God’s aim and purpose is for us to once again be clothed with the Glory of God and for us to have no self-consciousness, but when we look at each other we see the glory of God.
God is busy changing and clothing us though the message.
He clothes us with His glory from the inside out – from the heart.
Once your heart is fully His, your heart becomes His heart (filled with Glory).
It is an issue of the heart – God wants all of our hearts.
Pastor John and Pastor Sharon have been given the mandate by God, to make ready for the Lord a people, perfectly prepared in spirit/heart. Everyone’s heart condition can be identified in Mark 4:14-20 (AMPC) 14The sower sows the Word … Most believers love God, but are at war within themselves, because they worship provision and they worship what provision can bring for themselves. This is the escape that most believers are looking for from the system of the world.
Jesus is coming back for hearts that are one hundred percent good (life producing, without spot/wrinkle/blemish). It is our responsibility to prepare hearts like this.
Philippians 4:6 (AMPC) 6Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. Here is who we are, just in this scripture.
You all are a House of Prayer, a House of Faith and a House of Praise.
In our habitual lives we don’t ask ourselves the question, “What do I want?” (definite requests). As a born-again believer you will begin to understand that what you want is what God wants for you – to be blessed, to be fruitful, to multiply, to subdue the earth, to have authority and to use the wealth in the service of God and man.
We want our whole life to belong to God and to serve Him with everything, but there is this war that goes on internally. The mind is where the war takes place. The enemy comes to the mind, it engages the emotions and you ultimately speak and that is what becomes.
7 And God’s peace [shall be yours] … which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds … (Philippians 4:7 AMPC).
The Lord desires for all of us to have peace in our heart: to not doubt, not waver, not question, not be thrown forward and backwards: “Do I compete to achieve, or do I serve to be fruitful” (From message: Search and switch to who we are – Part 1).
If it’s not God that’s pleasing you first and foremost, then you never are going to find real peace and real joy. There is only one thing that is important, that is to fear God and live (From Pastor John’s message: Search and Switch).
How are we going to plough our hard hearts together?
(From Pastor Sharon’s message: The Hard-working farmer)
I have this very strong in my heart, church that Pastor John and Pastor Sharon should be receiving the same level of honour, engagement and responsiveness from us as a people, that Brother Jerry had when he was with us in February.
Living by faith, is at a time fake, because when you plant that seed, there is no evidence of anything yet. It will not be long and that seed will grow in your heart, it will become fruitful, it will become the real deal.
As a body we’re meant to be looking at how responsive we are – and using that momentum to become responsive together. We are not to compare or judge or be distracted by other people’s level of responsiveness. It also doesn’t matter what our personalities are. We are to let other’s growth and development be an inspiration to us. God is waiting for us to be responsive. We as a people can stir up an environment where God is welcome. We can invite Him even more. Today we are going to practice as a church family, because we’re growing and developing in this together. We are going to be obedient to God’s Word by using praise and thanksgiving to plough up the hardness of our hearts.
What we worship, praise and give thanks for – we attract.
Abraham grew strong in faith as he gave praise and glory to God. It is not a formula – it is relational. The Lord gives you seed and you sow it. As you sow it, you live among the seed (you keep on speaking, thanking, worshiping Him for it). You can have one simple thing that you say to God, but if it is real to you and you’re speaking to Him from your heart, it is powerful every time (and every time you say it, it softens your heart).
The depth of your praise will determine the magnitude of your breakthrough. You are responsible for God bringing His breakthrough power into your life. It is personal between you and God. You can develop your capacity and your strength. Don’t resist it, don’t push it back down. When Christ in you (your spirit man) rises up, let it come out of you.
Thanksgiving, praise and worship will make you uncomfortable. Hate that discomfort, because that is the very discomfort that keeps you from drawing near to your Father. That discomfort disguises itself in different ways, but ultimately it is self-awareness/ self-consciousness (because of investment into self and the system of this world). The more you invest yourself spiritually (giving/sowing to the Spirit), the more from the Spirit you will reap life.
There is no better way to draw close to the Father than to praise and worship Him – because it costs you. You have to love yourself enough to hate yourself, because to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength is going to cost you of self. It’s that very thing that costs you, that brings you closer to God. That’s why David says, I refuse to bring to my Lord that which cost me nothing. Let it cost you something. God sees what it costs you, and in that cost, it softens your heart towards God (and it softens our hearts towards one another as well).
The opposite of self-consciousness is blood-consciousness. One of the best things we could ever be grateful for, and thank God for, is for the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus has paid the price for everything. His blood has been shed for us to have intimacy with God, to know Him face-to-face and so we can have fullness of life.
Every time you think (I should … or I need to be more …) replace that thought with some form of praise and thanksgiving and you will see what God will do to your heart, to turn your heart to Him. Then it’s not about I need and I should, but I want to (it becomes a joy and you can’t wait for the next opportunity).
Every time the enemy comes to your mind, to lie to you, to tempt you not to believe in God, replace that thought with a “Hallelujah”, a “Thank You Jesus”, a “Praise the Lord”. When the enemy comes – hold the blood and say, “Shut up devil, you’re a liar”.
Prayer, Father, today I choose to be more responsive, even if it seems fake initially. Holy Spirit, I ask You to remind me that in everything I can make a petition and a definite request to You, with thanksgiving. Give me Your heart, Lord, so that my heart would become Your heart. Help us that we would become a glorious people together, that we would worship You, praise You and thank You. That the fruit of our lips continually would be praise and thanksgiving and when we come together again, our hearts would be so full with praise and thanksgiving to You Father, that You would be so much more welcome to be in our midst.
© 2023 – Heritage of Faith Ministries International
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