Matthew 8:18
And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.
In the Hebrew calendar it’s the year 5774 – Ayin Dalet, meaning open door/portal/opportunity/entrance.
Ayin means – eye, see, perceive, reveal
Dalet means – house, tent, a flapping door, ear
Dalet in Hebrew, looks like a doorknob.
It is also the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The bent shape of dalet also symbolizes a needy person who is bent over the Word to hear.
Ayin as said means “eye, see”. So in 2014 you will have a choice to see things – optimism or pessimism.
I’m telling you, if you get this 2014 will be like days of heaven on earth.
Deuteronomy 11:18-20
18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
20 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,
So in 2014 you must engage the Word differently than you have in the past.
The Word is the open door of the Son.
You must not just hear and never do.
Things failed in 2013 because you heard but never did.
God is saying in 2014 ENGAGE HIS WORD.
If you do you will see heaven on earth in 2014.
So in 2014 engage the Word over your family, business, and church.
So sow the Word in 2014 and you will see doors open.
Out of that open door will flow miracles. As you speak the Word and step through the open door you will see every barrier and limitation break as FAVOR rests on you.
Open doors will lead to open revelation and open understanding.
Yes, storms will come but you must BUILD on that which has stood the test of time.
You must be like that needy person bent over the Word to hear what the Spirit is saying, then DO IT!
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Friday, December 6, 2013
The Storm That God Is In
Luke 6:46-49
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Storms. How do we survive them? Ever hear of a guy named Elijah?
James tells us he was a man subject to the same feelings and passions that we have.
He went from a great VICTORY on Mt. Carmel to asking God to kill him, all in 2 chapters!
So, are there storms in the Christian life? Absolutely. But let me tell you that the same God you worship in the light is the same God you reach for in the NIGHT!
God is there even when you are not aware of His presence.
Peace is really the test of Christ in you. Peace should rule your heart no matter the storm.
Do you want to stop a storm? Then follow:
Job 42:10
And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
The Lord RESTORED, WHEN!
So how do we respond to storms?
Many of us focus on the disappointments or the painful experiences and we forget about our countless blessings.
Someone said, “When you travel life’s road, keep your eyes on the doughnut and NOT upon the hole.”
Someone else said, “To realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the storm.”
Hebrews 6:19
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
Look again at Luke 6:47-48.
47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
Jesus was telling them, “EVERYONE HAS STORMS.”
Jesus, this was a man doing the Word, He was faithful, paid tithes, He did the right things, BUT WAS STILL IN A STORM! And made it.
Proverbs 10:25 (N.L.T.)
When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,
but the godly have a lasting foundation.
Sometimes those storms rage, sometimes they get calm.
Look at Luke: 6:49
But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
This person was in trouble when the storm hit.
Why? NO foundation!
People with no foundations, when a storm hits, their life just falls apart and the Bible says, “Great was the ruin of the house”.
The advantage of DOING THE WORD is summed up in vs. 48
He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
When the storm hit, because the foundation was built on a rock, he was NOT EVEN SHAKEN!
Elijah got discouraged in his storm. What about Paul, he was in a storm or two.
2 Corinthians 1:8
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
Paul was so discouraged he wanted to die.
But look at the rest.
2 Corinthians 1:9-10
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
Many times in scripture we read “IT CAME TO PASS”.
Praise God, it did NOT come to stay.
2 Corinthians 4:8
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Paul could say that based on history. God did it before and He will do it again.
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
So when that storm comes, it’s time to Praise the Lord.
Who am I talking to that is in a storm?
God is IN that storm you’re in.
He walks on storms.
He sleeps in them.
He speaks peace to them.
He will even send you into them.
Elijah supernaturally ran in a storm.
Jonah caught a whale of a ride during a storm.
It’s time for somebody to Praise God.
Time to Shout and Jump for Joy KNOWING that the TRYING of your faith will work joyful endurance.
Storms mature you to the point James tells us you will LACK NOTHING.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Your faithfulness in the storm will work a change in you to change your desires. That’s what a complete work is.
1 Peter 1:7
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Peter is saying, “What you believe is made pure by storms of life and you will bring GLORY and HONOR to Jesus.”
I wonder what the guy thought when the storm destroyed his house because HE HEARD AND DID NOTHING?
The other guy who listened used the storm as an opportunity to prove what he believed, HIS LIFE WAS NOT SHAKEN, because his life was BASED ON THE WORD!
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Storms. How do we survive them? Ever hear of a guy named Elijah?
James tells us he was a man subject to the same feelings and passions that we have.
He went from a great VICTORY on Mt. Carmel to asking God to kill him, all in 2 chapters!
So, are there storms in the Christian life? Absolutely. But let me tell you that the same God you worship in the light is the same God you reach for in the NIGHT!
God is there even when you are not aware of His presence.
Peace is really the test of Christ in you. Peace should rule your heart no matter the storm.
Do you want to stop a storm? Then follow:
Job 42:10
And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.
The Lord RESTORED, WHEN!
So how do we respond to storms?
Many of us focus on the disappointments or the painful experiences and we forget about our countless blessings.
Someone said, “When you travel life’s road, keep your eyes on the doughnut and NOT upon the hole.”
Someone else said, “To realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the storm.”
Hebrews 6:19
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
Look again at Luke 6:47-48.
47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
Jesus was telling them, “EVERYONE HAS STORMS.”
Jesus, this was a man doing the Word, He was faithful, paid tithes, He did the right things, BUT WAS STILL IN A STORM! And made it.
Proverbs 10:25 (N.L.T.)
When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,
but the godly have a lasting foundation.
Sometimes those storms rage, sometimes they get calm.
Look at Luke: 6:49
But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
This person was in trouble when the storm hit.
Why? NO foundation!
People with no foundations, when a storm hits, their life just falls apart and the Bible says, “Great was the ruin of the house”.
The advantage of DOING THE WORD is summed up in vs. 48
He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
When the storm hit, because the foundation was built on a rock, he was NOT EVEN SHAKEN!
Elijah got discouraged in his storm. What about Paul, he was in a storm or two.
2 Corinthians 1:8
For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.
Paul was so discouraged he wanted to die.
But look at the rest.
2 Corinthians 1:9-10
9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead,
10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,
Many times in scripture we read “IT CAME TO PASS”.
Praise God, it did NOT come to stay.
2 Corinthians 4:8
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Paul could say that based on history. God did it before and He will do it again.
James 1:2-4
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
So when that storm comes, it’s time to Praise the Lord.
Who am I talking to that is in a storm?
God is IN that storm you’re in.
He walks on storms.
He sleeps in them.
He speaks peace to them.
He will even send you into them.
Elijah supernaturally ran in a storm.
Jonah caught a whale of a ride during a storm.
It’s time for somebody to Praise God.
Time to Shout and Jump for Joy KNOWING that the TRYING of your faith will work joyful endurance.
Storms mature you to the point James tells us you will LACK NOTHING.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Your faithfulness in the storm will work a change in you to change your desires. That’s what a complete work is.
1 Peter 1:7
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Peter is saying, “What you believe is made pure by storms of life and you will bring GLORY and HONOR to Jesus.”
I wonder what the guy thought when the storm destroyed his house because HE HEARD AND DID NOTHING?
The other guy who listened used the storm as an opportunity to prove what he believed, HIS LIFE WAS NOT SHAKEN, because his life was BASED ON THE WORD!
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Send The Fire You Promised
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
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
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
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