I was praying for one of our church members who was recovering from leg surgery. I prayed like I always have, “Lord, heal her leg in Jesus name.” Immediately I heard the words, “Why are you asking me to do something I already did?” It was obvious to me that her leg was not heal so what was the Lord saying?

I then was reminded of time when I was much younger in the Lord. I remembered praying for the Lord to save my husband. As soon as I said, “Lord save him” I heard the words, “He’s already saved.” Immediately I dismissed those words and repeated, “Lord save him.” Once again I heard the words, “He is saved.” Again I ignored that still small voice and repeated a third time, “ Lord save him.” The same answer came back, “He is saved.” I responded with, “If he’s save, why don’t he act like it?" My husband never acknowledge he was saved. Three times I heard, He’s is saved, and yet evidence showed other wise. But, I knew the Lord had spoken to me, but how could my husband be saved?

1Peter 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit,”

I asked the Lord what did He mean when He said, that he was saved? The Lord revealed to me that He died once for all humanity. He saved humanity, but they can either accept or reject what Jesus did for them at Calvary. Jesus wasn’t going to die again to save humanity. I realized I needed to change how I was praying. Instead of praying that he would be saved, I prayed he would receive salvation that was purchased for him with a great price, Jesus life.

The Lord then said to me, “When you do deliverance, do you ask the demons to leave, or command them to leave in my name? I replied, "I command them to leave in Jesus name." I knew the authority I had as a deliverance minister. The Lord was showing me that healing was no different. Why was I asking the Lord to heal someone when he already did that? Mark 16:17-18 “ And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Mark 16:17-18 says,”These signs shall follow them that believe.” It doesn’t say, that if it is God’s will to heal, or cast out devils. Nor does it say we should ask and cry to God.

James 5:14-15 “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;”

“They that believe” in Mark 16:17 and the verse “The prayer of faith” in James 5:15 is a key to walking in the authority we have through Jesus Christ.
I have come to realize my faith is limited; it is based on my personal experiences.

Once I have over come an obstacle or trial and saw what Christ did through that situation my faith increased. However, I am convince that the faith we must have isn’t our faith to believe because of our ability to be challenged in a situation, but rather the Faith in the one (Jesus) who over-came death, sin, sickness, etc.

The faith I must have is not faith in myself to do it, but faith in the one who accomplished, finished, and triumph in every area of our lives. Do I have faith, do I believe in what Christ did, and will I stand on that belief?"

 John 19:28-30 "28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. It is time to believe the report of the Lord, and to walk in the AUTHORITY we have in Jesus name.

“Who hath believed our report?”

Isaiah 53:1 says, “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?”
Jesus revealed to Nicodemus what man must do in order to see or plainly put, enter the kingdom of God. Eventually Nicodemus did believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and why Jesus, not sacrificial animal offerings was the only way to redeem mankind.
John 3:1-3 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus himself said, “Except a man (woman) be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Mankind cannot enter heaven on religious traditions or good deeds.
Nicodemus was a good man, a leader in the Jewish religious sector, a Pharisee. He kept the traditions of the Jewish people. Yet, Jesus told Nicodemus you must be born again or you will not see the Kingdom of God.
Why is it so important to be born again or saved? Why, because the other alternative is hell and damnation.
I am reminded of a story of a farmer who was told by an old evangelist that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, left His kingdom in heaven and came to earth as a man to save humanity from eternal damnation. The farmer could not understand the reason why the Son of God, would have to be born of a virgin, become a man, and die for our sins on a cross that we might be saved. Why was this the only way to save humanity?
One day the farmer noticed a storm brewing, so he hurried to put his animals in a secure barn. When the farmer attempted to rally the ducks into the barn they scattered in different directions. The sky now filled with a foreboding darkness, the hollowing wind picked up indiscriminative objects scattering them in different directions. The farmer frantically yelled to his ducks to follow him. Couldn’t they see the danger, didn’t they understand he was there to save them from ultimate destruction. He knew he had to do something, but what?  He yelled at them, running frantically toward them, as they seem to quacked in unison “Go away.” The ducks escapes the farmer futile attempts and pleas to following him to a place of safety from the emanate danger. As the farmer wondered what to do, it hit him, he remembered what an old evangelist had told him, about the Son of God.
The only way he could reach these ducks, and save them, was to become one of them, and show them the way. He stooped down almost in a fetal position, flapping his arms, and quacking like a duck, as he headed for the barn. The ducks quickly followed suit, and were saved.
Jesus had to be born of the flesh, so we could be born again of the spirit. He had to come in the form of man, take our sins upon himself at the cross, to show man the way back to our Heavenly Father and away from eternal damnation, because of sin.
Sin, is like the perfect storm, reaping havoc wherever it is, destroying lives, and souls. Like the duck we think we are ok, when we really are headed in the wrong direction.
Isaiah 53: 5-6 says “5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Sin separates us from God. Although God is a loving and merciful God, he is also a Righteous and Holy God. He has made provisions for us to be reconciled back to him since the fall of man (Adam) through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
John 1:10-13 “10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Isaiah 53:1 “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” What does it mean to believe?
I like the way the Amplified version expounds of the word BELIEVE; for it clearly puts the word believe in a clearer perspective. To believe means to adhere to, trust and rely on Jesus and the word of God.
Amplified says “12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—“
To believe means to put into practice what the word of God says. It is one thing to hear the word, and another to obey it.
 A person born again has been Born Again of the spirit. Christians are those who have a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, they have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as Savior, and Lord.
John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 14:6 6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
No other religions speak of a need to be set free from our sins. They only speak of doing good deeds to feel good about our selves. These so call religions or cults offer no solution for sin, just restitution, while our sins are magnified and out of control in our lives. The bible speaks of a Divine God, who created man and women in His image, and placed them in paradise. In a perfect environment Adam and Eve chose to disobey God, and sinned. Now we who live in an imperfect environment can choose to live righteous because of Jesus Christ.
Satan and hell is not a symbol, both are real. We can believe it doesn’t exist but that doesn’t make it so. Isaiah 5:14 says, “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”
Hell is not a symbol, but a real place of torment and punishment for the Devil, and all those who choose to follow him, instead of following Jesus Christ.
Do you want to gamble with your soul and hope I’m wrong? Death is not the end, for your spirit lives for eternity, either in heaven or hell according to the choice you make. Eternity is too long to make the wrong choice.
If you want to receive the gift of eternal life and be set free from the bondages of sin, fear and torment then pray:
Heavenly Father I acknowledge my sins before you. I believe your son Jesus Christ paid the full price on the cross for all of my sins. I ask you to forgive me of my sins, cleanse, and deliver me from all my iniquities and strongholds. I ask Jesus Christ to come to my heart and life. I acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. I ask to receive the Holy Spirit who will equip and teach me the word of God, and lead me in the path of righteousness. I ask this in the Name Of Jesus Christ.

Unbelieving Believers

It is sad that we have the liberty to preach the gospel in American without persecution, but we do not really preach the gospel. However, we do preach and teach on prosperity, love, and grace, and never get to the real reason Jesus Christ came to earth and died for us. We are afraid to confront sin; afraid of offending or losing members so we walk around the root problem facing America and our Churches, SIN. We our sending people to hell with a smile, and a hug, while our church continues to physically grow and financially prosper with unbelieving believers. We pride ourselves of being a “seeker friendly” church; and the devil prides him self in the fact that hell has enlarged its borders.


According to the ABCNEWS/Beliefnet poll, Eighty-three percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. Thirty-seven percent of all Christians describe themselves as born-again or evangelical.

According to Barna Group survey 80% of Americans say they are Christian, 45% call themselves Born Again Christians.

What this tell us is according to both the ABCNEWS/Beliefnet poll and Barna survey the actual Christians in America is really only about thirty- seven to forty-five percent. If you are Born Again you are a Christian according to the scriptures. If you are not born again then you are not a Christian.

Born Again Believers are those who have a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as Savior. The larger percentage that is not born again identifies them selves as Christians based on their parent’s church affiliation, attending a church of their choice or because they believe that God, and Jesus exist. They have not confess there sins nor repented of them. They do not know what born again means, or what the crucifixation was all about.

This is one reason Americans who consider themselves to be Christian have a diverse set of beliefs – but many of those beliefs are contradictory or, at least, inconsistent with the scriptures. This is because they are not Christians. They identify with the word Christian but not with what is written in the Word of God (bible).

The word Christian comes from the Greek word christianos which is derived from the word christos or Christ, which means "anointed one." A Christian, then, is someone who is a follower of Christ. A follower is one who follows (lives) according to the doctrine (bible) of Jesus Christ. The first use of the word "Christian" in the Bible is found in Acts 11:26, "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."

Most Americans who call themselves Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit exist according to the Barna survey.
                                                                                                                                                     
Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective. A minority of Christians indicated that they believe Satan is real by disagreeing with the statement: one-quarter (26%) disagreed strongly and about one-tenth (9%) disagreed somewhat. The remaining 8% were not sure what they believe about the existence of Satan.

Much like their perceptions of Satan, most Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living force, either. Overall, 38% strongly agreed and 20% agreed somewhat that the Holy Spirit is “a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.” Just one-third of Christians disagreed that the Holy Spirit is not a living force (9% disagreed somewhat, 25% disagreed strongly) while 9% were not sure.

Yet the scriptures says differently than the opinions of 58% non believing believers. The Holy Spirit is crucial to our growth and development as a born again Christian. John 14:26 says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

What does this survey show us? That most people in America call themselves Christians, but do not have knowledge of what the bible says a Christian or born again believer means. Why? They do not read the bible, which is obvious by their lack of knowledge about the Holy Spirit and Satan. However, the stark reality is most Americans who claim to be Christians are not taught from the pulpit the truth about the good news; the gospel, which includes repentance for our sins, salvation though Jesus Christ, a relationship with our Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit, and sanctification.

Those Americans who identify with being a Christian, have no clue what born again means even based on the two different surveys. Perhaps it is because they believe in God, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but that’s as far as their beliefs go. This alone doesn’t make you a Christian.

James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” He knows the Word of God, better than most of us, and he has experience heavenly things that we have not, but the devil is not a Christian and definitely he is not saved.

There are many that say they are Christians, who are not. So whether we flippantly use the word Christians, or non-believing believers we must be born again according to the scriptures…To be Continued

One Nation Under God?

In 1982 while preaching the Lord interrupted me. I can honestly say I have no clue what I was preaching on, but I do remember what the Lord said to me. He said, “Truly there are some sitting here which will not taste death until they see the coming of the Lord.” I knew the Lord was speaking about the end times and his second coming. I scaled the room looking to see whom it could possibly be that the Lord was speaking about. My eyes locked unto my children who were very young at the time. Could the Lord be speaking about them I wondered?  Perhaps they will see the coming of the Lord. Thirty-five years has past since than. I’m beginning to realize that I too just might witness the Lord’s return.

Let’s take a walk through historical founding of this country and where we as a nation is destined.
We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.

This country was founded of Christian principles. The fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence, fifty-two of them were Christians. God wanted a nation that would provoke His chosen people, the Jewish people, to jealousy. Only two nations, Israel and America served the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and have the same messiah (Jesus). How far back in history does God’s plan for America goes, much further back than 1776?

Christopher Columbus knew the world was round not flat during a time when people mocked and scorned him for believing such a ridiculous notion. But, Christopher knew what the Word of God says. Isaiah 40:22 “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.” Perhaps it was Job 22:14 that convince Columbus, “Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.”

Columbus set out in 1492 to discover the 'New World, Columbus wasn’t just looking for a new trade root, but a New Jerusalem (America). Unfortunately he chose ungodly men (sailors) to do a godly task, and was side tracked by greed and power. The very traps the devil uses today to sidetrack godly men and women.

God would still have a country, one nation under God even if He had to ignite the fire and fan the flames of revival through the Great Awakening that would reach and encompass America. The First Great Awakening was a spiritual revival that began in the 1730s and continued through 1743. Thirty-three years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1740, the Anglican revivalist, George Whitefield visited New England (America), the middle colonies, and the southern colonies, fanning into a great flame the smoldering embers of spiritual revival.

George Whitefield became friends with Benjamin Franklin. The result of revival
efforts by Edwards, Whitefield, and others were the First Great Awakening, which provided a Christian moral code. For this reason, the Signers of the Declaration would emphasize “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,”

With the influence of the First Great Awakening upon the rise of the Revolution, it stands to reason that the motto of the American Revolution became, “No king, but King Jesus!”

The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and appointed a committee of five men to work on a draft of the declaration. The committee consisted of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The committee is known today as The Committee Of Five.

Thomas Jefferson was delegated by the committee to write the Declaration although John Adams and Benjamin Franklin made many revisions before it was finally submitted to Congress on June 28, 1776.

The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776 and signed by the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock.

So the main reason why we celebrate the Declaration of Independence on the fourth of July is because that was the day it was adopted by the colonies and essentially the day that the United States of America was born. That was the day in history that the United States became a free and independent state from England.

At first glance the Declaration of Independence is just a piece of paper. A closer glance reveals it is a symbol of what America stands for and a commitment to certain godly ideas. It is a symbol of fifty-six brave men, willing to die for treason for what they believed. By signing their names they were willing to lay down their lives for their convictions and unwavering faith.

They regarded King George as having violated numerous biblical standards of human government. Has America now become like its mother country (Britain), following the same mistakes that the colonist were willing to lay down their lives to change.

They opposed taxation without representation, no legal rights or a fair justice system when it came to the law. King George III and Parliament passing various acts and proclamations to strongly bind the chains of England on the American Colonists. There was no freedom of religion or speech. No separation of state and religion.

The Declaration of Independence is a moral document and laid the foundation for the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
•  The Laws of Nature, and of Nature’s God.
• “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal”.
•“That they are endowed by their Creator”.

The forefathers believed in the Creator and in a supreme being having more than just a “say” in how the government should be run. They knew without a doubt that God had intended men to be free.

Thomas Jefferson is regarded as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and for this reason, secularist have believed that to depict Jefferson as anti-Christian would ensure their efforts to characterize the American Revolution as a “godless” secular effort. But in fact, Jefferson claimed to be a Christian. In a letter to his friend and fellow Founding Father, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Jefferson affirmed his faith:

“To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian”

Benjamin Franklin requested that prayer be offered in political gatherings.

Just as the Constitution of the United States was born out of the context of Christianity, so the Declaration of Independence was conceived and birthed within the context of Christianity!

Pledge of allegiance to the flag of America was a part of our school policy.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

On June 14, 1954, President Eisenhower signed the bill into law, adding under God to distinguish this country from any other country, saying,

“From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty…. In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons, which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource, in peace or in war.”

God Almighty blessed this country and made it a great nation. Even our currency says, “In God We Trust”. Which God? Our Creator, the one and only God, for there is only one Creator.
“That they are endowed by their Creator”. But, can a nation change its God?
 …to be continued

Walls Of Salvation and Gates Of Praise

Nehemiah 1:1-3 says, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, the remnant that is left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”

Nehemiah was the King of Persia cupbearer, Artaxerxes who stayed at the palace in Shushan. Shushan, or Susa, was the ordinary residence of the Persian kings. "The palace" or acropolis was a distinct quarter of the city, occupying an artificial eminence.
In order to understand Nehemiah’s calling one must know about Ezra’s calling. Ezra was a comtempory of Nehemiah. In the seventh year of Artaxerxes (458 B.C.) the Babylonian Jews requested that permission should be given to the priest Ezra to visit Palestine, with full power over the Jews there, and to enforce the book of the Law (Torah) as the will of the king. Ezra took a strong measure against mixed marriages, (Samaritans) which caused a conflict with the Samaritans and their allies. Many of the Samaritans had intermarried with the Jewish people and wanted to adopt Israel’s God, with their gods (Idol).

Ezra the Priest had to stop ministering the Word of God to build up the walls and gates, which had been burned down. With the walls and gates burned down it gave the enemy a huge advantage to afflict, and torment God’s people. Whenever God is working the enemy is their attempting to hinder, and stop God’s purpose in being fulfilled. The enemy (Devil) is not interested in anything that is not effective to the kingdom of God. Religion doesn’t bother him, however Salvation, Praise, and Deliverance do.
Isaiah 60:18 says, “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.” Many of God’s people today are unable to receive the Word of God because they’re cracks in their walls, and the gates are broken.
If sin is found in our walls and despair and unbelief at our gates we are open to the enemy’s attacks. Many today are unable to receive the Word of God, because of the cracks in their walls and broken gates. In order to stop the verbal and physical attacks of Israel’s enemies they had to rebuild the walls and fix the gates. So it is in the body of Christ.

Ezra realized that in order for the people to know and live the word of God they needed the walls to be fortified against the enemy. To protect themselves against their enemies, Ezra undertook to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. However, the Samaritans and their governor, Rehum wrote a letter to the King stating the danger of refortification. The Samaritans were triumph and the walls were torn down and the gates were burnt.

Eph.6: 12 say, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
It would take several years before another man who was led by the Lord would come and supernaturally finish what Ezra started. A delay doesn’t mean no from the Lord, it simply means regroup, wait for God’s directive, even if it takes awhile. He is preparing the way for you to finish what He has started

A Changed Heart

Scripture says that Samuel anointed Saul to be the first King of Israel; there would be no question or doubt in Saul’s mind before the day was over that God had chose him to be king (1Samuel 10). The Prophet Samuel spoke to Saul of all that would occur to him that day, which God confirmed. It was spoken through the prophets, but confirmed by God. All that Samuel and the prophets said, was a confirmation of what God would do. Today we have people (prophets) speaking over people “Thus saith the Lord” things that neither glorify God, nor confirm His word or plans for that person. Some people have a unique way of knowing everything about a person, including their address and personal affairs. But, if you listen closely, God is not mentioned, nor his plans for that person revealed. You may ask, well if it wasn’t God, how could they know so much about the person? It is called a familiar spirit.

Saul was given a revelation and impartation from God. God was calling Saul into the kingship, not man. The Israelites wanted a man instead of God to rule over them. But, God chose the vessel, not man. No matter how weak and fearful the vessel is, God can work with that, God loves challenges, but he cannot work through disobedience.

1Samuel 10:9 says, “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him (Saul) another heart;” What did Saul do? Scripture says he went back home, doing what he always did (1Sam. 10:14-16). Saul hid from his destiny, like so many of God’s people do (1Sam.10:21-22). God knew where Saul was hiding and He known’s exactly where you are physically and spiritually, and where you need to be. He will always give you the choice to follow Him or your personal pursuit. Your life reflects whom you serve God, or mammon.

Saul needed more than a change of heart. God would have to bring a change in Saul’s character. First, Saul would have to get over the fear of man, and gain a reverential fear of God (1Sam. 15:24). Having an understanding of God’s ways does not always lead to obeying Him. Only God can change our hearts, but we can change God’s plan for our life by the choices we make, Saul was a prime example of this. He never got over the fear of man. If Saul had feared God, the fear of man would have been over-come. Saul spent most of his life pursuing David instead of God. Why? Saul pursued David because he feared David. He fear David would reign in his stead. Instead of Saul allowing God to reign in his life, an evil spirit tormented him all his life. If he would have asked the Lord to release him from the fear of man and a tormented spirit things could have been different for Saul.

When we become born again, we have a new heart. Like Saul our heart has been change. That change should reflect in our lifestyle, attitude, desires, love, and passive for God and His Word. We should be following in our Savior’s footsteps so to say. However, acknowledging Christ as Savior, but not Lord brings very little change in our lives, especially in our character. Saul’s heart was changed, but he chose to continue to do what he wanted to do. There are many in the Body of Christ today who remain stagnant and unchanged in their character and behavior, like Saul they are unwilling to obey God, which brings change in our lives.  Unfortunately also like Saul they follow the Lord half-heartedly instead of whole-heartedly, and their lives reflect the fruits of their disobediences.

The Lord will give you a new heart, but we have a choice to obey him or not. God found a man after his own heart, David. God is still looking for a person, whose heart is right toward Him, that he might show himself strong in their behalf.

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”

Iniquities of our fathers

Exodus 34:7 says, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”

The Lord forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. God also makes it clear that the iniquities of the fathers are passed from children to the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.

Iniquity: Root word—twisted, bent, depravity, and perversity.Iniquity is a practiced sin that twists its way into the heart and bloodline of a person. Iniquities don’t just affect one person but passes from one generation to another in the family bloodline.

Isaiah 59:10 “We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night: we are in desolate places as dead men.” Why are they stumbling like the blind? Verse twelve says, “For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us: and as for our iniquities, we know them.”

Clearly we see that transgressions and iniquities are not the same thing. They are two different stages of sin.  All iniquities are passed down the family bloodline to the third or fourth generation. How does a sin become an iniquity? The best way to answer this question is with a scenario.

Jon was a habitual liar. We know that lying is a sin, and we have all been guilty of it at one time or another. Most people lie to cover up the truth. They don’t want the truth exposed for whatever reason. However, a person like Jon lies to build him or herself up. They want people to accept them by telling them things that are not true. After a while they may even believe that the lies they are telling are truer than fabricated. Usually you will see evidence of this behavior starting in this person’s childhood. Jon, like so many others I have met, will not admit they are lying even when confronted with evidence to the contrary. Why? They can’t because what we perceive as a simple sin is an iniquity and a part of their nature or personality. That iniquity has been passed down the bloodline.

I couldn’t understand why Jon lied until I became acquainted with his mother, Lynn. Jon’s mother Lynn would lie about different things, and when confronted about the lie, she would deny that she lied or minimize the lie. I then realized that Jon lied because it was generational.How did lying become an iniquity? Let’s say Lynn’s father Bill lied about something as a child. Granted most children do lie, but Bill’s mother loves Bill, and Bill could do no wrong in her eyes. Instead of Bill’s mother disciplinning Bill as a child, she defended him and justified his actions. Bill learned at an early age that lying works to his advantage.

Bill grows up and becomes a successful business owner and eventually marries Lou Ann. Bill is not honest in his business dealings. Eventually, the lying has spilled over into Bill’s personal life and marriage. Bill wants to be honest with his wife but finds it’s harder and harder to be honest in their relationship. What was a sin in Bill’s life as a child, has now become a transgression or a stronghold. Bill’s marriage is in jeopardy, but he continues to tell lies.  Bill’s wife is not like his mother. She does not minimize or justify his behavior. Bill wonders what’s the big deal, in his mind he was protecting his wife from being hurt or being concerned. What’s the big deal right? It’s only a little white lie! That white lie, which is a stronghold (transgression), has turned into an iniquity that has twisted and bent itself into the bloodline. Bill’s daughter Lynn, and his grandson Jon have inherited this iniquity.                                      

Remember iniquity is a practiced sin that twists its way into the heart and bloodline of a person. Iniquities don’t just affect one person, but passes from one generation to another in the family bloodline. In each generation, the iniquity becomes stronger and more depraved then the generation before.                                                                        

Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…”Jesus became the sin offering for humanity. If we repent for our iniquities and those of our ancestors, Christ has made the provision for us to be redeemed from those curses due to sin. In other words, God covered all the bases. If we confess and repent of ours sins or iniquities we are forgiven. The iniquity can be revoked over us, and our family bloodline.

Excerpt from the book “REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE” by R.A. Vukovich    

The Prodigal Son (Letting Go Part 4 conclusion)

Read Luke 15:21-24

Scripture says, that the prodigal son returned home and repented for the sins he committed against heaven (Heavenly Father) and his earthly father (Man). He was not only forgiven, but also restored in the family. That family represents the Kingdom of God, and the Body of Christ. The prodigal son is given the birth right of the first-born. God doesn’t have you start over to prove your faithfulness, nor does he punish you, after you repented.

Verse 25 says, “Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.” He asked one of the servant’s what was going on. The servant tells him that his brother has come home safely, and his father has killed the best calf for this joyous occasion.

Verse 28 says, “And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.” Instead on the eldest son being happy, he is angry. He is angry not because of the transfer of the birthright from the eldest to the youngest. Why is he angry? He is angry because there is no punishment, no stepping down from the prodigal’s position or title, no proving his sincerity by taking a leave of absent from ministry. There is no standing before the family, elders, or congregation to confess his sins and expose his shame. The prodigal is left in the hands of his father, who doesn’t point the finger at him, but with open arms he embraced him, and forgave him. Isn’t that what our heavenly father did for us? Isn’t that what he expects us to do for others? To forgive, embrace, and restore them back into the family of God. What it really boils down to isn’t protocol, but jealousy. The eldest is jealous of the treatment and attention given to someone who is unworthy. None of us can earn or is worthy of salvation. None of us can stand on our own merits or self-works. Jesus Christ alone paid the price for our salvation.

Father’s Love
God the Father sought us and called us, we did not initiate our own calling into the Kingdom of Heaven (John 6:44). Here the Father gives the son what he does not deserve (called grace) and withholds what he actually did deserve (judgment). The father showed mercy.

Who Does the Eldest Son Represent?

Luke 15: 29-30 says, “And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.”

The eldest son represents the religious leaders. The eldest makes a point of letting the obvious be known by saying; “thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots.”  Religious (not spiritual) people see the speck in others people, but not the beam in their own eyes. They can find fault in a tree. They found fault in a sinless Savior because Jesus didn’t do things their way. He came against their traditions and legalism. The religious leaders saw their rewards due for their works. They didn’t understand that they can bring nothing to the plan of salvation and if they try to earn it, they do not understand how God saves and that it is Jesus’ righteousness alone that accounts them worthy.  No human works can ever earn salvation.

Luke 15:31-32, the father tells the oldest son why he is rejoicing: “’my son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

What I don’t understand is why the eldest son isn’t upset because of the transference of the first-born inheritance, which was given to the youngest son? This would have upset me more than the prodigal spending his inheritance on riotous living. The fact that he afterwards receives my (eldest) inheritance seems unfair.

In the Old Testament, the firstborn son was the one who normally received a double inheritance, and was the one who would inherit his father’s role as head of the family. God sometimes reversed this order, as he did with Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:21-26), and as Jacob later did with Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:13-22). Reuben was the firstborn of Jacob, but his rights as the firstborn were taken away because of his sin (Genesis 35:22; 49:34). However, besides Reuben or Esau the other people mentioned including the eldest son didn’t sin, so why the transference of the double inheritance to the youngest?

Rom. 8:29 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be, conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

I didn’t understand why the father did this until I read Romans 8:29 and Isaiah 53:8 which says “He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken”

Jesus was the first-born son. He died and didn’t receive the birthright (double portion), however we did. We received the birthright because of Jesus, who was crucified for us. We now are sons and daughters of God, who is our Heavenly Father, and we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We have received the promises, blessings, and birthright of the first-born. Isaiah says, “Who shall declare his (Jesus) generation?” The answer is clear we shall declare it!

Forgiveness would be empty without restoration. If you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior then you have found favor with the Father. The best robe (Robe Of Righteousness) has been placed upon you, a demonstration of the Father's complete approval of you and love and protection for you. A ring has been put on your hand representing the riches you have in Christ, authority you have been given in the name of Jesus and installation into the office of king and priest to God. Sandals have been put on your feet affirming son-ship and all of its benefits.