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Prayer Blizzards
Devotionals, fasting, corporate and individual prayer communities where we can all come together and cover one another.
Worship Breaks the Spirit of Heaviness
Isaiah 61:3
Put on the garment of praise to destroy the spirit of heaviness!
There is a light behind those grey clouds…
And it is waiting on your worship!
Do not be dismayed, for God has not left you nor forgotten!
Watch my video to see how worship brings us a mighty long way!
4 Stages of Suffering: Forgiveness Part 4
Colossians 3:13
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
The divine forgiveness of sins is made available to humanity when surrendered to the Second Person of the Trinity.
The nature and Person of Jesus is emphatically the most valuable piece to understanding the Trinitarian view on the doctrine of forgiveness.
Whenever one Person of the triune Godhead is addressed, the whole must be previously understood. Jesus Christ is the answer to my researched question, “How is humanity authorized and capable to render the divine forgiveness of sins?”
As a caveat to Christianity, believers must identify with the character of Christ to truly be considered Christian; thus I argue that the propitiation of the Second Person of the Trinity authorizes Christians [in the order of Melchizedek], to render divine forgiveness by pardoning the offense from the offender.
Forgiveness is described in several different ways depending upon the vantage point.
There are three perspectives: the offended, offender, and God.
The offended position is the one deemed to be the most difficult and significant. Clearly the injured is the one with expectant wounds and is usually the position with the least grace.
It is assumed that forgiveness is undeserved for the perpetrator of error and therefore the discretion rests with the victim and God.
Lastly, but certainly not least, God has the ultimate prerogative over forgiveness. It is God’s intention to always forgive, upon His just circumstances, and expects that same forgiveness from believers.
Walter A. Elwell defines forgiveness in the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology as kipper from the Old Testament (Hebrew) meaning “to cover;” nasa—to bear or take away [guilt],” and salah—”to pardon.”1.
Elwell also defines the most common translation of the Greek term aphesis in the New Testament meaning “sending away” or “letting go.” 2.
In the article, “The Dilemma of Divine Forgiveness,” Glen Pettigrove reveals the dilemma of divine forgiveness and human expectation of justice. It uncovers the challenges Christians undergo when faced with the mandate of forgiveness. 3.
Because the injury of the offense dwells within the human soul—emotions, Christians often find it difficult to separate God’s mandate of forgiveness with His promise of justice.
There is a legal connotation associated with God as a pardoner of sins. Only a judge possesses the right to liberate or inflict punishment of a crime. Not only is this the right of the judge but it his obligation. A judge that does not uphold the law in a criminal case is considered to be unjust. 4.
Divine forgiveness is the spiritual equivalent to this secular analogy and provides the best definition.
But there is a Dilemma of Punishment
The dilemma of punishment derives from the dilemma of divine forgiveness. Glen Pettigrove discusses four challenges in the comfort people take in the thought that God forgives wrongdoing. 5.
He identifies the issue of just punishment for deserving individuals, changing attitudes towards the wrongdoer, the implication of divine emotions, and misconception of God’s standing to render forgiveness. 6.
The key to understanding sin is that all transgressions are ultimately against God.
Jesus said plainly, “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40).
This passage refers to both the good and bad, so God’s response to forgive is just as warranted as the response of the other victim.
God is both the God of punishment and love but His will prefers love over wrath.
Revelations 1:15 describes Jesus feet like bronze glowing in a furnace insinuating that His feet looked heavy. Christ will carry out the judgment on the Bema seat of Christ, but His intent is to bring forth reward; thus, His judgment towards unrepentant sin is slow, allowing time for the principles of divine forgiveness to take place.
The implication of divine emotions is unfounded because emotions are not applicable to the decision of forgiveness. Emotions are attached to the guilt and can become a paralyzing force to individuals.
Dr. R.C. Sproul explains this relationship of guilt and emotions identifying it as the number one issue cause of psychological problems. 7.
Violators of the Law of God enter into guilt, with or without the conviction of emotions; however, Satan and the Holy Spirit are actively attempting to gain their attention.
How one feels has no merit on a guilty verdict but has the choice to adhere to the prickling of the Holy Spirit or condemnation of Satan. Guilt by itself is not a bad thing, its purpose is to allow confrontation of sin to lead to repentance.
Satan, on the contrary, counterfeits this process of confrontation to paralyze believers in condemnation and hinder repentance.
Fundamentally, divine forgiveness is what most Christians understand as God’s mercy of the remittance of punishment. The issue arises when mercy becomes the accomplice for bad behavior because the fear of punishment is absent. 8.
Divine forgiveness does pardon punishment but believers trust that God’s decision is unanimous to all who are forgiven. The focus must be removed from the victim and placed on God and His glory.
Typically, forgiveness aims for reconciliation and is certainly the purpose of Christ’s redemptive work on the cross, but it is not a guarantee.
The most ideal form of forgiveness includes reconciliation which restores the relationship back to a healthy state.
In the case of divine forgiveness, reconciliation is guaranteed as God promises to “remember sins no more.”
In human forgiveness, it is possible to pardon without reconciling the relationship to the place prior to the offense.
Human forgiveness is not just a measurement of our exousia–authority in Christ but also a condition to which must be met to secure salvation.
The Lord’s Prayer best explains this as Jesus says, “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12).
Frank J. Matera portrays another perspective of reconciliation found in the redemption and forgiveness presented by the blood of Jesus Christ. 8.
The Book of Ephesians opens with Paul’s address to the Gentiles who are no longer “alienated from God.” Paul portrays Christ as the Reconciler who resurrected a new pagan community into the holy nation of Israel. 10.
Paul reminds them of their former status of death in transgression and infers this reconciliation as the restoration that has saved them by grace into a citizenship in the house of God (Ephesians 2:5, 8). 11.
Ultimately, God’s purpose is to reconcile all of humanity to one another and to Him as brethren and heirs of Christ.
Paul notes that while humanity was dead in their transgressions, God resuscitated them through the death of Jesus and raising of Christ to establish a co-resurrection and exaltation with humanity. 12.
God’s divine forgiveness has joined Jews and Gentiles into a new humanity reconciled as one body to one God through His manifested unconditional love and grace.
This new reconciled humanity is what the bible considers to be, “a royal priesthood;” a nation led by the archetype of Melchizedek.
But, we will discuss that another day! 😉
Click the image below to hear my teaching on the final stage: Forgiveness
Blessings 💚
Contents pulled from exerps of my research paper entitled, “Divine Forgiveness Authorized Through the Second Person of the Trinity”
Footnotes:
1. Walter A. Elwell, Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed (Grand Rapids: Baker Academics, 2001) 460.
2. Ibid.
3. Glen Pettigrove, “The Dilemma of Divine Forgiveness.” Religious Studies 44, no. 4 (December 2008), 458.
4.William Lane Craig, Reformers’ Doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement Against the Attack of Contemporary Critic Eleonore Stump, Reasonable Faith (lecture, Q and A, Annual Joint Conferences of the Evangelical Theological/Philosophical Societies, November, 2017) https://www.youtu.be/Sm9eHTyn9hA (accessed March 7, 2020). 5. Glen Pettigrove, “The Dilemma of Divine Forgiveness,” 457. 6. Ibid.
7. R.C. Sproul, Guilt and Forgiveness: Pleasing God with R.C. Sproul. Ligonier Ministries (lecture 6 of “Pleasing God Series,” July 29, 2019) https://youtu.be/k0W7h8zLztQ (accessed March 7, 2020).
8. Pettigrove, 458.
9. Frank J. Matera, New Testament Christology (Louisville: Westminister John Knox Press, 1999) 153.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid., 154.
12. Ibid.
Prayer to Get Back What the Enemy Stole
When we encourage others, we certainly encourage ourselves.
And that is the beauty of ministry.
I went to bed, full of the word and Holy Spirit.
As I closed my eyes, repenting for all my transgressions, God began to deal with me.
My choices, decisions, actions, desires, etc have all been heavy in my spirit.
What am I praying for?
What do I need?
What is God saying?
Are all questions that I ponder day and night.
I realize I am most scared of making yet another mistake.
In my spirit, I am sure …
But in my heart, I am afraid …
Fear is a thief who robs us of our peace.
Haven’t we all been there?
Running for Jesus, believing God to make a way out of no way, be a fence, and give us joy!!
Haven’t we all been facing our fears with promise right on the other side?
Stand on the Word of God and KNOW you are redeemed!
Move in your God-given authority
Pray with me:
“God, I want all of You! I cannot do this thing on my own!” Give me the peace I need to hear clearly. Establish order and make the crooked straight. I declare what is for me, shall cleave to me and what is not, Lord shut the door!
Create in me a clean heart and renew my contrite spirit. For anything not of You, flee now in Jesus name!
Set in motion a battle plan to guard and defend my heart, mind, and emotions.
Anyone intending to do me harm, I declare they have reconsidered! No weapon formed against me shall prosper!
That which was lost or stolen belonging to me, return it now in SEVEN ways! For the thief has been exposed, satan!
Give me back my promise!
Establish and restore kingdom relationships destined to give You ALL the glory!
Walk with me as I do Your will Lord and keep me close, lest I do not stray.
God I surrender ALL to You!
You know the desires of my heart and that is first to be in Your will. Change me oh Lord, that I might be more like You, letting my light so shine upon this world.
Bring me someone to encourage today to remind me that what I endured was for my good.
Bless me Lord. Bless my family. Bless my enemies, too.
Reveal to them what You have revealed to me …
Let me know “greater is He that is in them, than he that is in the world.” 1John 4:4
Unite us on one accord.
Pull up every root of bitterness, anger, wrath and rage and replace with forgiveness, compassion, understanding, and peace, now in Jesus name!
It is by fire that we move with Your authority to do Your will.
Set us on the narrow path and lead us beyond our own understanding.
Set our eyes upon the high call in Christ Jesus, never again looking back but ahead towards You!
Place our loved ones, spouses, significant others on the same path that we may meet striving towards You and the kingdom!
I declare, KINGDOM MARRIAGES IN JESUS NAME!
Bring forth our promises, never again to let go or sabotage. Reassure in Your Word every mile taken towards purpose.
And give us courage to step out on faith.
Make us a new thing Lord, and bring by our side a worthy match … handpicked by You!
Send our children home, Lord …
Rest, rule, and abide in each of them!
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us…”
“And lead us not into temptation BUT
Deliver us from the evil one!”
I declare it done by the authority of Jesus who is the Christ!
Let His blood cover us all in Jesus matchless name!”
Take BACK what is YOURS!
Devil, GIMME BACK MY …
PEACE
HOPE
FAITH
JOY
LOVE
FINANCES
SPOUSE
CHILDREN
MINISTRY
HEALTH
MIND!!!
NOW IN JESUS NAME!
Selah…
AMEN!
Humiliated? Trusting God through humiliation and shame.
So many of us experience some form of humiliation over the course of life.
It’s often in our most intimate spaces like relationships, careers, or childhood.
Sometimes they bear wounds that cut so deep they never truly heal without divine intervention.
Personally, I am in this very place, depending on God to supply all my needs.
The hardest part is when you do not feel or see God moving.
Sometimes God answer is silent and we have to trust the Word of God to bring revelation.
We have to lean not on our own understanding but trust God in all His ways, assured that He will direct our path.
Many nights our tears soil our pillows and our cries become the echo in the room …
What then do we do when our lives.have been ridiculed and mocked by the very ones we love?
Forgive? But they are STILL hurting us!
Pray? But our hearts are full of resentment.!
Love? But they repeatedly tell you, show you, drill to you that they DO NOT LOVE YOU!
God says …
“70 times 7 …”
“Pray without ceasing …”
“Love endures all until the end …”
I do not have all the answers nor have I always gotten life right ..
But God does and IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS!
His grace is sufficient and His love is everlasting!
He has promised in His word that He is our vindicator! And vengeance is His and just!
Wait on the Lord! Even if it takes everything you have left!
Wait I say …
Endure the weight of the wait!
God WILL vindicate you amd exhort your at the table amongst every person that humiliated and shamed you!
Be of good courage in knowing
God is still God!
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Click the image to hear my testimony
“Endure Until the End” Prayer and Worship
Sometimes we have to take time out just to give God worship!
We must position ourselves in the presence of the Lord to find our breakthrough.
As we walk in purpose, let us remain prostrate before the Master, our King.
Open your hearts to the areas of brokenness to be strengthened as the angels of the Lord ministers to your heart.
And be comforted by the Comforter–the Spirit of Truth.
With our comfort, comfort someone else …
CLICK the image below and pray with me!
God of All Comfort
1 Corinthians 1:3-11 ESV
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.[a] 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[b] of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”
PURPOSE!
It is all necessary …
Be encouraged!
Minstrels by Joshua Smith
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Burning Furnace Prayer
Whilst I sit in the midst of this burning furnace in Babylon
I am reminded of the three Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
They were already in a place of exile away from their home of worship and familiarity. Yet the did not forget the God they served or the promises in His Word.
The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, had mandated worship of himself. Instituting the worship of self and idolatry.
We often face the demons of self and pride that are sent to consume and deter us from being and belonging to the one and only Triune God.
The enemy presents us with glitter and gold and says it’s better and worthy to be praised. He appeals to our flesh and appetite to provoke us into forfeiting what is eternal for what is temporal.
Beloved, our flesh is but dirt. Our appetites can be controlled. Do not be ruled by what can be controlled but be ruled by what is eternal and that is God and God alone.
Stand firm on the truth that is Christ and He will stand firm with you in the furnace.
As I sit in Babylon I am reminded that although the ruler of this world has turned up the furnace and has thrown me in. For I, like the three Hebrew boys, am not alone.
I look up and the shackles that bound my hands and feet are loosed.
The heat is blazing but my clothes have not singed.
My heart is hurting but not a single hair on my head is frayed.
My Savior is with me!
Jesus cares for me day in and day out…
He has carefully collected every one of my tears with the intent to justly make perfect that which concerns me…
The Holy Spirit comforts me night after night with a peace I cannot understand…
My Father wraps His wings around me protecting me from every arrow by day and pestilence by night…
I have unimaginable JOY! And the joy of the Lord is my strength!🙌🏾💚
So, beloved it is my prayer for you…
Jesus be the center of our life. Keep us in the midst of the hottest furnace and let us see that with You no harm can come to us. Jesus, Your love is bigger than anything in this world and we are the apple of Your eye! I declare that every door to the furnaces meant to destroy our spirit will open on the command of our enemy because they will see that even their best shot could not destroy the God in us! You will walk out unscathed, even without the smell of smoke! In Jesus matchless name this is our prayer. Amen!
Daniel 3:19-30 New Living Translation (NLT)
The Blazing Furnace
“ Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.
But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?”
“Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied.
“Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”
Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!”
So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.”
Prayer Blizzard
“Love on Purpose–Know Your True Enemy and Be His Ananias”
The New Testament tells us to love our neighbor as well as our enemy uncovering a greater character within. The love of Christ is the only way humanity can set aside their egos and emotions to follow in the standard of God.
The Book of Acts of the Apostles reveals one of the greatest conversions recorded concerning the Apostle Paul. And it also unveils another great conversion of heart in Ananias.
Humanity has suffered so much throughout time and many have relinquished their faith because of it. Pain has a funny way of convincing us that what we feel is bigger than the God we serve. For those who serve themselves or the world, this may be true. But for believers–“greater is He who is in [us], than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4 ESV).
Ananias understood who Saul of Tarsus was and every evil deed he represented. But when the Lord revealed his purpose: “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15 ESV); Ananias obeyed.
Greater was waiting for the both of them. Despite the known evils committed by Paul, Ananias looked past them and spoke life into his Godly purpose instead.
And we must do the same …
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