ARE YOU THIRSTY?

God is good and worthy of all praise. A truth not to be disputed!! To those of us that have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, this truth is ingrained in us. We recognize God's mercy and grace that he has so freely given us through his Son, Jesus Christ. We can say, as the Psalmist did, in Psalms 42:1:

“As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee O God.”

We welcome everyone to your 24/7 week-long online church service. No one is excluded from this place. You know the deer in the forest searches out the water brooks because they are thirsty and only the clear-flowing water of the streams can quench their thirst. We as believers thirst after the love, mercy, and grace of God. Our souls cry out to our Father. We are so thankful he saved us from our sin. We continually praise him inwardly and outwardly because he has redeemed us and we will live eternally with him. We thank you and praise you, Lord, for your goodness and mercy that endures forever.

The beauty of this is that God's love doesn't just come to us, but is extended to all mankind. God created us all and as his creatures, he loves us.

God's desire is for all his human creation to come to him through his only begotten Son and be elevated from just being his creation to being a part of his family. Unbeliever, God loves you that much!! As humans, it doesn't take much to look around at this very ungodly world to realize there is something better than this. Am I correct?

You know, Peggy Lee once sang a song titled, “Is that all there is?” It pointed out some things we all know. You acquire fame and yet question, is this all there is? You obtain wealth, mansions, promotions, and then realize, is this all there is? You raise a beautiful family. You have a beautiful home with a white picket fence, and a manicured lawn, yet in your heart and mind, the question remains, is this all there is? My friends, that is your soul, crying out to God for fulfillment in your life. Contrary to country club Christian thinking, the soul of the lost cries out to God just as the soul of the believer does.

Truth be known, but sometimes forgotten, we believers were once lost also, weren't we? Yes, my good people, thirst is known by and in all of God's creation. The question is, what can quench the thirst? The answer is God and only God!! How? By his Son, Jesus. Let's look at some Bible scriptures to back this up. In Psalms 63:1, David cries out to God but this should also be our cry.

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry thirsty land, where no water is.”

Notice, as believers, we can cry out, “Oh God, you are my God!” What a tremendous realization. God has made a way, through his Son, by way of the cross for us to proclaim Himself, as our Heavenly Father. The scripture points out, the best time to seek God is early!! I have found out, my day goes by much better when I seek God early in the morning. Just to say, “Thank you, Lord, for another day of life.” To acknowledge the Lord by saying, “This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Today is the day of salvation. I will walk in that salvation with all its benefits and I will be accountable at the end of the day.

When I do that, God fills me with living water (His Spirit) and waters the thirst. Truth is!! This is what helps me live in a dry and thirsty land, which has separated itself from the living waters, which is the Holy Spirit of God. This land is becoming drier and drier without God, yet our souls still cry out, for it knows, only God can help us.

As I am delivering this message to you this week, my heart is filled with love for you. I know many of you are going through trials and tribulations. Things look bleak and even impossible. That is the reason this ministry is here, my friends. I am here to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord!! God is the God of the possible. Heed the cry of your soul, my friends. Turn to God now. My unbelieving friends, this message is for you also.

I feel your despair. I was there!! My soul cried out with thirst for the things of God. Finally, after many years of struggling on my own, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and the process of the Holy Spirit working in my life, flooding me with living water (the Holy Spirit) that continues to this day. Each day becomes better and better because I know God is watering my thirst for him. But, this is not for me only. It is for you!! Listen to me!! If you are reading or listening to this message today, God is ready to meet your soul's thirst. Will you let him do that?

Jesus explained this well in John 4:13 & 14. He is talking about the Holy Spirit. Here is what John 4:13 &14 says:

“Jesus answered and said unto her, (answering a question) whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again (talking of natural water): But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into ever lasting life.”

Notice that Jesus says, “whosoever.” That means exactly what he says. Accept Christ into your heart and life and your Spiritual thirst will be satisfied. Why is this? Because, as Jesus said, the water that Jesus gives you, (The Holy Spirit) a well of water that will continue springing up unto you, unto ever lasting life. That is why I said, the living water is a process of filling you unto eternal life. How great is that?

Jesus is very clear in these scriptures, isn't he? He is talking to whosoever will listen and receive him. No one can accuse Jesus of discrimination. This is a message of hope and salvation to anyone that will listen and respond to the call of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you thirsty? Turn with me to Mathew 5 & 6. Jesus will meet your thirst.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.”

There you are, my friends. Seek God's righteousness imputed by Christ, upon faith in his finished work. Thirst no more. Let God give you living water.

God Bless You,

Brother Bob

THIS IS GODLY COUNSEL

The Spirit of Wisdom Ministries is dedicated to serving you in the name of Jesus Christ. We pray for you daily. We encourage you to invite this ministry to pray for your needs to be met. All prayer requests really are prayed for. This ministry believes in salvation from your sin through the precious blood of Jesus. We believe in healing for today. What kind of healing, Bro. Bob? Healing for your physical body and for your mind and spirit.

We also believe for your deliverance from oppression by evil spirits. Oh yes, my friends, there are evil spirits on this earth with one mission to carry out. That mission being to cause you to be separated from God through sickness, fear, guilt and every negative thing that Jesus died to deliver us from. But, Bro. Bob, I'm a Christian. Really?? Do you think the devil cares about that? His mission is to destroy you and your relationship with Christ. We as a ministry of Jesus Christ are here to spoil his mission by enlightening you to the Word of God. The Bible is the book of life!!

This ministry always emphasizes everyone is welcome in our services. We minister to anyone who will accept our help and guidance. God has given us a special love for you. This week I would like to talk with you about our status with God. Psalms 1 gives us some insight into this. It also gives great advice about who we should and should not take counsel/advice from.

We plan on going verse by verse, which is something I don't normally do, but God will lead us through this together and we will be blessed. So let's get started. Psalm 1:1:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

God is very clear here, isn't He? Most times people, including Christians, when confronted with difficulty or problems of life turn to everyone and everything for answers to these problems. We turn to doctors, lawyers, educators, some even seek the advice of psychics, fortune tellers and astrologists. We also take counsel from friends and family (saved or unsaved). God is saying this is exactly the opposite of what we should do. Go to God first. Do not leave him as a last resort. God will direct you through his word and Holy Spirit on how each need can and will be met. They may include doctors or lawyers, but let God make that decision. If led by God, these persons or things will become tools. Tools in the hand of the Master are a great thing. The obvious exclusions would be psychics, fortune tellers and astrologists. These things are not godly and only bad and destructive counsel can come from them. In this verse we are instructed to not practice sin or agree with the scornful or mockers, but to live a life of faith in God. Now, let's continue to Psalms 1:2:

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

You see church!! Our delight should be in the Word of God. Jesus was our example here. He was always meditating on what the Father desired of him and we should follow that example. Always put our trust in God!! When we do these things, Psalms 1:3 tells us how we will be. Let's read it together:

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

The beauty of a tree planted by water is that its roots are always watered and become deep and strong. So no matter what storms come, the tree will survive and often times grow stronger. Are you getting the picture yet, church? Let your roots be deep into God. He will protect you and you will be able to weather all the storms of life that come against you. You will not turn away from God. And because of your faithfulness, the Lord will prosper you in every area of your life. God loves you so much. He will strengthen you in the Spirit. Isn't God great? Let's summarize a bit here: God says to only take Godly counsel. If it doesn't line up with God's Word it is not Godly counsel and is deadly advice. When you do use Godly counsel in your life, you will be strong in God and you will delight in God and his solution to the problems of life. You will be deep rooted in the ways of our heavenly Father. And, because of that, He will prosper and take care of you. Psalms 1:4 however, begins to talk about the misery of the unrighteous; a warning to heed. Psalms 1:4:

“The ungodly are not so; but are like chaff which the wind driveth away.”

My friends, this tells us no matter how rich, famous or powerful the ungodly might be, the Lord considers them as “chaff.” Webster's dictionary describes chaff as “worthless.” Pretty strong words, don't you think? But remember this, God loves them and would save them and give them worth if they would only turn to him and accept his free gift of salvation. You only have to stay “chaff” if you choose to. Psalms 1:5:

“Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.”

This verse clearly shows the ungodly will be judged and be convicted. In other words, he will be separated from God for eternity. Spiritual death is his sentence, the lake of fire his penalty. Something interesting takes place here also. This verse makes a distinction between the ungodly and the sinner. What? I thought they were one and the same, didn't you? The truth is, there are many sinners in church, but very few of the ungodly. It becomes clear the sinners referred to here are those who have been born again, but have returned to the practice of sin. They will not stand in the congregation of the righteous. What an indictment. Let's not be one who is counted as a practicing sinner in the congregation of the righteous.

You see, God imparts his righteousness to us when we accept Christ into our hearts, but we must exercise his righteousness by our actions. It is a process of learning how to live in the righteousness God has provided for us. Psalms 1:6 concludes with the explanation.

“For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous (you see, there is a way of the righteous); but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

I hope this message has helped you. This is Godly counsel!! Walk in it, my friends, walk in it.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

REST FOR YOUR SOUL

Let me start this week's 24/7 week long, online church service by welcoming everyone into this place. You all know by now that we exclude no one from that welcome. This is a safe place filled with peace, love, mercy and grace. The reason we can say this is because Jesus Christ is lifted up in our service. We praise him, we worship him and we glorify him. We come to him with thanksgiving for what he has done for us and for what he will do for you.

This online church ministers to those who are in deep sin and desire a way out. We minister to those who came out of sin by the grace of God, but have fallen back into bondage. We also offer encouragement to all who want to love and serve God, but feel inadequate to do so. And of course, we minister to all who love the Lord and serve him with joy.

You see, we know something that is important for you to know. Regardless of what state of mind you find yourself in today, God loves you and wants you to succeed in this life and forever. Jesus did not come to this earth to be humiliated, beaten, spit upon, called the vilest of names and finally nailed to a cross, stabbed in the side, given vinegar to drink when thirsty so that he could have a best selling book written about him. No my friends, Jesus died as a perfect sacrifice, acceptable to God so you could be saved from your sin. You see, when Jesus came down from heaven to this earth, the whole world was under condemnation of sin. It was not a good inheritance our first parents, Adam and Eve, left us. God in his love for us, knowing that the wages of sin is death, desired us to be able to escape eternal death and have eternal life with him.

Man was incapable of saving himself due to his own sin. So, only one who was without sin could pay the price and save us. That one was and is still today the only begotten Son of God, Jesus Christ. Let's look at the scripture pertaining to sin and the wages thereof. Turn with me to Romans 6:23.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Often times when this scripture is quoted, it is about present time sin. But as you can now see, sin has equaled death since the beginning of time. Further proof of this can be found in Romans 5:12.

“Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

It should becoming clear to you how much God really does love you. Through Jesus Christ righteousness is imparted to us. When you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, all condemnation is lifted off of you. A heavy burden you have been carrying around with you since birth is dissolved. How great is that? You know church, we make serving God seem like such a task or chore, when in fact God made it so simple for us.

I know there are many of you out there who have been walking around with a heaviness that is impossible to explain. I am talking to both saved and unsaved people right now. I'm telling you this does not have to be. Jesus is calling out to you today. Listen to his word in Matthew 11:28-30. Let's be clear, Jesus is speaking here.

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; I am meek and lowly in heart: And ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Let's look at this more closely. Did you notice Jesus did not say “Come unto me some that labor and are heavy laden?” NO – He said ALL. Let me repeat that: ALL!! The invitation has no qualifications. Yet to listen to most so-called Bible experts, you would think hardly anyone qualified. Certainly not anyone who doesn't belong to their denomination or their Bible study group. Jesus is talking to everyone here. Saved and unsaved. All means all. Man's judgmental conditions hold no weight with Jesus. Thus, the invitation – come just as you are. Jesus says in this scripture, learn of me. Where can we do that? That answer is in the Word of God (The Bible). Accept Jesus into your heart and he will give you eyes to see and ears to hear. The Bible will become an open and understandable instruction book of life to you.

Oh yes, we can also learn of Jesus through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. The key being, that when preached to and taught that we turn to the Bible and read it for ourselves. God will confirm his Word to us. Try it and see for yourself. Notice that Jesus said he will give us rest for our souls. Is there anyone out there who needs rest for their souls? In these trying times with oppression, depression, guilt and sorrows all bearing down on us, of course we do. Everyday I see the tension and frustration that are weighing people down so much. It's true that Satan's burden is very heavy, weighing you down in total despair. But Jesus says his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Why is his burden light? Because he takes the weight off of you and puts it on himself, and nothing is too heavy for God.

I pray this is helping you. I want to see the smile return to your face. I desire to hear laughter in place of crying. I want despair to be replaced by hope in your life. I want to see your praise life restored or if you have never praised God for his goodness, I would like to see you accept Jesus into your heart so that you can have the joy of praising God also. All God is asking of you is to accept his love by accepting his Son. You do that and you will be returning God's love to him in the one way that is truly pleasing to him.

To my very special saved brothers and sisters who have walked away from God, I implore you – come back home. Your heavenly Father will not only accept you back, but he will once again bless you with his mercy and grace. His love has never left you!! To the saved one who is worn down by the trials of this world, lay down the devil's yoke and burden. It will kill you. Please lay that burden down now. Trust God again. It's time you gave your soul a rest and it's time you accept the love of the Lord in your life again. Anyone who says you can't do this is lying to you. To the unsaved, listen to me and listen very carefully. This may be the last invitation to accept Christ you may ever have. But know this, whether it is or isn't, without Jesus there is only spiritual death in store for you. God is offering you eternal life today. The only question is, will you accept the wages of sin which is death or will you accept Jesus Christ into your heart and be given eternal life.

My e-mail is Brotherbob@TheSpiritofWisdom.org. If I do not hear from you, I will know your answer. To everyone, this message is heart felt. I pray it helped you. We have talked today about condemnation and life and death. Let's turn to Romans 8:1-2, Paul is speaking here:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Does that sound good to you? It sure does to me.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

SHOW THEM LOVE, MERCY AND GRACE

My question to you this week...Are these weekly messages helping you in any way? Are you learning anything? Have they been a blessing to you? The answer to these questions are important to us. The desire of our 24/7 week long, online church service is to help someone by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the reason we welcome everyone into this place.

Jesus came to this earth to reconcile us to God. He paid a horrible price on an old rugged cross to redeem us from sin and spiritual death. He did not come just for the wealthy or a certain race. He did not come for the good looking people or persons of fame only. He did not come for one political party or another. Jesus came for whosoever would accept his perfect sacrifice of himself. Read John 3:16 for verification. Tell you what, let's read it together right now. John 3:16 says (Jesus speaking):

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Whosoever includes everyone, my friends. Jesus died for the vilest sinner to the person who lives like a saint. Jesus died so that people that you dislike the most could be saved. Do you hate Arabs? Jesus loves them. Do you hate gay people? Jesus loves them. Do you hate young people with their gothic, black attire and all their piercings? Guess what, Jesus loved and died for them also. Do you hate illegal immigrants? Jesus loves them. You get the picture, my friends? The whosoever in John 3:16 means any and everyone who accepts Jesus into their hearts, repents and lives for him.

Sometimes we as believers forget how we were before Jesus came into our life. Even if our actions weren't sinful, our condition was. It always amazes me how smokers who have quit smoking are the hardest ones on those that still "light up." Former alcoholics and drug users are so prideful and arrogant towards those who are still struggling with addiction. In the same respect, believers who have been miraculously lifted out of sin, given eternal life, have been forgiven, can be so hateful and unforgiving toward the lost. Does anyone see themselves here? Let us remind ourselves that there are none righteous in themselves. Turn with me to Romans 3:9-10. Remember, this is the word of God!! Paul tells us:

“What then are we better than they? No, in no wise: For we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, (everyone) that they are all under sin; as it is written there is none righteous, no, not one.”

Believers, our righteousness is in Christ and not of ourselves. False pride and arrogance toward others should not be tolerated in our thinking or our lives. Jesus says in Matthew 5:6:

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they shall be filled.”

Be filled with what? The love, compassion, mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why would this be? So we can impart those things to others. If you want to bring people to Christ, you have to quit looking down on them. If you approach them with hate and venom, you will get hate and venom in return. So what are you saying, Bro. Bob? Are we to close our eyes to the sin in the world? No, a thousand times no. We should turn away from sin and we should always battle sin in the spirit. We can't beat sin in the flesh. Sin will always be around us in this world.

I am giving you a very special lesson here, my friends. We should not as believers, be or do as the world does. Our fight is not with our fellow man, but with the devil and his evil forces (demons). It is a spiritual battle we are in. Paul in a letter to the church at Corinth points this out. II Corinthians 10:3-5:

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

Is this becoming more clear now? Our job as believers is to win the lost to Jesus. Not by beating them up as we would verbally or by action and attitude in the flesh. But by prayer and example. We can win the lost to Jesus by treating them as we prefer to be treated. Show them the love God has shown you. Show compassion for their plight in life and show them a new way by your example. God has been so merciful to you, my believing brother or sister. Can you not do the same to the unsaved or to the brother or sister in Christ who is struggling? Yes, it is true, even the saved one can struggle with the sin and troubles of life.

How should we treat those folks? If we are prideful and arrogant we will do as so many others have done. We will kick them to the side and have nothing more to do with them. However, if we do it the Godly way, we will do just the opposite. The apostle Paul talks about this in Galations 6:1-2. Paul tells us here:

“Brethren, if a man be taken over in a fault (sin) ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

This is what I am talking about church. There is enough hate in the world to go around. Believers should not add to it, should they? It is impossible to restore one in the spirit of meekness while hating them and looking down on them. What I am saying is this: Walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. Do as Jesus did two-thousand years ago and still does today – show love, mercy and grace to all. Let the invitation of salvation be given in the spirit intended by God. That would be with love, my friends.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

RETURN TO THE BASICS

It's that time again church. The time to gather together in praise and worship to the God above all gods and his Son, Jesus. It is always such an honor and privilege to bring forth the word of God to you. God loves you so much that he reaches right through the cyberspace, known as the internet, to bless you, to save you, to heal and deliver you from all the oppression Satan has put upon you. No wonder we can say – today is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it! We welcome everyone to this 24/7, week long, online church service. We emphasize, everyone is welcome here.

This week I want to touch on a subject that is filled with controversy and pitfalls. The church!! You know folks, there are over two hundred denominations. Each one man made and man run. All proclaiming that their teaching and preaching is the correct teaching of God. Over two hundred seminaries, all teaching different things on the same verse. How can that be? Is there anything wrong with this picture?

Some churches teach healing is for today, others say it isn't. Some say tongues is of God, others say it is of the devil. Some churches believe instrumental music is to be used in praise and worship, yet other denominations teach only voice singing should be used. Does anyone out there really believe God meant his salvation to be this complicated? Some churches teach that man after salvation should walk in wealth. Other churches teach we should walk in poverty. Some churches refer to other denominations as “the frozen chosen.” Yet the “frozen chosen” churches claim that those other churches are just loud and emotional driven (holy rollers). No wonder confusion remains constant in organized churches and among religious organizations.

Do you know that for approximately three hundred years after the death of Jesus, there was no organized church? Yet, believers did gather together to worship and praise God. They encouraged each other to follow the teachings the apostles laid before them. They taught about Jesus coming to earth to save us. Their focus was on Jesus, dead, buried and risen. The cross was the object of their focus. They weren't concerned about the politics of their time as we are today. They would never allow their spirituality to be linked with one political party or another as God was the all in all for them. As it should be today.

The truth is, salvation and your belief in Jesus Christ is a personal relationship. Paul gives us the true doctrine of the church. In Colossians 1:14-22.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him and for him: And he is before all things and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled - In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.”

In other words folks, return to the basics. Jesus and him crucified. He is in and above all things. When men decided that we have moved beyond the cross of calvary, they made a huge mistake. The entire new covenant is wrapped up in the cross. These previous verses of the Bible clearly state, Jesus is the creator and head of the church. It is made clear also in these passages, we as believers are the body of Christ. We are the church here on the earth to carry out the works that Jesus did.

What we are not to do is pick a verse out of the Bible and make a denomination out of it. My God help us to be wise and to understand your Word. As I speak to you on this online church, I only have one request of you, my friends. Please do not believe anything I say. Look it up in the Word of God and prove to yourself whether I am speaking truth or falsehood. Also, let me say this. I am not against local churches. I encourage you to ask God to lead you to a church near you, where you can worship and praise God with others. But always be faithful to read your Bible, and when the Spirit of God shows you something different from what is being taught, take it to your pastor and discuss it with him. Not with an attitude or to correct him, but to shine light on what he is teaching.

Pastors and teachers, this is an invitation to you to quit preaching your seminary notes or what other preachers teach and to get back in tune with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Bible. All these things that seem so contradictory, are doctrines that God will make clear to you, but only through his word. This 24/7 online church will be preaching and teaching on all the so called controversial doctrines mentioned in the beginning of this message. You will be free to question or even disagree with me. But only if you take the time to check it out for yourself through the word of God.

This ministry is being very careful to only preach the divine Word of Truth imparted to us by the Holy Spirit through the word of God. To do otherwise would be to invite a curse upon ourselves. The apostle Paul makes this clear in a warning to all preachers in Galations 1:8-9. Paul said:

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received, let him be accursed.”

I don't want that. And good pastors and teachers, I know you don't either. Get back to the basics, which can only be the word of God, which is Jesus and him crucified.

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

New Prayer Request: Isaiah Moors, two month old baby, in ICU with severe internal injuries. Please pray for healing and a quick recovery. Also, pray for the family that they have peace in this trying situation.

GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH

I am here to announce and proclaim Jesus is Lord!! The mission of this online church is to lift up the name of Jesus to all. He is the reason this church welcomes all who enter into this place. We exclude no one in this 24/7 week long, online church service. We hope and pray to reach everyone we possibly can with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The anointed messages we preach here are with purpose. The purpose being to present Jesus Christ to everyone. Not as a person of history or fantasy, but as a living and loving Savior who died a horrible death on a cross at calvary. He was buried but rose again from the dead by the power of his father, the living God above all gods.

It is time for all to understand God is a present time God. Many think of Jesus as someone to read about or to be talked about as if he was dead and a thing of the past. Not so, my friends. Jesus is alive and wants to help you in every situation of life. Psalms 46:1 points this out very clearly. Let's read it together.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Refuge from what? Every situation, circumstance or trouble that comes against you. God, through his son Jesus, is a safe place. The beauty of it all is this. That safe place is open to all who will enter in by their belief in the living savior, Jesus Christ. This safe place is shut up tight to anything or anyone that excludes Jesus from their lives and wishes to do us harm. Psalm 46:1 states God is our strength. It does not state we are our own strength, does it? When we acknowledge God as our strength, nothing is impossible to us in this present time or in the future. Yet, if we choose only to walk in our own strength, excluding God, we walk at our own peril. Success will be very elusive to us on our own power. But, through God, all things are possible to us.

There was a time when the apostles were questioning Jesus about who could be saved. Jesus answered by stating – by men no one could be saved. But, by God, all things are possible. Let's look at Matthew 19:26, Jesus speaking:

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Let's bring this saying of Jesus' to this date. Because his words still stand true today. Basically, Jesus is telling us to not be followers of men, but God only. With God only are all things possible for you. Man cannot save you no matter how eloquent or believable they may sound. In fact, you follow man long enough, excluding God, and you may end up in the same ditch they fall into. And, you may not ever recover.

God will lead you into victory over all the things Satan and the world system can and will throw at you. I am not telling you bad things, circumstances and situations will not come into your life. But, I am telling you, with God as your refuge and strength, you will be an over comer no matter what comes against you. I have often told my kids, all grown up now by the way, that it is not what comes against you that matters but how you react to it. React as the world reacts – you lose!! React as the instruction book of life (the Bible) dictates, you win. God is a present time help in every situation of life.

You know, when Jesus was on the earth, he went about preaching, teaching and healing the sick (both physical and mental). For example, let's go to Matthew 9:35.

“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues (churches) and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”

What was he teaching and preaching? He was explaining and proclaiming the truth and good news of the gospel. Ladies and gentlemen, preaching, teaching and healing are the gospel program. The things Jesus did on the earth are the very same things we as believers are to do today. You don't have to take my word for it. Jesus in John 14:12 says it better than I ever could. Jesus said:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

Very clear instructions, don't you think? God never intended the works that Jesus did while on the earth to die with him, never to return or to only be remembered as a thing of the past. But, they are to continue through the believer. We must continue to preach Jesus as a present time help in this world. We must continue to teach our children, our grandchildren, and all who will listen about Jesus. Every place we go, no matter what city or village, we must teach, preach and proclaim healing is for today. Churches that do not teach that healing is for today, better wake up and read the word of God again. I believe the failure of many Christians to be healed of physical and mental problems are due to the lack of proper teaching and preaching in the churches and seminaries of today.

Even churches that believe in healing for today often link it to the giving of money. And that is wrong, wrong, wrong. It's time we shine the light of the gospel on these erroneous teachings. God has left us so much to help us live victoriously in this life on earth. Let's no longer water the gospel down. Get back in the word of God, my friends, ask God for wisdom and understanding of his Word. He will provide you with all the answers you need to live a life of goodness and mercy.

Jesus left instructions for us before he left the earth. Let's obey them. Turn with me to Matthew 28:20, Jesus speaking to believers of yesterday and today. Jesus said:

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Those things include salvation, baptism, the Holy Spirit, healing and deliverance from demonic oppression. We will be teaching on all of these things. Get ready for a good ride!

God Bless You,
Bro. Bob

Prayer Requests: Please pray for my cousin, John Pitts. John has just gone through a lung transplant. Please pray for a quick recovery and a complete and total healing. John, we love you and will pray for you daily.

We ask for urgent prayer for Mrs. Ravelo. She was recently admitted to the hospital. She is battling anemia. We ask our Heavenly Father to touch her with his healing power. Also, we are praying for her family. May God give them the peace that passes all understanding.

GOD IS PLEASED WITH YOU

This week is a very special week in the lives of all believers, isn't it? This Sunday we celebrate the death, burial and most of all, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Yes my friends, Jesus is alive and well – thank you very much.

What a great day to welcome everyone to your 24/7 week long, online church service. There is no one who is not eligible to attend this service. Why? Because when we lift up the name of Jesus, he will draw all men unto himself. Here, read it for yourself in John 12:32, Jesus speaking:

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Did you get that? Jesus will draw all men, and women by the way, to himself. That is the main purpose of the Spirit of Wisdom Ministries. In the past few weeks we have talked to all manner of men, haven't we? We have reached out to the unsaved. We have encouraged believers who have lost their way to return to their Heavenly Father. And what better time than the present to talk with the faithful believer? Yes my friends, there is such a thing. There are people who get up each morning with thanks in their heart and on their lips because they know and understand God has given them another day of life to serve him. They remember life before Jesus saved them. Some were in deep physical and moral sin, yet some did not partake of that form of sin, but they were bitter, unfulfilled, lonely, knowing something wasn't right in their life, but not knowing what it was. Am I striking a cord with anyone? Many thought surely this isn't all there is. And you know what? They were right. God was reaching out to you, wasn't he?

Moms, Dads, grandparents, friends, and friends of friends were praying for you. Pointing you to the cross. You had to choose for yourself, didn't you? Thank God you chose life and now, regardless of all that life throws at you, you have a peace that passes all understanding. You have a love for your fellow man you never had before. And, oh my – what a burden for souls!! Your cry to God is “Save them Lord, please save them.”

Men and women know something is different about you. Jesus said this would happen. In John 13:34-35 Jesus said:

“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

That is you, my faithful believer. Finally, because of Jesus, you are able to separate sin from the sinner. Hate is no longer directed toward men, but toward the devil and his evil, demonic forces. I know!! Sometimes we have to work on these things, but you are getting there, aren't you? Your prayers for government leaders are not filled with hate for them, but love. Believing God can and will reveal himself to these leaders; praying God will give them eyes to see and ears to hear. Just as many believed you would never change from your past wicked ways, but God moved over you and now they see you in a different light. So it can be with others.

GOD IS PLEASED WITH YOU

I am preaching this to encourage you. God loves your faithfulness. He expects great things out of you. Jesus lays it out for you in John 14:12. He was soon to die on the cross, yet his thoughts were only of you. Let's see what he had to say.

“Verily, verily I say unto you. He that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do: Because I go unto my Father.”

What works would these be, church? Well, what did Jesus do while on this earth? He preached and revealed himself as the Son of God. He taught us about God, letting us know that our father loved us so much that he sent Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. He healed the sick. He cast the devil out of those who were in torment. Let's talk about these things for a minute. Following the instructions Jesus gave us in John 14:12 we can conclude as believers we are to share Jesus with others, explaining to them who Jesus is and what he will do for them if they accept his free gift of salvation. We are to tell others about God's love for them. A love that is so intense that he would let his son die a horrible death on a cross, be buried, but gloriously arise to return to the father, where he would sprinkle his blood on the mercy seat and by that action man could be redeemed from their sin.

We also, according to this scripture, can pray for the sick and see them recover. We can walk with no fear of Satan because in the name of Jesus we can cast him out. We now can discern the spirits as Jesus did. This is you I'm talking about!! No wonder God is pleased with you. We know we can open ourselves to God and he can perform wonders through us the world has never seen yet. Stay faithful church, stay faithful. No longer do you walk in darkness, but in the light of God. Jesus tells us about this in John 12:46.

“I am come a light unto the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”

The Apostle Paul also addresses this in Ephesians 5:8.

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: Walk as children of light.”

I thank God you are doing just that. One point I want to make: We are all growing and learning the ways of God. God is pleased with you. He knows you fail at times, but he sees how fast you recover. God can see you are not perfect in all you do, but he knows your heart and intention. God knows you are attaining to perfection. Paul talks about this in Philippians 3:12.

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: But I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

What Paul is saying is – I'm working toward perfection (which is maturity in Christ). He says he is not there yet, but he just wants to complete what God has for him to do. Now let's continue. Turn with me to Philippians 3:13-14.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

There you are, faithful believer. Keep on keeping on. Press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Great advice from a man who made it.

God Bless You
Bro. Bob