This morning an old song came to mind with a word I’ve been trying to avoid, some may know it, I sang it and even discovered it had verses too.
“Jesus, use me; Lord, please don’t refuse me. Surely, there’s a work that I can do. Even though it’s humble, Lord, help my will to crumble. Though the cost be great, I’ll work for You.”
I’ve mentioned in a few settings recently that I’ve been trying to substitute “flow through me” for “use me”. It doesn’t quite fit in every song, “If You can use anything Lord, You can use me” wouldn’t translate so well.
However, as I was praying this morning, the Lord speaking gently reminded me of the need for balance. This shift I’ve been trying to make with word selection to highlight that God doesn’t use people in the negative connotation that is sometimes expressed. This effort is a good distinction but does require balance.
The apostle Paul shows us a good balance. He regularly referred to himself as a servant and as an apostle. This has always spoken to me of his balance between confidence and humility. He was confident of his anointing as an apostle, yet humble in recognizing his role as a servant. One challenge I’ve observed hindering some apostles from having a lengthy, sustained ministry is they seem to forget they are merely servants. They lose balance. A just weight and balance has always been important to the Lord.
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.” (I Peter 2:18) leads us to understand some first century believers worked as servants, for masters who were not always kind. When we consider our role as a servant of the Lord, our flesh is not always going to feel that He’s kind or considerate enough of our feelings. That will be true, He’s trying to help us follow His example and crucify our flesh. He was very clear in His call.
“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Luke 9:23
The caution the Holy Ghost gave this morning is that we not endorse the error of the spirit of this age that would reject servitude to the Lord but bow to the idol of self.
We all have likely known some who in the name of balance have justified or excused lukewarmness. A similar danger arises here, some are exalting self and refusing to humbly be a servant. An old bishop said, “A dead man has no feelings.” Many today are all caught up in their feelings and unwilling to be servants.
Servants have no rights. Believers have yielded all rights in service to the King. Our King has a kingdom; and often His guidance, instruction, correction and admonition will come to us through them.
Some quoting the Psalmist, “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” (Psalms 82:6) seem to forget that’s a lower case “g”. They begin down the dangerous road of trying to make themselves equal to God.
The balance is good and necessary. My works will never earn anything in the Kingdom. Every blessing, beginning with salvation as the greatest, is a result of God’s mercy and grace. God is not using me, as some humans use and abuse others. For humanity, using people is wrong. Yet, surrendered believers are honored that God will use our lives as a vessel He can flow through. He is not limited to my work capacity, He is good as getting infinite results out of finite resources.
So, I’m going to keep preferring “flow through” over “use” when I’m talking about trying to honor God in some means of ministry. But any time the Lord wants to use me, my prayer is that I will be a servant He can use.
We often speak of Jesus as the “Prince of Peace,” especially during the Christmas season when Isaiah 9:6 echoes through nativity scenes and candlelight services:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… and his name shall be called… the Prince of Peace.”
But if you’ve followed Jesus for any length of time, you’ve probably discovered something a little startling: this Prince of Peace also disrupts.
We saw it this Sunday when we welcomed little Janay — one of our youngest “peacemakers.” And yet, as any parent can testify, a newborn doesn’t exactly come quietly. Schedules are upended. Sleep becomes a luxury. Life now orbits around this tiny force of nature. But make no mistake — she’s a peacemaker. She brings joy, she resets priorities, she shifts our hearts.
And in a far greater way, Jesus did the same.
Peace Through Conflict
We sometimes misunderstand peace as the absence of conflict. But Jesus never promised peace without pressure. In fact, in Luke 12:51, He said plainly:
“Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!”
Why? Because true peace often requires confrontation — confrontation with sin, injustice, pride, and even our own will.
We are reminded of Jael from Judges 4 — minding her business at home when war literally came to her doorstep. Her peaceful tent became a battleground, and through courage and conviction, she played her part in God’s victory.
The peace Jesus brings is not shallow or cosmetic. It’s a peace that follows a battle. A peace forged on the cross.
The Cost of Peace
Isaiah prophesied Jesus would be the Prince of Peace — not Peace itself. Why? Because peace is the byproduct of something else.
Isaiah 32 shows us the sequence:
“Justice will rule… and this righteousness will bring peace.”
Peace is the fruit of righteousness. You don’t get one without the other. It’s no wonder Hebrews 7 highlights Melchizedek as both king of justice and king of peace.
That’s why the message is so clear:
No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.
Peace With God, Peace Within
Sin made us enemies of God (Romans 5:8-10). But Jesus made peace through the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:19, 20). He didn’t just offer peace — He became the pathway to it.
This is more than calm feelings or temporary relief. As Jesus said in John 14:27:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth… Let not your heart be troubled.”
This peace goes beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7). It quiets storms on the outside because it first calms the war within.
The Call to Be Peacemakers
But here’s the challenge: Jesus didn’t just come to be a Peacemaker — He calls us to be peacemakers too.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Peacemakers are not peace-wishers. They are active agents of God’s reconciling love. This begins with surrender — taking up our cross, laying down our pride, preferences, even our personality, and following the Prince of Peace.
And yes, there will be resistance. All of us, as children, have resisted medicine that didn’t taste good but we knew it was for our good; we too push back when God disrupts our comfort to deliver us into peace. But real peace is not found in avoiding conflict — it’s found in trusting the One who conquered sin to give it.
So today, may we not just talk about peace — may we live it, walk in it, and carry it into a world filled with conflict.
Let’s pray for peace — not just around us, but within us.
“So there was a division among the people because of Him.” John 7:43
Jesus was the Original Disruptor.
As you know, our mission at POGH is to cultivate disciples of Jesus as global disruptors. And Jesus is our ultimate role model.
The crowd that welcomed Him on what we now call Palm Sunday—with shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (John 12:13) and a path covered with palm branches and coats—was not the same group that later cried, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21). Historians commonly believe that those who demanded His death were a smaller, handpicked mob, stirred up by the temple authorities or Roman leadership (Mark 15:11). They did not represent the general population.
Simply put, the power brokers of the day hated how Jesus was disrupting their system. He challenged their authority, exposed their hypocrisy, and redefined what it meant to know God. In John 7, we see this growing tension clearly:
“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He would not walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.” (John 7:1) “However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.” (John 7:13) “The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things concerning Him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent officers to take Him.” (John 7:32)
While mobs can be manipulated by those in power, true worshippers of Jesus are set free—free to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
On this Good Friday, the call is open: be part of the crowd of worshippers. As we remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, choose to stand with the One who gave His life for the world (John 3:16), not with those who opposed Him. Don’t be among those who, for a moment, thought they had silenced God. For three days, it seemed like darkness had won. But then:
“God raised Him from the dead.” (Acts 2:24) “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:5–6) “He is not here: for He is risen, as He said.” (Matthew 28:6)
Love overcame hate. Light shattered darkness. Jesus rose—just like He said He would.
In 2023 the Lord began teaching me a class on Mental Wellness. A respected elder made the comment to me that we have a good deal of conversation and dialogue about mental illness, but not nearly sufficient interaction and instruction about mental wellness. Over the course of several months, I felt the Holy Spirit ask questions that I came to understand were lessons on how to help all of us navigate to and live in mental wellness.
This blog edition of this content is an effort to share the skeleton of what the Lord gave to allow maximum room for His Spirit to give personal application. I earnestly pray that it is a blessing.
Who are you? What’s your story? What doest thou here?
Who are you?
Allow me to provide a biblical answer to this question that is a basis for all of us: Your God identity is your true identity.
Church folks do get excited singing, “I am who I am because the I Am tells me who I am.”
Perhaps the best know biblical occurrence of the question, “Who are you?” is found in Acts 19:15, asked of the seven sons of Sceva. But let’s also consider when Jacob wrestled with the angel and was asked, what’s your name? (Genesis 32:27).
In both cases the power of a clear personal identity is very important. For enemies, haters, those who love us, and for ourselves having a clear understanding of who we are is foundational for mental wellness.
You are not what you do or what you did. You are not your parents. You are not the size of your bank accounts, educational achievements, professional recognitions, etc. You are not the trauma or injustices that have happened in your life.
You are a child of God. He created you and called you with divine purpose before He even formed you in your mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:4,5).
What’s your story?
When someone tells you their story, you can know if they are living as a victor or a victim.
What we choose to emphasize, highlight, tell others is what we rehearse in our consciousness repeatedly until it becomes our identity.
Should we begin first with trauma and injustices that happened? Romans 8:37, “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, Who loved us.”
There is a natural human tendency to focus on the negative; Adam & Eve had over 70,000 types of trees; but allowed the enemy to fixate their focus on the one they weren’t allowed to eat from.
Is your story one of the goodness and grace of the Lord? Or His denial of what’s really good or desired wisdom.
What’s the story you tell? Will your final story be like Jacob’s, “The days of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have been the days of the years of my life” Is it focused on past hardships that you’ve endured. Or like Joseph, who heard his dad’s story, will it be realistic, yet more focused on future victories. “I will die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He sware to Abraham, Isaac, and to Jacob.”
What’s the story your closest friends and co-workers would most tell about you? What’s your personal elevator story?
What doest thou here?
When the Almighty asks a question, school is in session. He never asks us a question because He lacks knowledge or wisdom.
I Kings 19:9,13 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
Where you are right now?
Are you emotionally, psychologically, spiritually where you are because of a hurt? Because of a fear? Because of a wound? A rejection? A betrayal? An abandonment? Have you overstayed a needed season of healing, restoration and/or rest?
Jesus knows where you are. He doesn’t condemn or judge you for your present location. But He is calling you into a new season – characterized by health and wholeness.
Where are you right now, doesn’t determine where you will be. Most of the time, when He asks that question, it’s time to start singing the song, “Hello peace! Hello joy! Hello love!” He’s calling us to a new season.
As you reflect on your answers to these three questions, I pray it helps you navigate to greater mental wellness. God desires that for you. For all of us.
Do we sometimes make the same mistake that we criticize King Saul for making? King Saul famously in his first significant battle, failed to wait for Samuel to come and offer sacrifice. His impatience cost him the credit for victory in that battle, and set a pattern for his life and reign as king of Israel. In contrast, David, from his earliest days lived in close relationship with his Lord and sought Him daily. His victory on the public battlefield against Goliath followed the pattern of trusting in the Lord as he did on the private battlefield against the lion and the bear. Even at Ziklag, David demonstrated his value of seeking God first before allowing the incredible passion in and around him to direct his fight.
So, I pose the question again, do we criticize Saul while consistently making the same mistake? Do we charge into battles we were never meant to fight, because we fail to seek God’s direction. Do we engage in conflicts contrary to how the Lord desires, because His ways don’t fit our preference or schedule.
Gamaliel’s wisdom to the counsel when dealing with the first century apostolic church calls for our attention on this topic. He advised the counsel to not take action against the apostles lest they be found to fight against God. It reminds us of the old spiritual, “Your Arms Are Too Short to Box With God!” (Click Here to enjoy it).
We are hypocrites if we think or speak negatively of King Saul and then daily fight battles differently than God instructs or without clear instruction from the Lord. If we fail to learn from the life of King Saul we rob ourselves of a great blessing of this Christian life. Our peace!
David demonstrated to us the battle belongs to the Lord! We can hold our peace and let the Lord fight our battle. Sadly, it’s easy for us to get lured into wrong battles. We waste time and energy fighting each other and forget that we be brethren. Some younger believers mistakenly think they are fighting a righteous cause, guided by elders who appear to be champions but are actually advancing their own selfish agenda. I’ve seen the realization come down the road, those they thought opposed them were actually for them. All because they didn’t first ask God. One indicator of such error is seen in Saul overthrowing the voice of Samuel in his life. My dear brothers and sisters, we don’t get to pick our Samuel. God does that for us.
In this hour the beloved, poetic prophets voice rises to tell us again for this hour, “For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:5,6)
Never in our lifetime has the noise been more confusing, but for all who will ask God first, He will answer! And the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace! It is imperative that we only fight the battles the Lord calls us to fight. And of equal importance that we seek Him first and at each step so we can follow His guidance in every war we are to engage in.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12,13)
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:20)
Once again the heel of the Body of Christ, taking God ordained action will follow the blueprint shown in Christ to crush the head of the enemy’s attack against us. I beg of you, first, ask God!
(References: I Samuel 10:8, 13:13; Psalm 63:1; I Samuel 30; Acts 5:34-40; I Samuel 17:47; Genesis 13:8; Genesis 3:15)
Last week IG algorithms decided I should see that gospel artist Tye Tribbett posted the following assertions with scriptural proofs for each. They stood out to me as a strong word for our culture in this hour. There are so many voices and such confusion, many platforms provide fact checks for assertions made on them. I felt to either confirm or contradict his assertions. When we can stand together, we must. Certainly, there are times when our integrity demands we confront wrong actions or false teaching. These things said, here is what the aforementioned post stated:
5 Things Jesus Never Said
Follow your heart. a. Jesus said, “Follow Me, because the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can understand it?” (Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; 16:24; 19:21; Jeremiah 17:9)
Be true to yourself. a. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Me.” (Mark 8:34; 10:21)
Believe in yourself. a. Jesus said, “Believe in Me. I am, the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:1,6)
Live your truth. a. Jesus said, “When Pontius Pilate questions Jesus, Jesus said, I Am the Truth, and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free. Jesus will set you free.” (John 8:31,32; 18:37; 19:11)
As long as you are happy, that’s all that matters. a. Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Accepting and believing the Bible is the settled and inspired Word of God that has stood through the millenniums. Also, accepting that Jesus was and is fully God manifest in the flesh, prior to His crucifixion in a human body just like yours and mine; and after His resurrection in a glorified body, which is our great hope for eternity. The quote of Jesus to Pilate is different than shared on this list. Jesus did say that you will know the truth and the truth will set you free to a group in John 8 but not to Pilate in John 18 & 19. With that sole exception the rest of the references are accurately shared and the statements are true.
North American culture is described as post Christian. The greatest idol worshipped on our continent today is still the idol of self. The anthem of this faith continues to be, “The greatest love of all.” Make no mistake, this is a faith. It believes self-actualization, human philosophy and ideas are an absolute authority for life. Sadly, this worship creeps too often into Christianity dressed up with church clothes of self-justification, scriptures and clever presentations that exalt living our truth, being happy, following our heart, and believing in ourselves.
Confidence, self-awareness, and knowledge of one’s gifting and anointing is essential to living a healthy mental, spiritual and even physical life. However, when faith in self supersedes our faith in God, two tragic things have happened. First, we have created an idol in our life. Secondly, we have limited ourselves to ourselves and denied access to divine destiny and resources. God will not share His glory with another.
My dear fellow Christ followers. We must courageously and with conviction take up our cross and follow Jesus. Living according to the truths revealed in the Word of God. So, for this fact check, tis true. Jesus never said those five things. Popular opinion cannot make them true. Choose Truth!
This month at POGH, the pulpit where I am blessed to serve an amazing family of Jesus followers, our anointed, gifted and beautiful First Lady began teaching a series titled, “Finishing Strong.” This series advertised that we would walk away with methods and motivational skills for achieving dreams and goals. Allow me to make a simple statement in this opening paragraph, I hope you have dreams and goals. If you don’t have any for your life or for this year, please take some time this week and enter the presence of the Lord and ask Him to share His script for your life. As Pastor Mooney loved to tell us, “Don’t plan your life, you’ll under-plan it.” God alone fully knows the plans, the thoughts, He has for you! He plans peace and an expected end. Ok, going on …
For those who were willing, Dr. Petoskey offered a Finishing Strong kit for purchase. This kit included a journal, a planner, a handout titled “18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, And Get The Right Things Done.”, a highlighter, a mechanical pencil, a pen, the book “Know Yourself Like Your Success Depends On It” by Michal Stawicki, and a laminated bookmark from Pray magazine that’s title “Praying About Your To-Do List.”
Student’s questions guided our discussion that sprang from the excellent seed thoughts and basic framework that Dr. Petoskey taught us. One of the great ones on the first night was “What’s the purpose of all this?” POGH is blessed with educators, one of them shared this two pronged approach of journaling and planning work hand in hand so well. Another shared the importance of first establishing your “why” then moving on to the what, when, where, and who. It was shared that when encountering an opportunity or challenge, we need to examine it, educate ourselves, execute the plan, and we can know God will elevate us with exact excellence. Ok, I may have added or even missed an “E” in there but the flow works. The challenging question was presented, “How much murmuring and complaining is really a manifestation of negative self-talk?” Plain truths challenged us to determine if we will move methodically and be motivated in the direction of our destiny. If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re probably right. A final word was, God equips us for whatever He wants us to do.
Well, it’s just not possible to recapture everything we’ve learned in this valuable class – and while the Thursday class portion is completed a Circle is being formed to continue this conversation that’s begun on Finishing Strong.
Your life will be blessed if you will be faithful to make it out for Word & Worship on Thursdays, prayer and worship begins at 6:30 and the Bible lesson follows that. Suffice it to say, if you have any opportunity to take Finishing Strong with Dr. Petoskey it can change your life. We who have taken it this year at POGH, know that to be true because we’re going to make it happen in ours. Come join a group of world changers, the local church, God’s great difference maker for today’s world.
Would you like some of God’s peace to flood your world today and overwhelm chaos, confusion, pressures, stress?
This is a word from God for you ~
Isaiah 9:5-7 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Make this declaration over your life today, “I’m taking my peace back!”
The battle belongs to the Lord. His peace He gives to you!
I’m taking my peace back!
This favorite Christmas text is a perfect example why at POGH we don’t baptize in the titles of God. There’s more than 800 titles of God in scripture; it would take almost an hour to call every title to make sure nobody got cheated by missing some bible attribute of God; so we just use the Name! Grateful that the name of Jesus was called over my life!!
In October 2021 the Lord began giving to me a greater revelation about this topic, the Prince of Peace. I first shared it at our 2021 Christmas Sunday service and now here – may it help someone experience the peace of God like they never have before.
First, I pause to affirm for someone in a struggle or a storm, you CAN have your peace back!
Time for someone in a great storm, and you feel like you’re going to sink in the waves & waters of your impossibilities; to declare “I’ll take my peace back”
If you’re facing debts or financial pressures – time to declare “I’ll take my peace back!”
A child who’s making one horrible choice after the other; a marriage that’s been filled with more problems than peace – call for the peace of God!
A business/work/professional setting filled with strife, backbiting, politicking
Battling anxiety, depression, extreme mood swings, bipolar, manic; declare I’ll take my peace back – you can’t actually say you’re battling something when you’re not actually doing anything about it;
The Bible is filled with examples of broken, distressed, and hurting individuals that God brought into a place of peace in His presence.
God is drawn to human brokenness. He’s not looking for anyone pretending to be perfect or like they have it all together.
Don’t ever let pride build you a prison and hold you hostage. We know that if we catch a bad cold or the flu we go to the doctor. If we break a leg leg or sprain an ankle we go to the doc. When our spirit, heart or mind feels broken we need to say, “Help!” too. A therapist, psychologist, a pastor, a mentor, many different options and levels of options to help us with mental, emotional or psychological brokenness. These professions are gifted and anointed to help us be healthy and whole.
God’s desire is that we live in health and wholeness, able to be transparent in our relationship with Him. Not hiding behind any facade; ashamed. He created us to live unashamed.
Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Spiritual health and wholeness does matter more than physical health and wholeness. Just know, we don’t have to hide fragmented or fractured parts of our life. We don’t have to hide failures or weaknesses. We can come to Him and say help, “Lord, I need your help! I need my peace back.”
Everything won’t be fixed in a single moment. But also know, we have seen and the scriptures testify that God can do miracles in a moment;
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1
But sometimes He, in His infinite wisdom doesn’t give us a miracle of deliverance but instead let’s a process test the measure of our desire before He takes us to the destiny He has planned for you and I.
Generally, you can’t talk your way out of a situation you acted your way into.
So I asked the Lord, why does Isaiah 9:6 describe Him as the Prince of Peace and not the King of Peace??
The Holy Ghost said to me, because first My Kingdom is established by My being enthroned in a person’s life as the King of Righteousness; then Prince of Peace is a second generation benefit of My Kingdom being established.
WOW! He said, anywhere that I am the King of Righteousness then My Peace will come.
Now we know, anybody could stand up and say, “well the Holy Ghost told me” that’s why our story/words doesn’t/don’t have Divine power until we back it up with His Word The Bible is clear, II Peter 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” Also, II Corinthians 13:1 “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
So let’s go to the witness of the Word! This may be a little longer than you’re used to reading but the illumination is worth it.
Here’s the Bible Study to back up this word from God;
Witness 1 – For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Hebrews 7:1-3
For the record, put me in the group of those who believe that Melchisedec was a theophany (temporary manifestation of God).
Witness 2 – Isaiah 32:1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.
Digging deeper into Isaiah 32, here’s what we see:
Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him. 2 Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land. 3 Then everyone who has eyes will be able to see the truth, and everyone who has ears will be able to hear it. 4 Even the hotheads will be full of sense and understanding. Those who stammer will speak out plainly. 5 In that day ungodly fools will not be heroes. Scoundrels will not be respected.
Isaiah 32:1-5: Israel’s Ultimate Deliverance
Skipping down to:
Until at last the Spirit is poured out on us from heaven. Then the wilderness will become a fertile field, and the fertile field will yield bountiful crops. 16 Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. 17 And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest.
Isaiah 32:15-18
When the Holy Ghost is poured out in our lives; we welcome in the King, His justice rules in every place of our life (not our rule, but His), His righteousness will bring peace.
Some teaching points connected to the principles found in this chapter;
Righteousness is a gift, whereby the Lord sees our faith and immediately gives us the gift of righteousness: the privilege of being in total right relationship with Him. (Romans 5:17)
We know we’re saved by faith and grace; not by works lest any man should boast; but hear this preacher plainly today, after your saved you need to work out your own salvation, flee fornication, brings works meet for repentance, and need to save ourselves from this untoward generation. (James 2:14-26; I Corinthians 6:18; Acts 26:20, Acts 2:40)
Paul tells us today and the Church at Philippi, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
Not a whole lot of fear and trembling seen these days. See more folks presuming Christianity is Burger King religion, and presume they can just have it their way. Don’t really seem to consider that God miraculously inspired 66 books of holy words, preserved them for 2,000 years, had them translated into the language of every man, at the literal sacrifice of lives, then allowed man to invent technology to massively distribute printed text, and had the Bible be the first book to be printed… but right, He doesn’t really care if we pay it any actual attention, make application, you’ve got to apply it.
All the soap, deodorant, perfume or cologne in the world won’t do your body any good if you don’t apply it. Tell your neighbor, I’m glad you made an application.
What are evidences that the King of Righteousness has been enthroned in a heart?
If the King of righteousness sits on the throne of your life, mind, and heart the evidence will be:
Right thinking
Right feeling
Right actions
Ground zero of spiritual warfare is the 5 inches between your ears.
II Corinthians 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Maturity is letting your mind rule your heart, and not being bossed around by your feelings. Your mind ruling your heart. Your thoughts guiding your passions.
It is evident very quickly who sits on the throne of your heart and mind.
Wait, wasn’t this about the Prince of Peace?
Yes, that’s a second generation effect of having the king of Righteousness.
No Jesus. No Peace. Know Jesus. Know Peace.
The way I can do that is make sure the King of Righteousness is sitting on the Throne, because when He’s on the Throne, and the struggle, fight between my will and His will is over;
Then His peace can come; and I don’t just want the Prince of Peace, I want the King of Peace; the same measure of faith relationship that Abraham lived in. Melchizedek was first King of Righteousness and then after that King of Peace (Hebrews 7:2).
“Let me cut your hero down to size” the speaker said as he began to deconstruct a common “hero” from scripture. Every day headlines scream out of heroes, leaders, teachers being cut down to size. Those who the headlines don’t touch are attacked by the back door news that seeps into unsuspecting lives with unguarded spirits and hearts.
We tear down anyone that we fear may be idolized so quickly that most have no one to imitate.
Heroes don’t need to be cut down, they’re the right size already. If I’ve got an idol don’t cut it down to size, demolish it!
Right sized heroes are all around us!
Find a hero, one that smells bad when they sweat, one that is following Christ and follow that hero as they follow Christ. In this same chapter Paul admonishes us to discern the Lord’s body correctly as the means to avoid many being sick and weak. Could the miraculous be on hold while someone hunts for a hero? Elisha received a double portion of the anointing of his hero whose side he refused to leave. Could the health of your church, your ministry, your life be waiting for the Master’s touch until you find a hero with a treasure in an earthen vessel who is ready to impart something eternal into your life?
Just want to confirm, God still flows through earthen vessels.
I’ve been blessed with too many to name, but this Thanksgiving and Christmas season am sending them each a note to express my appreciation. Join me and send one to yours ~
This sequence of verses is a guide that leads me to victory praying in any circumstance. Hope it’s a blessing to you ~
In Revelation we see the prophesy that we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and Word of our testimony. ~ Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
We know that Jesus paid it all and He paved the way for us! He has overcome the world, He made it possible for His testimony to be our testimony. His testimony is prophetic, specifically for each of us, we are given the opportunity for it to be prophetic in our lives. Declare it, Jesus overcame and I will overcome! ~ John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
I really love Acts 2:24, because life forces you to face the death of dreams, walk through dead places, etc. And yet we know that death couldn’t hold Jesus, and it’s not a barrier for us either. If death couldn’t hold Him, dead situations are no problem for Jesus. If He’s been there, done that, and skipped buying the t-shirt; don’t let the death of a thing devastate you. Trust God, that it’s just part of the process. If the Word came from Him, it can’t die. ~ Acts 2:22-24 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Here’s an example of the power of Jesus over death and the works of others, Here Pilate tells the religious folks wanting to guard Jesus tomb to make it as sure as you can. ~ Matthew 27:65 — Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
King’s words carry power, the King of kings Word carries far greater power. ~ Ecclesiastes 8:4 Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
It didn’t matter how sure they guarded Jesus’ Tomb, it was too late, the King had already made a declaration. ~ John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
We are the Body of Christ on earth today! The same power of the King’s Word orders our steps, provides and protects us, makes a way where there seems to be none. ~ I Corinthians 12:13-14 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 — For the body is not one member, but many.
The battle is God’s!! ~ II Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Don’t fight flesh with flesh!! And learn Gamaliel’s wisdom, and from King Josiah’s tragic mistake: choose your battles wisely. ~ Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
Oh yeah! Go in that power! ~ I John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Blessed New Years!! May 2022 be one of your best years ever!
a Preacher in Hartford 