A number of years ago a pastor, whom I have known for over 30 years, taught an in-depth series of messages on THE BLOOD of JESUS. Sunday after Sunday, he taught, and he explained. He went over scripture after scripture. I know it must have made some wonder, How long are we going to stay on the same thing?
Knowing him, he would have answered, “As long as it takes.” What happens when someone hears anointed, Spirit-led teaching?
Faith comes!
In this case, it was faith in THE BLOOD!
After a number of Sundays, pleading THE BLOOD had become no longer just a phrase. To most of that congregation it had taken on covenant power. Covenant, meaning BLOOD Covenant!
One day after weeks of this teaching, a member of that church had gone to the bank, as she had always done. Except on this particular morning, the devil and his gang took over the bank. The leader ordered people to lie down on the floor, and then began shooting them, one by one. That’s when this woman put THE BLOOD to work!
“I PLEAD THE BLOOD!” she shouted.
“THE BLOOD of JESUS is against you!”
When the leader came to her, he said, “I can’t shoot you. I can’t shoot you!” Then he skipped over her and went to the next person.
Now, I’ve heard of people who said, “I plead THE BLOOD,” but without that kind of powerful results. Why?
FAITH!
Sitting there week after week and studying The WORD had strengthened that woman’s faith in THE BLOOD of JESUS until it became, not just a religious phrase, but a weapon of POWER! She was no longer just a member of the church, but an armed soldier in THE ARMY OF THE LORD!
Another pastor, whom I’ve also known for many years, pastors in New York City—GROUND ZERO. I mean, on 9/11 his church was right there. Nearly all the members worked or commuted through the World Trade Center. For weeks on end, he had taught on faith, and how to hear and be led by the Holy Spirit. It’s one thing to be led by THE SPIRIT and another to act, by faith, on what He leads you to do. They had learned how to do both. NOT ONE PERSON! NOT ONE got a scratch during the attacks! It was a whole church full of miracle testimonies!
Why?
Some very wonderful Christian people stepped into the arms of Jesus that day. Why were these spared? Because they were built up in faith, and had been taught how to listen to and obey the GREATER ONE living on the inside.
I could tell you case after case where, because people went to church, it made the difference. Let’s look at Hebrews 10:22-25:
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.
If that was the end of what THE SPIRIT had to say about it, we could just go about anywhere we want. However, that’s NOT the bottom line. Look at Hebrews 13:7:
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you The WORD of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Now, read that same verse in The Amplified Bible, Classic Edition:
7 Remember your leaders and superiors in authority [for it was they] who brought to you The WORD of God. Observe attentively and consider their manner of living (the outcome of their well-spent lives) and imitate their faith (their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ, and their leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness).
It matters what kind of life a pastor lives. Does he preach faith? Does he live it? He’s the one who will be receiving your tithes and offerings.
Now, that changes everything. Where is my sheepfold? should be the first and foremost prayer of every believer. Not, Where should I work? Find out where your sheepfold is and get in it! That’s where the GRACE is! If you are already in the place where the Holy Spirit led you to be, STAY THERE! That’s where THE BLESSING is! Remember what Jesus said in John 14:21:
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
That’s not the Ten Commandments He’s referring to. He that puts My WORD, My direction for his life, My plan and My kingdom first, then I will manifest Myself to him. Can’t you just hear Him? “Seek Me first, and I’ll take care of all the things that need to be added!” Didn’t He say it? Yes, He did!
Take quality time to pray about this, but not just with your natural mind. Pray in the spirit. Pray in tongues. First Corinthians 14:2 says, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” Notice that praying in the spirit is praying in tongues. To whom? To GOD!
Now, look at verses 13 through 15:
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Can you pray anytime you will with your understanding? Yes. Then you can also pray anytime you will with your spirit—in tongues—about anything you will, if, and that’s a big if, you are doing it according to what Jesus said in John 15:7:
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Oh, there’s so much here that there’s no way I can begin to put it all in this letter. But this I can tell you: Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! Trust Him to do what He is sent to do.
Look at the “he shalls,” and the “wills” in these three verses from John 16:13-15:
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 show you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall
take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
He is IN YOU to do that!
WE HAVE ACCESS TO EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS! HE is living on the inside of you, NOW!
Put both hands on your midsection and shout, “HE IS IN HERE! I BELIEVE IT! HE SAID IN 2 CORINTHIANS 6:16, ‘I WILL LIVE IN THEM, AND WALK IN THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE!’”
Where? In heaven? No. IN THEM!
Become GOD-inside minded. Talk to Him all the time! Listen to Him all the time! You haven’t finished praying until you listen—always knowing the best is yet to come.
Sowing is so wonderful. Why? Because harvest is coming!
Well, like I said, there’s so much I want to teach you because I have you in my heart. We love you and pray for you every day.
Love,
Sowing is SO wonderful! Why? Because the HARVEST is coming!
Need prayer?