Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Baptize means to be totally immersed with Holy Spirit.
Every part of you. And the same with His FIRE.
Isaiah saw this fire and the coals from it touched his lips and changed him forever.
Ezekiel saw the throne of God ablaze with fire.
Jeremiah felt like this fire was shut up in his bones.
Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,
“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
That’s why we must read it; it’s like a fire that will consume you.
That same Holy Spirit and fire showed up in Acts 2:2. And when that fireball from heaven hit that room it divided and rested on every one of them.
And that day the Holy Spirit turned the Word of God into the SWORD of the SPIRIT with a fire tip.
Now prayer would have fire with it, effective prayer.
And now we would be able to understand His Word.
Now we would have POWER to witness.
GOD & FIRE go together.
Sacrifices are consumed by His fire.
When you give a sacrifice of praise, His fire falls in there.
When you bring sacrificial prayer, His fire falls.
When you give sacrificially, HIS FIRE FALLS.
Leviticus 9:24
and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
1 Kings 18:38
Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
Church, His fire purifies so allow Holy Spirit to separate the chaff in your life, the waste and burn it up.
Some never see God move because they won’t let God burn up the junk in their lives.
Let His fire burn up the root of murmuring/complaining, the root of control/pride and rebellion and criticism.
Did you know that your heart is God’s fireplace? So are some other places.
God has always had His fireplaces. The burning bush, the brazen altar, Mt. Carmel, the Upper Room are just a few of His fireplaces.
Hebrews 12:29
For our God is a consuming fire.
He desires to have and will have a Church that is ON FIRE with His divine presence and power.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Love Is Our Covering
Luke 22:31-34
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Proverbs 13:15
Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
I recently went to the Lord and said “Lord I need you to refresh my spirit with your Word in regard to when someone sins.
I know how religion responds and how flesh responds but show me again in your Word.”
Ever wonder how Peter felt when the Lord said that to him? You see God hates SIN because it separates us from Him.
It separates us from others also but ultimately it separates us from God.
We, as a society of Christians, will often overlook the sins of sports stars or movie stars or politicians but when it comes to those from our own church family we judge and separate.
Then we say things often like “Children are a product of their home” but that is only true in part.
Many in the Kingdom of God were saved despite terrible homes, yet others raised by godly parents rebel and sin. So even the best of homes have children who rebel.
It tells me that every home is different in regards to testimony as every child is different.
So the pressure society puts on us must be put aside so we can get to the TRUTH of God’s Word in us and find out what God says.
Think about God’s first children, Adam/Eve, they were told “DON’T TOUCH” but they TOUCHED.
And they saw and felt what they never saw or felt before, the EFFECTS of SIN. Make no mistake; there is a price to pay and scars to bear.
So God provided a covering for them. Blood was shed to cover their SIN.
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.
The word “COVERS” means when you deserved to be punished, you were covered instead.
And if someone sins and comes and asks for forgiveness, what should we do?
Matthew 18:21-23
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
The story of the prodigal son helps us to understand the heart of God and wayward children.
The son went into party central, but the Father never stopped looking and hoping.
When he saw him he did not bring up what he did, no, he welcomed him home, “my son was lost and is NOW found.”
The other brother was NOT impressed and unfortunately it’s how many in the church act.
So keep looking for your wayward child to come home and love them when they do.
A cover for sin is NOT a cover up. There is a price to pay. The wages of sin IS DEATH. That’s why we preach against SIN because of the cost.
We don’t condone SIN, but we don’t condemn people who do.
There was a three-step process that led to Peter’s recovery.
1. Rebellion
Jesus told him “you will deny me and TURN AWAY"
2. Repentance
Jesus said, “you will turn back, you will repent”
3. Restoration
He would turn around and strengthen his brother
When Jesus restores Peter in John 21, He tells him to now go love others, and serves selflessly, then follow faithfully.
When Jesus caught people in SIN, He said things like “GO AND SIN NO MORE.” “Neither do I condemn you”. But the sinner’s part is to REPENT.
So we further learn from Peter that failure is NOT final. You are not a failure because you have failed. Jesus is our advocate with the Father.
You who have blown it can help others because you know what they are going through.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 6:14-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
The level of forgiveness you extend to others will affect the level of forgiveness you will receive from God.
Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
We rebuke those who sin and forgive them when they repent.
John 20:23
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
And before we offer anything to God, we need to make sure we are right with others.
Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
And finally, PUT ON LOVE
Colossians 3:13-14
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
So if you have fallen, get up, you may be down BUT you’re NOT OUT.
Stay filled with the Holy Ghost and go and sin no more.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Proverbs 13:15
Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
I recently went to the Lord and said “Lord I need you to refresh my spirit with your Word in regard to when someone sins.
I know how religion responds and how flesh responds but show me again in your Word.”
Ever wonder how Peter felt when the Lord said that to him? You see God hates SIN because it separates us from Him.
It separates us from others also but ultimately it separates us from God.
We, as a society of Christians, will often overlook the sins of sports stars or movie stars or politicians but when it comes to those from our own church family we judge and separate.
Then we say things often like “Children are a product of their home” but that is only true in part.
Many in the Kingdom of God were saved despite terrible homes, yet others raised by godly parents rebel and sin. So even the best of homes have children who rebel.
It tells me that every home is different in regards to testimony as every child is different.
So the pressure society puts on us must be put aside so we can get to the TRUTH of God’s Word in us and find out what God says.
Think about God’s first children, Adam/Eve, they were told “DON’T TOUCH” but they TOUCHED.
And they saw and felt what they never saw or felt before, the EFFECTS of SIN. Make no mistake; there is a price to pay and scars to bear.
So God provided a covering for them. Blood was shed to cover their SIN.
1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.
The word “COVERS” means when you deserved to be punished, you were covered instead.
And if someone sins and comes and asks for forgiveness, what should we do?
Matthew 18:21-23
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
The story of the prodigal son helps us to understand the heart of God and wayward children.
The son went into party central, but the Father never stopped looking and hoping.
When he saw him he did not bring up what he did, no, he welcomed him home, “my son was lost and is NOW found.”
The other brother was NOT impressed and unfortunately it’s how many in the church act.
So keep looking for your wayward child to come home and love them when they do.
A cover for sin is NOT a cover up. There is a price to pay. The wages of sin IS DEATH. That’s why we preach against SIN because of the cost.
We don’t condone SIN, but we don’t condemn people who do.
There was a three-step process that led to Peter’s recovery.
1. Rebellion
Jesus told him “you will deny me and TURN AWAY"
2. Repentance
Jesus said, “you will turn back, you will repent”
3. Restoration
He would turn around and strengthen his brother
When Jesus restores Peter in John 21, He tells him to now go love others, and serves selflessly, then follow faithfully.
When Jesus caught people in SIN, He said things like “GO AND SIN NO MORE.” “Neither do I condemn you”. But the sinner’s part is to REPENT.
So we further learn from Peter that failure is NOT final. You are not a failure because you have failed. Jesus is our advocate with the Father.
You who have blown it can help others because you know what they are going through.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Matthew 6:14-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
The level of forgiveness you extend to others will affect the level of forgiveness you will receive from God.
Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
We rebuke those who sin and forgive them when they repent.
John 20:23
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
And before we offer anything to God, we need to make sure we are right with others.
Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
And finally, PUT ON LOVE
Colossians 3:13-14
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
So if you have fallen, get up, you may be down BUT you’re NOT OUT.
Stay filled with the Holy Ghost and go and sin no more.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
I Will Rise Again
Numbers 10:35
So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said:
“Rise up, O Lord!
Let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee before You.”
Psalms 119:62
At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
Proverbs 24:16
For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Matthew 20:19
and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
Life is a journey that takes us many places and causes us to see many things.
It is without doubt a certainty that you will get hurt, get mad, be knocked down a couple of times at least. This issue is NOT if but “when and “then what”.
There are many things to do in life. Sports like:
Football
Hockey
Baseball
Soccer
Golf
Movies and movie theatres you could spend all day in.
Shopping
Holidays
Social Media
Facebook
Twitter
Internet surfing
Work and more work.
Household projects.
Parties
Alcohol
Drugs
Sex
And WHEN life knocks us down it wants us to stay down so we often DIVE deeper into some of these things to keep us DOWN!
What do you do when you have been knocked down or what advice do you give someone that is down?
Do you tell them to RUN?
Tone down your faith?
Stay down?
Yes there are times you feel like throwing in the towel and giving up.
O’ but I’m here to remind you that in the midst of every storm, even if you suffer for doing good, God is there whispering, RISE AGAIN. GET UP!
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
So it was, whenever the ark set out, that Moses said:
“Rise up, O Lord!
Let Your enemies be scattered,
And let those who hate You flee before You.”
Psalms 119:62
At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You,
Because of Your righteous judgments.
Proverbs 24:16
For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Matthew 20:19
and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
Life is a journey that takes us many places and causes us to see many things.
It is without doubt a certainty that you will get hurt, get mad, be knocked down a couple of times at least. This issue is NOT if but “when and “then what”.
There are many things to do in life. Sports like:
Football
Hockey
Baseball
Soccer
Golf
Movies and movie theatres you could spend all day in.
Shopping
Holidays
Social Media
Internet surfing
Work and more work.
Household projects.
Parties
Alcohol
Drugs
Sex
And WHEN life knocks us down it wants us to stay down so we often DIVE deeper into some of these things to keep us DOWN!
What do you do when you have been knocked down or what advice do you give someone that is down?
Do you tell them to RUN?
Tone down your faith?
Stay down?
Yes there are times you feel like throwing in the towel and giving up.
O’ but I’m here to remind you that in the midst of every storm, even if you suffer for doing good, God is there whispering, RISE AGAIN. GET UP!
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Are You A Used-To-Be Christian?
Haggai 1:2-11
2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”’”
3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?”
5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!
6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!
8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.
9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.
10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.
11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
2:6-9
6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;
7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.
8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.
9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
Whatever God does begins IN THE HOUSE. When we purpose to align our lives with His purpose, the shaking of the Lord will come on a land.
If we want to see Him move heaven and earth, begin the work again in the house.
Think it through, build what pleases Him. Go to the mountain with the BEST MATERIAL and build what pleases Him. There are NO short cuts to this work.
Sin is contagious and holiness cannot be inherited. It’s how the church got to be “USED TO BE”.
I refuse to be a “USED TO BE CHRISTIAN”. C.N.N. – Detroit is being called the “used to be” city.
“This block used to be full of pretty homes and well kept yards.”
I refuse to have it said of me, “He used to be on fire.”
“He used to be holy.”
“He used to go to church.
He used to tithe.
“That building at 999 Sydenham Road used to be full of radical people”.
So how do we avoid the “used to be” title?
We must “Consider our ways”
God wants us to know that when we fail to esteem Him as our first love, we will always find a desert awaiting us.
I don’t want to be in that desert, do you?
“Used to be” is slow and steady.
When I read that article of Detroit I had an open vision, it was showing pictures of Detroit when it was at its best and God showed me the church and all of her glory and then the decay we are in NOW! I refuse to be a “used to be” Christian.
Mosques are being built all over our country, yet churches are closing daily.
The average church plant lasts five to eighteen years only.
The state of the church is in direct relation to the people gatherings.
We all know people who “used to” go to Church, “use to” be saved, “used to” be on fire and “USED to” tithe, “used to” be married. It’s becoming the most used word for Christians.
But we can turn it around; we just have to “consider our ways”.
We must stand with steely resolve and refuse to be a “used to be”.
If I used to read my Bible daily, I’m starting again.
If I used to pray daily, I’m starting again.
If I used to TITHE, I’m starting again.
If I use to be at every service, I’m starting again.
If I used to Praise at every service, I’m starting again.
If I used to share my faith, I’m starting again.
If I used to walk in love, I’m starting again.
Come on church, “consider your ways.”
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.”’”
3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?”
5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!
6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!
8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.
9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.
10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.
11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
2:6-9
6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;
7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.
8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.
9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
Whatever God does begins IN THE HOUSE. When we purpose to align our lives with His purpose, the shaking of the Lord will come on a land.
If we want to see Him move heaven and earth, begin the work again in the house.
Think it through, build what pleases Him. Go to the mountain with the BEST MATERIAL and build what pleases Him. There are NO short cuts to this work.
Sin is contagious and holiness cannot be inherited. It’s how the church got to be “USED TO BE”.
I refuse to be a “USED TO BE CHRISTIAN”. C.N.N. – Detroit is being called the “used to be” city.
“This block used to be full of pretty homes and well kept yards.”
I refuse to have it said of me, “He used to be on fire.”
“He used to be holy.”
“He used to go to church.
He used to tithe.
“That building at 999 Sydenham Road used to be full of radical people”.
So how do we avoid the “used to be” title?
We must “Consider our ways”
God wants us to know that when we fail to esteem Him as our first love, we will always find a desert awaiting us.
I don’t want to be in that desert, do you?
“Used to be” is slow and steady.
When I read that article of Detroit I had an open vision, it was showing pictures of Detroit when it was at its best and God showed me the church and all of her glory and then the decay we are in NOW! I refuse to be a “used to be” Christian.
Mosques are being built all over our country, yet churches are closing daily.
The average church plant lasts five to eighteen years only.
The state of the church is in direct relation to the people gatherings.
We all know people who “used to” go to Church, “use to” be saved, “used to” be on fire and “USED to” tithe, “used to” be married. It’s becoming the most used word for Christians.
But we can turn it around; we just have to “consider our ways”.
We must stand with steely resolve and refuse to be a “used to be”.
If I used to read my Bible daily, I’m starting again.
If I used to pray daily, I’m starting again.
If I used to TITHE, I’m starting again.
If I use to be at every service, I’m starting again.
If I used to Praise at every service, I’m starting again.
If I used to share my faith, I’m starting again.
If I used to walk in love, I’m starting again.
Come on church, “consider your ways.”
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Why The Church Will Not Fail
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ
You and I are the Church of Jesus Christ and we
cannot and will not fail.
The Church was NEVER meant for defeat. The Church is God’s battle-axe to
destroy the works of the enemy.
When God put His glory on the Church, it was so
we could take it to our homes.
When God poured out Holy Spirit we now carry Him
everywhere we go.
If we think we are a defeated Church, we cannot
and will not change the world.
We cannot be passive. If we have the power to bless but won’t bless we will lose
that power.
Matthew 16:13-19 (TURN THERE)
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi,
He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some
Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to
them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you,
Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My
Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of
heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
IN CHRIST the Church cannot fail.
IN CHRIST our family cannot fail.
IN CHRIST our health cannot fail.
The Church has a
position in the Spirit above flesh and blood.
It is ABOVE everything natural and everything
that the devil would try to do to hold you back. The Church in Christ is in the realm of the Spirit and it is
supernatural.
In the Spirit the devil cannot defeat you, but if
you operate in the flesh he can.
In Christ, in the Spirit, the Church is on a
level where Satan cannot touch us.
Even though we are
natural we can live in the spiritual.
Even though we are
natural we have power in the Spirit.
Even though we are natural, Holy Spirit lives
through us and works in us. He
teaches us how to pray in the Spirit.
So take our marriage, finances, health, children,
etc. to the next level.
When you do, Satan cannot strike you because you
are planted on higher ground.
In the Spirit we worship Christ. Too many people just come to church and
sit without their lives changed because they THINK natural, they STAY natural,
but I say, STEP UP!
You can try your way
but your flesh has NO ANSWER.
You don’t TRY to live in the SPIRIT you LIVE in
the Spirit. Jesus did only what
the Father told Him; He only said what the Father said.
You are not orphans. We must stop living like God is SO DISTANT.
Rise up as a son.
Rise up as a daughter.
We serve the King of
kings and the Lord of lords.
Great men don’t build weak things. Great men build great things.
The Church is built on transformed lives. And a King never builds anything insignificant.
Jesus said, “I will build My Church and the gates
of hell shall not prevail over it.”
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Heavenly Places In Christ
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ
Three things we see right at the beginning of Ephesians:
1. From eternity to eternity God works all things according to His perfect plan. All history, all nations, all that exists in heaven and on earth are included in His purpose.
2. That purpose is fulfilled IN CHRIST. So it is IN HIM that every blessing is found.
3. As far as man is concerned our goal is very practical. It is that we should be “to the praise of His glory”.
There are two spheres in which we are blessed – in heavenly places and the other is in Christ.
IN CHRIST occurs 5 times in Ephesians. It occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.
In Ephesians 1:20
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
– It is the sphere to which the risen Christ has been exalted and enthroned.
2:6
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
– It is the reign to which believers have been lifted in fellowship with Christ.
3:10
to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
– It is where principalities and powers learn of the wisdom of God as shown through His people.
6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
– It is the spiritual battleground where believers confront the forces of wickedness.
The kingdom of the heavens was a term Matthew used. It is established here on earth and is heavenly and NOT of this world.
John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
It is the threshold of the Kingdom of glory and is located wherever God’s grace has freedom.
So, it’s NOT talking about a physical place, it’s SPIRITUAL. It’s a sphere of spiritual activities to which you and I have been lifted in Christ.
It’s NOT the heaven of the future, but the heaven which lies even now within and around the Christian.
We really do belong to two worlds.
Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
We are here for a moment. We belong in the heavenly realm.
Thus, we must be “IN CHRIST”. This phrase refers to His redemption, His death, His resurrection and His eternal purpose for man.
So all that has been done by way of spiritual blessing has been done for us IN CHRIST.
“IN CHRIST” is the key to Ephesians. You and I as believers are “in Christ”.
All are members of Christ.
All share in His resurrection and life.
Christ is NOW exalted in the heavenly realm and all who are “IN CHRIST” belong to that heavenly realm.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ
Three things we see right at the beginning of Ephesians:
1. From eternity to eternity God works all things according to His perfect plan. All history, all nations, all that exists in heaven and on earth are included in His purpose.
2. That purpose is fulfilled IN CHRIST. So it is IN HIM that every blessing is found.
3. As far as man is concerned our goal is very practical. It is that we should be “to the praise of His glory”.
There are two spheres in which we are blessed – in heavenly places and the other is in Christ.
IN CHRIST occurs 5 times in Ephesians. It occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.
In Ephesians 1:20
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
– It is the sphere to which the risen Christ has been exalted and enthroned.
2:6
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
– It is the reign to which believers have been lifted in fellowship with Christ.
3:10
to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
– It is where principalities and powers learn of the wisdom of God as shown through His people.
6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
– It is the spiritual battleground where believers confront the forces of wickedness.
The kingdom of the heavens was a term Matthew used. It is established here on earth and is heavenly and NOT of this world.
John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
It is the threshold of the Kingdom of glory and is located wherever God’s grace has freedom.
So, it’s NOT talking about a physical place, it’s SPIRITUAL. It’s a sphere of spiritual activities to which you and I have been lifted in Christ.
It’s NOT the heaven of the future, but the heaven which lies even now within and around the Christian.
We really do belong to two worlds.
Philippians 3:20
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
We are here for a moment. We belong in the heavenly realm.
Thus, we must be “IN CHRIST”. This phrase refers to His redemption, His death, His resurrection and His eternal purpose for man.
So all that has been done by way of spiritual blessing has been done for us IN CHRIST.
“IN CHRIST” is the key to Ephesians. You and I as believers are “in Christ”.
All are members of Christ.
All share in His resurrection and life.
Christ is NOW exalted in the heavenly realm and all who are “IN CHRIST” belong to that heavenly realm.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
2013 – Year of No Delay (Stepping Into Your New Normal)
God ALMIGHTY – The promise of fertile land, abundance, the fulfiller of promises.
2013 – the year that you will birth stuff you never even asked for.
God is going to do BEYOND anything you can even think.
You may think this far, and He will go beyond it.
It’s your time for an out of season miracle.
This number 13 has been hijacked.
So many fear 13. Even a phobia with a name that indicates fear of 13.
Hotels won’t put the #13 on elevators. Yet a Jewish boy, when he turns 13 has his bar Mitzvah.
13 – beyond the natural.
That’s what the Mayans believed and were afraid of it.
How big is your God?
God Almighty.
INFINITY – Immeasurable
Eph. 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
He can’t be measured.
God is subject to no boundary.
Rom. 1:3-4
3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Born of the seed of David in the natural, but declared to be the Son of God with POWER.
Because of Holiness and Resurrection power.
Jesus stands at the end of what man can perceive and says, “I’m, beyond that.”
Man used to look at the Horizon and think that’s it. No idea there was a BEYOND.
God is showing up for you in 2013 to meet your needs, now you must move, without delay.
You need a breakthrough and God is going to supernaturally touch you.
2013 will be year of demonstration.
But we have so limited God. The God-haters say, “God is dead.”
Well, if He is dead, who killed Him? Where is He buried?
Who is taking credit for it?
He is limited by NO BOUNDARY.
He is the Word of truth.
He is ALIVE!
He is tangible. You can touch Him. He is your provider. He can and will deliver you, heal you, comfort you.
Yours for revival,
2013 – the year that you will birth stuff you never even asked for.
God is going to do BEYOND anything you can even think.
You may think this far, and He will go beyond it.
It’s your time for an out of season miracle.
This number 13 has been hijacked.
So many fear 13. Even a phobia with a name that indicates fear of 13.
Hotels won’t put the #13 on elevators. Yet a Jewish boy, when he turns 13 has his bar Mitzvah.
13 – beyond the natural.
That’s what the Mayans believed and were afraid of it.
How big is your God?
God Almighty.
INFINITY – Immeasurable
Eph. 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
He can’t be measured.
God is subject to no boundary.
Rom. 1:3-4
3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.
Born of the seed of David in the natural, but declared to be the Son of God with POWER.
Because of Holiness and Resurrection power.
Jesus stands at the end of what man can perceive and says, “I’m, beyond that.”
Man used to look at the Horizon and think that’s it. No idea there was a BEYOND.
God is showing up for you in 2013 to meet your needs, now you must move, without delay.
You need a breakthrough and God is going to supernaturally touch you.
2013 will be year of demonstration.
But we have so limited God. The God-haters say, “God is dead.”
Well, if He is dead, who killed Him? Where is He buried?
Who is taking credit for it?
He is limited by NO BOUNDARY.
He is the Word of truth.
He is ALIVE!
He is tangible. You can touch Him. He is your provider. He can and will deliver you, heal you, comfort you.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
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