I was going to a church and part of the choir; I came in late to practice due to work with a migraine headache. I asked the leader for prayer, he said you were not here for what I just told the other. He said according to him that the lord said we were to ask each other for prayer as we may not always be together. Another pastor’s wife told me i was not to be fleecing – looking for signs when we prayed. As I told her i I had used the way Gideon taught us to pray and it got the results.
First of all not praying is a trick of the devil as, the bible clearly states we are to pray one for another and where two or three are gathered together, we are to intercede for each other.. This just caused confusion and made a little angry. God is not the author of Confusion.
Also we are a body- and doesn’t the body know when something is wrong with one of its parts like in the natural? We do not have to be in the physical presence of other believes – he knows no distance. I was going through a real rough time and was new to an area and 80 miles from home- turned on the internet and i was getting invites from prayer groups I did not know existed or a Christian would call.
Not pray baloney!
Prayer is the key
Remember these three things – when you hear a “word” I does it speak of god, does it go along with the scriptures and confirm in your hear- does it bring peace or anger and confusion.
Do not choke your lifeline to Christ and the Holy Spirit

God’s Mirror or your Mirror….

Everyone uses a mirror to see things and themselves, but the world’s outlook on things today is that the bible is not real, and what it says is not truth. They also feel if you have visions or hear from god, you are in need of help. In addition to this they feel angels are not real at all. But the bible clearly states , “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters  shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall dream dreams.” (Joel 2:28) Logic and reason can’t explain this, but yet we still stubbornly question it and god…..

It was New Years Eve service and the pastor had called the congregation to come up around the altar to pray for the ministries that were out in the field.  While there, I had glanced up towards the pulpit to see the most beautiful wings that were outspread in flight.  They grew in size to show the most gorgeous doves, that I had ever seen.  While I watched, they landed in perfectly matched pairs on various people’s shoulders around the altar, including the pastor and his wife.  As I was watching, the most glorious, stately angels began to settle and station themselves around people at the altar. Then others began to come down and walk the aisles of the church.  Then a voice said, “this will continue until there is no place for them to land”, and they fell in huge masses.  It became impossible for them to land and they just hovered. The voices continued saying,” this will happen, take your hands off and just believe. Do not limit me and know that I am god”!   A few months later, I was commenting to my pastor about how the sense in the spirit that something good was about to happen and he   agreed with me.  In the course of the conversation, I shared the vision with him as well.  When out of the blue, I said we are on the edges of the last great move of the Holy Spirit. The expression on my face must have been extremely hilarious; because he started laughing so hard he nearly fell off his chair. He then asked, “What happened?” I said, “The Holy Spirit shot through me stronger than he has ever done, and He said YES!!”  I had also wondered why I said that. He said, “Get used to it sis, he does it that way sometimes.” I don’t know about you, but I am ready for it and hungry for it. These visions are not one time occurrences…..

While visiting another church during their Sunday night service, it was announced that they would be holding a baptism. While I was watching the baptism, I began to observe several beautiful angels leading the children down to the water and gently back out again. Beautiful doves were flying overhead as well. I noticed angels were sitting in the corners of the baptistery, and along the edges of it. If he will honor the obedience of even the youngest of us, what more will he do for us? Except ye enter as a child. These are not given to just a certain person, but can come from different people.

A pastor related this to me,” That when she first started going to the church that she was going to at the time, she literally woke up in a vision for the first time. She had prior visions to this, but never woke up inside one. I was not asleep during this vision, and watching it in full color. In this vision I was inside the church standing up at the altar, facing the back of the church. While standing there, I looked to my side and saw the most beautiful, huge angel standing there. And beside me was a huge angel. It was so tall that it seemed to reach from ceiling to floor, and its wings were just as big.  As I watched the angel, the angel took off and flew parallel to the floor from front to back, and returned to land beside me again. While in flight, its wingspan was so great, that the one wing alone covered one side of the church and the people sitting in the pews. So when she went to this church and, and discovered it was exactly how she had seen it in the vision. She had been in that church in the spirit before she actually had gone there in the natural.  She related the experience with the entire church, ad they stated they could feel the brush of its wings, in addition hear the rustle of them .I shared this with whole church that morning, and people said they could feel the brush of the angel’s wings and even heard the rustle of its wings.  Revival broke out after this, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit was so strong. Then of course man got in the way, and took back control. These effectively broke the anointing and shoved the Holy Spirit to the side.  This has caused the church to begin to die and most of the people to leave. Please do not get in the way of the Holy Spirit.”

When we look out into the world today, there is so much evidence of what the bible had said centuries ago, that is happening today, why would we doubt its validity?  So many things we can not explain, yet deny his existence. So, should we go on logic and feelings and try to deny what he has said? His word clearly states the existence of angels and having visions.  We walk by faith, not by sight. Life gives you a lot of choices, but in the end you have two choices, heaven or hell? What is real to you, and most important to you? Whose mirror are you going to use yours, or God’s?

.. ..

My love and devotion for you is as strong as my love and devotion to my father. In my word, I gave you many examples of my feelings for my father. My teachings such as my being the Vine and he the husbandman for one. I also taught you when you have seen me you‘ve seen the father. Many examples showed you the characteristics of the kingdom and the father. My devotion was further shown, when I taught you to pray by honoring him. My most important acts were when I left his side in obedience to come down to walk among you and go to the cross for you even when I asked him to take the cup from me – I said not my will but yours.

My greatest desire is to see you learn devotion to him and reflect it by your love for me. To learn this kind of devotion while here on earth is to pray, read your bible, worship and fellowship one with another. Nurture your Christian family relationship, as it is so important for your strength and growth. My father and I desire a close relationship with you and when that is accomplished, the effects will spill out to your natural family relationships. When you start treating them with love, dignity, and respect and are getting along in peace will you finally realize just how important your relationship is to us. This has to be set in place before you ever go out and try to win back my lost sheep, because they will see no difference if you don’t.

Next, spread my love out to the world showing them the love, peace, gentleness, goodness, meekness. The trick to thinking of others first is to get self and family matters out of the way because it take the focus off me and puts it right square on you. Be real and honest with them, as I want you to be with us. The world can spot a hypocrite a mile away. Help my hurting and needy lost children. Love them willingly with out judging because remember you were once that way when I found you. Do not be quick to judge, lest you be judged in the same manner.

Use all the armor and weapons I have taught you, and stand tall, and be ready for battle, as this is a war in the spirit and we are after souls. Use my scripture against him and he will flee form you. Call on me in your need or in any time and I will be there to assist you and the battle is not yours but mine. My angels stand ready to battle for you call on them and they will come. The rewards are few done here but when you get up here with me, is a different story.

Once your battle is over, and you have come home, you will find out just how worth it all it was to go through this process. I want all of you here with me- not just afew but all my children. I want heaven full and hell empty. I want to meet you and walk by your side for eternity. The rewards will be so great because I will get a chance to pour out my love in full to you continually for eternity. No human pain, tear or such will be there all will be new.

Stay the course my children, It is worth it all,

With greater love than you can Imagine,

Jesus Christ

1. Jealousy-A jealous attitude or disposition.
2. Close vigilance

The spirit of jealousy is a demonic stronghold that the enemy sends against mankind. This spirit stronghold is evil and deadly. It manifests itself in the personality of people. I am going to list below common manifestations associated with this spirit.

We need to examine ourselves and if any of these things are manifesting in our lives we need to go after the strongman which is the spirit of jealousy. I am going to list some scriptures that will come against this strongman and by faith with applying the word of God this spirit will be destroyed.
Spirit of jealousy manifestations- accusations, anger, argumentative nature, backbiting, belittling, bickering, bitterness, blasphemy, causing divisions, coarse jesting, competition, contention, covetousness, criticism, cruelty, cursing, deception, destruction, discontent, disputes, dissatisfaction, distrust, enmity, envy, factious, faultfinding, fighting, gossip, greed, hardness of heart, hatred, hurt, inability to cry, insecurity, judging, kleptomania, lying, malice, materialism, mocking, murder, quarreling, rage, railing accusations, restlessness, retaliation, revenge, sadism, self-centeredness, self-hatred, selfishness, spite, stealing, strife, suicide, suspicion, temper, unforgiveness, unworthiness, violence.

This is an exhaustive list of manifestations that are birthed from the spirit of jealousy.

Matthew 12:28-”But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matthew 12:29-Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house, and then he will spoil his house.

Mark 16:17-(GWT) These are the miraculous signs that will accompany believers: They will use the power and authority of my name to force demons out of people. They will speak new languages.
(KJV)- And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

As believers we have power over all the works of the enemy. Jesus said it and I believe!!
Luke 10:19-(KJV) Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The spirit of jealousy is a demonic foe and must be dealt with according to the word of God. I know there are many more scriptures that will suffice this. Go to the word and search it out. We must apply the word daily to our lives. Satan is very subtle and he will whisper in our ear saying we’re alright when these things are manifesting in our lives. Satan is a liar and he is the father of all lies. He is a deceiver! The Holy Spirit will shine the light on all deceptions which are lies from Satan.
Remember Repentance Is Still The Order Of The Day.

Prophetess Belinda Alford
January 28, 2009

we are to perfect and edify( lift up) the body.
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Definitions of The offices/ gifts to follow
Apostle is derived from the Greek word, pronounced ap-os-tol-os, which means messenger, or ambassador. Although the term is most often used to describe The Twelve Apostles, certain others, including Paul (see On The Road To Damascus) and Barnabas, were also designated as apostles according to God’s purpose at a given time.
Disciple is derived from the Greek word, pronounced math-ay-tes, which means learner, or student. Generally, apostles were chosen from among the disciples (Matthew 10:1), and therefore there were far fewer apostles than disciples – all apostles were disciples, but not all disciples became apostles

Evangelism / Evangelist
Evangelism / Evangelist – The special ability God gives to some to proclaim the Gospel of salvation effectively so that people respond to the promises of Christ through conversion to Christianity.

The divine enablement to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship.

People with this gift:
- communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction
- seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters
- challenge unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ
- adapt their presentation of the gospel to connect with the individual’s needs
- seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers.

Pastor / Shepherd /bishop
Pastor / Shepherd – The special ability God gives to some to assume a long-term personal responsibility for leadership and the spiritual care, protection, guidance, and feeding (teaching) of a group of believers.

The divine enablement to nurture, care for, and guide people toward on-going spiritual maturity and becoming like Christ.

People with this gift:
- take responsibility to nurture the whole person in their walk with God
- provide guidance and oversight to a group of God’s people
- model with their life what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus
- establish trust and confidence through long-term relationships
- lead and protect those within their span of care.
Apostle
Apostle (Leadership Gift) – The special ability God gives to some to exercise general leadership or oversight over a number of churches with an authority in spiritual matters, which is readily recognized. In the strict sense this gift was confined to the twelve apostles. The New Testament does, however, give this title to a number of others, e.g. Romans 16:7 and Acts 14:14 . It is the gift whereby the Spirit appoints certain Christians to lead, inspire, and develop the churches of God by the proclamation and the teaching of true doctrine.

The divine ability to start and oversee the development of new churches or ministry structures.

People with this gift:
- pioneer and establish new ministries or churches
- adapt to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware
- desire to minister to unreached people in other communities or countries
- have responsibilities to oversee ministries or groups of churches
- demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the church.
Teaching / Teacher
Teaching / Teacher – The special ability God gives to some to explain the truths of the Word of God clearly and to apply them effectively so that those taught understand and learn. To instruct others in the Bible in a logical and systematic way so as to communicate pertinent information for true understanding and growth.

The divine enablement to understand, clearly explain, and apply the word of God causing greater Christ-likeness in the lives of listeners.

People with this gift:
- communicate Biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to the word
- challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of scripture
- focus on changing lives by helping others understand the Bible better
- give attention to detail and accuracy
- prepare through extended times of study and reflection.
Elders & Deacons 06.02.06

The New Testament epistles regularly speak of a plurality of church leaders, commonly called “elders,” “overseers,” or “shepherds.” In addition, deacons were appointed to meet various needs in the local church. As early as c. A.D. 50, Paul and Barnabas “appointed elders . . . in each church” (Acts 14:23). A decade later, Titus is instructed to “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5). Paul’s epistle to the Philippians is addressed to the “overseers and deacons” at Philippi (Phil 1:1). This conforms to the pattern stipulated in 1 Timothy 3 where qualifications for overseers (male only: 1 Tim 3:2; cf. 2:12) and deacons (both male and female) are given (1 Tim 3:1–7 and 8–12, respectively).
Prophet / Prophecy
Prophet / Prophecy (Special Gift) – The special ability God gives to some to proclaim the Word of God with clarity and to apply it fearlessly with a view to the strengthening, encouragement, and comfort of believers and the convincing of unbelievers. The special gift whereby the Spirit empowers certain Christians to interpret and apply God’s revelation in a given situation.

The divine enablement to reveal truth and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance, or edification. There may be immediate or future implications.

People with this gift:
- expose sin or deception in others for the purpose of reconciliation
- speak a timely word from God causing conviction, repentance, and edification
- see truth that others often fail to see and challenge them to respond
- warn of God’s immediate or future judgment if there is no repentance
- understand God’s heart and mind through experiences He takes them through.

Deacon is a role in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. In many traditions, the diaconate, the term for a deacon’s office, is a clerical office; in others, it is for laity. ( Stephen)

Where is your focus?

all office/ gift definitions can be found at http://www.kodachrome.org/spiritgift/refer.htm

i ran a search on deacon and bishop(matched pastor)

bible scriptures www.bible.com- this can happen in non-leadership as well

You see some strutting around like peacocks – look at me – I am a… and  the others you would never know in action because they use no titles but still display the right attitude for the office

Christ opposed legalism and hyprocrisy. These people are usually strong willed, arrogant, always believe that they are right. They struggle to oppose God, whether they know it or not. They are rebellious, subtle, discriminating, selfish, proud, selfrighteous, insolent, overbearing, disdainful, presumptuous, boastful, frustrate others and bring division more than restoration, healing and reconciling. They are a people who love themselves, love money, are boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to the Word of God, unholy, without love, not lovers of good, having a form of godliness but denying the power and are lovers of pleasure. Compromising can be found amongst these people, according to their own standards, for a religious spirit is rebellious to God, authority, of elders, and sadly pride of youngsters gets in the way of learning. They corrupt the doctrine of God, undermining their loyalty to God by promoting tolerance toward pagan practises, including idols, lust and sexual immorality.

The religious spirit leads people to pursue liberal doctrines for the wrong motives. It can be of human origin, and lacks faithfulness to Christ’s teaching. Standards of righteous conduct are principles that are kept in obedience to God’s Word, in the case of a religious spirit, the person allows those to be a stronger influence than a godly influence, and become judgmental and hypercritical, thinking that they are virtuous when they are not, they defiantly lack honour because of ignorance. The Religious Spirit follows and teaches doctrines that are valueless. There is prejudice due to an attitude of superiority, usually based on false assumptions about people’s behaviour. Presumption is unacceptable in God’s principles. God is not prejudiced. God is not prejudiced.

Those who are truly led by The Holy Spirit will always look for ways to help rather than standing aloof and criticising. The gentleness of The Holy Spirit encourages and does not condemn and crumple the inner persistence of a believer.

The religious spirit instructs on beliefs that are contrary to The Word of God, and encourage others to compromise God’s standards. Many people are unaware that they compromise the principles of God. This spirit promotes pagan religions and spiritual adultery, unbiblical teaching, the tendency to be able to tolerate sin and unrighteousness. People with a religious spirit persecute those who stay with The Word of God, searching the scriptures and studying the Truths of God’s Word. They claim to ‘speak for God’ and have influence and a form of success both in the Body of Christ and to those who take pleasure in worldly matters. The strategy of the religious spirit is to keep Christians focused on evil and away from the Glory of God, through Christ.

 This evil spirit has done much damage to The Body of Christ for it does not add life and power, but division and destruction. Upon making spiritually immature Christians self-righteous and proud, the followers then assume that they already know God’s opinion in almost every area. This is a big delusion. The Church needs to continually confront this powerful deception that can cancel the true power of the True Gospel because of these assumptions. The religious spirit was the primary characteristic of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, as they focused on what was wrong with others being blind to their own faults. Even though this problem was operating then, it still continues to be in force today, conflicting with the true Work of The Holy Spirit. The people have a zeal, but not in accordance with biblical knowledge, and are in reality in opposition to the teachings of Jesus.

They glory in their own zeal for God, this is the snare of the enemy. Cults and false religions are easily discernible, but the religious spirit still remains to do harm in the Body of Christ, it seeks after popularity and seeks out believers to serve The Lord for approval, rather than through the Work of Christ on the Cross. They become unteachable and will use anything in an attempt not to be confronted. If pride is addressed, insecurity and fleshly excuses are there to attract sympathy in defence, this is self-righteousness acting as a deceptive faith, giving an appearance of wisdom, but it is a fleshly minded knowledge. Pride is a great evil. To be godly, pride has to be rejected. Pride leads to other forms of evil, spiritual blindness, a hardened heart, contempt for others, injustice, quarrelling and can become malicious.

The Gifts of The Spirit can only operate in love, so gifts that are used by a religious spirit is false spiritual perception. Also this spirit is much more focused on the earthly realm than the heavenly realm and the attitudes and motives are in opposition to the teachings of Jesus. Jesus called these people who were preoccupied with their own recognition, blind guides. The true fruit of revelation will be humility, not pride.

 The motivation of The Holy Spirit is love for The Son of God. Some obvious signs of a religious spirit: -unable to take correction from others -will not listen to others but only ‘to God’ -see the wrong in churches, and not notice what is right -be repulsed by emotionalism to God, forgetting that King David was the most emotional and impassioned for God out of all others, a man after God’s own heart -tries to recognise it in others while over-looking it in themselves. With humbleness, meekness and repentance to God, The love of The Holy Spirit will take over the judgement, pride and self righteousness.

SCRIPTURES Matthew 16:6, Revelation 2:20, Colossians 2:2-8, 18, 19, James 4:6. QUESTIONS 1] What does a religious spirit promote? 2] Should people compromise The Word of God? 3] What is the fruit of reconciliation? 4] How can The Holy Spirit overcome judgement, pride, and self-righteousness in believers?

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I can hear the faintest of whispers and the merest of thoughts.

Be still and know that I am God

I AM THAT STILL SMALL VOICE!

My children, you celebrate freedoms  that I have given you, and others have died for. But, my children, true freedom came when my son died for your sins. Are you celebrating that?

Physical freedoms are for a short time ,and easily taken away. While spiritual freedoms are eternal, and are never taken away.

Chose the freedoms that were won with many deaths or choose the freedom that was won by one death that brought life.

Which is more important to you the spiritual freedoms or the physical ones?

Think about it….It’s your choice. The picture is not the traditional flag because Freedom and Peace are treasured world-wide