Are You Kicking Against The Pricks?

 

Acts 9:1-6

"Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Paul had no idea that he was persecuting the Lord Jesus by persecuting His people. Paul would never have known that what he was doing was wrong if Jesus had not appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He would have just kept rounding up Disciples and putting them in prison, he thought that what he was doing was right!

Jesus said that the day would come when men would kill disciples of Christ and think that they were doing God a favor!

Jesus had been talking to Paul many times before this road to Damascus experience, but Paul kept resisting God, His Spirit, and His anointed servants. Even when Stephen, the Lords first martyr was preaching, Paul stood there holding the cloaks of the Pharisees while they stoned him to death. 

Acts 7:51-53, 57-58

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it."

"Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul."

It's not that hard for many people to resist the drawing and calling of God, when you feel the pull of God's grace, all you have to do is pull away from it, draw back, and say no thank you, I don't want salvation. 

This is why the Spirit of God said, "Today if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts"

Hebrews 3:7-11

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

When an anointed man or woman of God speaks, you can do two things, resist the word of God or accept it, and when it pricks your heart, humble yourself and repent, cry out for the mercy of God, ask for forgiveness and live! 

Acts 2:36-39

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we 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.”

The Holy Spirit comes to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. So when you feel the prick of God's Spirit upon your heart, what will you do?

The Choice Is Yours!

In Christ,

Tyrone

Jesus Loved Everyone; But Did Everyone Love Jesus?

 

I have heard this statement many times when ministers or those who hold to the teachings of Jesus, tell someone that their lifestyle is wrong and they need to stop sinning and do what is right. And nine times out of ten you will hear, "who are you to judge me? Jesus loved everybody!"

That is absolutely true! Jesus did love everyone! But everyone DID NOT love Jesus!

Why not you ask? Because Jesus told everyone about themselves, and testified to the world that it's works (deeds) were evil! And that IS Love!!!! Telling someone the truth about themselves and their sinful living IS loving them!!! 

Ministers of the gospel are called and anointed to help people see the error of their ways so they can repent and be forgiven of their sins and come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ!

Jesus was hated by the Pharisees, Jews and the world because He preached against their hypocrisy, religion, sin, and traditions.

John 7:6-7

"Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil."

This is also why when Jesus began to preach He went around saying "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." Repent means to change your mind and think differently, because if you think different, you will ACT different!

How did Jesus deal with people's sin you ask?

John 8:7-11

"So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Jesus loved this woman who was caught in the act of adultery, but He didn't condemn her for it! The Pharisees were ready to stone her to death! Jesus dealt with her sin by telling her to go AND SIN NO MORE! Stop doing wrong, stop committing sinful acts! That is love!

John 5:12-14

"Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Jesus healed a man who had been cripple for thirty eight years, and afterwards told him to sin no more or something worse could happen to him. Jesus knew that the man was a sinner, but again He did not condemn the man, but healed him and later told him to stop sinning! That IS love!

John 15:18-25

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’"

We know what ultimately happened to Jesus don't we? He was betrayed, falsely accused, taken into custody like a criminal, severely beaten, mocked, whipped, and hung on a cross with nails through His hands and feet. All this happened to Jesus because He spoke the truth to the religious leaders of the day and to the world.

Do you think it would be any different today? NO!

Jesus even told His disciples/apostles that in the end times all nations will hate His future servants for His names sake!

John 24:9-14

“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. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

And after all the healings, miracles, signs and wonders that Jesus did amongst thousands of people in many cities, there was only one hundred and twenty disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit in the upper room in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

Yes Jesus did, and still does love everyone! But everyone will not love Him!

In Christ,

Tyrone

2024 The Year Of Worldwide Change?

 

With Israel and Palestine still at war, and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing to eradicate Hamas, it seems there will be nothing left of the Palestine territory when the war finishes.  

What will be the outcome of this war? Will other countries eventually get involved? Time will tell!

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the prohpecies of Jesus, Zechariah, and John will be fulfilled at the appointed time.

Luke 21:20-24

“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."

Zechariah 14:1-2

"Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, And your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, The houses rifled, And the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, But the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city."

Revelation  11:1-3

"Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

How about the next U.S. President? Will there even be one? Is Joe Biden even capable of running the nation for another four years! Will Trump be re-elected? Will Obama play a part in all of this? What about Putin of Russia and Xi in China? Kim Jong Un in North Korea. 

False apostles and false prophets abound, people claiming to be Jesus, gender confusion, suicide rates skyrocketing, witchcraft accepted everywhere, pornography at least a five billion dollar a year industry, male and female entertainers in music continuing to dress more lude and performances continue to be more sexual in concert and on live T.V., MMA fighters male and female dieing in the ring while fighting each other, on and on, and on!

The events of this world keep moving toward the inevitable end, which is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ!

In Jesus,

Tyrone

Humble Yourself!

 

Philippians 2:5-11

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

These are some of the greatest scriptures in the bible! To really understand what God Himself did for His own creation is mind blowing! He caused a Virgin to be with child and formed a body for Himself to enter into His own creation as a human being! The Word was with God and the Word was God, and He became flesh and dwelt among us! Amazing!

Then as an adult man humbling Himself to wash His own disciples feet!

John 13:2-6

"And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

The disciples must have been in shock to see their Rabbi, kneeling down on the floor washing their dirty feet! Peter couldn't understand what was happening!

James 4:7-10

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

The scripture says HUMBLE YOURSELF! That means there is something you must conciously and willingly do in order for God to work in your life! Notice the scripture says humble yourself in the SIGHT of the Lord, not for people or to be seen as humble in their eyes! AFTER you humble yourself then the word says and HE WILL LIFT YOU UP!! That's an absolute, a guarantee of a blessing from God!

It's like when Jesus said, "Come Follow Me, AND I WILL make you fishers of men!"

Humility brings grace and the blessings of God upon your soul! 

Philippians 2:1-4

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

This is absolute true humility and love given to those in the body of Christ by the Spirit of God! This is not some piety of a sect or religious order, but the fruits of the Holy Spirit born in the hearts of true disciples of Jesus Christ, who desire to be like their Master!

Your life can be completely changed by God, IF you humble yourself in His sight.

The choice is yours!

In Christ,

Tyrone

Human Beings, Much More Than Flesh And Bones!

 

If human beings really understood who and what they really are, the world would be a very different place! 

Genesis 2:7

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."

Human beings are composed of three things: Body, Soul, and Spirit.

God Almighty, who is an all knowing, all wise and all Powerful Spirit being, took dust from the ground and formed a man in His own image and likeness. This alone is absolutely supernatural, and shows how creative God is. The whole creation period, is a big display of the unlimited wisdom and power of God.

It's such a shame that so many of God's creation want nothing to do with the One who created them! 

On the mount of transfiguration, Jesus showed James, Peter, and John, what and who He really was!

Matthew 17:1-3

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him."

What an honor and a privilege it was for James, Peter, and John to see this glorious vision, and to have their eyes opened to see through the veil of flesh that covered The Word Himself, Emmanuel, The King of Glory!

Our bodies are just a shell, a covering, for our soul and spirit. When God breathed into the nostrils of the man He formed from the dust of the earth, that man turned from an inanimate creation, (like a statue) into a living being. He was now able to walk, talk, move around, think, feel and live! What a great and mighty God I serve! This is why Jesus said, "With God Nothing Is Impossible!"

God breathed a portion of Himself into Adam! Jesus who was God manifested in the flesh, when He walked upon this earth said, "I AM The Way, The Truth, and The LIFE!

The writer of Hebrews said this in 10:5-7

"Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ ”

Jesus also said that those who believe in Him will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of Life! And Jesus IS the LIGHT and LIFE!!!

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.”

It's so wonderful to know that we can have God Himself living within our souls by His Spirit, to sanctify our body, wash our soul, and renew our spirit, so that we can be like Adam was when he first  became a living being! 

1st Thessalonians 5:23

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."

In Jesus,

Tyrone

The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit (Discerning of Spirits)

 

1st Corinthians 12:4-11

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

It's very sad to hear when some religious leaders say there is no more baptism with the Holy Spirit, and the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. I wonder why they say that? Is it because they want to be in control of everything and exclude the workings of the Spirit of God in their congregations?

Are they afraid of evil spirits manifesting in their midst, and deceiving or possessing the people? I never read one scripture in the bible where God or Jesus was afraid of evil spirits manifesting, or His apostles either! 

We need to be able to discern what spirits are at work when people gather for any type of meeting, or worship service. How can you know what spirit is speaking through the pastor or religious leader without the gift of discerning of spirits? 

Satan himself could be walking in and out of people in a church service or anywhere else and you would never know it! You could be sitting right next to men or women who practice witchcraft and you wouldn't know it. We NEED all nine and more gifts of the Holy Spirit in these last days that we are living in now!

What does discernment mean? 

1: the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure : skill in discerning
2: an act of perceiving or discerning something

Christianity.com says of discernment:

Discernment is a gift of God that helps us identify right from wrong. It is the process of examining what is good and bad, what is truth and a lie, and what is better and best.

The gift of discerning spirits is:

The gift of discerning spirits is a supernatural gift, given by God's Holy Spirit that allows a person to see into the spirit realm and determine the source of a spiritual manifestation. This gift can reveal what spirits are inside and working through a person. It is also divine discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit and is used for knowledge and protection. It helps a believer to become "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16)

Don't you want to know what spirits are really working in your congregation? I know I do! Wouldn't you like to know what spirits are really influencing your pastor or leader? 

It's time to allow the Spirit of the Living God to reign over gatherings of believers, it's time to let the Holy Spirit lead the worship services, it's time to receive all the gifts of the Spirit so that the bride of Christ can be holy, unspotted, unblemished, and without wrinkle. 

Let the gifts of God's Spirit be given once more to each one as He wills, so we can all function in the fullness of God and the body of Christ!

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

The Finger Of God! (Casting Out Evil Spirits)

 

When Jesus and His apostles commanded evil spirits to come out of people, they left quickly!

Acts 16:16-19

"Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities."

My goodness how much we need the power of the Holy Spirit operating in the body of Christ and the world today! 

What Paul did was no show, it wasn't some drawn out battle between good and evil for days and weeks, like you see in those exorcism movies or documentaries! Paul commanded the evil spirit to come out of the woman and it came out in the same hour! 

When Jesus, the Son of Almighty God cast out demons, they came out immediately!

Luke 4:31-37

"Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region."

Luke 11:4-20

"And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."

When you see or hear about a days or weeks long battle to cast an evil spirit out of somebody you have to question whether or not they have the Spirit of God working through them!

When you need deliverance from evil spirits, call on Jesus! Ask Him to send you somebody truly filled with His power and His Holy Spirit, and when the demon is commanded to come out, and it comes out quickly, then you will know that the kingdom of God has come upon you!

In Christ,

Tyrone