God's Glory!

Colossians 1:24-27

"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

A day is coming when the world will see the visible manifestation of God's glory in the face of His people and they will know that HE IS THE LORD!

A day is coming when the glory of God's presence will be seen and felt in the midst of the assembly and they will know that HE IS THE LORD!

During the Azusa street revival in California, many testified that the Shekinah Glory of God's presence was so thick that little children could play hide and go seek in it. It was like a thick mist, a cloud that could be seen and felt by all, many would come in and lie on the ground and breathe it in.

Moses went up Mount Sinai to talk with God and receive the ten commandments, and when he came down his face was shining with God's glory!

Exodus 34:29-30

"Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him."

Jesus gave the first disciples the glory that the Father had given Him and they were able to walk as Jesus walked, carrying the glory of God!

John 17:22-23

"And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."

Isaiah 60:1-3

"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising."

In Jesus,

Tyrone

Cold As Ice

Matthew 24:9-12

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."

Isn't lawlessness abounding today? I sure think so, just look at the British soldier who served a tour of duty in Afghanistan, fighting the Taliban, only to come home and get run over by a car and hacked to death in broad daylight by two radical Islamist's, surely lawlessness is abounding!

I don't even watch the news anymore because most of it is reporting the latest murder, kidnapping, and violence that goes on daily, surely lawlessness is abounding.

I can definitely see that the love of many people have grown cold as many are so oppressed by Satan and bound by sin that they are beyond feelings! 

Jesus Himself encountered the same cold hearts when He came to this earth and we are seeing the same thing today. Here's a question: would you recognize and receive Jesus if He came to your city, your 'church building', or even your home?

John 1:10-11

"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him."

The religious leaders of the day did not recognize or receive the Messiah they were waiting for and who Moses prophesied about in the scriptures they read every Sabbath because their hearts were hard and their eyes were blind, do you think it's any different today?

Mark 3:1-6

"And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him."

Even after three and a half years of receiving the anointed words and love of Jesus, the disciples hearts were still hard after His death, burial, and resurrection! If that was true for them, how much easier is it for us who have not seen or walked with Jesus physically, to have hardness of heart in many areas?

Mark 16:14

"Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen."

So let us remember the sobering words of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings."

In Jesus,
Tyrone

Prensa Das Olivas

This word can also be found written in English in our blog on 05/28/2013

Eu gostaria de dividir algo que o Espirito Santo de Deus falou ao meu coracao ontem de madrugada quando Ele me acordou. Ele disse que quer que nos (seguidores de Cristo) tenhamos oleo nas nossas lampadas. E a primeira passagem biblica que veio a minha mente foi a parabola das 10 Virgens.

Eu fui pesquisar mais sobre essa parabola online e pude encontrar uma explicacao muito profunda sobre o oleo atraves do Getsemani. Vamos checar o que a palavra Getsemani realmente significa. Eu peguei essa explicacao do blog da Denise e traduzi para o Portugues ((http://www.allaboutbecoming.com/like-him/parable-of-the-10-virgins-and-oil-in-our-lamp/).

GETSEMANI

A palavra "Getsemani" significa "Prensa das Olivas". Ha um simbolismo muito significante aqui. Os Judeus punham as olivas dentro de sacolas feitas de malha/rede em uma prensa para espremer azeite delas. As primeiras prensas rendiam o puro azeite que era prezado para muitos usos, incluindo cura e dar luz as lampadas. De fato, nos consagramos e utilizamos para administrar aos doentes. A ultima prensa das olivas, debaixo de pressao tremenda e pesos adicionais adicionados a prensa, rendiam um liquido vermelho e amargo que nos lembra do "copo amargo" que nosso Salvador partilhou. Simbolicamente, o Salvador esta indo a "Prensa das Olivas" (Getsemani) para se submeter a "pressao" de todos os nossos pecados que "espremeriam" Seu sangue para que nos pudessemos ter o "oleo" da cura da Expiacao/Redencao para nos curar de nossos pecados.

"E atraves de intensa pressao que se extrai o oleo e assim temos o oleo mais puro. Se nos pensarmos nisso simbolicamente em nossas vidas, que e atraves de pressao (esforcos,desafios,punicao,acoite,castigo) que nos passamos que se extrai o melhor de nos- que nos faz puros e cria nosso oleo? Se este e o caso, sao nossos desafios e pressoes que criam nosso oleo e nos faz puros o suficiente para vermos Cristo. Esta e a razao pela qual nao podemos dividir o nosso "oleo". Nossas lutas sao so nossas. E atraves de sobressai-las e nos tornar puros que nos temos o "oleo" e nao podemos dividi-lo. Cada pessoa deve passar por isso individualmente. Essas lutas e desafios que nos passamos sao verdadeiras bencaos. E o modo de purificacao de impurezas de nosso Senhor para nossas almas e cria pureza para que possamos estar de pe em Sua presenca e viver para Ele.

"Eu tambem achei interessante quando li sobre a segunda pressao das olivas que cria um oleo vermelho amargo. O segredo e nao manter a pressao e criar amargura, mas utilizar a luta ou dificuldade para criar pureza, e dar luz as nossas lampadas para continuarmos".

Nos todos temos que passar por um processo para chegarmos aonde o Senhor tem para nos, nos devemos ser purificados, limpos, expurgados, flagelados, corrigidos, humilhados se somos filhos de Deus e nos encontramos em Cristo. Nao ha atalho para ser como Cristo, voce tem que passar pela sua porcao da "prensa das olivas" e aceitar o processo de Deus em sua vida. Quanto mais rapido voce entender os propositos de Deus para voce, mais rapido voce sera capaz de se render, se arrepender e deixar Deus lidera-lo em todos os Seus caminhos perfeitos. O espremer da oliva (seu coracao) e necessario para trazer a tona o mais puro azeite (imagem de Deus).

Que Deus te ajude a ser transformado a imagem de Jesus Cristo e a aceitar os caminhos de Deus que sao perfeitos!

No amor de Cristo,

Cynthia R. Palmer

The Oil Press

I would like to share something the Lord spoke to my heart today at dawn that He wants us (professing Christians) to have oil in our lamps. And the first passage from Scriptures that came to my mind was the 10 Virgins.

I searched online to understand the 10 Virgins word better and I found a very profound explanation of oil through Gethsemane. Let's check what Gethsemane really means. I took the following from Denise's Blogspot at http://www.allaboutbecoming.com/like-him/parable-of-the-10-virgins-and-oil-in-our-lamp/

Gethsemane

The word “Gethsemane” means “oil press.” There is significant symbolism here. The Jews put olives into bags made of mesh fabric and placed them in a press to squeeze olive oil out of them. The first pressings yielded pure olive oil which was prized for many uses, including healing and giving light in lanterns. In fact, we consecrate it and use it to administer to the sick. The last pressing of the olives, under the tremendous pressure of additional weights added to the press, yielded a bitter, red liquid which can remind us of the “bitter cup” which the Savior partook of. Symbolically, the Savior is going into the “oil press” (Gethsemane) to submit to the “pressure” of all our sins which will “squeeze” His blood out in order that we might have the healing “oil” of the Atonement to heal us from our sins.

"It is the intense pressure that extracts the oil and gives us the purest oil. If we think of this symbolically in our life, then is it the pressure (the struggles and challenges) that we go through that extract the best in us—that makes us pure and creates our oil? If that is the case, it is our challenges and pressures that create our oil and make us pure enough to see Christ. THIS is the reason we cannot “share” our oil. Our trials are our own. It is through overcoming them and becoming pure that we have ‘oil’ and we cannot share that. Each person must go through this individually.” The trials and challenges we go through are truly blessings. It is the Lord’s way of purging the impurities from our souls and creating a pureness so that we will be able to stand in His presence and live with Him again.

"I found that interesting as read about the second pressing creates a bitter red oil. The secret is to not keep pressing and create bitterness, but to use the struggle or trial to create purity, and then let it fill our lamp and move on."

We all must pass through a process in order to get to where the Lord has for us, we must all be purified, cleansed, purged, scourged, chastened, corrected, humbled if we are children of God and we are abiding in Christ. There is no short way to be like Christ, you must get your "oil press" portion and accept God's process for your life. The faster you understand God's purposes for you, the quicker you will be able to surrender, repent and let God lead you in all His perfect path. The squeezing of the olive (our hearts) is necessary to bring forth the purest olive oil (God's image).

May God help you to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ and accept God's ways which are perfect!

In Christ's love,

Cynthia R. Palmer

Are You Oppressed?

Acts 10:34-38

"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

Unless you are walking in complete sanctification of your body, soul, and spirit, without any spot, wrinkle, or blemish, then you have some oppression in one or more areas.

The word oppression in the Greek means:

2616. katadunasteuo kat-ad-oo-nas-tyoo'-o from 2596 and a derivative of 1413; to exercise dominion against, i.e. oppress:--oppress.

1413. dunastes doo-nas'-tace from 1410; a ruler or officer:--of great authority, mighty, potentate.

As a result of sin and iniquity, Satan gains access to our lives and our flesh. He becomes a ruler over us, exercising dominion against us as long as we remain unrepentant and disconnected from the life of Christ.

Even after being born from above and contrary to popular belief, we are not instantly holy when we enter the kingdom of God. In most cases, (including mine) the Lord does not deliver us from everything immediately, we must all take part in the sufferings of Christ and go through chastening, pruning, and washing in order to be transformed into the image of Christ. This is called the process of sanctification, or to be made holy.

We must be healed by Jesus from the years of oppression by Satan who held us in bondage to do his will. We can be oppressed in many different ways, for example, we can have an evil spirit of infirmity like the woman who was bent over and bound for eighteen years. Many would look at her and think that her condition was just physical, but Jesus saw in the spirit that she was being oppressed by Satan.

Luke 13:10-17

"Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.  But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”  And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him."

Also contrary to popular belief, it is possible for a born again believer to have an evil spirit and darkness in the flesh at the same time the Holy Spirit indwells your heart. Understand that the Holy Spirit does not enter the physical heart or the organ that pumps blood to our bodies, but He enters the spiritual heart that's in our soul.

The thorn in Paul's flesh gives us scriptural proof of this truth. 

2nd Corinthians 12:7-8

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me."

The Greek word for messenger means:

32. aggelos ang'-el-os from aggello (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor:--angel, messenger.

The scripture tells us clearly that Paul received a thorn (something that causes distress or irritation) in the flesh and that thorn was a messenger (or angel of Satan) to buffet him. We know it must have been very painful to him because he pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from him!

For further insight into the topic of Christians having demons in the flesh, check out Derek Prince's message, "How To Be Delivered From Evil Spirits or Demons" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed8j33e8viE

The good news is Jesus can and desires to deliver us from all our oppression so that we can walk in purity and holiness!

1st John 3:8 "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."

In Jesus,

Tyrone

Dead Man Walking

Ephesians 2:1-3

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."

I was once a dead man walking, although I didn't know it at the time because my mind was darkened, my heart was hard and my eyes were blind. I was fulfilling the desires of my flesh and being controlled by demonic spirits and doing the works of Satan.

Over the past few years the Lord has shown me just how sick and depraved I was. But by His great love, mercy and power, I was delivered from many demonic spirits, strongholds, physical illness, and darkness of the flesh. If the Lord would not have used my wife over six years ago to shine His wonderful light upon me I would have probably died in a lost condition, thinking I would be saved.

1st Corinthians 6:9-11

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

Do not be deceived, if you are committing sinful acts and fulfilling the desires of your flesh and mind, you will not inherit the kingdom of God. And if you are a follower of Jesus and continue to sin without truly repenting and living your life as an obedient disciple of Christ, you will be cast into outer darkness as an unprofitable servant.

In Jesus,
Tyrone

Where Is The Love?

John 13:31-35

"So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus said by love ALL will KNOW that you are My disciples. So where is this sacrificial agape love being lived out in the lives of the disciples of Jesus? And why don't we see the love of the brethren that we read about in the book of Acts?

Acts 2:44-47

"Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

The day is coming when the elect of God will be gathered together again and have ALL things in common, the day is coming when the supernatural divine love of Christ will once again be manifested in the hearts of His disciples and ALL WILL KNOW that they are HIS disciples!

John 15:11-13

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."

In Jesus,
Tyrone