This page was created to help give insight to the WORD of God, the Bible. Your faith should empower, not enslave you. Explore God's love and power for you to dominate your circumstances and world with us. God's love is real - I dare you to test it!
Sometimes we tend to complicate such simple truths like the fact that "speaking in tongues is for every believer in Jesus Christ as Lord". First of all, Jesus Christ came to earth in the form of a human being in order to introduce us to our ability to be able to use spiritual power and authority on earth. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in Eden they lost the priviledge of dominion. They gave it to the devil. (That's why Jesus had to die on the cross. God would only accept a pure sacrifice as atonement.) Jesus took it from him and gave it back to us. Romans 8 However, because it's new to us, we need(ed) a tutor. So Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit as our tutor to fix the problem. The problem was that, as long as Jesus was in the earth in physical form, HE was the only person who was enabled by the Holy Spirit. HE had to leave in order for us to receive enablement. John 16 The Holy Spirit enables humans to access the supernatural power of God. This allows us to:
Communicate with God effectively.
Gain wisdom, understanding and solutions for everyday challenges.
Use the power and authority God gives to every believer.
Overcome the world. i.e. represent the greatest power on earth.
Live fearlessly.
Manipulate the atmosphere.
Speaking in tongues is a spiritual experience. It is when a believer is enabled to speak in an unknown language for the sake of edification. It can be self edification or that of other person(s). The person speaking the language has never been formally taught the language. It is the Holy Spirit that gives the enablement. 1 Corinthians 14 Speaking in tongues can manifest itself in different forms such as at Pentecost when the disciples were in Jerusalem in the upper room. Acts 2. Or when Peter was speaking to the gentiles at Cornelius's house in Acts 10. Or when Paul was speaking to the jewish believers in Ephesus about the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 19 Sometimes we are just the vehicle. The Holy Spirit advocates to God on our behalf in our weakness and about things we know nothing about. God's thoughts and ways are far more higher than ours. Other times, there's prophecy when God sends a message through one believer and the revelation/ interpretation through another.
Speaking in tongues is empowerment. It was a norm for the believers during the time of the apostles. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul had to admonish the saints by letting them know that it was not a competitive gift. Love was what was imperative, not speaking in tongues nor the gift of prophecy. When a believer accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior God gives them the Holy Spirit as a companion/ tutor to teach them about the kingdom of God. Just as physical baptism is an outward show of a believer's allegiance to God, so too is 'spiritual baptism' as an allegiance to the Kingdom of God. Speaking in tongues is a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, like a ring is a sign of marriage. What is important is your commitment, covenance and faithfulness to its laws. It is the vows that make the union, not the ring. As we seek to know and understand the Kingdom of God; the Holy Spirit will reveal it to us. And one of the instruments which He uses, is the gift of tongues. The end goal is not the gift, but the giver. Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.
TESTIMONY: Sam Nadler found answers about God and the Holocaust in the most surprising place!
Not everyone can relate to having grown up with a father, nor even having a father who acted like one. Unfortunately that's the truth for most. But the fact that some people have never experienced snow doesn't mean that snow doesn't exist. Thank God that HE didn't leave one of the most influential human roles to chance. HE himself decided to be our perfect example to compare all others to. So if we ever are curious about what fatherhood entails we just have to look to how God has demonstrated HIS attributes to us. Here are a few of those:
1. Source - a father is a source. He provides the seed for an embryo to be developed.
2. Provider - he works so that his family's needs are met economically.
3. Protector - his wife and children depend on him for security from danger.
4. Patriarch - he leaves a legacy for his children and other generations that follow.
5. Positive - he is driven by finding solutions to familial problems.
6. Support - even when he disagrees with your actions, he will always support your positive growth and development.
7.Resourceful - he always has ideas and solutions to problems that you could never imagine.
8. Safe - you can always rest in his presence.
Genesis 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Man was the last thing God created. 2 Peter 1 HE made sure that everything that we would need for life and godliness were prepared for us in advance of our arrival. John 1 All things that were made were made by HIM, and without HIM wasn't anything made that was made.
Psalm 23 Because God is our Creator, HE knows exactly what we need for sustenance and development. HE has created each of us with a unique purpose and destiny; and equipped us with all that we will need to accomplish both. Jeremiah 1 HIS plans for each of us is to give us a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29
Life comes with many challenges. Each season has its own list of obstacles and ditches of all sorts. Sometimes it's like a complete maize, and we need the guidance of an expert to help us navigate the best path. God is consistent in HIS protection of HIS people. 2 Samuel 22 Sometimes our enemies are disguised as our friends and we need help to know the difference between the two. Sometimes God has to rescue us from ourselves. Proverbs 14 Ever since Adam and Eve sinned God promised mankind that HE would send a Saviour Genesis 3. From Abraham all the way to Malachi God has been faithful to HIS promises to HIS people. Deuteronomy 28. HE has led them through history to a point when they could be reconciled to HIS original plan of peace, joy, love and unity with HIM. Isaiah 53
Inspite of their continual disobedience and worship of foreign gods, etc... God's attitude has been one of forgiveness and blessings. 2 Chronicles 7 Abram was human just like us, and got it wrong a couple of times. God remained on his side and goaded him to do the right thing of eventually trusting HIS Word. Genesis 12 God was patient with HIM up until the very end. When he lied about his wife, obeyed his wife and slept with his helper etc... But in the end we saw growth and transformation when he was willing to sacrifice Isaac. He trusted God to provide a sacrifice instead of his son. Genesis 22 God's ulterior motive is reconciliation to a people who trust in HIS Word. HE is always faithful.
Everything that we have and have access to come from God. Job 38 God doesn't consult us when HE'S making HIS laws or precepts, or whatever. Psalm 135 HIS ways and thoughts are far much higher than ours. Isaiah 55 Eyes have not seen nor ears heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of man what God has prepared for those that love HIM. 1 Corinthians 2 HIS love for us is everlasting. HE is eternal and HE exists outside of space and time. God created time. What HE has said to one man applies to all of mankind. Our carnal mind cannot comprehend nor interpret HIS ways except by the help of the Holy Spirit which Jesus introduced to us. John 15
Now God demonstrates HIS love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5 We can rest assured that God cares about everything about us. When we are weak, HE is strong. Psalm 46 There is absolutely nothing that can separate us from HIS love except our rejection of HIM. Romans 8 Even then, as our creator HE understands our frailty. HE makes provision for us and leads us to repentance via the tutorship of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our spiritual teachers who helps us to embrace and appreciate the loving nature of a God who needs nothing, yet gives us everything, even HIS only son. HE trust us with HIS most prized possession, the Messiah - Jesus Christ. John 3 We are the apple of HIS eyes. And when we are able to confide in and surrender to HIM like David did, then we will truly experience the love of a father, Our Father the Almighty God. Psalm 17
TESTIMONY: What do Reagan, Billy Graham, and this Jew have in common?
WORSHIP: Our Father (LIVE) - Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson | For the Sake of the World
Faith is a lifestyle, not an event. It is a result of having had an encounter with the Almighty God which causes you to trust in who HE is, inspite of what HE is doing in your life. Sometimes you will not know or understand what HE'S allowing to happen to you. However you believe in HIS faithful character/ authenticity that is unchanging. God has integrity. So you trust that whatever is happening, HE is aware and HE has already prepared a favorable outcome on your behalf. God is always the Sovereign King. Nothing happens by surprise. HE is always in control.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
John 1 speaks about God in the form of Jesus becoming 'The Word' on earth. The word is the belief system that God has ordained for mankind. When Adam and Eve sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, it led them down a rabbit-hole of lies and deception. With each successive generation, mankind became more distant from the truth about God's nature and desire for man's relationship with God and the things in the earth. Jesus came to re-educate us. Jesus said, repent, change your way of thinking. You've got it all wrong. Let me show you how to do it. Let me show you how to do life the way the almighty God intended. I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the father but through me. Hebrews 11 It is impossible to please God without believing in HIS precepts about how we should live our lives.
Romans 10:17
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith in God is about believing in someone that you can't see, who has the ability to create something you can see. If you can see it, it's not faith. It has nothing to do with your feelings. It's more about the stance or direction you decide to take inspite of how you feel. The more you move in that direction, the stronger your faith becomes. It is a testimony based on your experience in/ with what you believe in. It is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The patriarchs in the bible chose to trust God, and HE in turn proved HIMSELF faithful to their beliefs.
It is very important to know God's promises. Because HE says that HIS Word will not return to HIM void. Isaiah 55 HE commands us to 'taste and see that the Lord is good'. HE is faithful to HIS Word. So if you know HIS Word you will know what is HIS Will and laws. You will learn what to expect and it will improve your confidence in HIS ability to sustain and deliver you like King David. Psalms 138
Psalm 138:2
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Just as you would sit on a chair without examining it. Or take your medication as prescribed, or even book a flight and fall asleep on the plane until you reach your destination; so it is too that you should rely on God. It's so amazing how we display trust daily in things and persons, even strangers eg. the bus driver, the car, the train conductor, the chef at the restaurant, the traffic light, just to name a few. Yet the God who created us and loves us so much with such an everlasting love, inspite of all that HE continues to do like hold the sky in place, the seas by the shore, the sun to rise and set repeatedly everyday, oxygen for us to breathe in; has such a hard time getting us to entrust our future in HIS hands. The devil is a liar. Don't believe him like Eve did. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your path.
TESTIMONY:My Jewish faith in Jesus couldn't be contained!
WORSHIP: Trust In God (feat. Chris Brown & Isaiah Templeton) | Elevation Worship
The Kingdom(pt.2)...It is the Gospel, NOT the Cross!
Man was created in God's image to have
dominion over the earth. In the garden of Eden man sinned by
transferring that authority to the devil when he disobeyed God. God's way of restoring man's
dominion was to send HIS son Jesus Christ - 'The Messiah' to take back
rulership from the devil by HIS death on the cross.
Matthew
25: 34
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who
are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared
for you since the creation of the world.
Kingdom governance of man on the earth was God's plan all along. That's what God commanded Adam to do when HE created him. The laws of God's Kingdom state that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin.
Hebrews 9:22
22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
The significance of the cross
The cross was the
means, but the end was the restoration of a relationship and the rulership of the Kingdom of God to man on earth. A
sacrifice was needed, but the blood of animals nor humans wasn't
sufficient to redeem man's position, i.e. dominion. The
only sacrifice good enough to appease God the Father, was the blood of
Jesus Christ. That's why Jesus died. Jesus died to restore a right
relationship between God and man, and to grant us re-access to a right
representation of God's dominion on earth. God loves mankind. John 3 Separate and a part from the fact that HE created man to 'be occupied' with governing the earth, HE wanted to be in a personal relationship with man.
Before Adam and Eve were banished from the garden it was God's custom to 'walk and talk' with them daily. Genesis 3 God cares about man's ideas and well-being. As a result of God's love towards man HE gave man HIS best, and that's what HE expects of/ from man. God expects man's best. The Almighty God is firstly interested in man's attitude towards HIM. HIS possessions are a bonus, not the prize. The real prize is HIM. Dominion is a possession. The earth is The Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24 When Jesus died HE recovered
man's dominion from the devil by taking back the keys that our
forefathers had given to the devil. God did not give the devil
dominion, man did. Man did not fall from heaven, he fell from dominion
over the earth.
Matthew 16:19
19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on
earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will
be loosed in heaven.”
Luke 4: 43
43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”
Mark 1: 14-15
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
The reason for our shortfall....
Jesus while HE was on earth spoke mostly about the Kingdom of God. HE only ever spoke once about being born again to an old priest who was trying to understand HIS explanation about the Kingdom. Understanding and accepting the fact of the Kingdom was of utmost importance. For, why would you want access if you don't understand it's culture and precepts? And why would I grant it to you if you couldn't/ wouldn't maintain its privileges? God doesn't want subjects. HE wants children. We've been misled. Repentance was/ is primary. It challenges us to reject our concept of God and heaven and to change our attitudes towards both. The Almighty God is interested in 'right relationship' with man. The Jews wanted God and 'The Messiah' for the wrong reasons. The objective of the Kingdom of God therefore was to attract a 'people with a different motivation and mindset'. Romans 12
God's motive is love. HE expects our to be the same. Appreciation for the King and The Kingdom is priority. We are heirs and co-heirs to HIS throne. Romans 8 If we don't value its privileges we will 'do what Adam did and give it away again'. God cannot afford for 'that to happen again' i.e. our ungratefulness and nonchalance. Hence there's a qualification process. Adam and Eve got if for free. Jesus paid the price for our repossession. But there is a clause. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11 Access to the King and Kingdom of God is via The Holy Spirit. Jesus introduced mankind to the gateway for our shortfall. But we needed to understand 'the reason' first. Nicodemus visited Jesus privately by night and Jesus told him that he must be born again in order to access the Kingdom of heaven. Jesus focused on faith. Access to God is based on faith in the counsel of The Holy Spirit. HE didn't preach on deliverance or healing, nor religion, church membership nor condemnation. HE went about instead proclaiming the gospel of faith in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. HIS parables continuously alluded to it. That was HIS mandate. When HIS disciples asked HIM to teach them how to pray HE said: ...THY Kingdom come, THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6: 9-13
Why is it good news?
In order for man to be reconciled to God and his position, a better way/ system had to be put in place. Man wasn't understanding his purpose, nor how to maintain it. Even after the Israelites were delivered from Egypt, and had experienced God's multiple miracles and grace, they constantly reverted to their old way of thinking and doing things as if they were still in bondage in Egypt. They didn't make it to the promise land; only the children born in the wilderness did. Yet it was all theirs. But their mindset was incorrect. They didn't understand the ways of God's government. They didn't understand god's original intent. They didn't understand God's heart. They didn't understand the value of their relationship with the Almighty God. They complained a lot rather than take charge over their situations. Constantly they were ungratefully misled. They just didn't get it. Over and over, men continuously subjected themselves to being ruled, rather than ruling. God's chosen people didn't understand what God had in mind when HE created them. They didn't understand 'dominion over the earth, nor the value of their relationship with God.'
Adam and Eve gave up their 'birthright' before they ever began to really enjoy it. The devil tricked them, just like in the story of Esau and Jacob. They didn't understand the significance/value of what they had. That's why Jesus kept alluding to the Kingdom of God, and preached so much about it's value. For instance: the parable of the treasure
Matthew 13: 44-47
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.
The benefits of the Kingdom....
The Kingdom of God gives us personal access to God as our Father, not just King. God wants our actions to be driven by our relationship and not just our fear. As a result we won't abuse HIS grace, but rather use it to improve our attitudes towards our responsibilities, HIMSELF and HIS Kingdom. We are not to abuse them. The Kingdom also gives us power for change. It changes our wealth and capabilities. It is supposed to change our entire lifestyle. It puts us in a better position, we gain more, we control more, and our outlook is transformed. We fear less, command more, and give God the glory. For instance: if your bank account is $1 million dollars you are rich until it finishes. But if you father owns the bank you have unlimited access to money. Jesus came to change our mindset.
In a Kingdom the King owns everything. As children of God we are 'stewards' i.e. managers. Our role is to share and maintain, not hoard. God's resources are unlimited. Two fishes and five loaves of bread fed over five thousand people. We are a part of a 'body'. 1 Corinthians 12 God has many children and no grand children. We all have the same access because of the cross. The Cross is extremely significant. God doesn't entertain sin. There's no way we could have access to the Kingdom without the cross. The Cross is like crossing the Red Sea - the pathway from slavery to freedom; and the Jordan River is our mindset which we have to get over too. But the Kingdom is Canaan - the Promise Land with all its milk and honey. Don't get stuck in the wilderness. It's time to cross over the Jordan. Claim what God has already ordained for you. You are entitled to it. Stop stumbling, complaining, and being distracted; and instead, focus and take charge!
Picture this:The Cross is the socket. Jesus Christ is the plug. The Holy Spirit is
the cord. The Good News is the lamp. The only way to see and experience what's
going on in the room (Kingdom) is to use the light from the lamp. The
reason why most Christians live defeated, enslaved lives is because they
wander around in the darkness 'feeling for stuff' rather than using the
light to enjoy it.Isaiah 9: 1-8
TESTIMONY:God's Kingdom Business "My Journey" Kris Vallotton
