We are about to step into new territories, revisit some old ones, initiate new paths and plans in 2013. But this year is not over.
In Exodus 12 we read that God is about to deliver the children of Israel from 430 years of bondage.
On this night before they leave, God through Moses is instituting a new calendar so Israel and the world can know God’s prophetic plan.
This for Israel is a NEW beginning, a fresh start. They are about to leave bondage into DESTINY.
And so are we. But since we are still in 2012 make the best of what is left.
But Pastor what can I expect in these last few days of 2012?
You can expect everything that is in line with His will.
This year will not end in failure no matter what.
Renounce your set back and recommit to the Lordship of Jesus.
Doors can still open, you do have keys.
The year is not over yet.
Whatever you resolved to do this year, it’s not to late, the year in not over, the Lord can do more in one hour than the whole year combined.
God can and will perform His Word. It can be accomplished.
It CAN BE DONE!
How many believe that? Even in these last few weeks.
He anointed my head with oil and my cup run’s over.
He has anointed me with the oil of gladness above my FELLOWS.
He has anointed me with FRESH OIL.
God say’s “I will accomplish, I shall accomplish what has not yet been accomplished.” The year is NOT over yet.
God can still do it. So ask Him, “Lord are You going to do it? Because I believe you are. I believe.”
Listen that final month in Egypt they came out healthy and with wealth.
Ps. 105:37
He also brought them out with silver and gold,
And there was none feeble among His tribes.
They may have been sick in Egypt and they may have been broke, but when they crossed from the border of Egypt en route to the Promised Land:
They left their sickness BACK THERE
They left their weakness BACK THERE
They left bad memories BACK THERE
They left poverty BACK THERE.
The Bible says they took the spoils of Egypt with them.
They took most of their silver.
They took most of their gold.
They took the finest of fine garments.
They DID NOT leave Egypt sick.
There was not one weakling or sickly among them.
Let me tell you what you can get ready to step into for 2013.
You can leave poverty behind.
You can leave your sickness behind.
You can have your sorrow behind.
You can leave your sadness behind.
God is going to bring your out of the year with a mighty hand.
He is ready to bring you out:
With great strength.
With great power.
With great wealth.
In good health.
Walking in Kingdom authority and order.
Walking in Governmental order.
Anointed
Appointed
Stepping into purpose and destiny God is here and with you now. Oh give Him praise.
In Egypt they were afflicted.
They were oppressed.
They were in bondage.
They were sick/afflicted.
They were slaves.
But God brought them out with His mighty hand. On eagles wings. Pharaoh could no longer RESTRAIN them.
The power of Egypt could no longer hold them.
Are you ready to come out?
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Music I'm Listening to: Jesus Culture with Martin Smith: Live From New York
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Learning The Value Of Praise
2 Chron. 20:12&17
12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
This story about Jehoshaphat is powerful. He knew the enemy was coming in great numbers against him.
He knew that in the natural he was in trouble, so he went to the Lord with a problem that he knew was too great for him.
2 Chron. 20:12
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
We don’t know what to do, BUT our eyes are on you.
Would to God that the church could get this!
Lord, I’m in trouble but my eyes are on you. The doctor says cancer, but my eyes are on you. My bank says broke, but my eyes are on you.
Then the word of the Lord came to Jehoshaphat.
2 Chron. 20:15, 17
15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
Think about God saying, “This is not your battle but mine, you don’t have to fight this battle, I will, so don’t worry about it, JUST PRAISE ME!”
So He appointed Praise/Worship. Watch. Without one visible sign of victory they sang praise – RIGHT IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.
Praise God, right in his face. And while they were praising, God was setting up ambushes against the enemies and they were defeated. (Vs. 22)
Two of the opposing armies began to fight the third and when they demolished it, then they turned on each other until the valley was full of dead bodies and NO ONE ESCAPED.
Their praise brought not only victory but also great reward.
2 Chron. 20:25
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much.
They had added riches and reward they never dreamed of and the way of the wicked was turned upside down.
There were two songs in this battle.
1. A song of praise
2. A song of deliverance afterward
Remember, if you choose to deal with your pain and your past God’s way, then THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS. And you can know both victory and reward by praising Him.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
12 O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
This story about Jehoshaphat is powerful. He knew the enemy was coming in great numbers against him.
He knew that in the natural he was in trouble, so he went to the Lord with a problem that he knew was too great for him.
2 Chron. 20:12
O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
We don’t know what to do, BUT our eyes are on you.
Would to God that the church could get this!
Lord, I’m in trouble but my eyes are on you. The doctor says cancer, but my eyes are on you. My bank says broke, but my eyes are on you.
Then the word of the Lord came to Jehoshaphat.
2 Chron. 20:15, 17
15 And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
Think about God saying, “This is not your battle but mine, you don’t have to fight this battle, I will, so don’t worry about it, JUST PRAISE ME!”
So He appointed Praise/Worship. Watch. Without one visible sign of victory they sang praise – RIGHT IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.
Praise God, right in his face. And while they were praising, God was setting up ambushes against the enemies and they were defeated. (Vs. 22)
Two of the opposing armies began to fight the third and when they demolished it, then they turned on each other until the valley was full of dead bodies and NO ONE ESCAPED.
Their praise brought not only victory but also great reward.
2 Chron. 20:25
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much.
They had added riches and reward they never dreamed of and the way of the wicked was turned upside down.
There were two songs in this battle.
1. A song of praise
2. A song of deliverance afterward
Remember, if you choose to deal with your pain and your past God’s way, then THE BATTLE IS THE LORDS. And you can know both victory and reward by praising Him.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Day Everything Changes
The Day Everything Changes
Luke 21:34-36
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
We understand that we are to occupy until He comes.
Yet we are being thrust by time itself into the time of prophetic fulfillment, which will end the age. It’s like warnings about an approaching storm.
The signs are clear. We are racing down the information superhighway at breakneck speed without even asking, “Where are we headed?”
Yet people from every nation, race and creed are asking this question.
Environmentalists are sounding alarms about the earth (some false).
New diseases, resistant to medicine. Trillion-dollar debt.
Wars and rumors of wars.
People working around the clock to pay bills to enjoy a life they don’t enjoy. Increased credit-card debt.
IS THERE HOPE? YES, The hope is in Jesus and His promise to take away those of us who believe in Him.
We are living in the days when the Holy Spirit is lighting up the prophetic scriptures and darkness is fleeing.
Matt. 24:3-7
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
All these are happening NOW at breakneck speed.
Matt. 24:8
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Labor pains start slow then increase in intensity as they continue, so it is with last days.
So we know spiritual deception will increase.
1 Tim. 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
The point is that the birth pangs are growing closer and closer together and greater and greater in intensity. The earth is crying out. JESUS IS COMING.
We have spiritual deception, national disruption and physical destruction.
How should we respond? It’s not to excite us or scare us.
People will travel to prophecy conferences and study it etc. but they NEVER CHANGE.
Won’t come to church and don’t live differently.
Stop trying to get RIGHT and GET RIGHT.
What shall be the signs of Your coming? The labor pains are a minute apart and the world is dilated to 10 but Christians want a spiritual epidural.
We MUST WAKE UP and get to work while it is YET DAY.
The TIME IS NOW, the altar is HERE and Jesus is calling YOUR NAME.
He is calling you to live differently while there is time.
If you are NOT saved or not sure if you are, He is calling your name while there is hope and time.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Luke 21:34-36
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.
35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
We understand that we are to occupy until He comes.
Yet we are being thrust by time itself into the time of prophetic fulfillment, which will end the age. It’s like warnings about an approaching storm.
The signs are clear. We are racing down the information superhighway at breakneck speed without even asking, “Where are we headed?”
Yet people from every nation, race and creed are asking this question.
Environmentalists are sounding alarms about the earth (some false).
New diseases, resistant to medicine. Trillion-dollar debt.
Wars and rumors of wars.
People working around the clock to pay bills to enjoy a life they don’t enjoy. Increased credit-card debt.
IS THERE HOPE? YES, The hope is in Jesus and His promise to take away those of us who believe in Him.
We are living in the days when the Holy Spirit is lighting up the prophetic scriptures and darkness is fleeing.
Matt. 24:3-7
3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
All these are happening NOW at breakneck speed.
Matt. 24:8
All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Labor pains start slow then increase in intensity as they continue, so it is with last days.
So we know spiritual deception will increase.
1 Tim. 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
The point is that the birth pangs are growing closer and closer together and greater and greater in intensity. The earth is crying out. JESUS IS COMING.
We have spiritual deception, national disruption and physical destruction.
How should we respond? It’s not to excite us or scare us.
People will travel to prophecy conferences and study it etc. but they NEVER CHANGE.
Won’t come to church and don’t live differently.
Stop trying to get RIGHT and GET RIGHT.
What shall be the signs of Your coming? The labor pains are a minute apart and the world is dilated to 10 but Christians want a spiritual epidural.
We MUST WAKE UP and get to work while it is YET DAY.
The TIME IS NOW, the altar is HERE and Jesus is calling YOUR NAME.
He is calling you to live differently while there is time.
If you are NOT saved or not sure if you are, He is calling your name while there is hope and time.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Twilight Season
Exodus 14:24-25
24 Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians.
25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
The breaking of a new day is called twilight.
The sun going down at the end of a day is also called twilight.
Change is upon us. Twilight is breaking in the life of the church in this season.
We are moving from our NORMAL mentality of church on Sunday to unlocking God’s plan in the earth. The Kingdom of God is within us but must be unlocked.
We, as the church, are called to accomplish something; we are called out for a purpose.
The church is moving FROM just a group who fellowship TO becoming a victorious war instrument in the earth realm. We are building. We are learning to BIND and LOOSE.
We are seeing what God has stored in heavenly places for this season and calling it from heaven to earth. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.
We are starting to look up to heaven and seeing the IT that the Lord wants us to agree with and declaring IT will manifest in the earth.
We are moving from “CONFUSED NOISE” to becoming a “SURE SOUND” in the earth. Worship is changing. Sound produces change.
Judah is leading us into NEW PLACES. Sound creates movement.
The wind in the mulberry trees is blowing.
Hear the wind and go with the flow.
As the twilight breaks, the wineskin of the church is changing.
Let’s look at Gen. 32:24
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
This confrontation would be Jacob’s salvation. The best way to describe the breaking of a new day or twilight is “WE WRESTLE”.
The breaking of a new day (twilight) always entails a changing of one nature into another.
To wrestle is to CONTEND in a struggle. It produces a breakthrough into NEW TRUTH and strength within us.
The breaking of a new day (twilight) is really “the eyelids of the morning to open over our life.”
Moving toward the light through a visitation of the Lord that breaks us through to our future.
Jacob finally has his last crossing over. A NEW DAY BREAKS (TWILIGHT).
If you are willing to wrestle through the night, you must also learn to watch for the day.
Twilight means to be in a place of transition, that’s where Jacob was.
There is also a transition taking place in many of you, it’s really a changing of the wineskin.
The new wine is God pouring into you the power, understanding and wisdom for breakthrough.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
24 Now it came to pass, in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians.
25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
The breaking of a new day is called twilight.
The sun going down at the end of a day is also called twilight.
Change is upon us. Twilight is breaking in the life of the church in this season.
We are moving from our NORMAL mentality of church on Sunday to unlocking God’s plan in the earth. The Kingdom of God is within us but must be unlocked.
We, as the church, are called to accomplish something; we are called out for a purpose.
The church is moving FROM just a group who fellowship TO becoming a victorious war instrument in the earth realm. We are building. We are learning to BIND and LOOSE.
We are seeing what God has stored in heavenly places for this season and calling it from heaven to earth. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.
We are starting to look up to heaven and seeing the IT that the Lord wants us to agree with and declaring IT will manifest in the earth.
We are moving from “CONFUSED NOISE” to becoming a “SURE SOUND” in the earth. Worship is changing. Sound produces change.
Judah is leading us into NEW PLACES. Sound creates movement.
The wind in the mulberry trees is blowing.
Hear the wind and go with the flow.
As the twilight breaks, the wineskin of the church is changing.
Let’s look at Gen. 32:24
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
This confrontation would be Jacob’s salvation. The best way to describe the breaking of a new day or twilight is “WE WRESTLE”.
The breaking of a new day (twilight) always entails a changing of one nature into another.
To wrestle is to CONTEND in a struggle. It produces a breakthrough into NEW TRUTH and strength within us.
The breaking of a new day (twilight) is really “the eyelids of the morning to open over our life.”
Moving toward the light through a visitation of the Lord that breaks us through to our future.
Jacob finally has his last crossing over. A NEW DAY BREAKS (TWILIGHT).
If you are willing to wrestle through the night, you must also learn to watch for the day.
Twilight means to be in a place of transition, that’s where Jacob was.
There is also a transition taking place in many of you, it’s really a changing of the wineskin.
The new wine is God pouring into you the power, understanding and wisdom for breakthrough.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Blessing Of Atonement
Have you ever noticed leading up to the fall of the year trouble starts to come? Because it’s atonement time, the devil fights.
Let me give you some examples because God’s people have historically been attacked this time of year, leaving them challenged, confused and suffering financial woes.
It was this time of year that the spies came back from the Promised Land with a bad report causing the people to question God and wanting to backslide.
Herod, during this season, murdered more than 60,000 boys 2 and younger.
More wars start in this season than any other.
WW2 started September 1939.
Pearl Harbor was bombed in September.
On Day of Atonement 1973 Egypt/Syria attacked Israel.
Then there was 9.11.
More earthquakes occur in August, September, and October than any other time.
It’s Hurricane season.
Many of the worst volcano eruptions happen in this season.
September 2010, Hurricane Igor hit Newfoundland.
September 29, 2003, Hurricane Juan hit Canada.
September 2, 1998, Swiss Air disaster.
I could go on and on.
So why would there be such monumental, supernatural battles rage throughout history during this recurring short season? There is something unusual about this season.
Could it be that satan knows that the most important season of the year is the latter or time of Tabernacles, specifically the Day of Atonement?
Because satan knows that God declares blessings on His people for the next year on those who honor Atonement. THESE ARE GOD’S FEASTS. His appointment with us.
If the greatest struggle is at this time, it’s because God has the greatest blessings.
This is a new season – what was will not be anymore.
And God gives us the “extra measure” to do it.
According to the Jewish calendar the latter rain corresponds to the autumn Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.
So based on this, Joel speaks of the blessings of this time.
Joel 2:19, 21
19 The LORD will answer and say to His people,
“ Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil,
And you will be satisfied by them;
I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.
21 Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the LORD has done marvelous things!
1st Atonement blessing is – A double Portion.
“He will give you the former rain FAITHFULLY. He will cause the rain to come down for you. The former and the latter rain”.
2nd Atonement blessing – Financial Abundance
Floors full of wheat, vats overflow with new wine and oil
3rd Atonement blessing – Restoration
Years locust has eaten
4th Atonement blessing – Miracles
- Eat plenty
- Deal wondrously with you
- Never put to shame.
5th Atonement blessing – God’s divine presence
Know He is in our midst.
Never put to shame
6th Atonement blessing – Blessings on your family
Sons/daughters – prophesy
Pour out Spirit
7th Atonement Blessing – Deliverance
Whoever calls on His name shall be saved
Are your ready for this?
Then tell the devil enough is enough. Step out of the boat.
Make sure you are ready, do not sabotage yourself.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Let me give you some examples because God’s people have historically been attacked this time of year, leaving them challenged, confused and suffering financial woes.
It was this time of year that the spies came back from the Promised Land with a bad report causing the people to question God and wanting to backslide.
Herod, during this season, murdered more than 60,000 boys 2 and younger.
More wars start in this season than any other.
WW2 started September 1939.
Pearl Harbor was bombed in September.
On Day of Atonement 1973 Egypt/Syria attacked Israel.
Then there was 9.11.
More earthquakes occur in August, September, and October than any other time.
It’s Hurricane season.
Many of the worst volcano eruptions happen in this season.
September 2010, Hurricane Igor hit Newfoundland.
September 29, 2003, Hurricane Juan hit Canada.
September 2, 1998, Swiss Air disaster.
I could go on and on.
So why would there be such monumental, supernatural battles rage throughout history during this recurring short season? There is something unusual about this season.
Could it be that satan knows that the most important season of the year is the latter or time of Tabernacles, specifically the Day of Atonement?
Because satan knows that God declares blessings on His people for the next year on those who honor Atonement. THESE ARE GOD’S FEASTS. His appointment with us.
If the greatest struggle is at this time, it’s because God has the greatest blessings.
This is a new season – what was will not be anymore.
And God gives us the “extra measure” to do it.
According to the Jewish calendar the latter rain corresponds to the autumn Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.
So based on this, Joel speaks of the blessings of this time.
Joel 2:19, 21
19 The LORD will answer and say to His people,
“ Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil,
And you will be satisfied by them;
I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.
21 Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the LORD has done marvelous things!
1st Atonement blessing is – A double Portion.
“He will give you the former rain FAITHFULLY. He will cause the rain to come down for you. The former and the latter rain”.
2nd Atonement blessing – Financial Abundance
Floors full of wheat, vats overflow with new wine and oil
3rd Atonement blessing – Restoration
Years locust has eaten
4th Atonement blessing – Miracles
- Eat plenty
- Deal wondrously with you
- Never put to shame.
5th Atonement blessing – God’s divine presence
Know He is in our midst.
Never put to shame
6th Atonement blessing – Blessings on your family
Sons/daughters – prophesy
Pour out Spirit
7th Atonement Blessing – Deliverance
Whoever calls on His name shall be saved
Are your ready for this?
Then tell the devil enough is enough. Step out of the boat.
Make sure you are ready, do not sabotage yourself.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Place of Fishing
Mark 6:45.
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida,
Very clear instruction: Jesus had told them to go over to BETHSAIDA; they had just finished feeding 5,000.
Where did Jesus tell them to go? BETHSAIDA. Now watch!
Bethsaida means “place of fishing.”
But a problem arose. They are in the middle of the lake, Jesus is on land praying, and a STORM arose. Now they are straining for the wind was against them.
So, Jesus had sent them to Bethsaida, He’s on a mountain praying.
He sees them straining as the storm comes up. So Jesus goes to help them, right? No, He just starts walking right past them.
So, imagine you’re in a bad storm, thinking, “I might die”.
Then you think you see a Ghost.
You find out it’s Jesus walking by and He says “Cheer up”. OK, what is going on here? Let me show you.
Listen to John’s account of this story.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are known as the Synoptic Gospels because they basically all say the same thing.
John 6:16-17
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
Here it says they were heading toward Capernaum.
Now they are in the same area, but not the same place.
Bethsaida means – place of fishing
Capernaum means – village of comfort!
Jesus said “Follow Me, you’re now fishers of men”. “Now go to the place of fishing and I’ll meet you there.”
But no, they want to go to the place of comfort where it is easy.
Jesus was walking by because He was headed in another direction.
“You want to get back on track, to get Me in your boat.” “But I’m not getting in with you until you change course and go back in the direction I told you to go to in the first place”.
Jesus only obeyed His Father who said, “Send the disciples to the place of fishing.” He told His disciples to go to the place His Father told Him to go.
Jesus won’t get into your boat of disobedience. Because you perceive a certain course might be easier, you often take the wrong direction.
Could there be storms in your life because you are off course and going to the wrong place? You started off heading in the right direction. Then you veered off until you found yourself in the midst of a storm, straining – because you're not where you're supposed to be.
Are you fed up of constantly straining against the will of God?
Then change your course.
The distance between Capernaum and Bethsaida was 6.15 K or 3.82 miles. Not very far but still off course.
Heading in the general direction is not good enough.
Fishing is our calling; it’s hard work yet our flesh wants comfort.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be constantly straining against the will of God and wonder why He is not in my boat.
“Why does it seem everything I do is such a strain and such a labour?”
Because you got off course! You didn't go where He told you to go.
But everything changes when you cry out to Him.
If you're heading in the wrong direction, TURN AROUND!
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
What I'm Reading - When Nations Die by Jim Nelson Black
What I'm Listening to - Vertical Church Band
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida,
Very clear instruction: Jesus had told them to go over to BETHSAIDA; they had just finished feeding 5,000.
Where did Jesus tell them to go? BETHSAIDA. Now watch!
Bethsaida means “place of fishing.”
But a problem arose. They are in the middle of the lake, Jesus is on land praying, and a STORM arose. Now they are straining for the wind was against them.
So, Jesus had sent them to Bethsaida, He’s on a mountain praying.
He sees them straining as the storm comes up. So Jesus goes to help them, right? No, He just starts walking right past them.
So, imagine you’re in a bad storm, thinking, “I might die”.
Then you think you see a Ghost.
You find out it’s Jesus walking by and He says “Cheer up”. OK, what is going on here? Let me show you.
Listen to John’s account of this story.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are known as the Synoptic Gospels because they basically all say the same thing.
John 6:16-17
16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
Here it says they were heading toward Capernaum.
Now they are in the same area, but not the same place.
Bethsaida means – place of fishing
Capernaum means – village of comfort!
Jesus said “Follow Me, you’re now fishers of men”. “Now go to the place of fishing and I’ll meet you there.”
But no, they want to go to the place of comfort where it is easy.
Jesus was walking by because He was headed in another direction.
“You want to get back on track, to get Me in your boat.” “But I’m not getting in with you until you change course and go back in the direction I told you to go to in the first place”.
Jesus only obeyed His Father who said, “Send the disciples to the place of fishing.” He told His disciples to go to the place His Father told Him to go.
Jesus won’t get into your boat of disobedience. Because you perceive a certain course might be easier, you often take the wrong direction.
Could there be storms in your life because you are off course and going to the wrong place? You started off heading in the right direction. Then you veered off until you found yourself in the midst of a storm, straining – because you're not where you're supposed to be.
Are you fed up of constantly straining against the will of God?
Then change your course.
The distance between Capernaum and Bethsaida was 6.15 K or 3.82 miles. Not very far but still off course.
Heading in the general direction is not good enough.
Fishing is our calling; it’s hard work yet our flesh wants comfort.
I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be constantly straining against the will of God and wonder why He is not in my boat.
“Why does it seem everything I do is such a strain and such a labour?”
Because you got off course! You didn't go where He told you to go.
But everything changes when you cry out to Him.
If you're heading in the wrong direction, TURN AROUND!
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
What I'm Reading - When Nations Die by Jim Nelson Black
What I'm Listening to - Vertical Church Band
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
It's Dew Time
Numbers 11:9
And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
God will allow a desert to grow up around you just to get you to Him.
He will allow famine to hit you just so you will hunger for Him.
God will do whatever it takes to get you to Him.
We are in a TWILIGHT season, between two lights.
In Hebrew it means “MOVING TOWARD THE LIGHT.”
It’s a time when you stand between the challenge and the breakthrough.
Let’s deal with the DEW.
It’s a type of the anointing or the presence of the Lord.
Unity is depicted as precious oil running all over from the head down.
Unity is like the dew upon the mountain of ZION.
And at that place the Lord commands blessing.
When the 120 were in the Upper Room, in one accord, THE DEW FELL.
When 2 or 3 are gathered together in His Name, the DEW falls.
When 2 or 3 touch and agree, things happen because the dew falls.
When Gideon put a fleece out to God (a piece of wool) the DEW fell on the fleece.
The 2nd night, the dew fell on the ground.
O Church, when the dew falls it covers you and the ground you walk on, you then walk in the blessings. It’s COMMANDED!
Remember our text “When the dew fell on the CAMP (the people) heaven’s supply fell on it.
Remember manna was from heaven NOT earth.
They were seeing what no one else was. They were tasting what no one else was tasting.
Now watch:
Zechariah 8:11-12
11 But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.
12 ‘For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these.
The 3-fold blessing to the last-day Church:
1. The vine’s fruit (reward)
2. The ground’s increase (wealth)
3. The heaven’s dew (covering)
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
And when the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna fell on it.
God will allow a desert to grow up around you just to get you to Him.
He will allow famine to hit you just so you will hunger for Him.
God will do whatever it takes to get you to Him.
We are in a TWILIGHT season, between two lights.
In Hebrew it means “MOVING TOWARD THE LIGHT.”
It’s a time when you stand between the challenge and the breakthrough.
Let’s deal with the DEW.
It’s a type of the anointing or the presence of the Lord.
Unity is depicted as precious oil running all over from the head down.
Unity is like the dew upon the mountain of ZION.
And at that place the Lord commands blessing.
When the 120 were in the Upper Room, in one accord, THE DEW FELL.
When 2 or 3 are gathered together in His Name, the DEW falls.
When 2 or 3 touch and agree, things happen because the dew falls.
When Gideon put a fleece out to God (a piece of wool) the DEW fell on the fleece.
The 2nd night, the dew fell on the ground.
O Church, when the dew falls it covers you and the ground you walk on, you then walk in the blessings. It’s COMMANDED!
Remember our text “When the dew fell on the CAMP (the people) heaven’s supply fell on it.
Remember manna was from heaven NOT earth.
They were seeing what no one else was. They were tasting what no one else was tasting.
Now watch:
Zechariah 8:11-12
11 But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.
12 ‘For the seed shall be prosperous, the vine shall give its fruit, the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these.
The 3-fold blessing to the last-day Church:
1. The vine’s fruit (reward)
2. The ground’s increase (wealth)
3. The heaven’s dew (covering)
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
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