The Sin Within!

Genesis 3:8-10

"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”

The problem of mankind can be traced all the way back to the garden of Eden, I love this testimony in Genesis because it helps me to understand the core issues that have plagued us since God blew His breath into the dust that was Adam and gave Him life.

The issue is obedience to God's word or the serpent's word, who also deceives the whole world. The cards are really stacked up against those who want to do what is right, to obey the voice of God and not the devil's or man's voice. It's really pretty simple, if you do what is right you will be blessed, if you do what is wrong you will be cursed, oppressed, laden down with sins and you will never know what it means to really live.

We know the story but do we meditate on it? Do we learn from it? So that we don't make the same mistake that Adam and Eve did. Because of the fall of man, we are born with a fallen nature, disconnected from the One who created us, so we need to be reconnected to our Creator and become a partaker of His Divine Nature!

After the sin of Adam and Eve (which was to disobey a direct command from God), they were separated from God and sin entered them, they were corrupted, made unclean, and evil entered into their soul. God still loved them but they had to pay the consequences for their sin, and the same thing happens today. Adam and Eve heard the voice of God and they hid themselves from the presence of the Lord, how many times have you ran away from the Lord? Not wanting to face correction, or judgement because of something you said or did that was wrong. Sin caused them to be afraid, fearful of a Just, Righteous, Holy, and Loving God, who just want's a relationship with His creation.

It's very easy to go along with the world and do what they do, and live like they live, as if there was no God, many try very hard to make God just go away. They don't want His Presence, His Light, His Truth, or His Love. Just like Paul prophesied, in the last days men would be lovers of themselves, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. Sad, but inevitable, which is why God brings His judgements!

The carnal mind cannot comprehend the level of spiritual warfare that goes on every single day for the minds of men, and what the devil does to keep people blind and oblivious to what's really going on this world.

You know the phrase, 'you are, what you eat'. Sin is like that saying, but instead of feeding your body to satiate your hunger pains, when you indulge yourself with sin you are feeding your soul pure evil. And when sin enters you it's hard to get it out of you!

You know the story of the two wolves? Here it is!

There’s a story of the two wolves in Cherokee culture in which a grandfather teaches his grandson an important life lesson.

The grandfather tells his grandson that there is a battle going on inside all of us. It is a battle between two wolves that live inside us.

He says, “My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ that live inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The grandson thinks about it for a while and says, “Which wolf wins?”

The grandfather replies, “The one you feed”.

If you sow to please the flesh you will die, but if you sow to please the Spirit you will inherit eternal life!

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

Don't Let Anyone or Anything, Keep You From Your Blessings!

 

Mark 10:46-52

"Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road."

We know this testimony very well, blind Bartimaeus sitting by the side of the road begging, when he hears that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. What can we learn from Bartimaeus? A lot! 

When Bartimaeus starting crying out for Jesus to have mercy on him, many voices of opposition started telling him to be quiet, even warning him to stop shouting. How many times have you started to cry out for Jesus but your family members told you to be quiet? Saying negative things to discourage you from pressing on. How about your spouse or your friends, when they see you trying to change your life for the better, do their voices start warning you not to do it?

The voices of negativity and opposition didn't stop Bartimaeus from shouting out all the more! He didn't let the devil stop him from receiving his blessing! And you shouldn't let anyone or anything stop you either!

After Jesus recognized the incessant shouting of Bartimaeus, He stood still, Oh how wonderful it is when Jesus stands still for you! Because He heard your cry for help, healing, protection and deliverance! The scriptures tell us that when Jesus prayed He cried out and shed tears, and He was heard because of His godly fear and reverent submission to His Father.

Hebrews 5:5-9

"So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him."

Vehement means: showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense.

So Jesus wasn't just praying in His mind, He was yelling out! Praying with force and intensity! 

The devil, principalities, evil spirits and wicked people, are not just gonna lie down for you, they are going to oppose you, and lift up against you, when they see you start to rise up and make a change for Jesus and start doing good instead of evil. They will try to stop you, but you have to press on through the desert, through the onslaught, through the darkness, until Jesus shines His great light down upon you from Heaven like He did to Paul on the road to Damascus! You have to press on until the Lord commands His holy angels to come down and aid you in your good fight of faith! Oh Glory!

And after your great fight, you get the breakthrough, and when Jesus calls you over and asks, "What do you want ME to do for you?" you will be ready to receive your blessing! Oh happy day!

So don't let the inner or outer voices of evil and negativity tell you to be quiet, stop worshipping, stop praising, stop preaching, or stop talking about Jesus, because it's only when you shout louder, praise more, speak more, and press on that you receive the victory, the breakthrough and the blessing! 

In Jesus Name!

Tyrone

Are You Ruled By Ungodly Emotions?

 

Do you have ungodly emotions that dictate your actions? Do you wake up on the wrong side of the bed everyday? Some people live their lives being angry everyday, walking in hate, mad at the world and lashing out to loved ones or whoever is near them. Grumbling and complaining about everything, but doing nothing to change their way of thinking or their surroundings.

The Pharisees were like that with Jesus, they were ruled by their ungodly emotions, such as mans anger, hatred, envy and Jealousy, to name a few. Jesus only wanted to help them and bring them into a saving knowledge of the truth, to transition them and the Jewish people from the old covenant, to the new covenant with God, but they rejected Him and the good news of the kingdom of God.

Even when Jesus did wonderful miracles of healing in their midst, instead of rejoicing, they hated Him even more for healing a man on their Sabbath day and they plotted what they would do to Jesus.

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.

How does one become so full of anger that it moves them to want to kill somebody? Or plot ways to destroy them? And yet this same thing happens today! The only way a person can really change is if the Holy Spirit of God changes you from the inside out!

If you  profess to be a Christian, and you find yourself getting angry frequently, or envying the neighbor and arguing with people a lot, you really need to question your conversion and examine your heart! 

We can still have emotions, even Jesus wept and was angry, He grieved, He had righteous indignation, and He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit. So there is nothing wrong with emotions in and of themselves, but they must be governed by the Spirit of God and His fruits, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc... must replace emotions that are ungodly.

Don't let ungodly emotions rule you, instead let the peace and love of Jesus Christ rule and reign over your emotions, your heart, your mind, and your life!

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

Don't Just Hear The Word, OBEY The Word!

 

We all know what James 1:22-25  says, but are you applying what it says to your life? If you don't, then the scriptures, the written words of God are just words on a page, if you don't apply it, then you won't receive the blessing's or the promises that the word of God contains. It's really that simple, you can say amen all you want to, and agree with the scriptures, but never obey what they say, if that's you, what do you plan to do about it?

There are many serious choices to be made this year and if you are not grounded and established in the word and LIVING it out every single day, then chances are, that when it comes time for you to make a decision for Jesus you will not be able to do it, and you will end up compromising to save yourself or your loved ones.

Matthew 7:24-27

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

The Light Shines In The Darkness!

 

John 1:4-5

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."

Matthew 4:16

"The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”

It doesn't matter how much people sit in darkness and soak it up, watch it, and drink it in, becoming completely evil and devoid of light. Darkness will NEVER overcome the light! Glory to God!

God IS LIGHT and in Him their is no darkness at all! Jesus was and IS full of light and when He physically walked this earth the light shined upon men, but people loved darkness rather than light, because they fear their deeds will be exposed. But coming into the light is the ONLY way to be set free from the powers of darkness and the works of the devil, because satan is completely evil and those who serve him, knowing or unknowing, will be full of evil and darkness as well!

Even those who think they know Jesus and don't are full of darkness and deception, just like the first century Pharisees and teachers of the law were, and they only way to remove the veil of darkness from their faces, is to repent and truly come to Jesus, the Light of Life!

That's why Jesus told His disciples be careful what you see, hear, and believe, because the eyes, ears, and mind are entry way's into your soul, if you open up your soul to evil, then evil will enter in! And once it's in, it's hard to get out!

Matthew 6:22-23

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

But those who believe and follow Jesus will NEVER walk in darkness! Hallelujah!

John 8:12

"Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Walking In The Light!

Tyrone

Novamente! (Again!)

Isaiah 43:19-21

"Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise."

God hears the cries of His people, will He not answer us? I believe He will at the appointed time. God is always working and doing new things and I believe with all my heart that He is going to do something new in 2021! No more traditions of men and religious rituals for His chosen, but freedom and liberty through His Holy Spirit. He's going to tear down strongholds and release the youth from their bondage, and liberate them to do His will, to do good and not evil, to build up, instead of burn down.

The Israelites were blessed in the midst of God's judgements in Egypt and it will be no different for the bride of Christ in these last days. God will make a way in the desert, and open up dry places, pouring out His living water upon those who receive Him. It's time for God to do what He does once again and set the captives free to worship Him in spirit and truth! 

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

Back To The First Century Church (Part 3, One Accord)

Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-4

"Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."

Acts 2:1-4

"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."

One very important thing to take note of in every instance where the Lord God moved mightily in supernatural manifestations and works, was when the believer's gathered together with ONE ACCORD! One mind, one agenda, one goal, which is to experience the power and presence of God in their midst.

In the tower of babel the people set out with one mind and one language, to build a tower whose top touched the heavens, and they likely would have done it if God would not have stopped them. Pay close attention to what God said about the matter.

Genesis 11:5-6

"But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them."

The power of unity is unmatched, the power of one accord and one mind amongst any group of people can bring about great change, but when the people of God come together with one accord, one heart, and one mind, God comes down!

Even with the Azusa street revival, William Seymour joined together with other believers praying for the same thing, for God to pour out His Spirit on them like the day of Pentecost.

"Moving into the home of Edward Lee, a janitor at a local bank, William Seymour began ministry with a prayer group that had been meeting regularly at the home of Richard and Ruth Asbery, at 214 North Bonnie Brae. Asbery was also employed as a janitor. Most of the worshippers were African-American, with occasional visits from European-Americans. As the group sought God for revival, their hunger intensified.

Finally, on April 9, Lee was baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. When the news of his baptism was shared with the true believers at Bonnie Brae, a powerful outpouring followed. Many received the Holy Spirit baptism as Pentecostal revival arrived on the West Coast. That evening would be hard to describe. People fell to the floor as if unconscious, others shouted and ran through the house. One neighbor, Jennie Evans Moore played the piano, something she did not have the ability to do before." (https://azusastreet.org/)

Acts 2:44-46

"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,"

Acts 4:23-31

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Every single time a group of believers get together with one accord something supernatural happens! God manifests Himself through signs and wonders, pouring out His Spirit, shaking the foundations and sending forth His angels. Truly when two or more are gathered together in the name of Jesus with one accord the Lord is right in the midst!

Acts 12:5-7

"Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands."

Once again while Peter was held in prison, the disciples came together and prayed constantly for him and God answered their prayers by sending down His angel to get Peter out of the prison!

Acts 16:25-27

"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed."

The unity of the faith and the oneness of heart and mind that the early disciples and the believers of the Azusa Street revival experienced, should be a desire of every 21st century Christian, because that is the best way to see a mighty move of God. When the believers have one accord then nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them!

In His Service,

Tyrone