Sweet Music Together

(Open in Prayer)

                  Hello and welcome to My Little House of Prayer. I am your host, Dayla Smith. I am hoping you all had a blessed and safe New Years Holiday. I am hoping you waited and watched in prayer about this new and upcoming year. There is so much that we can cover in prayer for this new and upcoming year.

                    I woke up this morning and began to pray. I began to weep in my prayer closet. And, believe you me, the Lord and I definitely have one. I love it. This is where we go and commune together. My prayer closet is in my bathroom. This morning was so powerfully intimate that the residue was still there when I had left it. To the point my sister in Christ went in after me to get dressed. She came out and said, “The bathroom is yours so you can finish praying.” How powerfully sweet was this? That our prayer time together was so powerful that my sister felt the presence of it. In all of my homes that I have lived in, the lost would recognize it for what it was. They would say, “A mighty prayer warrior lives here. The walls are permeated with her prayers.” Believer’s would say that my home is very welcoming. It is a place of pure peace and love. I guess that I am saying this to say that we should never think our prayers are not powerful. That they are not doing anything. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

                        My Christmas holiday was so busy that I didn’t get to wake up and just be alone with Him. I wake up real early just so that He and I can be together in the silence of those hours. To me those early morning hours are the most powerful. I still prayed. But, I did not have those intimate moments I so look forward to. He is so important to me. In Him, I live, move, breathe and have my being. Without Him I am nothing. It was in this prayer time that He showed me what He wanted to talk about with His people. I began to work on another message with the feeling that it was not what He wanted to talk about.

This morning He wanted to talk about our love walk. So let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12-13  12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.14 For the body is not one member, but many.15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

                      First Corinthians 12-13 are called the love chapters. Just like it is advised that we learn about the full armor of God and apply it to our everyday lives, it is also advised that we learn about these two chapters and apply them to our everyday life, if we are going to be called children of God. 1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. So, as you can see, we can not hate anyone if we are to be called children of God. We have to exemplify the fruits of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23  22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. What is the first gift of the Spirit that Paul mentions in Galatians? Love. 1 John 4:7-10 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

                    Verses 1-7 in 1 Corinthians Paul is giving us a message of exhortation. To encourage us to walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-17  16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. We have to put away our old way of doing things if we are to walk with Him. Hate and anger put a brick wall between us and our God. How can we hear the soft bells of love, joy and peace, if we are listening to the noisy banging of hate, anger, and heaviness. That is what the apostle Paul is describing in these 2 verses.

               Then, 7-10 is the different ways the Spirit of God wants to use each and every one of us. But, the requirement is that our ears have to be turned to His voice. Not the latter. I remember when my ears were turned to the latter. I had grown up learning to stay in unforgiveness and got even with people who injured me in some form or fashion. I was so bitter and angry at the entire world. Then, I found the Lord. But, I still needed deliverance from this lifestyle I had chosen. The Lord had to heal me of emotionally charged memories so that I could begin to truly forgive. Do you see the Lord’s great compassion that He had on me? He is willing to have that for every child of God. But, we also have to be willing to listen and obey. He truly is the great and mighty counselor, if we allow Him to be. We set limits on how far our relationship with Him will go. And, He is ever so patient and kind while we go through. I know He was for me. Because of all the anger and unforgiveness before I received Christ into my heart, I had a walk that was “Have gun, will travel.” I wanted people to have Christ so much so, that I injured people with the word of God. And for that I am so very sorry. Please forgive me. 

                   Verses 1-21 in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, Paul describes how the Spirit decides to use each member of the body together. We are to work together desiring the gifts of the Spirit. But, this is not a horse race, where everyone is jockeying for the best position. There is no best position according to the Holy Spirit and the Lord. The best position is the fact that the Lord loves us enough to lead, guide, and use us to speak into someone else's life. Are you seeing the power in this like I am? I am weeping even now at His goodness towards us. This is why I am constantly asking you all to comment or email me. Because, in reality, we all know a whole lot about nothing when it comes to the knowledge of the LORD. But, together is where His knowledge can be made known.

                       In verses 22-26 in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about how as one body we are to truly care for one another more than of ourselves. Do you want to experience the Lord’s presence in your life? Then, we are to prefer one another more than ourselves. This is one way to pick up your cross and follow after Him. It is not always convenient to follow Him. That is because He does not deal in convenience. I know a few people who are having to learn this. And, if we want a thermometer of whether we are truly walking with Him or not. How much of ourselves are we giving to the Lord? If we are truly to represent the body of Christ, we can not  bicker with and about each other. When we bicker about one another, we are gossiping about one another. There can not be divisions in the body of Christ. You know, cliques. I only hang around my favorite people. It’s o.k. to have favorite people, as long as we make it a point to be pleasant to those we don’t necessarily agree with. Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

                        Verses 27-30 of chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about how the Lord has made us all unique. He talks about how the Holy Spirit works in each and everyone of us at different times in each of the gifts of the Spirit. That all the different gifts are special to God in creating the body of Christ. We are all living stones perfectly fitted together to form the body of Christ. Picture this. Look at the different parts of the human body. Externally and internally. So, it is with the body of Christ. If we are to be a part of the body of Christ externally and internally, we have to allow Him who created us to develop the ways He wants to use us. It is called being led by the Spirit of God. How am I supposed to be led by the Spirit of God? By praying. Talking, asking, and waiting for His input. This is why we are to remain in a constant state of prayer.

                        In verse 31 of chapter 12 Paul instructs all of us, But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. What are the best gifts? In chapter 13 Paul begins with hints of what the excellent gifts are. Then, in verses 7-12 he becomes a little more point blank what the best gifts are. In verse 13, he tells you exactly what the best gifts are. Then, like Jesus he also tells us the even in these three best gifts : faith, hope, and love. The greatest is love. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 22:36-40  36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.38 This is the first and great commandment.39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

                Do you see that in verse 40? On these two commandments HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. What Jesus is saying here is that if you love yourself, would you lie to yourself? If you love yourself, would you gossip and backbite yourself? If you love yourself, would you covet against yourself? Would you murder yourself? Would you steal from yourself? If not, then why would you do it to others? When we received Christ as our savior, we became love slaves. We are commanded to John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

                  So, if we are to be children of God we need to pull down our brick wall of obtrusively noisy Hate, anger, and heaviness. So that we and others can hear the soft bells of love, joy and peace. So, that we can sing in true harmony with one another the song that only the body of Christ can sing. The sweet song of the redeemed. 

                  So, if you have not truly surrendered your life to Christ today. You want to pull down the obtrusive noisy walls of hate, anger, and heaviness. I can help you with this. It starts off with the fact that you must first acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a savior according to the mirror of the law of the Lord. Ask Him for His forgiveness for all of your sins and call them out to Him. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Then, forgive those who have sinned or transgressed against you. Then, repent. Repent means to change your mind concerning sinful habits. Change your choice making decisions. Let Him influence your choice making decisions as you get in His Holy Word. Ask Him to be Lord over your life. I want to pray this prayer with you. But, this is just an outline. The real work begins after I pray with you because it is a very personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

                    Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

                 If you have made a decision to surrender your life totally to the one who not only created you, but redeemed you at Calvary’s cross; I want to tell you that all of heaven and I are rejoicing with you right now. For those of you who have made this life changing decision, and for those of you that this message has spoken to you in some way, and/or you may have a prayer request. Please email me at my1litteafmp@aol.com. I want to pray for and with you. Remember, I love you with the love of the Lord, but Jesus loves you more.