VERSE OF THE DAY!

The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
—1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
What do you have that is forever? Most of everything we have falls apart, breaks, or runs down in a short time. But we have three things that last forever: God, our Christian friends, and our praise of God. These are eternal.

My Prayer...
God, I look forward to the day of your next great surprise. I join the angels in standing on tiptoe as I look to the clouds to see my Lord and your Son return in glory and receive the welcome and honor he deserves. I praise you for that day now, even though I only see it by faith. Until I see you on that day, please know my heart's desire is to serve you, even when my weakness gets in my way of showing it as fully as I should. I offer you my sincerest thanks and praise in Jesus' name. Amen.

MOSCATO MEATBALL SKEWERS

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 32 meatballs

Serving Size: 3 meatballs

Ingredients
2 pounds bulk spicy Italian sausage

1/2 cup Gallo Family Vineyards Red Moscato

1 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup diced cucumber

1 lemon

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Parmesan cheese, optional


Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, stir together sausage and moscato until combined.

Using a medium cookie scoop, form meatballs and place on baking sheet, evenly spaced.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until no longer pink.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together all other ingredients to create yogurt sauce.

Thread meatballs onto skewers and serve alongside yogurt sauce. Garnish with additional cilantro and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

PRACTICAL TEACHING & STUDIES FROM THE WORD OF GOD

A Love Relationship With Jesus

Today I was driving down the road, and God said to me, "Do you know how Valentines Day is coming up?"

I said, "Yes Father, I know."

He said, "Do you know how powerful and strong and passionate the relationship between a man and a woman can be?"

I said, "Yes!!!"

He said, "That's the kind of relationship I want with my people!"

I had some love songs on in the car, including "The Power of Love"... one of my favorites! It was as if He said to me, "I want you to listen to those songs and sing them... not because of your love for another person, but because of your love for me, and my love for you."

I did... and tears starting coming down my face!

Then Un-chained Melody came on... another one of my favorites... and I wept almost the whole way home as I thought of my Father's great love for me!!

During my time in the Bible last night, the Lord also reminded me of a Bible verse that shows us clearly that our relationship with God is supposed to be a deep and passionate love relationship! Take a look at Ephesians 5:25-32...

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

You know how passionate a deep love relationship between a man and a woman can be? They would do ANYTHING for each other... they would even DIE for each other... their love is so strong that NOTHING can keep them apart! That kind of a love relationship doesn't begin to describe how deep and powerful and passionate our love relationship with God is supposed to be!

Did you know that even BEFORE we were reconciled with our heavenly Father, He loved us so much that even death didn't stand in the way of Him trying to reconcile with us? That's right! We aren't loved for what we've done, but for who we are! As Romans 5:8 tells us:

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

I have a challenge for you today... go turn on some powerful and passionate (and clean) love songs, and then sing along, and instead of thinking about another person, think about your love relationship with your heavenly Father... think of His love relationship with you! For example, turn on the Un-chained Melody, an old classic passionate love song, and picture it as if your heavenly Father is singing it to you. When you do... be sure to listen to the words and let them sink in as you're singing along!

I am warning you... have a big box of tissues handy... you'll need them!!

Ephesians 3:17-19 clearly shows us that in order to experience the fullness of God in our lives, we MUST come to know how deep and passionate His love for us really is!

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God."

I remember reading a powerful life-changing testimony one time, where the Lord kept telling the person, "Love is the most powerful force in the universe."

Now I'm not trying to say that we are to have a 'romantic' or sensual relationship with God, as in only unique to a relationship between a man and a woman, but what I am saying is that God wants a very lively, passionate, and intimate love relationship with us each day of our lives! If husband and wife can love each other so much that their love serves as a driving force that would cause either of them to give their lives for one another... shouldn't our relationship with God exceed that? Should not our relationship with God be greater than any earthly relationship we could ever have? Jesus wanted to have this kind of a relationship so much with you that He gave His life for it!!

Later on in the day, I was thinking about how powerful a love relationship can be between a married couple who are very passionate and in love with one another. Because their love for each other is so deep and passionate, it serves an extremely power driving force, that they would do nearly anything for each other, including give up their own lives for one another!

VERSE OF THE DAY!

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
—Psalm 56:4

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
One of the powerful things about having a Bible, a repository of God's words, is that its age and varied countries and cultures remind us how enduring God's truth actually is. Yet it is God in whom we put our trust! His enduring presence through cultures, centuries, and countries reminds us that eternity is outside our grasp but the Eternal One holds us in his.

My Prayer...
O Great and Eternal God, thank you that your are more stable than the ground on which I stand, more enduring than the mountain peaks I admire, and more constant than the waves upon the oceans that I love. I trust my life and my future and soul with you. I want to please you in the way I live. I want my life to be marked by consistent faithfulness to you. In the name of Jesus I ask this prayer. Amen.

Chocolate Chip Banana Pancakes

Makes 12 large pancakes (263 calories each)

-3 cups flour
-2 tbsp. sugar
-1 tsp. cinnamon
-4 tsp. baking powder
-2.5 cups 2% milk
-3 medium bananas, mashed
-2 eggs, lightly beaten
-2 tsp. vanilla bean paste
-1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli)
-a handful of chocolate chips for sprinkling (optional – not included in calorie count)
-coconut oil or butter for greasing your griddle/pan

Sift together the flour, sugar, cinnamon and baking powder in a large bowl

Whisk together milk, mashed banana, eggs and vanilla bean paste in a medium bowl

Stir the wet mixture into the dry until just combined

Fold in the chocolate chips

Ladle the pancake batter onto a griddle (350 degrees F) lightly greased with coconut oil (or butter) with a 1/2 cup measure to make sure your pancakes are all the right size.

Flip when bubbles start to form on the surface of the cakes and the bottoms are golden brown (about 3-5 minutes on each side)

While the pancakes are still warm, you can sprinkle some chocolate chips over the top and let them soften a little before serving.

VERSE OF THE DAY!

But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children — with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
—Psalm 103:17-18

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Forever love is talked about in dime store novels, but this kind of love is only found in God. We tap that reservoir of eternal and divine love through the Holy Spirit who helps us both receive it and share it (Romans 5:5). The Lord asks us to share his love and righteousness with the generations that come after us. We do this by remembering what the Lord has promised to us and by obeying what the Lord called us to do so that future generations can see and know the greatness and graciousness of our magnificent God.

My Prayer...
O God of glory and grace thank you for your promises, your covenants, and your love. May I live in such a way that others, especially those who come after me in my family, know that your love is from everlasting to everlasting. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

PRACTICAL TEACHING & STUDIES FROM THE WORD OF GOD

Spiritual Warfare: Tear Down Strongholds

I think too many people make strongholds out to be a complex subject. Strongholds are merely incorrect thinking patterns. They are patterns in our minds that are programmed to think contrary to the truth.

For example, a common scenario is where a person feels dirty, guilty and is shameful of their past. They are so used to thinking about their past, that it's driven the person to think and feel like a failure! They feel unworthy to have a close intimate relationship with God, which greatly affects their spiritual strength, faith, and relationship with Him. No wonder Satan tries to build such strongholds in our minds!

So how does Satan build these strongholds?
He starts by reminding us of our past failures and sins. He brings up things that we ought not to be dwelling upon, and tries to make us agree with him on how badly we failed. We then have the choice to listen and agree with him, or listen to God's Word (which is telling us that those sins have been washed away). If we take the devil's bait and begin to mediate on our failures, it will begin to pull us down spiritually and strongholds will develop. We will begin to see ourselves as failures because we've taken the bait and chose to meditate on a lie that the devil has fed us!

It is also not uncommon to find a person who picks up a demonic spirit through sin (such as fornication), and that demon uses it's newly gained rights (or ability) in the person's mind to quickly build strongholds. Since the demon is able to influence the person from the inside now, it can get the job done much quicker. This is not an uncommon scenario! Not only does the demonic spirit(s) need to be driven out, but the stronghold also needs to be torn down before the person will experience a complete breakthrough.

Strongholds can and do play a big part of how we feel
If we think we are a failure, we will feel like failures. If you think you're hopeless, you will feel hopeless. If you know you are forgiven, you'll feel clean inside. If you constantly think of your past failures, you will see yourself as associated with them. If you constantly think of how you have been separated from your past when the Blood of Jesus has washed it away, you will feel bright and clean inside. Changing the way you think can make a big difference in the way you feel!

How do we tear down strongholds?
Strongholds are build upon deception and lies that we've accepted into our minds. So how do you counter a lie? How do you counter deception? With the truth. Where do we find the truth? In the Word of God. As we can see in Ephesians, this weapon is known as the sword of the Spirit:

Ephesians 6:17, "...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

In 2 Corinthians, we are told that our spiritual weaponry is designed to tear down strongholds:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

This is a great verse that gives us a good idea of how we are to go about tearing down strongholds in our minds. First, since the sword of the Spirit is the offensive piece of our weaponry, it is a great tool for tearing down strongholds. You need to go on the offensive to tear down a stronghold, and the Word of God is the weapon you cannot afford not to use.

So when the devil tries to tell us, "You really messed up, haven't you?"

You need to counter it with, "1 John 3:5 tells me that the reason Jesus went to the cross was to take away that sin! Hebrews 8:12 tells me that even God has chosen to forget my sin!"

Boy does Satan hate that! It reminds him of the days when he tried tempting Jesus:

Satan said to Jesus, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." (Matthew 4:3)

But Jesus replied with, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

What did Satan do? After Jesus did that a few times, he had no choice but to hit the road... his efforts were useless against Jesus! Jesus knew the relevant scriptures to quote, and took away Satan's ability to influence Him!

Let's go back to 2 Corinthians again and see what else it has to say:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

As we can see, we are told to cast down imaginations. What are imaginations? They are things that we imagine... the devil usually plants them in our minds when he asks us a question that starts out with "What if..." Don't waste your time trying to reason things with the devil. Just throw it out and leave him hanging! Get your mind on God's Word and off of what the devil is trying to tell you.

What else are we told in this verse? We are to cast down every thought that comes into our minds that opposes the knowledge of God. What is the knowledge of God? Since God associates Himself with His Word (John 1:1), if anything comes into our minds that is contrary to God's Word, throw it out! Do not waste your time thinking about it or trying to reason with it. If Satan is trying to tell you that God is not wanting to forgive you, then don't listen to it. Why? Because His Word says otherwise:

Isaiah 30:18, "Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you." (NASB)

Not only does He want to forgive your sins, so that your relationship with Him can be restored, He longs (which means He deeply desires) to do so! One of the last things Satan wants us to know is God's forgiving and loving nature towards us even after we have messed up!

As you can see, strongholds are built on lies and deception. How do you counter such things? With truth! Where do you find truth? In the Word of God! Stop thinking about what Satan has been feeding you, and begin to meditate on God's Word. Take verses in the Bible that run contrary to what the devil's been feeding you, and repeat them to yourself over and over out loud. Think about them often, and meditate on them. The devil got his stronghold built by causing you to meditate on his lies and deception, so if you want to tear down that stronghold, you need to begin meditating on the exact opposite, which is God's Word.

Listening to and reasoning with the things the devil puts in your mind is exactly what he wants you to do. It feed his strongholds when you allow your mind to meditate on Satan's word (opposite of God's Word). Cut him off at the source and say NO to the garbage he's been feeding you, and at the same time turn to God's Word. Begin to feed, meditate upon, think about often and dwell upon on the truth. It will stop Satan dead in his tracks!

It is also possible to have strongholds in place because demonic spirits have attached themselves to you at some point or another, and need to be driven out. If you work hard at tearing down strongholds by applying the truths in God's Word and this teaching, and yet you seem to hit a wall, it may be because a demonic spirit needs to be driven out. It is very possible (and not uncommon) to experience quite a bit of freedom through applying the principals in this teaching even if there is a demonic spirit present, but you will only go so far and feel like you're hitting a wall. That is a sign of a demon at work that needs to be driven out. It can be awfully hard to battle when they are working on you from the inside out. Resisting them from the outside is easy, but resisting them when they are on the inside can be extremely hard. If you seem to have reached an immovable mountain, you might want to consider the possibility of needing to have an unclean spirit driven out.

Many Christians today believe that they cannot have demons... nothing could be further from the truth! When you're in the ministry of deliverance, you see very sincere believers manifest demons quite often. I was one myself... a very sincere believer who dearly loved the Lord... and yet I faced awful demonic bondages and have been through deliverance!

ROSEMARY CITRUS SHRIMP TACOS

Flour tortillas topped with the crunch of fresh vegetables as well as sauteed shrimp.  These Rosemary Citrus Shrimp Tacos are not only the most flavorful tacos you've ever made, but the only ones that you’ve taken just 15 minutes to prepare.

This is one of those recipes – and really, recipe is a really loose term here – that will take you longer to prep the vegetables than to actually cook the shrimp.  If you can use a knife to cut peppers into strips and avocados into slices, you've pretty much got this main course mastered!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound shrimp, peeled and de-veined and tails removed

12.4 ounces Robert Rothschild Farm Rosemary Citrus & Pepper Sauce

8 flour tortillas

8-1/2 ounces fresh cole slaw mix

1 red pepper, cut into strips

1 yellow pepper, cut into strips

1 avocado, sliced

Instructions

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for two minutes until pink.

Flip shrimp and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until shrimp is pink and flesh is opaque.

Stir in 1 cup of Rosemary Citrus & Pepper Sauce and warm through. Remove from heat.

Assemble tacos by topping a tortilla with coleslaw, pepper strips, avocado slices and shrimp.

Top with additional Rosemary Citrus & Pepper Sauce, if desired.

VERSE OF THE DAY!

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
—Romans 12:15

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
We are not alone. God has given us each other to live our lives for him and get us back home to him. Along the way, we want to share each others burdens, soar on each others joys, and love each others hurts. There is no such thing as a solo Christian.

My Prayer...
Loving Father, lead me to the people today who need their burdens lifted and their joys shared. Let me be your presence in the world of your children today. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen.

RIP MAYA ANGELOU

Her knowledge, wisdom and inspirational poems have impacted me personally

In her honor..

I will be posting her poems and quotes on my blog all next month.

Mango-Banana Breakfast Smoothies

Ingredients
1 medium banana
1 mango, peeled and cubed
1 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
¾ cup unsweetened coconut milk
2 tbsp raw honey or sweetener of choice
1 tbsp chia seeds
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp ground allspice
1 cup of ice
Sprinkle of flaked sweetened coconut

Instructions
1- Add all ingredients (except flaked coconut) to a blender.
2- Blend until smooth.
3- Pour into glasses.
4- Garnish with flaked coconut (optional).
5- Enjoy!

VERSE OF THE DAY!

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.
—Acts 20:24

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
How important is grace? Paul said that telling about that grace was more important to him than his life! In fact, that was his life after his conversion to Jesus!

My Prayer...
Almighty God, Holy Father, thank you for your lavish grace demonstrated and fully expressed in sending Jesus to die for me. As your child, and in thanks to your sacrificial gift, I pledge to you my life, my love, and my all. Through Jesus. Amen.

STRAWBERRIES!

PRACTICAL TEACHING & STUDIES FROM THE WORD OF GOD

Keys to Biblical Faith

Faith is trusting in God. Lack of faith is doubting God. The Lord has shown me three things concerning Biblical faith. When you combine these three elements, we can operate in mountain moving faith!

In Mark 9, there was a boy that had an unclean spirit, such a strong unclean spirit that even Jesus' disciples couldn't cast him out. They were regular deliverance pastors going about casting out demons on regular bases, but for some reason, when they reached this case, they were unable to cast it out:

Mark 9:17-18, "And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not."

Now Jesus had given His disciples authority over all powers of the enemy, so they clearly did not lack authority to drive out that unclean spirit:

Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

So what did these disciples lack? Clearly they didn't lack authority! What they lacked was faith in their authority:

Mark 9:19, "He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me."

Now in Matthew 17, this story is also told, and when they asked Jesus why they were unable to cast out the spirit, He told them flat out... they lacked faith!

Matthew 17:19-20, "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 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."

We need to stop wavering and start taking God for His Word and lay hold of His promises! If He said we shall cast out demons, then it means He's given us the ability to drive out those evil spirits! If He's said we have a right to be healed in Jesus' name, then we have that right, and we ought to start trusting Him and believing it!

Christian faith is basically taking God for His Word and believing the promises He's made.

Faith key #1: Knowledge brings faith
Knowledge of the truth (in God's Word) brings faith. Faith is believing something, thus requiring something to believe. The new age movement believes that we can 'believe things into existence', which is not the same kind of faith that us believers should have. Our faith is based upon the truth in God's Word. Thus, knowing what God's Word has to say about something gives us the ability to believe it. Our faith should be based upon God's Word.

Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

For example, how can you have faith to pray for a healing, believing that He will heal you, if you didn't know it was God's will for your healing? This is why Satan works so hard to tell the church today that it may not be God's will for them to be healed! Why? Because it casts doubt, the opposite of faith, upon the hearts of God's children! How can you lay hold of the promises of God, if you don't know what they are? We must first know the truth, then believe it. That's Biblical faith!

Mark 9:23, "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

In the verse above, the word believeth means to trust. Jesus was in essence telling His disciples that all things (referring to the promises of God) are possible for them who will trust God for them (believe).

How can you believe something that nobody told you? You can't. That's why it's important to know what the Word of God has to say, so that we can believe it. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing God's Word:

Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Faith key #2: Faith and a pure conscience
One time the Lord spoke to me about the connection between a clean conscience and faith. He told me clearly that you must KNOW you are clean spiritually, because your faith depends on it. How can you confidently approach God, when your conscience is dirty? The truth is, you can't!

Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

We need to have a true heart of full assurance of faith and washed clean from an evil conscience.

If you struggle with a guilty conscience, then you owe it to yourself to read the teaching on Dealing with Guilt.

Faith key #3: Faith works through love
The third key to operating in faith is to be rooted and grounded in love so that your faith will operate through love. The Bible tells us clearly that all believers should be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, if we want to experience the fullness of God, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. When we are grounded in the love of Christ,

Ephesians 3:16-20, "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us."

We are told to put on the breastplate of faith and love... the two go together like hand and glove!

1 Thessalonians 5:8, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation."

As we walk in the Spirit, the love of Christ will begin to flow through us, and will give birth to much faith. Among the fruit of the Spirit, we find both faith and love:

Galatians 5:22-33, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

When the love of Christ is flowing through us, it brings fourth much faith. God's Word tells us clearly that faith works through love.

Galatians 5:6, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."

A great hindrance to faith
One of the greatest hindrances to faith is strongholds. If we see something wrongly, we can have a very difficult time believing God for something. For example, if you see God has a cruel and distant God who wants you to be sick and poor, how can you believe that it's His will to heal and bless you? Strongholds can be devastating to our faith!

VERSE OF THE DAY!

God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
—John 3:17

Thoughts on Today's Verse...
How do you view God? Is he someone looking for a way to condemn you? Is he an out of touch old man who doesn't really know what it's like in our modern world? Is he too holy to soil himself with the concerns of mere mortals and has left it up to us to work everything out for ourselves? No. NO. NO! God chose to enter our world and experience it from the side of mortality. God chose to enter our world, not to condemn us, or it, but to redeem it and each of us. Jesus is the great reminder that God longs to save us, not condemn us. Thank God for God! Thank God for Jesus who was and is God with us.

My Prayer...
Holy and Heavenly God, thank you that you live with those of us who are contrite and repentant and who long for your presence. You know we are only mortal, but you love us. You know that we are flawed, but you redeemed us. You know that we are not perfect, but sent Jesus as the perfect sacrifice to save us. Thank you. Through my Savior I offer my sincerest gratitude and praise. Amen.

BEACH DAY!

PRACTICAL TEACHING & STUDIES FROM THE WORD OF GOD

The Dangers of Rebellion

Rebellion is an open door to demonic bondage
Rebellion is an open door to the demonic in a person's life. The Bible strictly warns us against rebellion, and it's consequences are not to be taken lightly. God's Word tells us that rebellion is in the same category of sin as witchcraft itself:

1 Samuel 15:23, "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft..."

The word witchcraft above is translated back to the Greek word qesem, which not only includes literal witchcraft itself, but also divination. Both of these practices are highly demonic. I believe it is clear in the following verse that those who practice true divination have a demonic spirit:

Acts 16:16, "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying."

Now let me ask you this: Is witchcraft an open door to the demonic in a person's life? If so, why wouldn't rebellion also be an open door, being that God put both of them in the same category?

God's Word even comes out more clearly and tells us that a cruel messenger will be sent against the rebellious:

Proverbs 17:11, "An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him."

Who is this cruel messenger? I believe it's the same kind of messenger that is spoken of in Matthew 18:34-35 when speaking of turning the unforgiving person over to tormenters:

Matthew 18:34-35, "And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

Rebellion cuts a person off from God
God's Word is clear that rebellion is a great way to find yourself in dry land spiritually:

Psalms 68:6, "...the rebellious dwell in a dry land."

It is bad enough to be rebellious, but anybody who curses their father or mother shall come under a curse, and find themselves in obscure darkness:

Proverbs 20:20, "Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness."

The Bible is clear that a man who is rebellious, is a man who's heart is not right with God:

Psalms 78:8, "And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God."

God's Word is clear that judgment will come upon the rebellious:

Ezekiel 3:26, "And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house."

This reminds me of the demons that Jesus cast out of people which caused them to be dumb (unable to speak)!

God has also shown me that rebellion shuts a person's ears from being able to hear God when He tries to speak to them. The following verse also makes this clear:

Ezekiel 12:2, "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house."

In the above verse, it is important to notice how it also emphasizes that rebellious house has eyes, but cannot see. Rebellion allows the god of this world (which is Satan, whom works through his network of demonic spirits) to blind our spiritual eyes. When our spiritual eyesight is blinded, our discernment suffers greatly. This is a dangerous position for anybody to be in.

2 Corinthians 4:4, "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

Isaiah 30 addresses rebellion

1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! (The rebellious run to the ungodly for advise, counseling and support)

3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

4 For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.

5 They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

6 The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come forever and ever.

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potter's vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a shard to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

17 One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.

Forsake rebellion today!
If you have been rebellious, then stop! Forsake your rebellion and turn to the Lord. Repent of thy ways, that ye shall receive mercy. Rebellion is an open door to demonic spirits in a person's life. God's Word warns us that rebellion darkens your spiritual eyesight (discernment), and it deafens your ears to hear God's voice.