Trust in Jesus!

As Christians, we are instructed in the Bible to walk by faith, and not by sight!

Whereas children seem to do this by nature, and thus Jesus said that unless we become as children, ourselves, in this respect, then we won’t experience, and nor will we enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 18:3).

The truth is, it seems the older we get, the less resilient we are to change; and the more we have been beat up by life, and have suffered because of it, the less likely we are to trust others… and this all too often even includes God.

What Oswald Chambers is saying here, about letting go of our perceived rights and trust God to make a decision for us, reminds me of the story of the man who was mountain climbing, using only his hands, and as he had scaled up the side of this precipice, and was many 100’s of feet up in the air, he lost his grip and slipped.

Fortunate enough, he was able to reach out and grab a hold of a branch that was protruding from the side of the rock; or else if he hadn’t, he would have fallen to certain death!

Not being a religious man, and not having developed a relationship with God yet, like many of us, before we we were saved, he only prayed when he got into trouble.

These being one of those times, with him now literally hanging between life and death, and with no one else is around… in his desperation, he cries out to God for help!

He says God, “Are you there?“

And God says, “Yes, I am here.“

He then yells, “God can you help me?“

To which God says, “Yes, I can help you.“

“What must I do?“, said the man.

God said…. “Let go!“

To which the man responded… “Is there anyone else up there?“

Sometimes, this is the case with many of us, where we find ourselves in positions where we don’t know what to do or where to turn; and God is telling us also to “Let go, and let God!“

There is no easy way to do this, other than to just let go, and trust God to keep His word.

We are told in 1 John 5:14: “This is the confidence we have: that if we ask anything according to his will, then we know that he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—in whatever we ask—then we know that we have what we have asked of him.”

We first need to base our faith upon some promise in God’s Word, and then we have to trust Him to bring it to pass.

As long as we continue to sit on the fence of indecision, we are then double-minded, and James says let not that man think that he will receive anything from God. Selah

Sufficient to say, this faith walk is easier said than done… and so it pays for us to learn to faithe (or to trust God) in the smaller trials, before we are faced with something more serious… that sometimes can mean the difference between life and death!

As Andrae’ Crouch put it: “Through it All, I learned to Trust in Jesus!” Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland

God’s solution to whatever troubles you today, to whatever battles you are fighting; and that’s regardless of whatever you may be feeling is keeping you separated from God.

Know this, God has not left you; and the reason you can know that this is true is because God has promised us, in His Word, that He will never leave us, nor forsake us; but the truth is, there are times when we may have left Him, and have sought after other things.

God’s solution is clear, and this applies to all of us… return to your FIRST LOVE!

Remember from whence you have come; when you first began, in your walk with the Lord, and return to that simple childlike faith again, that is all trusting and expecting.

Have a sense of expectancy about yourself, in your relationship with your Abba Father, as you base your confidence on the promises of His Word; and begin today to put into practice Psalms 100:4, and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

We must go on the offensive, in our battle strategy, and not always be retreating, and allowing the enemy to keep us up against the ropes, in our battles; in the fears and doubts that he has put upon us.

Don’t let these fiery darts of fear and doubt take root in your thinking; and do not meditate upon them, and don’t give place to them in your life!

Stop meditating on your circumstances and problems, and the hopelessness of it all, as you see it with the eyes of your understanding; and instead, begin today… by turning to your Bible, and find a promise of God that deals with your situation, and begin to see those things, and begin to speak of those things that are not yet visible in the natural, through the eyes of your faith (as you place your faith in God’s Word); and begin, today and right now, to see and speak of those things that are not, as though they are!

Let us do as Abraham did, who is our example, who is called the father of faith; and let us learn from him, and do as he did, when he was given a promise by God that was impossible in the natural.

Taking our cue from father Abraham, here’s our God given battle plan:

Romans 4:16-25 (Amplified Bible)

¹⁶Therefore, [inheriting] the promise is the outcome of faith and depends [entirely] on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants–not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is [thus] the father of us all.

¹⁷As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed.^(A)

¹⁸[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be.^(B)

¹⁹He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah’s [deadened] womb.^(C)

²⁰No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, ²¹Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised.

²²That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

²³But [the words], It was credited to him, were written not for his sake alone,

²⁴But [they were written] for our sakes too. [Righteousness, standing acceptable to God] will be granted and credited to us also who believe in (trust in, adhere to, and rely on) God, Who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

²⁵Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our ^[a]acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God]. Selah

So today, take up the Sword of the Spirit, and prepare yourself for battle; and put on your entire battle armor that you may be prepared for what awaits you in the battles you will face today.

The Bible says that we are more than conquerors through Christ, who loves us; through the work and the battles that He has already fought for us, and better yet, has already won for us!

The enemy is already defeated, and God has taken from him any ability to do us arm; but he plays a pretty good bluffing game; and we must be prepared… for the battleground begins in our mind, in our perception, in our attitude, and our understanding!

That’s why we are told in Proverbs 3:6 to “Trust in the Lord with ALL our heart, and lean NOT upon our own understanding!”

Then we are told, after having done that, begin to acknowledge Him in ALL of your ways, and then He will direct your path!

The enemy has no power over us, but such as we give to him; and we may defeat him as long as we will stand in faith, in that Name that is above all names, in the Name of Jesus Christ; and in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Let us begin today to lay hold of His promises, and apply them to our situations, our problems, and our trials.

This is the strategy which God has ordained for us; and if we are not following His instructions, as found in the Bible, then it is we who must change!

That change starts with our repenting, which means literally to change the why we think!

So go forth into your day today, with the knowledge of who you are, in Christ; and who it is that you represent; even as Jesus said that: “All power is available to Him, in heaven and in earth,” so we are to go forth in His name, and in His POWER… to do the work He has called us to do!”

Remembering always that His banner over us is LOVE!

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Homer Owen [mailto:homer-owen@sbcglobal.net]

Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 4:00 AM
To: Skip Barland
Subject: Overwhelmed

This time, spoken of in the Bible, when the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse is unleashed upon the earth, is fast approaching!

I find it very interesting that the above preface, by John A. MacMillan, was written back in 1932; and how this description of the church and of the world, as it existed in the thirties, is certainly even more accurate today, in our time!

Things have gotten much worse, in the world, and in particular here in the United States, where the godlessness of our society at large, and the secularization of our society, and even the church, as a whole, has reached critical mass.

This book is actually two books in one. The first covers our position in Christ and the authority of the Believer; and the second part deals with the nature of the enemy and of the demonic, and the authority we have over that demonic world, as Believers, in Christ.

I believe that we are fast approaching a time, very soon when the fabric of our time continuum, our dimension, and that of the middle realm; also called the “Second Heaven,” which is the realm of Satan and of his demons, will be breached; and I believe this could very possibly happen as the result of a scientific accident, and an experiment that has gone very badly wrong.

However, once that door is opened, into this demonic world of Satan, the Bible says that it will unleash upon the earth a very nightmarish experience, which we can read about in the Book of Revelation.

So my question is, could all of this begin as the result of a scientific accident, where an attempt is made to open that portal door, into the next dimension, into the middle realm of the spirit, and that it all goes badly wrong; and once the door is opened, we then begin the last three and half years of the tribulation period, at which point, at its conclusion, only God will be able to put a stop to it, and save the world from mass inhalation, and the lost all life?

As we open the Book of Revelation, and as we begin reading in the ninth chapter, we find it speaks of the worse holocaust this world has ever experienced; where millions of believers will be killed by a very godless society, and of a secularized government of which I believe we can see the beginnings of today, in this Obama administration, that is if it is left to continue along it’s chosen path; and certainly if not, it is a prelude to it.

This government, which is spoken of here, will lead the world into a One World Government, that will ultimately be governed by the Antichrist, where he will insist that the first loyalty of all the people in the earth, be to the state; and this Antichrist figure will demand total allegiance to himself, where by everyone will be required to accept his mark in either their forehead or right hand; or the Bible says that they will not be able to buy and sell, or carry on any sort of commerce.

In fact he will do what our government today, under this Obama administration is attempting to do, and that is he will demand that all people look to the government as their source, and as their great provider and protector, and not to God; and then all of this will begin the last three year and half years, of what the Bible calls the seven years of tribulation.

Once the bottomless pit is open, which is the pit of the abyss, as it is referred to in the Greek, once this portal is breached, we will have opened a door leading to the place of punishment for sinners, which is also called the abyss; which is a place considered by the Orthodox Jews to be a great hollow place, that is found deep within the earth.

It is a place, or I would call it even possibly a dimension, where evil spirits and demons are kept, and some in chains; that the Bible says will be unleashed upon the earth in the Last Days.

We are told that this Abyss is locked, so that whoever or whatever is on the inside cannot escape; until as the Bible says, the angel opens it; and then it says that there is smoke that arises up out of it; smoke like that of a great furnace, that is so heavy and thick that the light of the sun is darkened.

So my question is again, could all of this begin as an experiment that has gone a rye?

I think so… I don’t know, and I can’t say for sure, but this is my guess.

We shall see.

Shalom,

Skip Barland

The media provides the lens through which we both interpret and see life, and it has the power to manipulate and direct the culture of every society!

In the world we live in today, we are all faced with stresses and even sometimes traumas to our psyche, (our souls) that have affected our perspective and our general outlook on life. Truly we all are the product of our past, in whatever that past may be; and for some that past has been worse, then it has for others.

Add to this the vicarious nature of the human mind to enter into and adapt itself to the various external stimuli that is available to us today, in our modern technological age, through our various kinds of media, through such things as the news, various parts of our entertainment industry, through movies, virtual reality type games, and such; and you have a formula that can either be used for good, or for evil… in that whichever is glorified, in either good or evil, that is being portrayed and exemplified through the media, it has the power to affect our disposition and our vicarious nature as people, and to actually program our minds and mental disposition in one direction, or another.

So you take our life experiences, together with the various and sundry external stimuli that has been, in the past, and is currently available to us, through these various forms of media, that we have allowed to influence us, and depending on what the nature and substance of that media has been, either for good or for evil, it has had the inevitable ability, not only to affect who we are, but also it effects our general disposition and outlook, as sentient beings.

This can be a formula for either disaster, or for good… depending on the sort of programming that we have experienced, and have allowed to have an influence on our life; and it’s our past life experiences, together with whatever those influences have been, in whatever sort of external stimuli we have allowed, that we have given our minds to, and have meditated upon, and all of this together will have a determination as to who we are, and how we relate to our world, and also to our families, and friends around us.

Truly, we are warn in the Bible:

“To guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it comes the issues of life.”

The Message Bible puts it this way:

Proverbs 4

Your Life Is at Stake

^1-2 Listen, friends, to some fatherly advice; sit up and take notice so you’ll know how to live.
I’m giving you good counsel; don’t let it go in one ear and out the other.

^3-9 When I was a boy at my father’s knee, the pride and joy of my mother, He would sit me down and drill me:
“Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!

Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!
Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!
Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you.
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it; never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
She’ll garland your life with grace, she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”

^10-15 Dear friend, take my advice; it will add years to your life.
I’m writing out clear directions to Wisdom Way, I’m drawing a map to Righteous Road.
I don’t want you ending up in blind alleys, or wasting time making wrong turns.
Hold tight to good advice; don’t relax your grip.

Guard it well—your life is at stake!
Don’t take Wicked Bypass; don’t so much as set foot on that road.
Stay clear of it; give it a wide berth.  Make a detour and be on your way.

^16-17 Evil people are restless unless they’re making trouble; They can’t get a good night’s sleep
unless they’ve made life miserable for somebody. Perversity is their food and drink,
violence their drug of choice.

^18-19 The ways of right-living people glow with light;  the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker— travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.

Learn It by Heart

^20-22 Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times.
Concentrate! Learn it by heart! Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they’re bursting with health.

^23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left; leave evil in the dust.

Below is an excellent message that was sent to me today, by Francis Frangipane, along these lines, that tells us what the answer is, in order to get us on the right track; and I’m passing it along to you.

Live long and prosper, as the man said… and have a nice day! 🙂

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Sheneau
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 1:22 AM
To: Undisclosed
Subject: Cease Striving and Know That I Am God (Worth the time to read – Sheneau)

The Apostle Paul

He was a Pharisee; he was trained and grew up under the influence of the most prominent law teacher in his time named Gamaliel. (Acts 22:3) But after the Apostle Paul got saved and was converted near Damascus, since then, his goal was to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. · He said this, “I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but dung that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:8). · And so after living by this goal in his life he said this, “BUT I HAVE ALL, AND ABOUND, I AM FULL…!” (Philippians 4:18) · He also said this, “…as having nothing and yet POSSESING ALL THINGS…” (II Corinthians 6:10). · Moreover he said this, “I think myself HAPPY…” (Acts 26:2). · Near the end of his life he said this, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith!” (II Timothy 4:7)

Below I’ve included a devotion by David Wilkerson, entitled: Where are the Timothys?

As I read it, it became very clear to me that there aren’t very many like Paul today, that’s for sure.

This is not only a problem in the church, but it is also a very serious problem in our government as well.

We have way too many Indians; where nobody wants to serve anymore, and everyone wants to be a chief!

In many churches today, the position of Pastor has become more like that of a CEO of a corporation, where they see themselves as being served; where the goal is more to insulated themselves from their sheep, by middle management staff, rather than to serve them.

How different is that from the example that Jesus gave, who was God incarnate, and yet humbled Himself to perform the lowliest job possible, which was to washed the feet of His disciples, and then how about when He told them, “…to go and do likewise;” or how about when He said, “The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven would be the least.”

In fact the very word that is used in the New Testament for Minister, (diakoneo, in Greek) means to serve,orwait upon.

This sort of problem also exists in our government today, as well, where the term “Public Service” has become an oxymoron.

It is more than obvious that so many of our politicians today see themselves as anything but servants; but rather, more times than not today, these political positions, within our government, have become more about personal greed and lust for more power and influence, where it’s more about advancing one’s career and position, rather than it is to do what’s right, and best for the general public.

This is what is confusing to me… this behavior that is so prevalent in the world is normal… is it not?

Not only that, but most of us would be right there with them, if it had not been for us having had our lives changed through the re-birth experience, the influence of the Bible, in our lives; and the influence of the Holy Spirit; and our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Compare this behavior, which is prevalent today in both the church at large, and also in government, with that of Jesus:

Philippians 2:5-8

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

We are in the world, we live here, but for sure we are not to be of the world; and we are actually called to be much different from the world.

It is the church that should be at the forefront and avant-garde of every culture and society, and it should be the world who is following us!!!

That was always Jesus plan, and that was what the preaching of the Gospel of Heaven is all about, where we are to be implementing, in the earth, the will and Kingdom of God, as it is in heaven!

The thing I don’t understand is how did the church ever feel they could have anything different, after having abdicated their position and responsibly, in government, to unbelievers?

How is it that we expected an unbeliever, who doesn’t know God, has never had an encounter with God, and nor has he had a relationship with God, how is it that we thought we would get anything different, from these people, than what we are getting… which is they are taking our nation to hell in a hand basket?

I mean duhh… what else did we expect would happen?

You know, come to think of it, this is the natural state of for all of us outside of Christ… is it not?

In fact, this is the natural state of man, in general, outside of God, where we are always dealing with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life… where practically everything we do, is all about wanting and getting our own way; wanting everything we can get for ourselves, in terms of money, power, and position; and always wanting to appear, in the eyes of men, as being someone who is important… all of these things are of the flesh, and they have nothing to do with our being Christ like, or about our serving the Father.

This is what you expect in the world; but certainly this is not to be in the church!

That’s why God has called the church to be the head, and not the tail in society; and that’s why our real ministry is to be out in the marketplace, with all signs, wonders, and miracles accompanying our preaching of the Gospel, and not just left to be inside the four walls of a building once or twice a week.

In the following video clip, I’d like you to listen to a man talk about what I believe has been God’s plan all along; and this is something I believe that the Holy Spirit is bringing about in our day and time… check it out!

The Seven Mountains Mandate

This is our only hope, and without this happening, as part of, and along side of a Spiritual Awakening and Revival, in our land, then I don’t see how our nation can last much longer… going in the direction we are going!

Pray folks, watch and pray that this will happen, and that we can put our nation back on track with God again.

Shalom,

Skip Barland

—–Original Message—–
From: DAVID WILKERSON TODAY [mailto:no-reply@lists.worldchallenge.org]
Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 11:57 AM
To: devotions-en@lists.worldchallenge.org
Subject: WHERE ARE THE TIMOTHYS?

WHERE ARE THE TIMOTHYS? by David Wilkerson | May 20, 2010 It was to the Philippian Christians that Paul first introduced the truth, “Let the mind of Christ be in you.” Paul wrote this message to them while he was imprisoned in Rome. It was from a jail cell that Paul declared he had the mind of Christ, casting aside his reputation to become a servant of Jesus and his church. Now he wrote, “I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state” (Philippians 2:19). This is the thinking, the outworking, of the mind of Christ. Think about it: Here was a pastor, sitting in jail, yet he wasn’t thinking of his own comfort, his own hard situation. He was concerned only about the spiritual and physical condition of his people. And he told his sheep, “My comfort will come only when I know you’re doing well, in spirit and body. So I’m sending Timothy to check up on you, in my behalf.” Then Paul makes this alarming statement: “For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state” (2:20). What a sad statement! As Paul wrote this, the church around him in Rome was growing and being blessed. Clearly, there were godly leaders in the Roman church. But, Paul says, “I have no man who shares with me the mind of Christ.” Why was this so? “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (2:21). Evidently, there was no leader in Rome with a servant’s heart—no one who had cast aside reputation and become a living sacrifice. Instead, everyone was set on pursuing his own interests. None had the mind of Christ. Paul could trust no one to go to Philippi to be a true servant to that body of believers. Paul’s words here cannot be softened: “Everybody’s out for himself. These ministers seek only to benefit themselves. That’s why there’s nobody here I can trust to naturally care for your needs and hurts, except Timothy.” Our prayer should be: “Lord, I don’t want to be focused only on myself in a world that’s spinning out of control. I don’t want to be concerned about my own future. I know you hold my path in your hands. Please, Lord, give me your mind, your thinking, your concerns. I want to have your servant’s heart.” Amen. http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/8389#

The Dark Night of the Soul

Click on the above link ~ These images have been set to Loreena McKennitt’s music and vocals and are taken from “The Dark Night of the Soul”, inspired by the Words of St. John of the Cross. I hope they will be an encouragement to you…

Below is something I think will bless you…

The Two Listeners The Story of the book – A. J. Russell Here’s the story behind the book: In 1932 one of the “Listeners” received a copy of A.J. Russell’s book, For Sinners Only. The story goes that she was so impressed with it that she wrote down more than 100 names of people to whom she wanted to send it: “A few months later I read it again. It was then that there came a persistent desire to try to see whether I could get guidance such as A.J. Russell reported, through sharing a quiet time with the friend with whom I was then living. She was a deeply spiritual woman with unwavering faith in the goodness of God and a devout believer in prayer…. We sat down, pencils and paper in hand and waited…. My results were entirely negative…. But with my friend a very wonderful thing happened. From the first, beautiful messages were given to her by our Lord Himself, and every day from then these messages have never failed us.” The Two ListenersThe Story of the book – A. J. Russell Here’s the story behind the book: In 1932 one of the “Listeners” received a copy of A.J. Russell’s book, For Sinners Only. The story goes that she was so impressed with it that she wrote down more than 100 names of people to whom she wanted to send it: “A few months later I read it again. It was then that there came a persistent desire to try to see whether I could get guidance such as A.J. Russell reported, through sharing a quiet time with the friend with whom I was then living. She was a deeply spiritual woman with unwavering faith in the goodness of God and a devout believer in prayer…. We sat down, pencils and paper in hand and waited…. My results were entirely negative…. But with my friend a very wonderful thing happened. From the first, beautiful messages were given to her by our Lord Himself, and every day from then these messages have never failed us.” A. J. Russell writes:I did not write this book.  I wish that I had done so.Had I written it I should have been immeasurably proud.  Too proud for spiritual health.My simple task has been to prepare it for publication and to present it to the public.  But that has not really been a task – only a privilege; an undeserved honour.There is a legend that the praise for building the Cathedral of St. Sofia was not given to the Emperor Constantine but to Euphrasia, a poor widow who drew from her mattress “a wisp of straw and gave it to the oxen” that draw the marble from the ships.  That was all, she did nothing more. Not one woman, but two have written this book; and they seek no praise.  They have elected to remain anonymous and to be called “Two Listeners.”  But the claim which they make is an astonishing one, that their message has been given to them, today, here in England, by the Living Christ Himself. Having read their book I believe them. I do not of course believe that He whispered to them all that He intends to say for this generation.  But I am confident that He opened their eyes to many things which they and this generation greatly need to know. I do not believe in the verbal inspiration of this or any book.  But I do believe that these two women have been led and that much of what is written is very clear leading indeed. I have found these messages a spiritual stimulus.  But that statement is as inadequate as to say that I like England.  None could have written this book unless he or she was a Christian and in touch with the Living Founder of Christianity. We hear much of the  decline of the drama.  Think of this piece of real drama of our own times.  Again, as so often before, “He was in the world and the world knew Him not.” Two poor, brave women were courageously fighting against sickness and penury.  They were facing a hopeless future and one of them even longed to be quit of this hard world for good.  And then He spoke.  And spoke again! Day after day He comes and cheers them.  And though they still have their sorrows, they have joy and a new courage.  For He inspires them with His promises for their future when His loving purpose shall be revealed; and He gently rallies them on their unbelief; as He did their forlorn predecessors during that walk to Emmaus. Open this book at any page and taste its beauty.  Dwell lovingly on its tender phrases.  Let its wonderful quality sink deep into your spirit. Have you lost faith?  Meditate on any one of these tiny sections and it will come again to you as that of a little child.  You may not see him standing by your side with HIs ready smile of confident encouragement; but you will know that He is there, as He always is and that He still expects great things of you, and is ever ready to help you to achieve them. If winter comes – are you afraid of poverty?  Turn again to these pages and you will find the law of supply – Give and it shall be given to you.  Give your love, your time, your sympathy, yourself; give all that you have under His direct guidance to all who are needy; give both to the deserving and the undeserving. Has health gone?  Are you no better though you have prayed long and often?  Here again you will find the incense of healing; and you will understand why He will not remove the gold from the crucible until all the dross has gone, and you are taking the glorious shape of your true self which His eye alone has foreseen. You cannot eat honey all the day.  Nor can you read this book through at a sitting.  But you can read it every day, and several times a day. It can be turned to in the heat of a sudden crisis, and when you put it down you will find yourself calm and at peace within. You can open its pages when the birds are singing in the sunshine; and as you read, the song of the birds will be echoed in your spirit, for you too will be caroling your love for our Creator-Redeemer. Put this book of “Daily Power” in your pocket, in your handbag, on the table by your bedside.  Give a copy of it to your friends. Inhale its spirit continually and live your life in its intimacy with The Master. Through this message, which came to two lonely women, you will find that you are no longer one and alone, but two and united with the Great Companion and Guide, Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It is my understanding that this book was written, by two anonymous listeners, during the German Blitz Grid, when the bombs were falling daily over London. Out of their desperation and despair these two ladies cried out to God, and as He began to speak to their hearts, and meet them at the point of their need, they recorded these messages in a journal, the result of which eventually became a book. These inspirational messages have inspired countless others, as they have also travelled through the “Dark Night of Their Soul.” Likewise I believe these particular words will be an encouragement and an inspiration to you, as you travel your road, and are having to deal with the obstacles, trials, and tribulations of your life. Selah Shalom, Skip Barland From: Two Listeners Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 2:08 AM To: theskipper@cox.net Subject: God Calling May 21 – Fling It At My Feet Fling It At My Feet To see Me you must bring Me your cares and show Me your heart of Trust.  Then, as you leave your cares, you become conscious of My Presence.This consciousness persisted in brings its reward of Me.  Through a mist of care no man may see My Face.  Only when the burden is flung at My Feet do you pass on to consciousness and spiritual sight. Remember, obedience, obedience, obedience – the straight and narrow way into the Kingdom. Not of you must it be said, even in lovingly tender reproach – “Why call ye Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not the things which I say.” Character is chiseled into Beauty by the daily discipline and daily duties done.  For in many ways, My disciples must work out their own salvation, though this is not possible without My strength and Help, and without converse with Me. Even for the Spiritual Life the training is different for different spirits.  The man who would fain live a life of prayer and meditation is thrust into the busy ways of life, and the busy man is bidden to rest and wait patiently for Me.  O joy, O rest, and in the busy ways be ever at peace. “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of ther things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”  Mark 4:19

Jesus came to set the captives free!

This is God’s only answer for what the world needs today:

I received an email today, with this question in the subject line: “Do you support the Homosexual Agenda?”

Well first, let’s see what exactly is the homosexual lifestyle?

It is so ironic that these poor people have elected to call themselves “Gay,” when the evidence shows that they are anything but gay!

They have no reason to be. Check out these statistics:

• 28 percent of homosexual males had sexual encounters with 1,000 or more males.
  
• 79 percent said more than half of their sex partners were strangers.
• Half of the white homosexual said that they had at least 500 different sex partners.
• Some reported as many as 20,000 different partners.
• Average age of death from AIDS ….. 35.7 years.
• Expected average life span (of the homosexual community) 45 years.

According to reports The journal AIDS reported that in the Netherlands, where “gay marriage” has been legal since 2001, HIV and other diseases are soaring among homosexual men. The study notes that “partnered” homosexuals have “outside” lovers, and are contracting the AIDS virus at alarming rates. This puts more young people at risk for HIV, hepatitis A, B and C, “gay bowel syndrome,” human papillomavirus (HPV), syphilis, gonorrhea and other sexually transmitted diseases.

My answer to the question is obviously “NO!” I cannot, and neither can any other Christian be for anything which God, in His Word calls an “abomination!”

Now mind you, it’s not the people who are an abomination, but it is their idolatrous lifestyle!

The truth is, the sin of homosexuality is no more lethal, spiritually, then any other sin… and the truth be told, without Jesus Christ, our sin will take us to hell just as fast as theirs, or anyone else’s for that matter! The Bible says, “For all have sinned (have fallen short and have missed God’s standard)!“ Romans 3:23

What does the Bible say on the subject of Homosexuality?

For my part, I tend to try and keep things more simple, so my simple mind can understand. As I see it, anything we do that goes crosswise against God’s original plan and purpose for our life is a sin.

The fact is, our sin problem is found in our very nature, and makeup as human beings, who have descended from Adam and Eve.

The sin problem for us is in our spiritual DNA, and it has been passed down to us, through our bloodline, having originated in our father Adam.

This is why Jesus had to be born of a virgin, because the bloodline, for all of us, comes down to us through our father!

Medically speaking, the blood of the mother never comingles with the baby, or you will have some serious medical complications that could cost both of their lives.

Since Jesus did not have the blood of Adam, neither did He inherit the same sin nature that you and I have. Though, as we understand from the Bible, He was tempted in every way, as you and I, He had the advantage of not being subject to the same sin nature as you and I.

Jesus also, though He was God incarnate (meaning in the flesh), and though as the Bible says He is the Creator of all things; nevertheless, He did not walk in His earthly ministry under the mantel of God, in the power that is available to Him. Though God He was, and God He is; Jesus choose rather to come to earth and experience life, as we do, as a mere man… subject to the same weaknesses and problems as any other person.

Jesus came to show us how our lives are to be lived, and how we need to learn to submit and listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit, in order that we may truly be about our Father’s business… Jesus came to show us the WAY!

If we want to know what the original plan for Adam and his descendants is, we have but to look to Jesus Christ, whom the Bible refers to as the “Last Adam!”

The Bible says of Jesus that He ONLY did the things He saw the Father do; and that He only even spoke what He heard the Father speak.

In other words, Jesus was always 24/7, in prefect sync with the will and purpose of the Father; and to the extent that we don’t do that, and we really can’t because it’s not in our nature to do so, we have ALL missed the mark, and ALL have sinned, and therefore we have fallen short of God’s minimum standards and requirements for entry into Heaven!

Here’s the point, folks… no one gets into heaven without a Saviour!

But then comes the Good News, the Bible says:

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.“ Isaiah 53:6

I see it like this, God has given each of us the life we are now living (such as it is), and along with that life we have also been given a free will to choose, as to how we will spend it. The Bible says clearly, in the Book of Proverbs, that there is a way that seems right unto man, but that it ends in death!

One thing is for sure, and this is true for ALL of us, we did not create ourselves; and every beat of our heart, and every breathe that we take, it is ALL only by the grace of God!

This is also true, that no man knows the day and time of his death, and tomorrow is not guaranteed to any person.

So with that understood and said, our window of opportunity, for everyone, in order for us to make peace with God, and be reconciled back into His family, gets narrower and narrower with the passing of each and every day.

Whether you realize it, or not, there is a since of urgency here; because our only opportunity to get right with God, and make our eternal reservations in Heaven, can only happen, between when we come into this world, at birth, and when we leave in death. This is the only time we have to receive Jesus Christ as both our Saviour and our Lord, meaning we cease living for ourselves; and we live for Him!

So here’s the deal, as I understand it from my study of the Bible, God has given us the life that we have, that we are living today; and he also has given us the will to choose how we would spend it.

It is His desire and purpose that we spend it on Him; but He will not force that decision upon us; as He waits patiently for us to choose of our own volition to come to Him, and serve Him, because we love Him! He wants us to seek after His face, meaning God wants intimate relationship with each of us!

The decision is ours, however, and you also need to understand that we are all going to be held accountable for the decision that we have made; and only those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour, will have access into heaven; and all others will have to answer for their own sin, without the benefit of having a Saviour… and believe me, you DO NOT want to be in that group!

There are many people, and I know because I used to be one of them, who call themselves Christian, without ever having read the Bible to know what a Christian is.

If you are relying on your own opinion, or what someone has told you, then you are making a grave mistake.

Listen to what the Master says about what a Christian is:

John 14:23-24

²³
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

Matthew 22:37-40

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’^[a]
38 This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

For more information on this subject, and how to make your reservations… please go to this website: http://needhim.org/.

Know this, Jesus Christ and your having a personal relationship with Him, and knowing Him as Saviour is of absolute importance in determining your eternal destiny, so don’t you dare leave home without Him!

Have a blessed day!

Shalom,

Skip Barland

There are way too many Americans today, who because they known no other life, and have reaped the benefits and blessings which they have inherited from our forefathers, they have long forgotten the high cost of this liberty that they so have taken for granted; and they have forsaken the God of Heaven, who is the One who has blessed us, prospered us, and has protected our nation for all these many years.

This is a BIG mistake, folks, because for sure, as the Bible says “God will not be mocked, for we shall reap what we have sown,” and for sure our sin shall find us out!

Let us remember that God in heaven is a covenant keeping God, and our relationship, our responsibilities, in order that we may maintain that relationship with Him, and keep our blessings, are all spelled out for us in the covenant, which covenant we can read in the Holy Bible.

To the extent our nation today has disrespected both the Bible, and the God of the Bible, we have forsaken that covenant, and therefore we can expect that God will make an adjustment soon; not to destroy us, mind you, but to bring us to repentance and to cause us to once again turn our hearts back again towards our Creator.

Let us watch and pray for our nation on this Memorial Day; let us intercede and do spiritual battle against the onslaught of evil that has overtaken our nation, and is today ruling from the highest seats of power, within our land; that is seeking, today, to undermine our sovereignty, our liberty, and our Constitution.

While we are praying, least we become proud ourselves, let us also each remember the grace whereby we have been saved; and that except for God’s mercy and love in our lives, there would be many of us who would be doing the very same dumb things that so many today, among our politicians and among others of those who are lost, are doing.

They have yet to meet, or have an encounter with Jesus; and so let us also pray for them, as well, that they too would have the same opportunity that was afforded us, that they not depart this world without their Savior… for truly, as the Bible says, “God is not willing that ANY should perish!”

For truly there is only ONE name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and that is through the Name of Jesus Christ!

Wake up America, all of you who are called by His Name, who call yourselves Christians; for the weight of responsibility for our nation’s future falls, not to the unbeliever, but it falls to our shoulders; and it is for us to make the difference… and not to the many who speak often about God, when it serves their purpose, but who have shown by their actions, their fruit, and their words that their hearts are far from Him; who even though they may have a form of religion, but nevertheless they have denied the POWER of the Holy Spirit… and among these are many who call themselves Christian!

Make no mistake, but that this job for which the Church has been destined to perform in the earth will require the supernatural Power that comes ONLY from the Holy Spirit, who is our Guide and our Paraclete; our Comforter, and our Teacher… the one whom Jesus said He would send forth to lead us and guide us into ALL TRUTH!

On this Memorial Day let us remember the cost that our liberty required, of men and women who have died to preserve it and to defend it; let us also remember on this Memorial Day that it is our responsibility, and not that of our politicians, to direct the course of our nation’s future, and that direction will come as we humble ourselves, fall to our knees, turn from our wicked ways, repent, and begin to seek God’s face; for then and only then, does the Bible promise us (in 2 Chronicles 7:14) that the God of heaven will hear our prayers, and will heal our land. Selah.

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Norman
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 10:23 AM
To: Skip Barland
Subject: Fw: Memorial Day…a reminder

Come Holy Spirit Fall Afresh On Me

(Click above link)

It seems that in much of the religious world today, of those calling themselves Christians, rather than turn to the original manual, the Holy Bible, which is the only Book which is written by the inspiration of God, that is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (God’s ways and means of operating and thinking, according to the Mind of Christ); they have instead decided to follow the traditions of man, and in some cases have counted these traditions above God’s Word; not only that, but they have forsaken the inspirational force, the Power of God, and have retained only these empty religious traditions in its place,  of whatever denominational, or religious cultural background they happen to come from.

Bible is the Inspired Word of God

Biblical inspiration is defined as the work of the Holy Spirit by which, without setting aside their personalities and literary or human faculties, God so guided the authors of Scripture as to enable them to write exactly the words which convey His truth to men, and in doing so preserved their judgments from error in the original manuscripts.

The Word of God as given to us in the Bible is a product of two free agents, human and divine.

Through (fallible) human authors, God manifested the infallible and errorless writings, which convey His messages.

A natural question is why God chooses to have humans write the Bible; couldn’t He write the Bible Himself much like what He did in inscribing the Ten Commandments on the tablets?

Won’t this be an easier way in preserving the accuracy of the Bible, instead of through the hands of fallible men?

Although God is sovereign and can do anything by Himself, He chooses to have humans interact in His plan.

This is one of the biggest differences between Christianity and other religions; with God reaching down to man, instead of man reaching up to Him.

We have seen many examples in the Bible, which God chooses to have human interaction.

The creation of the Written Word (Bible), the Living Word (Jesus), and Promised Word (Salvation) all share this characteristic.

~ by Dr. Sidney W.K. Yuan

The very fact that much of the church has rejected the supernatural power of God, that reinforces the preaching of the Gospel message, and have said these things are not for today; and also the fact that much of the church has also chosen not to follow the Operations Manual, the Holy Bible, and are instead following the traditions of men, all of this together is actually a fulfillment of prophecy, and an indication that we are living in the last days:

Timothy 3:1-5

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

¹ But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Please note that God warns the church to turn away from such people, as deny the Power of God, which is the Holy Spirit.

I believe what we will see happening in these last days, the closer we get to the return of our Lord, I believe there will be a ramping up, of sorts, in all things spiritual, in all the signs, wonders, and gifts of the Spirit.

As this happens, I believe that God will be going through a sorting process, because many of your traditional (old style denominational) Christians will take offense at such manifestations, and they will reject such a move of the Spirit.

Now I believe there is a place for messages that give hope, and inspiration, and there is a need and certainly a place for such messages, in the church; and truly the Gospel alone is such a message, and truly it is “Good News” for all of us; but an army going to war has to know a whole lot more than just how to have and maintain a positive, feel good attitude.

If we are going to do the work for which God has called us, we are going to have to learn how to fight, and do damage to the enemy, and we can’t do that in our flesh, nor with carnal weapons!

My point is, when all you have is a syrupy feel good message, which is often given in these so called “Seeker Friendly” styled churches of today, and you do not also have the meat of the Gospel being taught, regarding sin, righteousness, and the judgment of God (see John 16:8), and when there is no mention of the absolute necessity of the atoning power of the Blood of Jesus, to cleanse and wash us from ALL our past, present, and future sins; and when ALL you have are these “Feel Good” messages, this is not preparing the people for spiritual warfare; and when these traditional based churches are neither practicing, nor teaching their people how to use their Spiritual Weapons, in order that they might fight God’s battles, and defeat the enemy, then the church is not a threat, and nor is it a match for the powers of the enemy at all. Selah

Here’s my point, if you deny the Power of God, as the Apostle Paul told Timothy would be the case in the last days, then you are denying the tools and weapons which are necessary to carry out the Great Commission; and all you are left with is talking.

In essence, a Christian who is attempting to do God’s work, without the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and all the accompanying signs, wonders, and miracles, that follow the preaching of the Gospel message, exactly as it was demonstrated in the first century church; then that person is like a carpenter without tools, or a soldier without any weapons with which to wage war… and in that condition, all you can do is talk.

Well here’s a revelation folks, our talking and our intellectually based arguments, our Madison Avenue marketing techniques, and all the seeker friendly, feel good messages you want, none of that threaten Satan’s kingdom at all!

And that’s why Jesus instructed His disciples:

Luke 24:49 (The Message)

^45-49He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it.

You’re the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.” Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland

—-Original Message—-

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” Genesis 1:27

It is said there is no stronger love than that of a mother for her children. There are countless examples of this love in all of creation.

For instance, we all have heard of stories of what happens when a hiker has the misfortune to come between a mother bear and her cubs; and we all have heard the story before of how after a barn had burned to the ground, how the charred body of a mother hen was found shielding her still alive chicks.

All of this, only exemplifies the love a mother has for her children; and as such, it speaks of God’s immeasurable love which He has for His children, who are created after His likeness, and in His image, who are among the descendants of Adam and Eve.

As we look at the attributes and personality of the God head, in the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, it is the Holy Spirit who most resembles the nurturing and comforting instincts of a mother for her children. We can plainly see that in Genesis, where the Spirit is seen hovering over creation; and in the New Testament where the Spirit is spoken of metaphorically, as a mother hen, hovering over her chicks.

After all, it is the Holy Spirit, who in scripture is referred to as the “Comforter” and the “Paraclete,” who comes along side of us, to assist us and comfort us in our times of need.

I would even go as far as to say, that in the Trinity, as we look at the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, in terms of their perspective rolls; it is the Father who originates the creative thoughts, strategies, plans, and ideas, who then by the power of His voice speaks things into existence; it is then the Son, who as the ‘Living Word,” who is the instrument of Creation, it is He who goes out to perform the will of the Father; and it is the Holy Spirit, who is the POWER SOURCE, who makes it all happen, and brings it all together!

As such, based on what we can see in scripture, I think it is fair to say that the most sensitive member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is also the most powerful.

It is also interesting to note that the Hebrew word for “Spirit” is Ruah (meaning breath, air, or wind); and it is of particular interest to note that this word Ruah, in Hebrew (“רוח“), and also this is true in the Aramaic, that the word for Spirit is in the feminine gender.

In Greek the word for Spirit is Pneuma (“πνεῦμα”), and it is neuter.

However, with that said and understood, nevertheless, every time in the New Testament, when the Holy Spirit is referred to, it is in the masculine gender.

It is my understanding, from the Bible, that we are created in the image of God, and the Bible clearly says that as Christians, we are a brand new creation, something which God has never done before, and it goes on to say that as Christians, obviously referring to when we will be in our glorified bodies, that we shall be as the Angels of heaven, neither male nor female.

God created the different sexes, male and female for the purpose of procreation; and even though God the Father is always referred to in the Masculine gender, Jesus said that He is a Spirit, and as such, I don’t believe He is either male or female, in the sense that we would think of the word.

Nevertheless, I believe it is clear that when God created Adam, in His image and after His likeness, as I understand scripture, He did so by taking a piece of Himself, in the Spirit, and then breathed the likeness and substance of His essence into that clay form, that He had made from dirt; and as the Bible says, as He breathed into His creation, that lump of clay then became a living soul, and God called his name Adam (which literally means taken from red clay).

God then took a piece of Adam, and likewise, as He did with Himself, He took a piece of Adam, in his rib, and as the Bible says, God then fashioned for Adam a mate, who is created after Adam’s image and likeness, and Adam named her Eve (meaning the mother of all creation).

So the Bible says that God formed from His substance and after His likeness, Adam; and then God made Adam into two individuals, one male and one female; and we are told that this union that takes place between male and female, where they both become one in flesh and in spirit; that all of this speaks also of a great mystery, as Paul referred to it.

It is my belief that this relations between male and female is the model, that represents the relationship that exists between Christ and His bride, the church; where they two also become one.

As Jesus said in the Bible, as the Father is in me; likewise, when we are born-again, we also become one with both the Father and the Son.

I think this is all quite interesting; and also there’s one more point. As God’s children, as I’ve already pointed out, we are created in the image and after the likeness of our Father; well likewise, I think it is also correct to say, that as it is with the God head, Father Son, and Holy Spirit, that they are all equal and yet separate; the same thing applies to us, as we are male and female; and as such we are also equals; but as with the God head, God has established a hierarchy in us.

Just as Jesus, the Son of God, is always submissive to the Father, and is always obedient to the Father; likewise, a similar hierarchy has also been established to exist between the male and the female, as well.

This does not in any way mean that the female is less important, or is of lesser value than the male. Quite the opposite is true, in that truly in the human species, though the male is the head, the female very definitely is the neck that turns the head. Selah 🙂

Shalom,

Skip Barland