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

Visions Of Hell

***Quoted From The Azusa Papers***

"A sister who has been baptized with the Holy Ghost was at a church where the evangelist denounced the works of grace, the baptism with the Holy Ghost and gift of tongues. That evening she says the Lord showed her a vision of an open hell just back of the pulpit, with the awful, lurid flames coming up, and people sitting around the altar with their feet hanging over into the open hell, unconscious of their condition.

Bro. Thos. Junk, while in Oakland, had a vision of hell. He seemed to leave his body and was taken to the top of Knob Hill, in the midst of the ruins of San Francisco. The Savior commanded him, "Son of man, speak." As soon as he spoke, the ground at his feet parted and moved from him, disclosing a liquid fire, like molten iron, with demons and men and women in flames. He says there came to him an awful fume of burning sulfur and he heard the screams of the damned, which were heart-rending. 

All around the edges of the great opening, people were walking, unconscious of the open pit, and a continual stream of them were falling into the lake of fire. He beheld them splashing into the fire and heard the laugh of demons as each struck the fire. While beholding all this, he saw a woman he had known for some time, a professor of holiness and one who took a prominent part in testimony and prayer, running toward the opening, looking too high to see it. She dashed right over into the flames, and a shout went up from the demons, with such roars of laughter as he had never heard before. 

Bro. Junk had been an infidel, and since his conversion could not believe the scripture statements concerning hell, and had been teaching that the sufferings of the lost would be remorse and spiritual distress, but not fire. As he looked on this scene, Jesus Christ told him to preach a hell of fire, just as it is in the word of God, and he promised to do so.

The next Sabbath that professor of holiness was in the meeting as an opposer, insisting that she was filled with the Holy Ghost, but that this work was the work of seducing spirits and the doctrines of devils. 

The above incidents are taken from the Household of God and many will remember Bro. Junk, who was with us in Los Angeles."

Seymour, William (2011-09-06). The Azusa Papers (Kindle Locations 1511-1517). Jawbone Digital. Kindle Edition. 

In Jesus,

Tyrone

Understanding Opposition - Carter Conlon

The Peace of the Lord to all the saints,

I heard this message yesterday and it was extremely encouraging to my soul, so I would like to share it with the saints of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be blessed!

Click on this link from World Challenge and choose to hear or watch it:

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/view/sermons?filter0=Understanding+opposition&filter1=22&filter2=**ALL**&filter3=**ALL**&filter4=**ALL**&filter5=**ALL**

In Christ's love,

Cynthia R. Palmer

Devemos orar, pedir ou convidar Jesus em nossos coracoes?

This message can also be found written in English in our blog on 05/06/2012

Escrita por: Tyrone D. Palmer

Traducao: Cynthia R. Palmer

Os ensinamentos modernos de orar, pedir, aceitar ou convidar Jesus em seu coracao nao e encontrado nas Escrituras do Novo Testamento. Nao ha um exemplo na escritura onde voce encontra Jesus dizendo: "Voce deve Me aceitar para que eu adentre seu coracao ou repita essa oracao para voce poder entrar no Reino de Deus" . Jesus nao ensinou isso aos Seus discipulos que Ele enviou para serem testemunhas por todo o mundo, e eles nunca converteram nenhum Judeu ou Grego para Cristo na igreja primitiva fazendo isso. Entao por que isso esta sendo ensinado hoje?

Vamos dar uma olhada em algumas escrituras que sao utilizadas para dar fundamento a essa doutrina.

Romanos 10:8-13

Mas que diz? A palavra está perto de ti, na tua boca e no teu coração; isto é, a palavra da fé, que pregamos. 9 Porque, se com a tua boca confessares a Jesus como Senhor, e em teu coração creres que Deus o ressuscitou dentre os mortos, será salvo; 10 pois é com o coração que se crê para a justiça, e com a boca se faz confissão para a salvação. 11 Porque a Escritura diz: Ninguém que nele crê será confundido. 12 Porquanto não há distinção entre judeu e grego; porque o mesmo Senhor o é de todos, rico para com todos os que o invocam. 13 Porque: Todo aquele que invocar o nome do Senhor será salvo.

Esas escrituras definitivamente soam como um mapa para salvacao, nao soam? E na verdade estas palavras sao uma parte da boa mensagem que os apostolos pregaram sobre o reino de Deus. Mas com quem Paulo estava falando aqui? Ele estava falando conosco hoje dando sua revelacao apostolica do evangelho? Ou ele estava falando com os Judeus nao-convertidos e gentios que precisavam de salvacao? Vamos ver a resposta para essas perguntas.

De uma olhada em Romanos 1:7 e

7 a todos os que estais em Roma, amados de Deus, chamados para serdes santos: Graça a vós, e paz da parte de Deus nosso Pai, e do Senhor Jesus Cristo.

Romanos 10:1

1 Irmãos, o bom desejo do meu coração e a minha súplica a Deus por Israel é para sua salvação.

Nos lemos claramente nessas escrituras que Paulo escreveu essa carta aos santos em Roma, que ja eram convertidos para Cristo durante os 2 anos que ele passou em Roma depois de chegar la como um prisioneiro de Jerusalem. (Leia Atos 28)

Paulo esta falando aos irmaos em Roma dizendo a eles o desejo de seu coracao e oracao a Deus por Israel e que ELES devem ser salvos. Por que? Porque eles estavam rejeitando o evangelho de Jesus Cristo! Essas escrituras nao foram escritas para que nos a citassemos e repetissemos para a salvacao de nossas almas. Se isso fosse verdade entao tudo mais que Paulo disse com respeito a mensagem do evangelho que ele pregou estaria em questao. Por exemplo:

Atos 16:29-33 (O Carcereiro de Filipos)

Tendo ele pedido luz, saltou dentro e, todo trêmulo, se prostrou ante Paulo e Silas 30 e, tirando-os para fora, disse: Senhores, que me é necessário fazer para me salvar? 31 Responderam eles: Crê no Senhor Jesus e serás salvo, tu e tua casa. 32 Então lhe pregaram a palavra de Deus, e a todos os que estavam em sua casa. 33 Tomando-os ele consigo naquela mesma hora da noite (imediatamente em outra traducao) , lavou- lhes as feridas; e logo foi batizado, ele e todos os seus.

Este e um exemplo de uma pessoa nao-convertida com necessidade de salvacao. Se tudo que voce tivesse que fazer fosse confessar Jesus com sua boca e acreditar em seu coracao que Deus ressuscitou Jesus da morte entao Paulo teria dito isso ao carcereiro de Filipos em Atos, mas Paulo disse a ele para acreditar no Senhor Jesus Cristo, e DEPOIS ele pregou a palavra do Senhor a ele e todos que estavam com ele em sua casa, e imediatamente depois disso o carcereiro e toda sua familia foram batizados!

Paulo tambem disse aos discipulos que ele encontrou em Efeso o que eles tinham que fazer para serem salvos.

Atos 19:1-6

E sucedeu que, enquanto Apolo estava em Corinto, Paulo tendo atravessado as regiões mais altas, chegou a Éfeso e, achando ali alguns discípulos, 2 perguntou-lhes: Recebestes vós o Espírito Santo quando crestes? Responderam-lhe eles: Não, nem sequer ouvimos que haja Espírito Santo. 3 Tornou-lhes ele: Em que fostes batizados então? E eles disseram: No batismo de João. 4 Mas Paulo respondeu: João administrou o batismo do arrependimento, dizendo ao povo que cresse naquele que após ele havia de vir, isto é, em Jesus. 5 Quando ouviram isso, foram batizados em nome do Senhor Jesus. 6 Havendo-lhes Paulo imposto as mãos, veio sobre eles o Espírito Santo, e falavam em línguas e profetizavam.

Nas escrituras acima Paulo acha alguns discipulos em Efeso que tinham acreditado na mensagem de Joao e recebido o batismo de arrependimento, mas depois Paulo faz algumas perguntas a eles pois ele entendeu que eles nao eram nascidos denovo e eles necessitavam acreditar em Jesus Cristo e serem batizados no nome Dele, depois eles receberiam o Espirito Santo. A mesma mensagem Pedro pregou em Pentecoste. Muitos sao ensinados hoje que tudo que voce precisa fazer e acreditar, ou repetir uma oracao e pronto, mas nos podemos ver claramente que o processo de salvacao e mais do que apenas crer.

Como voce responderia se voce fosse aqueles discipulos que Paulo encontrou em Efeso? E se um ministro hoje questionasse voce a respeito de sua experiencia de salvacao? O que voce faria se a sua experiencia nao se alinhasse com o processo de conversao esbocado (resumido) na escritura?

A verdade e que TODOS os apostolos pregaram a mesma mensagem, eles nao mudaram o evangelho para agradar as pessoas, eles eram obedientes ao que eles foram ensinados por Jesus Cristo. Aqui esta parte da mensagem do evangelho que os Judeus nao-convertidos ouviram pregada por Pedro no dia de Pentecoste.

Atos 2:36-39

Saiba pois com certeza toda a casa de Israel que a esse mesmo Jesus, a quem vós crucificastes, Deus o fez Senhor e Cristo. 37 E, ouvindo eles isto, compungiram-se* em seu coração, e perguntaram a Pedro e aos demais apóstolos: Que faremos, irmãos? 38 Pedro então lhes respondeu: Arrependei-vos, e cada um de vós seja batizado em nome de Jesus Cristo, para remissão de vossos pecados; e recebereis o dom do Espírito Santo. 39 Porque a promessa vos pertence a vós, a vossos filhos, e a todos os que estão longe: a quantos o Senhor nosso Deus chamar.

*Compungir - definicao dicionario - Afligir, sentir remorso, arrepender-se

Novamente, nos lemos o processo de conversao para pessoas nao-convertidas. Ouvir a mensagem do evangelho pregada, acreditar na mensagem, arrepender-se (mudar sua mente ou pensar diferentemente), ser batizado nas aguas, e receber o dom do Espirito Santo.

Agora voltando para Romanos 10, quando voce le mais adiante e poe os versos precedentes da escritura em contexto, voce pode entender que Paulo nao estava falando aos santos de Roma ou conosco hoje o que nos precisamos para sermos salvos.

Romanos 10:14-16

Como pois invocarão aquele em quem não creram? e como crerão naquele de quem não ouviram falar? e como ouvirão, se não há quem pregue? 15 E como pregarão, se não forem enviados? assim como está escrito: Quão formosos os pés dos que anunciam coisas boas! 16 Mas nem todos deram ouvidos ao evangelho; pois Isaías diz: Senhor, quem deu crédito ã nossa mensagem?

Claramente o que Paulo escreveu aos irmaos Romanos nao foi um mapa para salvacao, mas uma palavra para os santos convertidos saberem o quanto Paulo queria ver seus compatriotas salvos!

Se voce cre que voce e salvo so porque cita as escrituras, repete uma oracao apos alguem, pedindo ou convidando Jesus em seu coracao, entao voce precisa entender que voce esta desconsiderando as palavras de Jesus Cristo a quem voce professa acreditar quando Ele diz em Joao 3:5 - Jesus respondeu: Em verdade, em verdade te digo que se alguém não nascer da água e do Espírito, não pode entrar no reino de Deus. Voce tambem estaria rejeitando as palavras inspiradas de Pedro,do restante dos apostolos, de Felipe - O evangelista, e Paulo que recebeu o evangelho por revelacao vinda de Jesus. E toda escritura e inspirada por Deus! (2 Timoteo 3:16)

No amor de Cristo,
Tyrone