Hosea 6:1-2
1 Come, and let us return to the Lord;
For He has torn, but He will heal us;
He has stricken, but He will bind us up.
2 After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live in His sight.
Ayin Dalet – the bent shape of dalet symbolizes a needy person bent over the Word to hear.
I want to hear. God, what are you saying?
And I want to be listening.
Revival is often over phrased, overused, ill defined, misunderstood, exaggerated.
Some ask for it and when they get it they reject it.
Some cry for it and when they get it they control it.
Revival!
It’s God’s heart being poured out on people.
Waking us up to prepare us for the next level.
Revival is NOT the end, but the beginning.
To be revived is to be awakened.
Revival is meant to raise us up to LIVE IN HIS SIGHT.
So what is God reviving? Who is God reviving?
Gen. 22:4, 6-7
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.
6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”
And he said, “Here I am, my son.”
Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
“Where is the Lamb?” His question was answered two thousand years later.
John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
The world says, “Know yourself first then try to know God.”
But it’s in knowing God you know yourself.
Without God I AM NOTHING.
But IN HIM!
I AM:
More than a conqueror
The salt of the earth
The light of the world
God, let me be lost in your presence. Permit me to lose my identity, my objectives and my dreams.
Let me be lost at the cross, never to be found, always secure in the shadow of your wings.
Jesus was crucified a lamb yet resurrected a lion.
Revival is God telling His people, “WAKE UP and defeat that serpent.”
The Lion of the tribe of praise roars through us.
Ps. 18:6-9
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
Listen, God, in His zealousness and passion for you, will part water and seas to get to you.
Nothing can stand in His way. You are His priority when you are in trouble.
Ps. 18:12-14, 19
12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.
WOW.
Why does he train my hands to battle? Because we are empowered to defeat the enemy.
He makes my storm His canopy so His light can shine on me.
I’m telling you that there is a praise inside of you that will cause the enemy to fear you.
The psalmist was saying that from the depth of his being he searched and found a praise and that praise stopped the attacks of the enemy.
We praise to get satan out of the way, the flesh out of the way, the world out of the way. We worship to bring God IN.
Praise gets the devil out. Worship gets God in.
So hear me 3rd Day.
Stay hidden in Christ. Then every time the devil looks for me he ends up finding Jesus.
When he sends demons they will return and say that address you gave me, we got there and guess who was there? Christ.
Col. 3:3
For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
That I Might Know Him
Philippians 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
There are four statements in this verse:
1. That I may know Him
2. And the power of His RESURRECTION
3. The fellowship of His suffering
4. Being made conformed to His death
Think for a moment about Paul, aged by this time, battle scarred and worn but NOTICE his prayer.
His aspiration never dies.
His vision never becomes dim.
His Spirit is never dull.
He does not pray to be released from prison.
He does not pray for a ministry.
He does not pray for healing.
Even though he could have. HE PRAYS first THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.
The resurrection of Jesus is the standard of power in the New Testament.
It’s the miracle of miracles.
Think about PAUL and his track record.
He raised the dead.
He opened the eyes of the blind.
He cast out devils.
He wrote most of the New Testament AND YET he says, “I WANT TO KNOW HIM!”
It’s not that he doesn’t know Him, but that there is more to know.
A.W. Tozer said, “Remember this, that while you and I are on earth we are passing through enemy territory.”
The devil shoots darts at us. Opposition will come. The world does not like what we do, doesn’t like what we say, doesn’t like how we act.
It is a corrupt, sinful, wicked world. It follows its god, it’s ruled by the prince of the power of the air. But keep your head up.
You can draw day-by-day, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment on the resurrection life, because the resurrection life is the SPIRIT of Him who raised Jesus from the dead.
The death of Jesus, the cross, proves the LOVE OF GOD.
The resurrection proves the power of God. And because HE IS RISEN:
The world
The flesh
The devil
Are under our feet.
40 days and nights He didn’t say a word to the world. For 2000 years He never bothered with the Jews.
O’ that God would not go silent on us. Let’s NOT miss our visitation.
I want to KNOW Him and the POWER of His resurrection.
When He rose, I rose. He died that we might be cleansed.
He died so we might be pure.
He died that we would live a victorious life.
The resurrection life of Jesus quickened our mortal bodies.
Up, Up, Up from the grave He arose!
Matt. 28:1-6
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
HE IS NOT HERE! O’ praise Him.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death
There are four statements in this verse:
1. That I may know Him
2. And the power of His RESURRECTION
3. The fellowship of His suffering
4. Being made conformed to His death
Think for a moment about Paul, aged by this time, battle scarred and worn but NOTICE his prayer.
His aspiration never dies.
His vision never becomes dim.
His Spirit is never dull.
He does not pray to be released from prison.
He does not pray for a ministry.
He does not pray for healing.
Even though he could have. HE PRAYS first THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.
The resurrection of Jesus is the standard of power in the New Testament.
It’s the miracle of miracles.
Think about PAUL and his track record.
He raised the dead.
He opened the eyes of the blind.
He cast out devils.
He wrote most of the New Testament AND YET he says, “I WANT TO KNOW HIM!”
It’s not that he doesn’t know Him, but that there is more to know.
A.W. Tozer said, “Remember this, that while you and I are on earth we are passing through enemy territory.”
The devil shoots darts at us. Opposition will come. The world does not like what we do, doesn’t like what we say, doesn’t like how we act.
It is a corrupt, sinful, wicked world. It follows its god, it’s ruled by the prince of the power of the air. But keep your head up.
You can draw day-by-day, hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment on the resurrection life, because the resurrection life is the SPIRIT of Him who raised Jesus from the dead.
The death of Jesus, the cross, proves the LOVE OF GOD.
The resurrection proves the power of God. And because HE IS RISEN:
The world
The flesh
The devil
Are under our feet.
40 days and nights He didn’t say a word to the world. For 2000 years He never bothered with the Jews.
O’ that God would not go silent on us. Let’s NOT miss our visitation.
I want to KNOW Him and the POWER of His resurrection.
When He rose, I rose. He died that we might be cleansed.
He died so we might be pure.
He died that we would live a victorious life.
The resurrection life of Jesus quickened our mortal bodies.
Up, Up, Up from the grave He arose!
Matt. 28:1-6
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
HE IS NOT HERE! O’ praise Him.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
The Open Door to the Extraordinary
Luke 1:34-35
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Extraordinary is NOT about what things happen around us but what is happening inside of us.
It’s the nature God has given us. When a prophetic word goes out, it is NOT about an event.
God is revealing His nature to us so we can move closer to Him. The extraordinary, the supernatural is for us. We must align ourselves with the supernatural.
Mary was ordinary but the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit came upon her.
Luke 1:41
And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Look at Jesus; He came out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit.
What about the 120 in the upper room? The extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit came upon them.
It IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE to walk in the supernatural. The Holy Spirit will take over our lives. And when He does, extraordinary things happen.
Eph. 3:16-17
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Christ.
I think we need to stretch our faith and enlarge our thinking.
Let’s think about the Universe, it spans a diameter of over 150 billion light years and is still expanding.
There are over 16 billion trillion stars in the universe and 1 million earths could fit into the Sun.
The Milky Way galaxy in which we live is only 1 out of 100 billion galaxies in space.
Each galaxy with 100 billion stars. Our human eye can only see 3,000.
He’s a big, extraordinary, supernatural God.
By The Way, a light year is 9.5 trillion KM.
We are ordinary, He IS NOT. But if the Christ in us can be brought out, we will become extraordinary.
When we read the Word it is not to put the Word in us but to bring Christ out of us.
When we bring Christ forth, ordinary will become extraordinary.
He who is in us is greater than He that is in the world.
Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to take us through the doors to places we don’t want to go.
Moses had to go where he did not want to go.
Gideon had to go where he did not want to go.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. It’s time to allow God to break us out of our routines and cycles.
If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, He will always lead us to the extraordinary.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
Extraordinary is NOT about what things happen around us but what is happening inside of us.
It’s the nature God has given us. When a prophetic word goes out, it is NOT about an event.
God is revealing His nature to us so we can move closer to Him. The extraordinary, the supernatural is for us. We must align ourselves with the supernatural.
Mary was ordinary but the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit came upon her.
Luke 1:41
And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Look at Jesus; He came out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit.
What about the 120 in the upper room? The extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit came upon them.
It IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE to walk in the supernatural. The Holy Spirit will take over our lives. And when He does, extraordinary things happen.
Eph. 3:16-17
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Christ.
I think we need to stretch our faith and enlarge our thinking.
Let’s think about the Universe, it spans a diameter of over 150 billion light years and is still expanding.
There are over 16 billion trillion stars in the universe and 1 million earths could fit into the Sun.
The Milky Way galaxy in which we live is only 1 out of 100 billion galaxies in space.
Each galaxy with 100 billion stars. Our human eye can only see 3,000.
He’s a big, extraordinary, supernatural God.
By The Way, a light year is 9.5 trillion KM.
We are ordinary, He IS NOT. But if the Christ in us can be brought out, we will become extraordinary.
When we read the Word it is not to put the Word in us but to bring Christ out of us.
When we bring Christ forth, ordinary will become extraordinary.
He who is in us is greater than He that is in the world.
Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to take us through the doors to places we don’t want to go.
Moses had to go where he did not want to go.
Gideon had to go where he did not want to go.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us. It’s time to allow God to break us out of our routines and cycles.
If we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, He will always lead us to the extraordinary.
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Own Your Thirst
Isaiah 44:3 (AMP.)
For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendants.
Isaiah 41:17-20 (AMP.)
17 The poor and needy are seeking water when there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the wild olive; I will set the cypress in the desert, the plane [tree] and the pine [tree] together,
20 That men may see and know and consider and understand together that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
It’s really talking about a revival of desperation. Desperation causes people to do things they would not normally do.
That verse says the poor and needy are seeking water but don’t find any.
So the fact that it says the Lord will answer them means they were crying out.
Desperation does that. So often when we struggle or we are in a dry place we think we have done something wrong and we try to fix it.
But this verse talks about a desperation that causes you to CRY OUT!
And God answers, not by saying, “Come to me”, but by saying, “I AM COMING TO YOU!” He says, “I am going to change your environment.
Water is coming. POOLS AND SPRINGS of it.
Trees are coming.
Shade is coming.
And everyone will see it.
Those who said it was your fault will see it.
Those who said you sinned, they will see it.
Look at somebody and say, “God will help you.”
In Isaiah 44, it is not talking about an INPOURING but an OUTPOURING that is coming.
So do we crave that outpouring? And He says that He will pour it out on the one who is THIRSTY? Anybody! Is anybody thirsty?
When can and will this happen? Next week?
When I stop being dry or struggling?
NO, TODAY! All it takes is for your land to be dry.
I never listen to Beth Moore but she inspired me with this word. I heard her for five minutes and she asked, “If we own our thirst”.
Because if we would “own our thirst” the outpouring will happen.
Can we humble ourselves in this open door enough to say, “I am thirsty and dry for an outpouring of your spirit God?”
In Chapter 41 did you notice the “I WILLS” Not I may but I WILL?
Not when the time is right.
Listen, if we will own our thirst He says, “I will take the wilderness, AND change it, right where you are.”
Isaiah 41:20 (E.S.V.)
that they may see and know,
may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Everyone will know that only God could do this.
Listen, if God has given you a VISION hang on to it no matter what your environment looks like.
If you will own your thirst and tell God how thirsty you are, and that you are desperate, He promises to send an out-pouring of His rain.
His rain brings His presence which brings His glory and then everything changes.
Now watch, He said, “I will open rivers.”
“I will make the wilderness a pool of water.”
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendants.
Isaiah 41:17-20 (AMP.)
17 The poor and needy are seeking water when there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the wild olive; I will set the cypress in the desert, the plane [tree] and the pine [tree] together,
20 That men may see and know and consider and understand together that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it.
It’s really talking about a revival of desperation. Desperation causes people to do things they would not normally do.
That verse says the poor and needy are seeking water but don’t find any.
So the fact that it says the Lord will answer them means they were crying out.
Desperation does that. So often when we struggle or we are in a dry place we think we have done something wrong and we try to fix it.
But this verse talks about a desperation that causes you to CRY OUT!
And God answers, not by saying, “Come to me”, but by saying, “I AM COMING TO YOU!” He says, “I am going to change your environment.
Water is coming. POOLS AND SPRINGS of it.
Trees are coming.
Shade is coming.
And everyone will see it.
Those who said it was your fault will see it.
Those who said you sinned, they will see it.
Look at somebody and say, “God will help you.”
In Isaiah 44, it is not talking about an INPOURING but an OUTPOURING that is coming.
So do we crave that outpouring? And He says that He will pour it out on the one who is THIRSTY? Anybody! Is anybody thirsty?
When can and will this happen? Next week?
When I stop being dry or struggling?
NO, TODAY! All it takes is for your land to be dry.
I never listen to Beth Moore but she inspired me with this word. I heard her for five minutes and she asked, “If we own our thirst”.
Because if we would “own our thirst” the outpouring will happen.
Can we humble ourselves in this open door enough to say, “I am thirsty and dry for an outpouring of your spirit God?”
In Chapter 41 did you notice the “I WILLS” Not I may but I WILL?
Not when the time is right.
Listen, if we will own our thirst He says, “I will take the wilderness, AND change it, right where you are.”
Isaiah 41:20 (E.S.V.)
that they may see and know,
may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.
Everyone will know that only God could do this.
Listen, if God has given you a VISION hang on to it no matter what your environment looks like.
If you will own your thirst and tell God how thirsty you are, and that you are desperate, He promises to send an out-pouring of His rain.
His rain brings His presence which brings His glory and then everything changes.
Now watch, He said, “I will open rivers.”
“I will make the wilderness a pool of water.”
Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
2014 – The Year Of The Open Door
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
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
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
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