OUR PASSION

December 21, 2011 at 1:21pm

Norita Williams 

HAVING PASSION SAYS ALOT ABOUT OUR CHARACTER AND WHO WE ARE. NOT ONLY WHO WE ARE AS A PERSON BUT WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST. WE CAN HAVE NO PASSION AND LOSE THE VISION THAT WAS BIRTHED IN US AND WE BECOME STAGNATE IN OUR WALK WITH GOD--AND JUST "EXISIT". OR WE CAN HAVE THE FIRE CONSUMING HOLY SPIRIT PASSION AND GO FORWARD INTO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO FOR HIM. TAKING DOWN STRONG HOLDS AND TAKING BACK WHAT THE ENEMY HAS TAKEN FROM US BY FORCE!!!

WHEN I WAS PREPARING FOR THIS SERMON I WAS PRAYING FOR THE LORD TO SHOW ME WHAT HE WANTED FOR ME TO SAY. HE TOLD ME IT IS IN STEPS THAT WE LEARN THINGS. WE CAN NOT JUST DO THINGS WE HAVE TO PREPARE AND THAT IS HOW WE LEARN.
THESE ARE THE STEPS THAT LEADS UP TO PASSION:
1. CALLING- THERE HAS TO BE A CALLING OF THE LORD THERE--NO MATTER WHAT IT MIGHT BE. GOD HAS TO CALL US, WE CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING. IF WE DID THEN WE WOULD BE GOING BY WHAT MAN DOES AND IT WILL SURELY FALL TO THE GROUND. BUT WHEN GOD IS IN IT..IT WILL BE BLESSED AND ANOINTED. WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT ON HIM TO TELL US TO GO AND DO. THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT THE LORD CAN CALL US INTO ANYTHING FROM PREACHING TO BEING KITCHEN HELP, TO ENCOURAGER AND BEING THERE FOR SOMEONE TO SINGING. NO MATTER WHAT IT MIGHT BE THE LORD WILL BLESS IT AND TOUCH LIVES. 2. THE NEXT STEP IS A BURNIND DESIRE AND WILLING TO BE TAUGHT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WHEN GOD PLACES THE SEED INTO YOUR HEART TO DO SOMETHING HE WATERS IT WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT. NOW IT NOT ONLY IS A CALLING BUT IT BECOMES A DESIRE. A DESIRE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO DO FOR HIM. DESIRE IS TO WANT. HOW YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL THINGS. HOW YOU WANT TO HELP OTHERS. THE DESIRE BURNS WITHIN YOU BUT YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BE LEAD TO DO IT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A TEACHABLE SPIRIT OTHERWISE THE DESIRE WILL SEEM LIKE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO DO. AND IT WOULD BE WITHOUT THE LEADING AND GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOUR HEART AND MIND HAS TO BE OPENED TO THE THINGS OF GOD. YOU CAN NOT HAVE A CLOSED MIND AND THINK YOU CAN DO IT. TO HAVE AN OPEN HEART TO FEEL THE THINGS OF GOD. WHEN WE BECOME TEACHABLE GOD CAN SHOW US THINGS AND TAKE US INTO DEEPER REVELAIONS OF HIM. THIS STARTS THE PROCESS OF FASTING, INTERCEDING PRAYER AND DYING TO ONE'S SELF. TAKING OUT DESIRE AND PUTTING IT ON WHEELS SO TO SPEAK. NOT ONLY FASTING, PRAYING BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE FAITH ALSO THAT GOD IS ABLE TO WHAT HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO DO. THIS TAKES US INTO ANOTHER LEVEL WITH GOD. READING HIS WORD GIVES US POWER, HOPE AND A WEAPON THAT WE ARE TO USE IN WAR FARE. NOT ONLY IN THE NATURAL BUT ESP IN THE SPIRITUAL AS WELL. THIS IS ALSO WHEN THE SPIRITUAL WAR FARE WILL GET INTENSE. THE DEVIL DOES NOT WANT FOR YOU TO MOVE CLOSER TO GOD. HIS INTENTIONS ARE LIKE IN WHAT JOHN 10:10 SAYS “ THE THEIF COMETH NOT, BUT FOR TO STEAL, AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY”. HE DOESN'T WANT FOR YOU LEARN AND GROW IN THE THINGS OF GOD BECAUSE HE KNOWS WHEN YOU DO YOU BECOME A WARRIOR IN CHRIST AND TAKE BACK AND TAKE DOWN WHAT HE HAS PLACED INTO YOUR WAY SO YOU CAN NOT STAY FOCUSED ONTO THE THINGS OF GOD. SO HE TRIES TO DECIEVE YOU THROW STUMBLING BLOCKS IN YOUR WAY CAUSING YOU TO FALL. BUT YOU HAVE THE
AUTHORITY TO BE MORE THAN OVERCOMER THROUGH CHRIST JESUS!!! THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE AT ALL TIMES!!! WE HAVE THAT PROMISE!!!
3. THE NEXT THING WE NEED IT COMPASISON TOWARDS OTHERS. WE TO BE CHRIST LIKE IN ALL MANNERS. EVEN LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH ,WE ARE TO PUT WHEELS ON THE W.W.J.D. SHOW OTHERS . COMPASISON—LOOKING AT THEM THROUGHT THE EYES OF JESUS AND NOT THROUGH MAN'S EYES.
IN MATTHEW 22:37-40—THE GREATEST COMMANMENTS-

1. 37. “ JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THEY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THEY MIND.
   38 . THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANMENT.
   39. AND THE SECOND IS LIKE UNTO IT, THOU SHALT LOVE THEY NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF.
   40. ON THERE TWO COMMANMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS.”

FOR EXAMPLE: IF YOU SEE A HOMELESS PERSON OR SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LOOK LIKE OR EVEN TALK LIKE OTHERS..WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND? DO YOU SEE A HOPELESS CASE? A PERSON WHOM YOU DON'T WANT TO ASSOCIATE YOURSELF WITH? A PERSON WHO IS AN OUTCAST? OR DO YOU SEEM THEM THROUGH GOD'S EYES? DO YOU SEE A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT? A PERSON WHO HAS HOPE? A PERSON WHO CHRIST DIED FOR? THESE PRECIOUS ONES ARE THE ONES WHO CHRIST CAME TO SAVE AS WELL!!! THE OUTCAST AND DOWN TROD. THE SINNERS!!! REMEMBER? WE ALL HAVE BEEN THERE UNTIL WE CAME TO KNOW JESUS AS LORD. WE ALL CAME FROM WHERE THE OUTCAST CAME FROM. WE WERE ONCE OUTCAST OURSELVES...HAVE YA EVER THOUGHT ON THAT ONE? CHRIST LOVES EVERYONE THE SAME AND HE SHOWS NO FAVORTISM TO ANYONE. WE ARE TO SHOW THEM THE LOVE OF GOD NO MATTER WHAT!!! WE ARE CALLED TO LOVE AND NOT JUDGE! WE ARE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM NOT CAST THEM ASIDE!!! SHOWING COMPASISON AND PUTTING OUR ARMS AROUND THEM AND SHOWING THEM GOD!! IT REALLY BREAKS MY HEART BUT THERE ARE MANY CHRISTIANS LIKE THIS. DID NOT GOD'S WORD TELL US THAT CHARITY (LOVE) IS THE GREATEST OF ALL??? IF ANY LACK THIS GET ON YOUR KNEES AND ASK GOD TO FORGIVE YOU AND LET GOD SHOW YOU HOW TO LOVE LIKE HE DOES.
4. THE NEXT STEP IS THE ANOINTING.- IN 1ST JOHN 2:27 “BUT THE ANOINTING WHICH YE HAVE received OF HIM ABIDETH IN YOU, AND YE NEED NOT THAT ANY MANY TEACH YOU: BUT AS THE SAME ANOINTING TEACHETH YOU OF ALL THINGS, AND IS TRUTH, AND IS NO LIE, AND EVEN AS IT HATH TAUGHT YOU, YE SHALL ABIDE IN HIM.” WITHOUT IT WE ARE NOTHING!!! THE ANOINTING IS VERY PRECIOUS BECAUSE IT IS THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD BEING POURED INTO US. IT'S MORE PRECIOUS THAN ANY GOLD OR SILVER!!! WHEN WE ARE CALLED THE SPIRIT WATERS THAT AND IT BECOMES THE DESIRE AND AS WE GET MORE OF GOD HE BLESSES US WITH HIS COMPASSION AND LOVE FOR OTHERS. IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS THAT TAKES TIME. THE ANOINTING IS VERY POWERFUL AND IT CAN MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE..POSSIBLE!!! PEOPLE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, PEOPLE HEALED OF DISEASES, PEOPLE CAN WALK THAT COULDN'T!!! THE DUMB CAN TALK AND THE DEAF CAN HEAR!!!THE LORD MOVES WHEN WE ALLOW HIM OUT OF HIS BOX!!! OUR CLOSED MINDS ARE CLOSED TO THE POSSIBLITIES OF THE LORD...IT IS A SAD THING BECAUSE WHAT ALL THE DICIPLES DONE IN BIBICAL TIMES WE CAN DO TODAY!!! IT DIDN'T DIE OUT WITH THEM AND IT NEVER WILL!!! WE HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL HIMSELF AND WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN POWER TO DEFEAT HIM!!!! WE LIMIT GOD SO MANY TIMES, WE DON'T LET THE ANOINTING MOVE LIKE IT SHOULD. WE DON'T ALLOW THE LORD TO DO WHAT HE DESIRES, INSTEAD SELF TAKES OVER AND HINDERS THE THINGS OF GOD AND THIS GRIEVES THE HOLY SPIRIT.

1. IT IS SEEN SO MANY TIMES IN CHURCHES I HAVE BEEN TO SOME AND YOU CAN FEEL THE ANOINTING SO THICK BUT IT'S HINDERED BY MAN. AND YOU CAN FEEL THE HOLY SPIRIT BEING SAD AND GRIEVED. THAT' S SAD!!!IF WE LET THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVE LIKE HE WANTS WE WOULD SEE MORE REVIVALS, YOU WOULD SEE MORE OUT BREAKS OF ANOINTING. MORE HEALING SERVICES AND MORE OF GOD INSTEAD OF WHAT MAN HAS TO OFFER.
2. AND FINALLY THERE IS PASSION—MEANING TO STOP AT NOTHING AND HAVE THE MINDSET “ FOR GOD I'LL LIVE AND FOR GOD I'LL DIE”. OUR ATTITUDES CHANGE COMPLETELY. ONLY DOING WHAT GOD WANTS AND DESIRES FOR US!!! TO GO THE DISTANCE NO MATTER THE COST!!! EVEN IF IT MEANS LOSING OUR VERY LIVES FOR OUR FAITH!!! PASSION IS WHAT DRIVES US AND MAKES TO COME TO PASS GOD'S PLANS AND VISIONS FOR OUR VERY LIVES!!! PASSION IS WHAT THE LORD PLACES INTO US TO PUT OUR FAITH AND WORKD INTO ACTUAL REALITY.

WAYS TO PRAISE THE LORD

January 17, 2013 at 7:13pm

Norita Williams                                  

THERE ARE 7 WAYS THAT WE ARE TO PRAISE THE LORD AND IN THIS BIBLE STUDY I WOULD LOVE TO GO INTO DETAIL ON EACH ONE AND TRY AND EXPLAIN ONE OF OUR MAIN AND POWERFUL WEAPONS THAT WE USE AGAINST THE ENEMY. AS A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD WE ARE CALLED AND WE ARE EQUIPED TO DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED EACH ONE OF US TO DO FOR HIM. ONE OF THE MAIN AND MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS TO ALWAYS, ALWAYS PRAISE AND WORSHIP OUR LORD. THERE ARE MANY VERSES IN THE WORD OF GOD THAT WE NEED AND HAVE TO PUT THE LORD FIRST AND FOREMOST IN ANYTHING IN OUR LIVES.

“Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;"Exodus 20:5, KJV"For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:"Exodus 34:14, KJV"For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God."Deuteronomy 4:24, KJV"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,"Deuteronomy 5:9, KJV"(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth."Deuteronomy 6:15, KJV
FROM THE VERY beginning THE LORD LETS US KNOW THAT WE ARE TO ALWAYS PUT HIM FIRST, HE IS A JEALOUS GOD. HE HAS THAT RIGHT BECAUSE HE GAVE EACH ONE OF US THE VERY AIR THAT WE BREATHE.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE LORD COMES FIRST IN ALL THINGS. IN LIFE WE ALL ARE FACING THINGS THAT ARE UNBEARABLE AND WE TEND TO PUSH GOD TO THE SIDE AND TRY TO DO THINGS OUR WAY. IN DOING THIS WE PUSH OUT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN TRULY HELP US IN OUR CIRCUMSTTANCES. THE LORD TELLS US IN 1 Samuel 17:47 (ESV)
“And that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand.”

THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF IT ALL. THERE ARE SO MANY EXAMPLES IN THE BIBLE THAT THE LORD GIVES US TO ENCOURGE US THAT THE BATTLE IS HIS. NOT ONLY THIS BUT HE GIVES US EXAMPLES OF WHAT PRAISE AND WORSHIP DOES. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENS WHEN WE PRAISE AND WORSHIP THE LORD? WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS DOES TO THE ENEMY? LOL THIS MAKES THE ENEMY SO MAD. BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN HIS PLACE BEFORE THE LORD AND HE DOES NOT LIKE IT ONE BIT!!! HERE IS A LITTLE HISTORY OF WHAT TOOK PLACE :


Isaiah 14:12-15
New International Version (NIV)
12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.[a] 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.
ANOTHER PLACE WHERE ITS FOUND:
Revelation 12:7-10) And war broke out in heaven: Mi′cha·el and his angels battled with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels battled 8 but it did not prevail, neither was a place found for them any longer in heaven. 9 So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come to pass the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ, because the accuser of our brothers has been hurled down, who accuses them day and night before our God!


the original Hebrew here is "heyel" which means "morning star".

MORNING STAR MEANING LUCIFER "lucifer" for this word, which means "bringer/bearer of light , HE WAS OVER THE WORSHIP AND PRAISE IN HEAVEN BUT DECIDED TO TRY AND TAKE OVER BECAUSE HE BASICALLY GOT IN HIS HEAD THAT HE WAS BETTER THEN GOD. WHEN IN DOING SO GOT THROWN OUT OF HEAVEN AND CAST DOWN ONTO THE EARTH. WHY DO YOU THINK IT MAKES LUCIFER SO MAD WHEN WE PRAISE GOD? BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT HE CAN NO LONGER BE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD AND PRAISE HIM LIKE HE USE TO. HE GETS MAD AND IN RETURN TRIES TO DISCOURGE US AND SEND THINGS OUR WAY TO TRY AND SHAKE OUR FAITH IN THE LORD. TO MAKE US STUMBLE AND FALL, TO GET OFF TRACK AND TO LOOSE HOPE THAT THE LORD IS RIGHT THERE. THIS IS THE REASON WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP THE LORD AT ALL TIMES. THROUGH ALL THE GOOD AND BAD TIMES, TO ALWAYS LIFT HIM UP NO MATTER WHAT COMES OUR WAY.....
NUMBER 1.
1) Yadah (yaw-daw’) This means to show reverence or praise with extended hands. The word pictures associated with the root words for this type of praise is shooting an arrow or throwing a rock. It literally means to extend the hands, or to shoot and arrow.
Scriptures to reference: Psalm 42:5, Psalm 42:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
The Dedication of The Temple in 2 Chronicles 7



2 Chronicles 7
New International Version (NIV)
2 Chronicles 7 The Dedication of the Temple
1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying,
“He is good; his love endures forever.”
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.
7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the LORD, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions.
8 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the LORD had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel.
The LORD Appears to Solomon
11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, 12 the LORD appeared to him at night and said:
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.
13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.
17 “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, 18 I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’
19 “But if you[a] turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you[b] and go off to serve other gods and worship them, 20 then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. 21 This temple will become a heap of rubble. All[c] who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”
Footnotes:

1. 2 Chronicles 7:19 The Hebrew is plural.
2. 2 Chronicles 7:19 The Hebrew is plural.
3. 2 Chronicles 7:21 See some Septuagint manuscripts, Old Latin, Syriac, Arabic and Targum; Hebrew And though this temple is now so imposing, all

uses this expression of praise (visualize Levites blowing the trumpets and calling everyone to worship and the “praise” that everyone is expressing is through standing and lifted hands).
So when we share this with our people we get them to visualize a small child who wants to be picked up. They extend their hands high above their heads in a sign of surrender and desire to be held. You could also use the image of throwing or shooting your praise outwardly to God instead of holding it in. Have your people lift or extend their hands.

NUMBER 2.
2) Towdah (to-daw’) This word is very similar to yadah, but has a slightly different flavor. It means to show agreement with by extending the right hand. In today’s society the closest thing we have is a handshake to seal a deal or pact. The idea is that it is usually associated with sacrifice (specifically things given up to show thankfulness to God).
Scriptures to reference: Psalm 50:23
Psalm 50:23
New International Version (NIV)
23 Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.”
(the thank offering NIV, KJV uses the phrase praiseth)
When we share this, we get them to visualize offering our thanks to God (and our agreement with His promises) by visualizing the extended hand. You could use a handshake, if so have people imagine they are shaking hands with God. Or you could have people lift their hands (similar to the yadah, but instead of surrender the underlying notion is thankfulness and agreement).

NUMBER 3.
3) Barak (baw-rak’) This flavor of praise is one that we commonly see around altars. It means to kneel down. It means to bow low as a sign of adoration and reverence. It carries with it the idea of humbling yourself to a place that is lower than the recipient of your worship (God).
Scriptures to reference: Psalm 95:6
Psalm 95:6
New International Version (NIV)
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;(expresses this idea literally);
Psalm 103
Psalm 103
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. 21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. 22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul.

(uses the phrase “bless the Lord” to convey this expression)
This one might be the most physically “uncomfortable” expression to have people do, but you can have people stand up and bow or kneel right where they are. I also like to have people think about a royal court of years gone by. Have them answer what would be the first thing you’d do before approaching the throne to have an audience with a king or queen. You would bow low as a sign of reverence and deference to their power. The same applies here: we bow and kneel to outwardly express our awareness of God’s greatness.
4) Tehillah (tel-hil-law’) This type of praise is singing, but not just any type of singing. It’s the singing that bubbles up from our hearts. It’s a spontaneous type of singing. These songs are unrehearsed and unprepared. They are straight to God.
Scriptures to reference: Psalm 22:3
Psalm 22:3
New International Version (NIV)
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. (these are the types of “praises” that God enthrones or inhabits, which is interesting because it’s so specific: God literally lives in the SPONTANEOUS praises of His people!); Psalm 33:1 Psalm 33:1
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 33
1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
(this type of praise is “fitting” for God’s people, or it literally makes them “look good”); When Isaiah talks about trading garments of ashes and mourning for garments of joy and praise, the word praise their literally means SPONTANEOUS praises!) 
This is also a tough one to get people to just do because of the spontaneous nature of it. But you could have everyone on the count of three to stand up and just blurt out a praise to God! That would illustrate it. It would be coordinated, but each person would be “praising” spontaneously.
5) Zamar (zaw-mar’) This literally means to pluck the strings, to celebrate in song and music. Basically it’s probably the most common form of “praise” we have across the world in our churches. It’s just singing songs put to music. What’s neat about it though, is that it can also refer to JUST PLAYING, as well. It is usually translated as “sing praises.”
Scriptures to reference: Psalm 150 (this psalm illustrates a picture of instrumental worship).
Psalm 150
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD.[]
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.

A fun way to illustrate this is to have everyone clap together (playing their five fingered instruments!). There’s not much needed to illustrate this form of praise though, because it is so prevalent in our churches. Our regular Sunday Setlists are filled with ZAMAR.

1. Halal (haw-lal’) This might be one of the most “fun” forms of praise because it requires one to step outside of “dignity” for a moment. It means to be clamorously foolish. To boast. To shine. This is the kind of praise that David exhibited when he danced for joy at the return of the Ark of The Covenant to Israel. It’s also the form of praise that prompted his wife to ridicule him for his lack of dignity. 2 Samuel 6:14-15

New International Version (NIV)
14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

This is also where we get the word Halellujah from. It literally means “Praise the Lord” but even more literally it means to BE CLAMOROUSLY FOOLISH unto the Lord! This includes dancing and laughing and leaping and twirling before the Lord, but it also (and probably more accurately) includes the state of the heart before God. A heart that is turned towards God and not afraid to BOAST in and of God is a “halal” heart. Halal is not only demonstrative praise, but can also be the force behind any of these other forms of praise. You can sing or shout or even play an instrument as a halal.
Scriptures to reference: This word appears over 100 times in the Old Testament. 1 Chronicles 16:4 (there were actual appointed musicians to “halal” before the Lord); Nehemiah 12:24 (an example of call and response halal)
7) Shabach (Shaw-bakh’) Are you ready to get loud? Shabach means to address in a loud tone. It’s typically associated with freedom or triumph. But it’s more than just a loud shout, it’s the idea of putting everything you have into it. An attitude of wholehearted praise.
Scriptures to reference: Psalm 63:3-4 (We typically look at this psalm as soft cry of thirst in a dry place, but the words in these verses literally mean to SHOUT praises!)
This is pretty simple to illustrate. Ask people to stand up and shout a phrase (Hallelujah or Praise the Lord works great) together on the count of three! Encourage them to view it as a wholehearted expression of praise. One of the best comparisons for this is the spontaneous, electric cheers and yells that fans at a sporting event utter when something good happens to their team.

A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS IN
Joshua 6:1-5, 11-16, 20 (NIRV)
1 The gates of Jericho were shut tight and guarded closely because of the people of Israel. No one went out. No one came in.2 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua. He said, “I have handed Jericho over to you. I have also handed its king and its fighting men over to you.3 “March around the city once with all of your fighting men. In fact, do it for six days. 4 Have seven priests get trumpets that are made out of rams’ horns. They must carry them in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times. Have the priests blow the trumpets as you march.5 “You will hear them blow a long blast on the trumpets. When you do, have all of the men give a loud shout. The wall of the city will fall down. Then the whole army will go up to the city. Every man will go straight in.”
11 So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city once. Then the men returned to camp. They spent the night there.12 Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests went and got the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests who were carrying the seven trumpets started out. They marched in front of the ark of the Lord. They blew the trumpets. Some of the fighting men marched ahead of them. The others followed behind the ark and guarded all of them. The priests kept blowing the trumpets.14 On the second day they marched around the city once. Then the men returned to camp. They did all of those things for six days.15 On the seventh day, they got up at sunrise. They marched around the city, just as they had done before. But on that day they went around it seven times.16 On the seventh time around, the priests blew a long blast on the trumpets.Then Joshua gave a command to the men. He said, “Shout! The Lord has given you the city!
20 The priests blew the trumpets. As soon as the fighting men heard the sound, they gave a loud shout. Then the wall fell down.
THEY DID THIS WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT-EVERYTHING THAT WAS INSIDE OF THEM CAME OUT BEFORE THE LORD AND IN DOING SO THE WALLS FELL!!!! WHEN WE PUT GOD FIRST IN ALL THINGS THE WALLS IN OUR OWN LIVES WILL COME CRUMBLING DOWN !!! WHEN WE PRAISE AND WORSHIP THE LORD IT IS LIKE STIKING BLOWS TO THE DEVIL. ONE HIT AFTER ANOTHER WE ARE MADE CONQUORS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!!! BUT REMEMBER IN KNOWING WHAT IT'S ABOUT AND KNOWING WHAT THIS WEAPON IS FOR USE IT GREATLY!!! NOW IN KNOWING THIS WHEN RAISING YOUR HANDS OR SHOUTING DO IT WILL ALL OF YOUR HEART AND BE SINCERE ABOUT IT. IN DOING THIS YOU ARE USING THIS WEAPON THE WAY IT SHOULD BE, WITH POWER AND AUTHOIRTY!!!!!

WEB SITES USED: http://www.theworshipcommunity.com/7-ways-to-praise-a-simple-teaching-on-worship/

BIBLE VERSONS USED: NIRV; NIV;KJV;

Worship: We Get To!!!

December 21, 2012 at 6:55am

Norita Williams 

Psalm 100: 1-5

King James Version (KJV)

100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generatiions.

     WHEN WE PRAY DO WE GIVE GOD PRAISE? DO WE WORSHIP HIM AND GIVE GLORY TO HIS NAME FOR THINGS HE'S DONE IN OUR LIVES AND WILL DO FOR US?

    WE ALL PRAY AND SEEK GOD'S FACE IN SO MANY THINGS IN THIS LIFE. WHETHER IT IS FOR OUR FINANCES, A HEALING IN OUR BODIES AND EVEN BEING DELIVERED FROM THE ENEMY SPIRITUALLY. NO MATTER THE SITUATION WE ALWAYS GO TO GOD FOR EVERYTHING! AND THAT IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING. BUT SOMETIMES WE LOSE SIGHT OF PRAISING GOD JUST TO BE PRAISING GOD. IN:

Exodus 34:14

King James Version (KJV)

14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

    WE DON'T NEED TO EVEN LOOK TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD! ANYTHING THAT WE SET BEFORE GOD IS AN IDOL. AND GOD DOES NOT LIKE THAT. HE IS THE ONE WHO MADE US--HE IS JEALOUS! AND HAS THE RIGHT TO BE. HE IS OUR CREATOR AND THE ONE WHO GIVES US THE VERY AIR THAT WE BREATHE. WE DO NEED TO PRAISE HIM FOR ANOTHER DAY OF LIFE! HE IS WORTHY OF PRAISE AND HONOR. THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD WILL PASS AWAY, BUT GOD, IS ETERNAL AND HE WILL NEVER PASS AWAY!!! WE SHOULD NEVER PUT ANYTHING BEFORE THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!!!

     TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR-LOOK DEEP INTO YOUR OWN EYES AND REFLECT YOUR CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD. ARE YOU CLOSE TO HIM OR ARE YOU FAR AWAY?  ARE YOU SOAKING AND BASKING IN HIS PRESENCE OR JUST SAYING YOUR NEEDS AND THAT'S IT ?

   GOING BACK TO OUR TEXT:

Psalm 100: 1-5

King James Version (KJV)

100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generatiions.

VERSE 1

WE NEED TO MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO GOD! OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND YOUR HEART AND LET GOD HEAR YOU AND FEEL WHAT YOU SAY! HE IS OUT JEHOVIAH JIREH!  IN:

Psalm 145:8-10

King James Version (KJV)

8 The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

9 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

10 All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.

     HE LOVES EACH ONE OF US! THERE IS NOTHING WRONG IN PRAISING THE LORD FOR THE THINGS HE HAS GIVEN US, BUT DONT LET THAT BE YOUR MAIN FOCUS!!! IN EVERY DAY TAKE TIME OUT TO JUST PRAISE THE LORD FOR WHO HE IS--NOT WHAT HE BLESSES US WITH! THOSE ARE THE BENEFITS FROM THE LORD!! OUR BLESSINGS!!! WE PRAISE THE BLESSER NOT THE BLESSING!!!

VERSE 2

   WE GET TO COME BEFORE HIM SINGING. HOW AWESOME IS THAT ???? WE  ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE OLD COVENANT WHERE WE HAD TO HAVE A PRIEST GO BEFORE GOD ON OUR BEHALF. WE ARE UNDER THE NEW COVENANT!!! THE PREIST WOULD ACT AS OUR ADVOCATE TO THE FATHER, BUT CHRIST DIED AND IN DOING SO GAVE US A SANTIFIED ADVOCATE WITH GOD. NO LONGER HAVING TO GO TO CONFESSION BUT WE GO STRAIGHT INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD!!! DO YOU REALIZE HOW SACRED THAT IS ??? WHEN YOU SING TO GOD, BEFORE HI THRONE-THAT'S INTIMATE AND SACRED! PRAISE IS A SPECIAL GIFT THAT SHOULD NEVER BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. REGAURDLESS IF YOU THINK YOU CAN SING WELL OR NOT!! WHEN YOU SING WITH ALL YOUR HEART THATS PRAISE! IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SOUND IN HIS EARS. A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS IN:

2 Samuel 6:14

King James Version (KJV)

14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

     KING DAVID DIDN'T CARE WHO SEEN HIM, HE DANCED AND PRASIED GOD ANYWAY! AND GET THIS, HE DID IT WITH ALL OF HIS MIGHT!!! WOW THAT IS THE WAY WE NEED TO BE..DON'T CARE WHO SEES US OR WHAT WE SOUND LIKE--JUST DOING ALL THINGS FOR THE LORD OUR GOD!!!

VERSE 3

   WE ARE HIS SHEEP!!! AS ALSO IT SAYS IN:

Ezekiel 34:31

King James Version (KJV)

31 And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.

     MEANING WE ARE GOD'S KIDS!!! WE ARE THE CHILDER OF THE MOST HIGH GOD! THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO MAKE EACH ONE OF US SHOUT!!! HE MADE US AND WE ARE HIS! THIS SHOULD ALSO BE ENOUGH TO MAKE US SING AND DANCE BEFORE GOD!

     JUST LIKE OUT EARTHY FATHER--WE LOVE HIM WITH OUR HEARTS. BUT WITH OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WE NOT ONLY LOVE HIM BUT WE PRAISE AND WORSHIP HIM! HE IS GOOD AND GREATLY TO BE PRAISED!!! JUST AS IN:

Ephesians 2:10

King James Version (KJV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

     WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP AND HE HAS ORDAINED THAT WE WALK WITH HIM AND NOT THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD! WE ARE IN THIS WORLD BUT NOT OF IT!!!WE ARE SET APART AND ARE A ELEIT AND CHOSEN PEOPLE. GRAFTED IN BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS!!!

VERSE 4

     ENTERING BEFORE OUT HOLY GOD WITH THANKSGIVING! INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR ANYTHING JUST GIVE HIM THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! FROM THE SMALLEST TO THE GREATEST.--EACH BLESSING--EACH THING--PRAISE HIM!!! BUT ALSO PRAISE HIM FOR BEING HIM!!!

    RAISE UP A NEW LEVEL IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE!--NEW EXPERIENCES WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU PRAISE GOD!! YOU HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING YET!!!

     I HAVE BEEN ASKED BY SOME--HOW CAN I GET CLOSER TO GOD? MY ANSWER IS PRAISE! YOU READ YOUR BIBLE, PRAY AND FAST--DOING THE THINGS YOUR SUPPOSE TO...BUT DON'T FORGET TO PRAISE HIM...WE DIE TO SELF--GETTING RID OF EVERYTHING EXCEPT BECOMING MORE INTIMATE WITH GOD! IN:

Psalm 116:17

King James Version (KJV)

17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.

  WE DIE TO THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD--WE GIVE HIM THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE..NOTHING CAN HOLD A CANDLE TO THE MAGISTY OF GOD'S GRACE AND LOVE FOR EACH ONE OF US!!!

VERSE 5

   GOD'S LOVE ENDURES FOR ALL TIMES!!! HE IS FROM EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING!!! WHY SHOULD WE EVEN BE LOOKING TO THINGS OF THIS WORLD??? THEY ALL WILL PASS AWAY LIKE I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER..GOD LASTS FOREVERING..AND WHEN WE ACCEPT HIM AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR WE WILL TOO!!! IN:

Joshua 6

King James Version (KJV)

6 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.

7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.

8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.

9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.

12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.

17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.

20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

  WOW PRAISE THE LORD!!! THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE LORD'S FAVOR WHEN YOU PRIASE HIM!! THE WALLS COME DOWN IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP!!!

     IN CONCLUSION, WE NEED TO TAKE OUR HEARTS AND PRAYER LIVES TO ANOTHER LEVEL IN GOD...PRAISING THE LORD AND LIFTING UP HIS NAME WILL BRING HEAVEN DOWN TO EARTH!!!

                          GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

PRAISING GOD IN THE MIDST OF YOUR STORM

December 10, 2012 at 6:33am

Norita Williams 

        We all go through things in this life.Trials and things that are unbearable. But, we have the promise of God always being there for each one of us. We are not alone!!! He never said that things of this life was easy and would be like icing on a cake. But He did say that He would take us through storm if He didn't chose to deliver us at that point in time. No matter what we are going through He will never leave nor forsake us!!!
     No matter what the storm is, cancer, finanical, physical or even spiritual. We are not to face the things of this life alone. We are also not to take the battles on by oursleves. We have to call on His name and believe and have the faith that He will take us through the stroms of this life. He is the storm calmer!!

     In Matthew 8:23-27 kjv. The winds and the seas obeyed Him. In our day to day lives we have that promise of the Father!!!

      Throughout the Bible there are incidents after incidents that happened to ordinary people. They PRAISED the Lord in the midst of their storms!!! For example look at Paul and Silas.

Paul and Silas Imprissoned

Acts 16:16kjv.

      Talks about Paul and Silas preaching the gospel and there was a young girl that was possessed with a devil. She brought money to her masters for being a soothsayer. She had followed Paul and Silas around for a couple of days. Saying things like "You are men of God".  Even the devil knows when your in right standing with God!!! Paul finally turned around being grieved in his spirit over this girl. When he turned he cast the devil out of the girl and she was made whole. Which in return made the masters of this girl very angry. Because Paul just took their money maker away. So they took Paul andSilas to the rulers in the market place.

     Acts 16:19-26 kjv.

19. And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,

20. And they brought them to the magistrates, saying, these men, being jews, do exceedingly trouble our city.

21. And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to recieve, neither to observe, being Romans.

22. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.

23. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely;

24. Who, having recieved such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

They were in jail. By now our faith and our hopes would be lost it seems. Where cancer raises its head, where things in our lives try to make themselves bigger than what our God is. That is exactly what the devil wants for us to do. he wants to take our focus and our eyes off of God in these times and place them upon our circumstances. Our "jails". But, in this time we need more than ever to keep our minds and our focus on God and HIM alone!!!He is the only one that can deliver us from what we are facing in this life and make us whole once again.

     Our faith is being streched and it is pulled to where it seems like it is going to break!!! But listen to what happens when we PRAISE GOD!!!!
  VERSE 25-26.
25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisioners heard them.

26. and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed.
PRAISE THE LORD!!!! If that don't make you want to PRIASE THE LORD I don't know what would!!! Not only did God do it for Paul and Silas but He still does it today!!!

Can you imagine:   CANCER HEALED! FINANCES BLESSED-ABUNDANTLY RUNNING OVER! DEMON POSSESSED-DELIVERED! DEAD- RAISED BACK TO LIFE! DEAF- CAN HEAR! MUTE- CAN TALK!
No matter what we are facing or going through in this life He will see us through it! We have that promise! All we have to do is not only believe and have the faith BUT Praise Him for doing it before our deliverance even happens!!!

Praise the Lord in the midst of your storm, He will send help and HE will see you through!!!!!

Releasing the Fire and Expressing God's Heart

December 10, 2012 at 6:27am

Norita Wiilliams

"Releasing the Fire and Expressing God's Heart"

HI AND WELCOME TO ANOINTED BY FIRE MINISTERIES INTERNATIONAL..IM MINISTER / EVANGELIST NORITA WILLIAMS.

AS I WAS GETTING READY FOR THIS SERMON THE LORD LED ME TO PRAYER AND THINGS WE USE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE. WHEN WE PRAY THAT IS OUR CONNECTION BETWEEN US AND GOD. ITS LIKE HAVING A DIRECT LINE INTO HEAVEN WITH NO CALL WAITING!!!

SOME OF US WHEN WE PRAY WE JUST PRAY THINKING THAT MAYBE GOD HEARS US AND IF HE DOES THEN HE MIGHT ANSWER US. OUR THOUGHT AND MINDSETS ARE NOT FULLY ON GOD. AND WHEN WE PRAY THERE IS NO POWER IN THEM!!! IF SOMEONE ASKS..DID YOU PRAY? WE RESPOND YEAH I DID BUT I DONT KNOW IF GOD HEARD ME..

WE ALL HAVE THIS INSIDE OF US—THIS PHRASE WAS TOLD ME NOT TOO LONG AGO AND IT IS SO FITTING FOR THIS SERMON...”KNOWLEDGE IS KNOWTHE WILL OF GOD AND WISDOM IS KNOWING WHEN TO PERFORM IT.”

POWER IN KNOWING WHAT WE ARE TO DO AND POWER IN WISDOM TO KNOW WHEN WE ARE TO DO IT!

THERE ARE 5 MAIN PONITS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING OUT ABOUT WHEN THE DEVIL COMES AT US !!!

1ST POINT:

1.  BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU SAY.

MAKE THE DECISION THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE DEVIL TO CHANGE YOUR CONFESSION OF FAITH—MEANING HAVING FAITH AND TRUSTING GOD WITH WHAT YOU HAD PRAYED.

---EACH ONE OF US HAS BEEN GIVEN A “MUSTARD SEED” OF FAITH—IF WE HAVE THAT MUCH FAITH

AS IN MATTHEW 17:20  “AND JESUS SAID UNTO THEM, BECAUSE OF YOUR UNBELIEF: FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, IF YE HAVE FAITH AS A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED, YE SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN, REMOVE HENCE TO YONDER PLACE; AND IT SHALL REMOVE; AND NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE UNTO YOU.”

SAYS WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!!!-WE HAVE THAT POWER IN BEHIND WHAT WE ARE PRAYING.

---WHEN CHRIST PRAYED FOR OTHERS IN THE BIBLE-HE WOULD SAY ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH YOU ARE MADE WHOLE—THEY HAD THAT FAITH AND EXPECTATIONS THAT JESUS WOULD DO AS HE SAID—HE WOULD HEAL THEM OF THEIR INFIRMITIES. AND IN RETURN DUE TO THEIR FAITH IN JESUS THEY WERE MADE WHOLE.

ONE OF THE EXAMPLES :

IS THE WOMAN WITH THE ISSUE OF BLOOD. AS IN MATT. 9:20-22 SAYS:

Matthew 9:20-22

King James Version (KJV)

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

THIS WOMAN KNEW JESUS WOULD HEAL HER, ALL SHE HAD TO DO IS TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENTS.

---EACH ONE OF US AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER HAVE BEEN IN A SITUATION OR CIRCUMSTANCE THAT HAS BROUGHT ABOUT UNBELIEF OR DOUBT IN OUR LIVES. BUT LISTEN TO THIS, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, AND HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST!

AS IN MARK 9:24 AT THE END OF THAT VERSE SAYS “I BELIEVE MY LORD; HELP MY UNBELIEF.” AND WITH THAT JESUS HEALED THE FATHERS' BOY.

IN HEBREWS 11:1 “NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.”

WITH ALL WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT SO FAR WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT “MUSTARD SEED” FAITH IN ORDER FOR THINGS TO COME TO PASS. A MUSTARD SEED IF YOU WILL LOOK AT IT IS NOT BIG AT ALL. GOD BRINGS OUT BIG THINGS THROUGH THAT SMALL PORTION OF FAITH!!!

2ND POINT:

A. RESIST THE DEVIL WITH THE WORDS OF YOUR MOUTH!- THERE IS POWER IN THE WORDS THAT WE SAY—WHETHER WE REALIZE IT OR NOT-IT CAN BE EITHER GOOD OR BAD-BUT, WHEN WE SPEAK WE ALSO BRING THINGS INTO EXISTANCE. THERE IS POWER IN OUR TONGUES!!!

AS IN HEBREWS 4:12 “FOR THE WORD OF THE LORD IS QUICK, POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THEN ANY TWO EDGED SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVIDING ASUNDER OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, AND THE JOINTS AND MORROW, AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART.”

ITS A DOUBLE EDGDE SWORD AND IT CUTS BOTH SIDES...GOOD OR BAD.

B. WITH OUR TONGUES WE PRAISE THE LORD AND IN THE SAME BREATH WE CURSE MEN, WHO ARE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD. IT CAN BE AN EVIL TOOL TO USE-IT RULES THE BODY, IT RULES NATIONS AND IT STARTS WARS.

And they bend their tongue, [as it were] their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Jehovah. ~ Jeremiah 9:3

Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words, ~ Psalms 64:3

IT CAN ALSO BE AN EDIFYING TOOL. LIFTING UP GOD AND ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER THOUGH DIFFICULT TIMES IN OUR LIVES. THAT IS WHY ITS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO BRING OUR TONGUES UNDER SUBMISSION.

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

- Psalms 35:28

3RD POINT:

THE POWER IN FASTING:

A.   AS NEW CHRISTIANS WE DRINK THE MILK OF THE WORD- MEANING WE ARE LEARNING HOW TO STUDY AND GRASP THINGS. AS WE MATURE IN THE WORD AND AS A CHRISTIAN WE START “CHEWING” THE MEAT OF THE WORD—WE'RE GROWING AND LEARNING STEP BY STEP THE THINGS WE ARE TO DO—WHILE YOU ARE FASTING YOU EAT THE WORD OF GOD—ITS FOOD FOR YOUR SOUL.

B.   IN FASTING YOU ARE PRAYING AND STUDING AND BRINGING YOUR BODY UNDER SUBJECTION TO GOD. YOUR LAYING DOWN SELF AND TAKING ON MORE GODLY THINGS. GETTING MORE IN TUNE WITH THE LORD AND GROWING CLOSER TO HIM IN THE PROCESS. THEN AND ONLY THEN IS THE TIME HE CAN USE US. WHEN WE LAY IT ALL DOWN AND SAY HERE LORD USE ME AND MOLD ME TO WHAT YOU SEE FIT. ITS NOT MY WILL LORD BUT YOURS.

THINK ABOUT THIS ONE: EVEN THOUGH CHRIST WAS GOD HE WAS ALSO MAN-AND HE EVEN FASTED FOR 40 DAYS-BRINGING FLESH UNDER THE WILL OF GOD.

ALSO WHEN YOU FAST ITS GETTING GOD'S ATTENTION!!! IT REALLY PUTS WHEELS ON YOUR PRAYER LIFE.

4TH POINT:

BEING SENCERE AND HUMBLE IN OUT WALK.

WHY WOULD YOU THINK BEING HUMBLE IS SO IMPORTANT? ITS ONLY WHEN HE CAN USE US. HE DONT LIKE FOR US TO BE PRIDEFUL AND PUFFED UP PEOPLE. BECAUSE HE CANT USE THEM. THEY WONT LISTEN TO HIM WHEN HE TELLS THEM THINGS. BUT WHEN WE HUMBLE OURSELVES AND SEEK HIS FACE THROUGH PRAYER AND FASTING, WE ARE THEN TEACHABLE AND HE IS ABLE TO TALK TO US AND USE US. HE HAS YOUR ATTENTION WHEN YOU ARE HUMBLE BEFORE HIM.

BEING SENCERE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. IF WE JUST TALK WE JUST SAY WORDS WITH OUT ANY FEELINGS. BUT WHEN WE ARE SERIOUS AND TRULY MEAN WHAT WE SAY, IT TOUCHS HIS HEART AND HE DELIGHTS IN US.

5TH POINT:

PRAYING THE WORDS OF GOD.

A. WE CAN PRAY AND PRAY BUT WHAT BRINGS LIFE INTO OUR PRAYER IS PRAYING GOD'S WORD. HIS PROMISES TO US.

B.  IN  IT SAYS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL. WE DONT HAVE TO STAY THE WAY WE ARE BY NO MEANS. GOD HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY OVER ANYTHING THE DEVIL THROWS AT US. WE TRAMPLE OVER HIM-HE IS UNDER OUR FEET!!! WE ALREADY HAVE THE VICTORY!!!

1. WE HAVE WEAPONS OF WARFARE AND WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO USE THEM ABAINST THE ENEMY. AS IN     NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US WILL PROSPER! WE USE OUR COMPLETE ARMOR AS IN EPHESIANS 6 SAYS. WE ALSO USE THE POWER OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP.

IN CONCLUSION, WE DEFEAT THE ENEMY SPIRITUALLY NOT CARNALLY. WE EACH HAVE BEEN GIVEN POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER THE DEVIL. WE DON'T HAVE TO STAND BACK AND LET THE DEVIL TAKE OVER AND RULE US, WE RULE OVER HIM BECAUSE OF THE LORD THATS INSIDE OF US!!! WE HAVE THE VICTORY!!! WE ARE WARRIORS DRESSED FOR BATTLE, AND THE WAY WE FIGHT THIS BATTLE IS ON OUR KNEES!!!

GOD BLESS!!!