Pastor Dean's Sermon Archives
By F Dean Hackett
Pastor Dean's Sermon ArchivesNov 22, 2022
New Testament and Biblical Principles of Tithing
Before the people of Israel conquered Jericho, Joshua warned the nation to not touch the spoil of the city.
It was dedicated to God for sacred use, it was the first fruits of the Promised Land.
Jericho was the tithe city. They could share the spoil of all the other cities they conquered, but the spoil from Jericho was to go to the treasury of the Lord.
There are promises in the Word of God for those who follow God's principles of finance.
But, do we still have to live under the tithe in the New Testament?
This is what we are looking at in today's podcast.
4 Wrong Ways to Deal With Pressures of Life
How do we handle troubles in our life: pressure in our marriage, too much month at the end of the paycheck?
Adversity in the life of a believer is normal Christian living, but defeat is abnormal.
If we respond to the pressures of life in the same way the world does, how will the world see the overcoming life in us?
There are four ways the world responds to the pressures of life that doesn't resolve problems, it only masks them or dulls them for a moment.
What is the right way to handle life's pressures so that we maintain a perspective of the kingdom of God in our life and responses?
How the Kingdom of God Works
God's original design was that we be a kingdom of priests, that mankind would be divine royalty. God designed planet earth to be the location of his kingdom and dominion, but sin destroyed that plan. It caused the human race to live beneath what God created it to be. So God made a decision, Jesus became the last Adam The first Adam committed high treason, but Jesus reversed everything the first Adam did and defeated the kingdom of darkness. We have to live right side up with God, and upside down to the world, to make the kingdom of God work. Do you live everyday with the assurance of who you are? Do you know how to walk and talk as royalty of the Kingdom of God? It will never be defeated, we just have to learn how to behave like the royalty we are.
How to Live Like a Royal Child of God
We often struggle with our identity in Jesus Christ.
When we were born again, we were adopted into the family of the King of kings and Lord of lords. He gives us the assurance that we are a member of that family.
You are an heir and joint-heir of Jesus Christ. You are an heir of the kingdom of God.
He gave you the Holy Spirit to live inside of you as an assurance of that covenant.
You are a covenant son and daughter of Almighty God.
Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Colossians 1:12 When we are born again, God takes us out out of the kingdom darkness and brings us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
He adopts us into the family and gives to us His Holy Spirit who is the seal, earnest, and guarantee of our identity and our position in Jesus Christ.
Every time you feel His presence and touch it is an assurance that you are royalty.
Do you truly know your identity?
Do you live everyday with the assurance of who you are
Do you know how to walk and talk as royalty of the Kingdom of God
We Are Called To Live In the Kingdom
In Exodus 19:5-6 we read that God called the nation of Israel to be a special treasure to God. God was forming a new nation on the earth.
God was going to make them kingdom of priests. This was God's plan from the beginning of history when God gave Adam authority over all the earth.
Through mankind God would establish His kingdom on earth and He began through the following Biblical accounts
- Abraham
- Moses
- John the Baptist
- Jesus' public ministry
The kingdom of heaven is on earth right now in the heart of every person who receives Christ.
But the kingdom of heaven is always meeting resistance as Satan looks to overthrow God's kingdom.
God's children must take it by force.
Pass the Baton to the Next Generation
This is a turning point in history and men have to lead the way. We need men that know how to meet God. Sir, do you know how to meet God?
I imagine Joshua didn't know how to meet God, so he hung out with someone who knew how to meet God.
"So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle." Exodus 33:11
We need to teach and train the next generation to turn their back on the world and run to Jesus and let Him set their heart on fire.
God Is Certainly Is Who He Says He Is
"If the church is not going to have the power of God and be the healing element that it should be in the community, then take down your sign!" Dr. Tony Evans
There are dozens of churches with their doors open and are just holding a holy huddle.
In this time in history, the church cannot afford to be church as usual! We must be the healing agent that God told His church to be.
Choosing to Believe God Is Who He Says He Is
Moses is an example of someone who stood in faith and confidence that God is exactly who He says He is
He wasn't always perfect at it:
He had faith crises at times
He struggled to believe that God could use him
He even disobeyed God.
But when you look at his life, he consistently and faithfully, followed Almighty God; and even at his points of failure, he believed God is who He says He is and he followed Him.
God took an ordinary guy and used him in an ordinary way.
God can use you in the same way!
I hear over and over that this is a Joshua Generation, but the only way it can be a Joshua Generation is if:
There are thousands of Moses' who will rise up
They need to be mentors
They need to know how to get face-to-face with God
They know how to live in the glory of God
They fast and pray and
They go to the mountain of God
They live it out
They mentor the next generation
Let's believe that God can
Choose to Live By Faith
Have you ever received an incredible blessing from God in your life on Sunday only for it to have vanished somewhere the next day or a few days later and you think, "Where did it go?
I thought I got blessed?"
You can't lose a blessing.
But you can choose to walk away from your inheritance, renounce your adoption, and walk away from your walk with the Lord.
What do you do?
- Reject the lie that you have to be good enough to receive good gifts from God
- Remember that it's all by grace
God wants you to live a supernatural kind of life!
“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble." John 1
Choose to Live by the Power of the Holy Spirit
God often calls unlikely people to do extraordinary tasks:
David
Gideon
Nehemiah
Disciples
D.L. Moody
Mary Slessor
Founders of the Pentecostal revival
Smith Wigglesworth
Then He said to them, 'Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.'” Luke 24:46-49
Endued means to put on garment - jacket
God had a promise for them: "You will be baptized in the Holy Spirit and receive extraordinary power to do extraordinary things.""
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:1-4
They received exactly what Jesus promised
The simple fisherman had become so powerful that they were turning the world upside down. God took ordinary people and did extraordinary things.
God didn't' promise the baptism of the Holy Spirit just to the disciples, but to everyone.“
And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." Joel 2:28"all flesh"
When peter finished sermon, people asked "What do we need to do?
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39
To you
To your children
(Jewish people were the only ones there)
To all who are afar off (Greek: those people that live a far distance away) - all nations of the world - Jew and Gentile
Even as many as the Lord our God will call
Why would God do this?
Because He wants ordinary people to have supernatural power
God has a divine assignment for your life, but you can't do it on your own.“
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." John 14:12
This verse isn't just for
prophets
evangelists
Benny Hinn
Televangelists
Mega church pastors
Jesus is saying to every ordinary believer that is born again of the Holy Spirit I am going to give to you the baptism of the Holy Spirit and an ordinary person will be able to do the work that I do.
The Power of God's Great Love
When we received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He literally comes and dwells in us by the Holy Spirit. Often when we think about God, we think about God in heaven and try to reach up to Him. We don't have to reach up to God, because He reached down to us.
His Word says that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us.
Christ dwells in us, therefore We need to be rooted and grounded in His love.
How do we do this?
- We need to wait on the Lord
- We need to understand the 4 dimensions of God's love
- We need to be filled all the fullness of God
- We need to know that God will do exceedingly more than we can ask or think
Is there an area of your life where the enemy still has a foothold or jurisdiction?
God wants to be wider and longer in your life. He wants that territory.
8 Choices That Will Transform Your Life
If God has made us kings and priests, he doesn’t want us to pray for luxury for ourselves, but to pray for divine wisdom.
There are 8 choices that will completely change your life.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
You win or lose by the way you choose, and you can choose joy over pain. Life’s two basic elements are made up of the decisions we make and the relationships we have.
We need to choose wisely. What choices can we make so that we have a really good life?
Count It All Joy
We can live a life of joy, even when evil things happen all around us. But, how can we deal with life when bad things happen?
There are two things we learn from the story about Lazarus and the beggar.
1. No one gets to escape hardship
Life isn't fair, but it can be filled with joy.
2. Scripture tells us that we'll go through hardship
We live in a sinful, fallen world, so offenses will come. It's impossible for them not to come.
How do you deal with life when evil happens?
- Cling to the hope of heaven. John 14:3
- Rejoice and leap with joy. Luke 6:20
Don't waste your pain!
Learn how to count it all joy!
Instead of focusing on pain, learn how to live in joy from the inside out.
You Win or Lose By the Way You Choose
You win or lose by the way you choose; and the most important choice you will ever make in your life is for eternity. There are two things we learn from the story about Lazarus and the beggar. 1. You will live eternally. You are an eternal being made in the image of God. As God is eternal, you are eternal. You will live eternally. 2. Heaven and hell are real. You will spend eternity in one of those two places; and you will chose where you will go. God doesn't send anybody to heaven or hell. You choose heaven or hell, and it's based on what you choose here. Once you die its too late. What will keep you from making the choice today to serve God?
The Unexpected Gift of Jesus
God has the unexpected gift waiting for every person on Planet Earth. The question is, will we receive it? Not everyone is willing.
We read about this in the Gospels.
Jesus visited many people in many towns and villages, but not everyone received Him. They didn't want His divine encounter, and they missed His visitation.
Maybe His divine encounter will be like the Woman at the Well - where He wants to transform your life.
Maybe His divine encounter will be like Zacchaeus - where Jesus' love changes you forever.
Maybe He wants to visit you with the unexpected gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and a spiritual language, because that is the source of power that gives you strength to walk in victory.
Don't miss God's encounter for you.
Don't miss even one gift that He has for you!
Living Contextually as Strong Disciples of Christ
In 2 Timothy 3, Paul lists for us 25 perilous things we will see in the last days, things that we are seeing in our culture today.
Sadly, many of these things have crept into the church, as we've seen evangelical leaders and pastors waffle on clear standards God has set out in His Word.
Christian families are growing powerless as they buy into worldly psychology that leaves them with a form of godliness but denying its power.
If we are going to live as strong disciples of Christ, we have to live our lives in the context of Scripture, not the context of culture.
We Need the Holy Spirit
In Acts 17:6 we read, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too."
The disciples had obeyed Jesus' instructions not to do anything until they received the power from on high.
They were to wait for the Promise of the Father - the baptism of the Holy Spirit - and from that moment, they radically turned city after city upside down for the Kingdom.
This is what the church today is missing.
We can't do this on our own. Programs and music will not turn our culture around. What we need is the glory of Almighty God and that only comes by the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire.
What We Need to Know About Going Into All the Word
Did you know that Jesus' command to preach the kingdom of heaven wasn't just for the apostles, but it is for us today?
We see the progression of Jesus' command in the gospels.
In Matthew 10:7-8 we read Jesus' instructions to His twelve disciples to go and preach the kingdom of heaven.
"And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."
Then, in Luke 10:9, he gave these instructions to 70 more apostles.
"After these things the Lord appointed seventy others...And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.'"
We all know the Great Commission. It is found in Mark 16 and is for every believer.
"And He said to them, ;Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.'"
There are three questions we have to answer if we are to effectively spread the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
What Is Your Story?
I remember a bumper sticker from the 80's "He who dies with the most toys wins". That's not true. He who dies with the most ties just dies, with a selfish story.
What is your story and what story will you leave behind when God calls you home?
Do your coworkers know that you have the power and authority of prayer. Do you release that power and authority of prayer over them?
Jesus established His church to build war rooms of prayer, where we go and do warfare, subdue the powers of darkness and take dominion.
We have the power to take dominion over the enemy so he cannot beat up our families, loved ones, and cities.
We have the power to stop him from doing that, and to bring blessing to those around us.
Are You Walking In Spiritual Authority?
God has given you divine authority to subjugate the kingdom of darkness. God has given you the right to rule, subdue, and have dominion here on earth. This is what makes us fruitful and bountiful in our spiritual life. God's desire and plan for us is to live a blessed life, but to do so we need to understand the importance of walking in spiritual authority. This is directed connected to understanding our true identity in Christ. How long will we choose to let drugs and alcohol destroy our families? How long are we going to allow depression, fear, worry, and anxiety rob us of the power and authority in which God designed for us to walk and live? We don't have to allow this one more day! We are a child of God, and we can rise up and be who we are in Christ.
How You Can Be The Source of the Next Spiritual Awakening
We all come to Jesus as imperfect people.
There is nothing we can do to make us good enough to work for God and to serve Him in our local churches.
In 2 Corinthians 4:7 we read:
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
The words "earthen vessels" literally means "cracked pots".
We're made out of clay and we're fragile. We are flawed and we leak.
But by His grace and mercy, He chooses to use us for His kingdom to do things we couldn't ordinarily do.
Are You Living Fully In Your Identity in Christ?
When you find yourself in a storm, make sure that Jesus is fully awake in your heart. He will speak, "Peace be still" to the storm that is raging.
It is God's will for us that we understand who we truly are in Him and that we walk in the fullest measure of our identity in Him.
In Ephesians 3 we read:
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 When we begin living fully in our identity in Christ, we we will see a whole new level of victory in our life.
As in the Old Testament, God will go before us and defeat our enemy.
How to Begin Walking in Kingdom Authority
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means we need to swim upstream. We don't swim with the world, but against the world.
While we live in a 21st century world, we are citizens of a greater kingdom and higher authority. it is that kingdom that is the answer for mankind and mankind's ills.
God has given us kingdom authority, but this power is not motivated by domination, intimidation, or control. It is not self-centered and tyrannical.
This kingdom authority is benevolent and it's greatest expression is love, mercy, and grace.
How do we, in a practical way, bring that kind of power and authority into the world?
That is what today's podcast is all about.
95 Reasons to Celebrate Halloween
Halloween has been controversial for decades and it's roots entirely in paganism.
So the question is, "Should we be celebrating Halloween?"
Many in the church today say you shouldn't celebrate Christmas, because of the verses in the Old Testament about sacrificing to idols "under every green tree".
This has nothing to do with ghosts and goblins and ghouls.
Halloween has its roots back in the 3rd century A.D., in Ireland the New Year started on November 1 and the spiritualists believed that October 31 was the night when all of the spirits would roam around.
The Roman Catholic Church picked it up and changed November 1 to All Saints' Day.
The pagans would build bonfires to keep the spirits away.
But, while Satan has the dark side of Halloween to propagate darkness and paganism, there is another side to Halloween that we need to look at.
Fast forward from the 3rd century A.D. to 16th century A.D.
Martin Luther was a Catholic monk and a preacher of the gospel, ordained in a very backslidden church. By this time the church was a thousand years in an era when many men had tried to bring revival back to the church.
- The Waldensians - Printed the Bible in the language of the general public
- Francis Assisi
- John Hus
- Girolamo Savonarola
All of whom, besides Francis Assisi, were martyred for preaching the gospel.
In Martin Luther's search for God began studying the book of Romans and discovered that salvation is by grace alone.
By this time the Church was selling people's salvation by way of indulgences.
They could drink, be immoral, be evil and wicked, and participate in every kind of darkness, but if they came and paid the church their sins would be forgiven.
This is the scene into which Martin Luther made his appearance and he picked a very interesting day to launch his protest.
He wrote a document with 95 reasons why the church was not preaching the true gospel.
He took them and walked to the door of the church and nailed them to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
And the date he picked to do this was October 31.
The day that Satan established as his holy day, Martin Luther captured and brought back as a day of revival and reformation!
Do You Really Know Who You Are in Jesus Christ?
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you." John 15:15
When Jesus said this to His disciples, He didn't mean "friends" as a casual acquaintance, or even a friendship where you hang out once or twice a month.
He was referring to a friendship where you share life together.
We are no longer a servant but a friend; and we're no longer a friend but an adopted son and daughter of Almighty God
Do you really know who you are in Jesus Christ?
God Has Given You Mighty Powerful Weapons
God wants to pour out His Spirit in our neighborhoods, cities, and churches in unprecedented ways, and we need to pray it in.
It comes by prayer and only by prayer.
We don't earn it, we can't deserve it. But the enemy will try to stop it from happening.
Just like Daniel we need to pray that His Spirit will be poured out and the powers of darkness are bound so that he cannot hinder it and stop it.
It is time for the church to pray.
In today's podcast I give you a couple of practical steps for walking in God's kingdom authority and using the mighty weapons He has given you.
How the Church Can Plunder Hell to Populate Heaven
Prophetic acts have great power.
Read through the book of Ezekiel sometime. Ezekiel lived in modern day Iran, but he was continually prophesying to Israel and the mountains of Judea.
He had that kind of power and authority.
If Ezekiel had that authority, and did not have the cross of Christ, no resurrection from the dead, and the Holy Spirit was not yet given without measure, how much more power and authority does the church have today?
We have the power of cross.
We have the power of the blood and the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
How much more authority do we have than Ezekiel to pray prophetic prayers and to do prophetic acts so we can watch God work.
It's time to rise up in Kingdom authority!
How to Live as a Victorious Christian
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-19
God makes us a whole new creation.
We were born a sinner. That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.
But when we receive salvation, Almighty God makes us a whole new creation with a whole new identity and a whole new life source.
How is that possible?
In today's podcast I share with you how we can begin living out of a new identity by changing our thinking.
Filling our mind and heart with what God says about who we are helps us walk in a whole new level of victory.
You Can Live as a Victor, not a Victim
Does it seem impossible to you to have the ability to leave your old life behind and walk as a whole new person?
Free from addiction?
Free from anger and bitterness?
Free from the pain of abuse and rape?
God's Word says that we have this ability to move from being a victim to living as a victor.
This isn't just a Charismatic slogan, this is a reality and it is the life God wants for His disciples to live each and every day.
You no longer have to be controlled by your past failures and hurts.
Find out more in today's podcast:
Why Jesus?
At every turn, we are being taught that Jesus was not God, but an exceptional human being and mere mortal.
If that is so, why are military and political personnel told they can't pray in the name of Jesus?
Why can our children wear t-shirts with any logos and images on them except Jesus?
But what does the Bible say?
All of Scripture confirms that Jesus was more than just a mere mortal; more than an exceptional human being.
The Old Testament prophesies the coming of Messiah - the Sent One.
The New Testament confirms Jesus deity.
Why is this important for us today?
This is Why It's Important We Understand God's Kingdom
Why did Jesus emphasize through His parables and in speaking with His disciples that the kingdom of God has come?
Why is it important to us today that we understand that the kingdom of God has come?
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 There are 2 reasons why this is so important to us today so that we can be the disciples of Jesus Christ He created us to be.
So that we can live in this new identity we were given when we received salvation.
What Does it Mean to Live in the Kingdom?
What is life like in the kingdom of God?
When you came to Christ, you may have thought that the Christian life meant that you would live in God's blessings and good gifts all of the time.
You may not have expected to have to deal with the same struggles the world does.
But Paul said to Timothy:
"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2 Timothy 3:12
So, what's the point in living in God's kingdom if we have to face the same things the world faces?
That is what I am sharing about in today's podcast.
How to Be Used In the Kingdom
God chose to use Moses to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Moses didn't feel qualified for this job, but God's response to him was to use what he had in his hand - his shepherd's staff.
What do you have in your hand?
God wants to use you, an ordinary person, to do an extraordinary task for the kingdom of God and He simply wants to use what you have in your hand.
We can start being used by God by seeking His kingdom.
How to Live In the Kingdom
Before we can enter the kingdom of God, we must first be willing to do the following things:
- Repent of our sin, self-willed living, rebellion, and resistance to God
- Turn Jesus and see His love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness
- Choose a change of mind and direction concerning our sin
When this happens, our heart is made brand new and we are made a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.
As citizens of heaven, God gives us all we need for life and godliness.
We can live in the kingdom, enjoying God's multiple blessings, free from worry, fear, and anxiety.
How to Seek the Kingdom
All throughout history there have been kingdoms, and all kingdoms on earth have five things in common.
They all have:
- Kings and rulers
- Borders and boundaries
- Their own language
- Their own culture
- Enemies
Just as earthly kingdoms have these five things in common, so the kingdom of God has these five elements.
All kingdoms on earth also have a similar problem: the heart of mankind is desperately wicked.
There is one more thing that all kingdoms have in common: every kingdom has citizens.
As citizens of God's kingdom, we must seek that kingdom.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
This is the topic of my new podcast series about the kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:33
How to Live Victorious Over Sin
It says in Romans 8:11, "But if that same Spirit..."
When you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin and come live in your heart and life, Jesus puts the holy Spirit in you. The Scripture says it is the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit that then makes you a whole new creation.
You receive a whole new identity, free from a life of sin and free to live in newness of life in Jesus Christ.
This is the foundation of the concept that releases you to live as a whole new creation, living a victorious Christian life.
Are you living a life of victory over sin?
Victorious Christian living is directly connected to how we view our identity in Christ and this is what I share about in today's podcast.
How to Raise Up a Generation That Fears the Lord
Noah built an ark to save his family at a time when wickedness of human beings was extreme.
The Bible says every imagination of their thought was only evil continually. They had become so corrupted and filled with wickedness that every waking moment was filled with thoughts of wickedness.
Jesus spoke of that time and said that in the last days it would be as in the day of Noah.
We are rapidly approaching that time, and we must build an ark for our family, not to isolate our family, but to insulate our family.
"I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." John 17:15 Isolation will not help your family stand in the fear of the Lord against a corrupt culture.
We want to build an ark with the right materials to insulate not only this generation, but also future generations.
"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;" Deuteronomy 7:9
How to Raise a Generation With Strong Convictions
There are a lot of people who have very strong beliefs, but it's not convenient to live by that belief, they will adjust it according to the situation or the people that they are around.
They are called preferences: strongly held beliefs that may adjust when the situation requires it.
This is okay when it comes to what you eat for dinner: You may prefer a steak dinner, but fast-food is more convenient right now. But when it comes to building a family we cannot afford to raise our children according to preferences.
If we raise our children with strongly held beliefs that adjust when circumstances dictate it, we are building our family with the wrong kind of framework and it will not stand when faced with heavy pressure and storms.
Instead we must build our family on convictions: core values that a person is willing to give their life before violating.
How to Build an Ark of Protection With the Right Materials
If we are going to build an ark of safety for the family, we need to hold the principles of God's Word and live by them. It needs to be able to withstand the heavy seas of life and the storms that are certainly going to come against the family.
We need to build it of substance to be able to withstand the most severe storms that life can throw at it.
And there's only one product to build it from.
If you're concerned about what we're seeing in our culture today: The ever-increasing wokeism in our society, the flood of immorality and perversion, the heavy push for indoctrination and submission to political correctness and tolerance, then you need to listen to today's podcast.
In this mini-series, I share with you how we can build a lasting protection for our family, just as Noah built a lasting protection for his wife and sons and their families.
How to Build an Ark of Protection for Your Family
During the time of Noah, every imagination of men's hearts was only evil continually.
Do you ever wonder if there are a lot of people like that today? I don't get what Hollywood is putting out in their entertainment today. I can't imagine thinking on that level of evil and being able to portray it.
What are they thinking? Why do we feel like we need to create children's cartoons with that kind of language and debauchery? Why do we need to have cartoons with bodily noises?
Because we're reaching the condition as it was in the times of Noah.
In Noah's time, they were gorging themselves with their appetites - every appetite they could imagine.
Homosexual and lesbian relationships were normal.
But they took it a step further, and it brought God's judgement: Mankind began seeking relationships with the demonic.
What does this mean for us today, especially as parents who seek to raise up godly children who will go on to raise up their own godly children?
We must build an ark for our family, and that is what I share with you in today's podcast: How to raise up an ark of protection for your family in this evil generation that is saturated with immorality, perversion, and debauchery.
How to Stand Alone In a Corrupt Culture
Joseph was in prison under false charges. That could have easily become his future and his identity, but he refused to let that happen. Instead, he became 2nd only to Pharaoh in Egypt.
It's a choice you make to stand up and stand alone in living a whole new life in Jesus Christ by a new identity that empowers you to stand against the cultural norms and stand for righteousness and holiness.
We can do this because all things are become new!
Learning to live in the power of "others may I cannot" will require you to keep a humble, gracious, loving spirit so that you're not being critical and judgmental.
It's also important that in this generation there is remnant that will rise up and say, I will not let culture and peer pressure to determine what I do."
Are You a Believer or a Disciple?
Many people throughout history have believed in God; just as today many people say they believe in God, and even attend church every Sunday.
However, there is a great difference between believing in God and calling yourself a Christian and being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
A disciple of Jesus Christ goes beyond believing that God exists and calling yourself a Christian.
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ means modeling your life after Jesus.
It means living your life in a way that is honoring to God.
It means obeying His Word no matter what it costs you, surrendering your right to have the final say in your life, and choosing to make God's Word the center of your life and worldview.
The question today is: Are you a believer or a disciple?
Let Jesus Transform Your Messiness
We all come to Jesus with messed-up lives.
It doesn't matter if you grew up in a Christian home with strong Christian values. You still have to have Jesus clean up your messiness.
While Jesus doesn't expect us to clean up our messiness before coming to Him, He will not leave us in our mess.
He doesn't set us free from sin and leave us bound to our sin.
When we come to Jesus, He will transform our messiness from the inside out so that we can live and walk in a way that glorifies Him.
But this has to be our choice.
We have to choose to allow Him to transform us and make us a new creation in Him.
How to Possess the Land God Has Promised
God promised the Israelites that if they would meditate on His law day and night, they would prosper and have good success. God was going to lead them into a land inhabited by their enemies; but He would prove that He was the one and only God by driving their enemies out before their eyes.
God has promised you a land, too.
But we live in a culture saturated by philosophies that are at war with God's Word. Choosing to live obedient to every word of God sets us at odds not only with our unbelieving friends, but with progressive Christianity.
The question is: will we hesitate to step out in faith to possess the land, like the Israelites did, or will we be willing to step out in obedience to God?
Your Upper Room is Your Home of Intercession
Daniel was able to advance and see God's blessing in his life, even in a pagan culture because he had an upper room and went to that room three times a day. His upper room relationship with God made it possible for God to work on his behalf.
Even in the fact of persecution and rejection, he refused to pull back from his upper room; and because of that he continued to see great blessing.
We may be wondering why God isn't moving or intervening on our behalf, and sometimes it's because we have the door to our upper room closed. But like Daniel we're in a spiritual war.
There are way too many Christians today wore out with the stuff of life, busy with their work and play and with their schedule, running their kids from one sport to another, thinking that sports will keep their children out of drugs and crime, not realizing that it's not sports that will keep them out of world, it is a strong spiritual walk with Almighty God that will keep them out of the world.
So many have closed their eyes to what's really happening.
We are in a war of spiritual strongholds, ideology, reasoning and philosophies and values. It's a war of world view.
How do we fight that war?
That is what I am talking about in today's podcast.
4 Ways to Experience God's Multiplied Blessings in Your Life
Grace is not only something that we receive abundantly from God, but Scripture illustrates for us how we are to give that grace to others with equal generosity.
But not only does grace flow from God through us to others, but then it flows back to God in thanksgiving; and your thankfulness is grace back to God.
It is generosity - we're generous to others because God has been so generous to us.
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 1 Corinthians 6:6-11 - Emphasis Mine God wants to multiply blessings in your life!
There are 4 ways you can begin experiencing that right now; and that is what I'm sharing with you on my podcast today.
Are You Living the Blessed Life?
John 14:12 says, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Jesus did not say "The apostles will do the works that I do" or "The evangelist will do the works that I do" or even "The pastors will do the works that I do". He said, "He who believes in Me...."
Walking in this level of signs and wonders isn't so that we can get goosebumps and feel really good. It's so that we can be a blessing to others.
God wants us both be blessed and to be a blessing, because the more we live the blessed life, the more we can be a blessing to those around us.
The question is: Are you living the blessed life?
That is what I'm talking about in today's podcast.
How to Live in a New Anointing
There is a verse in the New Testament that is very challenging for us today.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." John 14:12
Jesus is giving to us a deep, theological principle about His disciples, those who believe in Him. He is saying is that those who truly believe in Him should be doing the same works He did, and even greater works than He did.
This verse should lead us to ask ourselves, "If I believe in Jesus, am I doing the same works Jesus did and greater works than He did?"
We have to remember that Jesus wasn't talking to theologians and religious leaders of His day, He was talking to fishermen, tax collectors, housewives, and other ordinary people like you and me.
So, how do we begin living in this new anointing so that we can go out and do the works Jesus did?
That is what I'm talking about in today's podcast.
This is How God Makes All Things New In You
Jesus said, "Truly, truly I say unto you unless a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven." Jesus called it being born again. Titus called it the washing and renewing of the Holy Spirit that makes us a whole new creation.
Salvation gives us a whole new life source so that we can begin living all things new.
But if we're going to go forward in that and consistently live all things new as a disciple of Jesus Christ, there are things that Scripture clearly says need to happen in our lives. It doesn't just happen all on it's own.
We have to cooperate with the work of God in our life so that we are consistently moving forward.
It's not about how fast you move forward, its how consistently you move forward.
And that is what today's podcast is all about: what we need to do to consistently move forward and live all things new.
How the Breastplate of Righteousness Defeats Fear
The enemy wants to paralyze the army of God with fear. It's a weapon he has used down through the ages.
He wants to intimidate, paralyze, and dominate because he knows that if he succeeds in this, he can control you and convince you to start doubting God's promises.
This is why God gave us the armor of God, to protect us from the attacks of the enemy.
If you want to walk in victory every day, free from the paralyzing fear, intimidation, and domination of the enemy, you need to wear the breastplate of righteousness!
In today's podcast, I share how the breastplate of righteousness defeats fear.