The Arm of God

His hand is not to short that it cannot save

He upholds with the right hand of His righteousness

Peter said, Lord save me and immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him.

God has a long arm. His arm is always long enough to reach anyone. His hand is open to save.

Isa 59:1  Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

Psa 37:17  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

Psa 37:24  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Sometimes we can feel like we are falling into hell however The Lord can save us.

Jesus Saves

Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Peter knew he was going down. Peter did not wait until he was drowning to cry for help instead he cried as soon as he realized he was going down. I like that! Notice what the Scripture says, "Jesus caught him" How did Jesus catch him if he was already drowning? You see Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter BEFORE He went down! BEFORE he sunk down! BEFORE! Jesus is so FAITHFUL! Like Peter we need more believers today that will cry out to the Lord as soon as they realize they are falling or slipping for that matter. There was no hesitation or space of time. As soon as Peter said, "Lord save me!" The Lord stretched forth His hand and caught Peter. Peter started going down in defeat but when he called on Jesus to save him Jesus raised Peter up from the raging storm and THEY walked together on the storm back to the boat in victory! All Peter had to cry is Lord save me! We don't know for sure weather Peter said, "Lord save me!" in faith or in fear what we do know is that Jesus heard Peters cry and saved him. The Lord is merciful and even hears us when we cry in fear. Our God is compassionate however He wants us to grow in faith so we can always trust in Him no matter what. Remember Jesus said to Peter Oh ye of little faith; why did you doubt?

We see David crying out to the Lord as well. David said, I waited patiently upon the Lord and He heard my cry and lifted me up and out of a horrible pit. The horrible pit of SIN and SELF.

(Psa 37:17) For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.

(Psa 37:24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

(Psa 63:8) My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.

(Psa 145:14) The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

Rejecting Salvation

Isa 52:10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Luk 1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Ready To Leave

Enoch - Enoch was ready to leave!

Elijah - Elijah was ready to leave!

Jesus Christ - Jesus Christ was ready to leave!

The Bride of Christ - The bride is making herself ready.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Hungry And Thirsty For God

Psa 143:6  I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

Isa 44:3  For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

I am so hungry and thirsty for God! To be free from sin and the carnal nature forever!

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. (His promise is that they will be complete and made whole.)
Psa 63:1 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
The Bride of Christ with the Fullness of the Spirit?
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
As I was praying this morning about being completly free from sin the thought came to me, Keep thirsting after righteosness. The part that spoke to my spirit was the greater the thirst the greater the drink or infilling. How thirsty are we? How hungry are we? I remember one time at the convention is VA sitting across the table from Brother Reynolds in the fellowship hall and he said to me, almost with tears in his eyes as if he seemed to be empty which I know he was not, "I am so hungry." The next time I saw him I knew that he had recieved more. Oh! God help us to thirst for you like David when he said, "my soul thirsteth for thee as a dry and thirsty land where no water is." Jesus also gave us a revelation when He said, "My meat is to do the will of the Father." Jesus never hungered or thirsted for the Spirit because In Him dwelt the Fullness of the Godhead bodily. Oh! That we would come to this place where we live in the FULLNESS! The more we empty out of self the more room for Him!

Your Memory Is A Servant

Is it not true; We often forget. Are we not forgetful people? How quickly we forget. I pleade with you dear friend allow your memory to serve you well. REMEMBER before it's to late !!!

Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Please dear friend allow your memory to serve you NOW! In Hell it will be too late!!! The rich man lifted up His eyes in HELL! Being in torment !!! God said, "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." Luk 16:25

The Spirit of Jezebel By Jon Hamilton

(taken from the book "The Nature Of Our Enemy")

In the book of Revelation, the Lord speaks to the church at Thyatira

"Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols." (Rev 2:20)

At first glance we might ask "What? Jezebel? Didn’t she die back in Second Kings? How can Jezebel be threatening the church in Asia?"

Obviously, the literal person of Jezebel was not present in Thyatira. The reference is a prophetic parallel. Just as John the Baptist was "Elijah" because he came in the spirit and power of Elijah, this person or influence in Thyatira was under the spiritual control of the same demonic influences that controlled Jezebel of old.

Thus, there is a type of demonic influence in society and the church that can rightly be called by the name Jezebel.

This spirit obviously existed long before Queen Jezebel, but she was so totally controlled by its nature that she has become its namesake. In scripture, Herodias is also a type of this force. As Jezebel opposed Elijah, so Herodias opposed John the Baptist. A third example is found here in Revelation 2:20

 Queen Jezebel

Jezebel, the Biblical character, first appears in First Kings 16, when she marries Ahab, king of Israel. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, the king and high priest of the Baal worshipping Sidonians. Baal worship was closely associated with obsessive sensuality and often involved sex acts. Jezebel, as a daughter of this perverse kingdom, was raised in an atmosphere where sex was a path to power and influence.

Ahab, King of Israel, was completely subdued and dominated by Jezebel. Jezebel then introduced the worship of Ashtoroth to Israel. This goddess, represented in Canaanite culture by the moon, was a power-hungry goddess of love and sensuality. Priestess-prostitutes filled her shrines and serviced her worshippers. The lure of these legal, readily available erotic encounters was more than the men of Israel would resist. By Jezebel’s influence, 10 million Israelites left the worship of God for Baal and Ashtoroth. Only 7000 people in the entire nation were not swayed by her control.

The Characteristics of the Jezebel Spirit

A Jezebel spirit seeks control through manipulation. It has a deep hatred of true spiritual authority, and uses emotional pressure, witchcraft and obsessive sensuality in its pursuit of power. It uses subtle persuasion to gain influence and get close to those in control. It then uses this position to gradually dominate.

In the Hebrew, the name Jezebel means literally "without cohabitation". She will not live or "cohabit" with those she cannot dominate and control. She will have no equals. Control is what Jezebel wants more than anything. Even when Jezebel appears to be submissive, it is usually out of a carefully wrought plan to gain influence.

Although it may be common to refer to Jezebel as "she", we obviously must conclude that as a spirit, Jezebel is gender neutral. Jezebel certainly has as many male slaves as female. However, since Jezebel initially tends to establish control without the actual use of physical force, she is more easily associated with classic feminine persuasion techniques.

Jezebel likes to appear close to leaders, and use their influence. She likes to use the power and influence of others to accomplish her goals and control her environment. In 1 Kings 21:8 we read " Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles of the city." This is typical of Jezebel. She prefers to remain concealed in the background, while she manipulates situations and leaders.

Jezebel is often associated with pleasure, especially sexual pleasure. She will use any form of sensuality at her disposal to gain influence and control. Jezebel uses sensuality, but make no mistake, Jezebel is seeking CONTROL. Lusts are merely tools used to weaken others in order for her to accomplish her goal of control. In many cases sex is not involved at all.

Jezebel’s greatest enemy is true spiritual authority. As Jezebel opposed Elijah and Herodias opposed John the Baptist, so Jezebel today opposes righteous authority. In her heart, she despises all moral authority. .

Jezebel in Society

In America today, Jezebel is the arrogant, angry spirit behind abortion, crying out "It’s MY choice! Don’t tell me what to do!" She has cleverly manipulated debate and positioned herself behind seats of power.

She is the power behind the rebirth of witchcraft in our culture. She calls to millions of teenagers via popular music and movies, telling them that new age witchcraft will give them power. She is the force behind the psychic hotlines, which control and manipulate millions.

She is also the spirit at the center of Hollywood. Jezebel is the reason so many homosexuals are drawn to the entertainment industry, desperately seeking recognition and acceptance.

In an attempt to weaken righteous leadership, Jezebel is the force that draws millions of Christian men into hours of television. She is behind the explosion of Internet pornography. Today she is luring men of God into secret lives of bondage and condemnation. Some leaders, once powerful men of prayer, are now too ashamed to even sneak into the throne room. They are wracked with condemnation. They have been reduced to being mere eunuchs of Jezebel. Men with the calling of David have become pleasure shackled Ahabs. (God still wants to free these!)

Jezebel in the Church

Jezebel is not only visible in society. Jezebel is quite at home in the church pew.

1 Kings 21:9 In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."

With a heart of ice, Jezebel gained control of Naboth’s vineyard under the pretense of a FAST. She suddenly got religion when she needed it.

Remember the adulterous woman in Proverbs 7? She first lured the foolish young man with, "I’ve just finished making my peace offerings, and have come looking for you." She made sure he knew she was a good religious woman before she seduced him! Likewise, Jezebel doesn’t let her sin keep her from church.

Jezebel often manifests within the most "spiritual" people you will ever meet. In the Church, Jezebel will first attempt to get close to the pastor or other leaders with flattery. She will attempt to gain his confidence. She "calls herself a prophetess" and often manipulates others with her spirituality. Her deep "truths" usually result in condemnation and burdens for those in her care.

If the pastor, like Elijah, sees and opposes her deceptions, he will find himself in a fight for his life! He may find himself unemployed! Many a man of God has unwittingly had this spirit of control drive out his godly leadership.

While Jezebel often claims to have inspired messages, (she "calls herself a prophetess" according to Rev 2:20), she usually discourages other prophetic voices unless they are under her control. She will attempt to cause leaders to be suspicious of true prophetic messengers, which bear the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 19:10)

This same controlling spirit may manifest in very different, even opposite ways. For example, a controlling, super-spiritual, self righteous, manipulative mother (the kind that wants to run the church), will often be horrified when her daughter grows up to be sexually immoral. Little does she know that she released that very spirit into her child’s life!

Demonic Depression and Loss of Vision

For seven years, God had carefully protected Elijah. God fed him in the wilderness. When Ahab’s armies sought to kill Elijah, they were unable to lay a finger on him.

Finally, in a showdown at Mt. Carmel, Elijah called down fire from heaven and resoundingly defeated and killed the priests of Baal. All Israel fell at his feet in repentance, worshipping the true God. Elijah was the man of the hour. He was vindicated, victorious, and clearly in charge.

Nevertheless, when Jezebel sent Elijah a single threat, he suddenly turned coward and fled to the desert. Anxious, depressed, and miserable, he begged God to kill him!

Think about this. It makes NO sense. Elijah enjoyed supernatural protection for seven years. He watched fire fall from heaven and defeat his enemies, yet when a single angry woman threatened him one time, he lost every shred of vision and ran away. He moaned in self-pity and depression, begging God to kill him!

This is a great example of Jezebel’s powerful demonic "anointing" to intimidate, create fear, and cause men of God to withdraw. Jezebel steals your vision. Jezebel will even make you depressed and anxious when there is nothing significantly different in your circumstances. If there are difficult circumstances, this spirit will tell you they are insurmountable, impossible, and overwhelming. Jezebel will make you feel like dying when in reality, you are God’s man of the hour.

Jezebel’s witchcraft will attack key leaders in her targeted area through intimidation. Those under attack may awaken one morning to find it takes effort just to breathe. All joy seems to depart. Spiritual life seems irrelevant. Demonic voices will echo in their minds "something’s wrong with you!" They may suddenly find themselves in unreasonable anxiety, fearing tragedy or death. Much of what is called "depression" in the ministry is simply Jezebel!

Jezebel wants to paralyze with fear, condemnation, depression, apathy or whatever it takes until we withdraw. The only answer for those under Jezebel’s attack is perseverance in battle. We must remain on course no matter how long it takes!

This is War

The war continues today between Jezebel and Elijah. Like all wars, there are casualties. Leaders sometimes fall. Soldiers sometimes withdraw. Jezebel wants to keep the church within its present boundaries. She claims to decide the extent of the church locally. We must not tolerate this.

 A Victory for Jezebel

The Welsh Example

The great Welsh revival of 1904 is a shining example of a true move of God. It has been called the "pentecost greater than Pentecost." Sadly, the revival’s demise is also an excellent example of how Jezebel works against the church.

In just two years, over 100,000 people were saved. Welsh society was revolutionized. Entire towns recorded no arrests for over a year. Places that formerly were hotbeds of vice suddenly became transformed. Police departments were forced to lay off idle officers. Professional sports teams disbanded because no one was willing to miss church for a game. Services continued virtually around the clock and there were demonstrations of God’s presence and power.

When God begins a work, he usually begins with a man. During the Welsh revival that man was Evans Roberts. Evans was only 26 years old at the time. Most of his leaders were only in their late teens and twenties. Evans was deeply devoted to the Lord, and his devotion to wait upon the Lord released a shower of blessings that was a marvel to the Church. Pastors and leaders from around the world streamed to Wales to behold it.

Many people became associated with the revival as it grew. Among these was a well-to-do woman named Jessie Penn-Lewis. For years Penn-Lewis had considered herself a Bible teacher, but she had never found a broad acceptance for her teachings. She had largely been rejected or ignored by most church leaders in Wales. At first, Jessie Penn-Lewis appeared as a friend and financial supporter to Evans Roberts. She gained his confidence, and began speaking into his life.

Long time friends of Evans Roberts expressed concerns that she appeared to isolate Roberts too much, but Roberts trusted Penn-Lewis completely. She began to minister certain messages to Roberts, which appeared to him to be profound corrections from the Lord. These filled him with condemnation. He was convinced her deep "truths" were things he needed to hear.

Mrs. Penn-Lewis began to express her "concern" to Evans that with the revival’s great success, perhaps too much glory was going to Evans Roberts instead of to God. The thought of stealing God’s glory horrified the sincere young man. He began to think that perhaps others should lead for a while. Penn-Lewis convinced Evans Roberts to withdraw from public ministry, and to move into the Penn-Lewis home.

Evans Roberts never returned to the ministry. The Welsh revival ended quickly and quietly.

After a short time in the Penn-Lewis home, Evans Roberts began experiencing severe bouts of depression. Often he was unable to leave the bed for days at a time. He appeared nervous and anxious. By today’s standards he was in severe clinical depression. It took a toll on his health.

Meanwhile, Penn-Lewis began writing articles and letters in Evans Roberts’ name, and on his behalf. These were published in both Roberts and Penn-Lewis’ name, and eventually, in her name alone. According to many former close associates of Evans Roberts, some of the works attributed to him could not possibly have had his approval. Certain publications were highly critical of other movements, especially the newly emerging Pentecostals. Unfortunately, few people were able to see or speak with Evans Roberts. He was kept guarded in the Penn-Lewis home. He was completely dominated.

Evans Roberts spent many dark years of depression in the house of Jezebel. Mercifully, he eventually broke all ties with Penn-Lewis, but not until his health was broken and his ministry just a shadow of its former glory.

Evans Roberts made contributions in two years of ministry, that most never see in a lifetime. His memory should be honored. Nevertheless, he is a sad reminder of the old proverb "Age and treachery will always defeat youth and enthusiasm." A revival that in 24 months saw 100,000 salvations and a glory some called greater than Pentecost, was destroyed by a single unwitting servant of Jezebel, seeking control in order to gain recognition and acceptance.

  

Trampling Jezebel

First, we must rid ourselves of Jezebel’s ways. We can not cast out lust when we harbor lust in our lives. We can not bring down a spirit of control if we use manipulation and hype to control our congregations. We must examine our own ways, and repent of Jezebel.

Second, it takes Jehu. Although Elijah was Jezebel’s enemy, it took JEHU to trample Jezebel.

Jehu took no prisoners and showed no mercy to Jezebel. He had singleness of purpose and was driven. As he approached Jezreel those who saw his chariot noted he "drives furiously" (2 Ki 9:20) When others offered peace and compromise, Jehu responded "How can there be peace as long as the harlotries and witchcrafts of Jezebel are many?" (2 Ki 9:22)

Jehu would not rest until Jezebel was dead. Her pleasures could not attract him. Her threats did not deter him. He would not tolerate Jezebel.

 Jesus says we too can not TOLERATE Jezebel. (Revelation 2:20) We must learn the prophetic power of the word "No!" We must give no ground!

When Jezebel attempted to captivate Jehu, he did not even allow himself to be drawn into conversation with her. Instead, he called on her eunuchs to cast her down from her balcony. Those with the Jehu anointing will call to Jezebel’s emasculated slaves, and they too will cast her down!

My Son Give Me Thine Heart

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." Pro 23:26

God does not accept a percentage of our hearts, He will not settle for anything less than 100%. God is a jealous God and will have no other gods or idols before Him. God says, "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." Jer 29:13 In Proverbs God says, " My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." Pro 23:26 God cannot be impressed by anyone. Man seeks to impress God with all their ideas and opinions however God knows what He is doing and does not need anyone to teach Him anything. It's man that needs to learn and be taught by God. The greatest commandment is Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Notice: "With all thine heart." It could be that your prayers are not being answered because God wants ALL your heart and you are being half -hearted or worse.

A Prepared Place For An Unprepared People

Have you ever noticed how some people are tormented when Jesus name is mentioned? Just start talking about Jesus and some folks start to get angry. What would it be like to be in a place that is full of people (souls) like this and never get out? My friend Hell and the Lake of fire is Gods presence of purity and holiness! You see even if the soul sins God is still Holy and He will never change. David said, "If I make my bed in Hell though art there." You see Hell is a prepared place for an unprepared people. Those in Hell hate God. They hate Jesus His eternal Son. They would not bow to His Lordship. Hell is a place of torment because the ones there are being reminded over and over again of the TRUTH. They were wrong! They were lied to. They believed the big lie, they believed that there was no place called Hell. Just as the rich man in Hell learned and is still learning, There is a literal Hell. Think of Hell as a gigantic insane asylum only the people there are not just in torment they have there memories. Jesus said, "But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." Notice the word "REMEMBER". The memory can be the most tormenting thing without forgiveness. Have you ever heard someone say I will forgive but I will never forget? What they are really saying is I want to forgive but I will not. Un-forgiveness is the only reason souls are in Hell. It all comes down to forgiveness. Not only MUST we forgive to be saved, we must receive forgiveness from God through His Son Jesus Christ. Notice what Jesus said,  "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Mat 6:15  Without question those in Hell will be tourtured by Satan and his demons. Their will be great suffering. You see there will be NO MERCY IN HELL! NONE! Today is the Day of Salvation! Today is the time to receive mercy. As the songwriter put it "Mercy rewrote my life." Friend wont you turn to Jesus before it's eternally to late? One last thing. Hell is going to be cast into the Lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone. My friend Hell is forever! Hell is a place where those that hate God will spend ETERNITY! Life without end! The Soul will never die! Hell is waiting to receive every sinner! Oh friend why will you go to that awful place called HELL? Except Jesus Christ as your only Savior before it's to late! The demons are crying and croaking "TO LATE!!! TO LATE!!! TO LATE!!!. When judgment is set it's to late! Friend it's getting late but it't not to late. Call upon the Lord and be saved!

Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen

The wedding is between the bride and groom. Their will not be any spectators at the wedding. In the Jewish customs the bride and groom were alone in a tent when the union took place. They were in an intimate and private place. This was a very special time and it was not meant for anyone except the bride and her groom. The public was not invited to the wedding. Not even the mother and father of the bride or groom was invited to this sacred and holy place of union."Many are called but few are chosen." Matt22:14 The called are the Church as a whole but the chosen are the ones that made themselves ready! Rev 19:7-9 Notice who the called are. They are called unto the "marriage supper" not the wedding in the above Scripture.

I. Called - klay-tos' - invited, that is, appointed, or (specifically) a saint: - called.

II. Chosen - ek-lek-tos' - select; by implication favorite: - chosen, elect chosen out of.

True Apostles

Act 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 

 A true apostle of Jesus Christ will witness to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. In His everyday life and by the way he lives and how he treats his neighbor. True apostles are called, chosen and sent by God. They are not carnal or fleshly they are spiritual men. They are not servants of men they are servants of  God. They look to God and not to man. They trust God and not man. They worship God and not men. True apostles are leaders that God has positioned in the Church for it's development. They possess a high calling and because they have a high calling they also have authority with God. A true apostle has a heart to serve and even become all things to all men that he might save some. His interest is not how to please himself but to please God and lay down his life for the lambs and sheep. True Apostles are fathers of the faith. They are solid in faith and do not waiver. They will strengthen and encourage the Church wherever they go. Their heart is very tender toward Gods people especially the babes and little children. The true apostles heart cry is DEVELOPMENT! Growth! For the Church to be established in Christ. If you know someone like this remember they are worthy of double honor. A true apostle will not take this honor so we must give it to them even as God has given them to us as a gift to the Body of Christ.