LUKE CHAPTER ELEVEN

                                                                 LUKE CHAPTER ELEVEN

In Luke Chapter 11, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.  Jesus talks about prayer beginning with the Lord’s Prayer. 

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.   And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.  Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.  Luke 11:1-4 (KJV)

One thing that strikes me about the Our Father is that it is a communal prayer.  Also, Jesus is praying to His Father.  This unites us as one in Him and God the Father.  We are all united because we believe and accept Jesus as our Savior and God as our Father. 

Jesus also talks about forgiveness, “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil” Luke 11:4 (KJV)  Forgiveness is so important because Jesus also said in Matthew 6:15,  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  (NIV)

Jesus goes on to say in Luke 11:5-10, Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’  And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’  I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  (NIV)

THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW

 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,  yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)

Children, especially very young children, already understand this concept.  If you promise them something they will never forget and keep reminding you about it.  They will also keep asking and asking and in many cases wear you down until they get what they want.  We should do the same knowing that we can come as a child to our loving Heavenly Father. 1 John 5:14-15 says, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (NIV)

There are several things that I see here.  One of them is that we should be persistent in our prayers.  Some of our prayers may not be God’s will for our lives so it is important to know His will.  If we are living our lives according to God’s will then we will know what to ask for because the Holy Spirit will gives us discernment.  If God has told you what His will is for your life, decree that promise and do not let go.  Decrees are powerful especially if they from the Word of God such as Isaiah 53:5   But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  (NIV)

In Luke 18 Jesus said, “I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:8 (NIV) I believe that Jesus is emphasizing that faith is the key to answered prayer.  Why would the widow continue going to the judge unless she had faith that her persistence would pay off?  It is also like the woman with the issue of blood who said, “And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”  Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.  Mark 5:25-29 (NIV) He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” Mark 5:34 (NIV)

 Jesus also drove out a demon and was accused of being a demon Himself.  He rebuked them and said, “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Luke 11:20 (NIV)

 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.  Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.   See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.  Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.”  Luke 11:33-36 (NIV)

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

How does Luke 11 apply to us today?  I believe that we need to have faith in God, not in man.  In this time of chaos, God has been listening to our prayers for justice.  There are some that say that we have not prayed enough or fasted enough for God to hear us.  Yes, God has heard and He will bring justice.  Do not lose heart!

We are united as one in Christ.  Jesus taught the disciples how to pray in faith so that our prayers would be answered.  Sometimes our prayers are not answered the way we think they should or at the time we think they should.  I think patience is the hardest thing to attain when our timing does not match up with God’s.  This is the hardest for many of us because there are promises that we still wait for and we need to have faith that in HIS TIME, they will come to pass. 

Forgiveness is very important to God and so important that He made sure that it was included in the Lord’s Prayer!  We need to forgive others from our heart.  Sometimes it only takes saying that you forgive someone out loud to ourselves and in some cases, telling the other person that you forgive them and maybe you need to ask for their forgiveness as well.  It is an ongoing process.  Sometimes it is very difficult but God gives us the strength.  Another helpful way to have healing in the process of forgiveness is when the hurt comes up you pray for that person.  It is hard to have unforgiveness in your heart when you pray for someone.

We need to be the light in the darkness.  Jesus is the Light of the world.  We reflect His light within us if we truly live in His light.  People will be attracted to us when they see His light in us.  They may not even know why.  People were attracted to Jesus, even the evil ones who sought to destroy Him.  Light dispels darkness.  No matter how dark the world gets we need to be the light and one way is to be truth seekers and convey the truth to others.  There are some that will never accept the truth but for those who are seeking it, we will continue to speak out and not be afraid of the cancel culture out there.  If Jesus had listened to the naysayers, He never would have preached; He never would have healed people or cast our demons and He never would have been outspoken to the leaders and even the religious of that day!  His purpose would never have been fulfilled because He needed to shed His blood on the cross for our salvation and transfer His inheritance to us so we can do the same works that He did.  

If Jesus were to come back today—would He find any faith on the earth?  I would hope so, even if it is only the remnant Church.  We need to stand in whatever sphere we find ourselves in.  God has a perfect plan for our lives.  It may not be on a grand scale as others but I remember a poster that I saw once that said, “If I cannot do great things, then I will do small things in a great way.”

 “If God answers your prayer, He’s increasing your faith. If He delays it, He’s increasing your patience and if He doesn’t answer, He’s got something better for you.”  (Dr. Charlie Ward, 2021)  AMEN!!

 

LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

                                                             LISTEN TO HIS VOICE

The following are words of encouragement that I believe I received from the Lord at the beginning of this year.

January 9, 2021

“I will rebuke the devourer (devil) for your sake.  Though evil come upon the land, behold I Am inflicting wounds on the enemy.  Beware of the enemy’s tactics for I have seen and I know the beginning from the end.  Soar with Me as an eagle flies high above the storms of life.  I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA.  Soar with Me above the storm.  Do not let the enemy scare or frighten you for I come on the wings of a dove, a dove of the Holy Spirit with healing in My wings; a salve to purify, heal and deliver My people.  So look up, be prepared, for I AM coming in the twinkling of an eye.”

January 19, 2021

“As surely as there is deception, there is truth.  As surely as there is darkness, there is light.  As surely as there is night, there is day.  As surely as there is evil, there is goodness.  As surely as there is war, there is peace.  As surely as there is weakness, there is might.  As surely as there is doubt, there is faith.  As surely as there is hunger, there is fullness.  As surely as there is death, there is life.  Seek life and peace and faith.  Seek God Who is the light in the darkness; the peace in the storm; the Alpha and the Omega; the Prince of Peace and the Lord of Lords!!  Choose life in My Son Jesus Christ!  He is the Truth!”

January 21, 2021

“Who will speak for Me?  Who will shout the victory?  Who was He Who opened up the Red Sea?  Who will speak for Me?  Who will join My cause?  Who will give Me pause?  Who will applaud the Victory, the Victory, the Victory!” (Note:  I believe that this was in reference to believing the prophets that have said that Donald Trump will have a 2^nd term (not in 2024).  God still speaks through His prophets.  If God has truly told you something then you need to believe it.  So many of the prophets that prophesied in the Old Testament never saw the fulfillment of their prophecies so we need to trust God and what He is saying NOW.)

January 24, 2021

“I am cleansing the earth.  I am bringing forth redemption and justice.  I AM HE WHO is doing it.  I have sent My fiery Angels of Justice to pluck the evil ones out as a bird plucks out the eyes of its prey.  For I the Lord will bring justice to the earth and I alone shall cleanse it for I AM HE WHO IS WHO WAS AND WHO WILL BE.  WATCH, PRAY AND HAVE FAITH.  I AM THE EAGLE AND I FLY HIGH ABOVE THE EARTH.  I AM HE.  I AM HE.  I AM HE.”

January 29, 2021

“We are in a time of reversal.  That which was will be and that which will be was.  The beginning and the end are a full circle.  The circle of My love began when the earth and the moon and the suns and the galaxies were created .  The circle of My love began at an instant of creation.  You say ‘how can it be, the beginning and the end?’  They will kiss and the ring will be a circle, a circle of love for My Bride, the Church.  You are My Beloved.  Enter the circle of My love, My Beloved.  Enter the circle of my love and you will be enveloped with My grace, My joy, My power and My love.  Enter into the circle of My love, My life, My peace, My strength and My joy.  Beloved, enter in.  Enter in.  Enter in.”  (Note: I believe that this refers to Revelation 22:1-5.)

Eden Restored

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.  Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV)

 

January 30, 2021

“The harvest is preparation for My great feast, The Feast of Tabernacles.  The feast of joy and comfort.  Come to the table being prepared for the Bride, My Church and the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ.  Come to the feast, the harvest of souls, souls for the Kingdom to partake in the great Marriage Feast of the Lamb, Come feast at the Table of the Lord, the Savior, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords---come.  So go into the fields for the gathering of the saints, the wheat, the harvest for the great Wedding Feast.  Come all who are hungry.  Come all who are weary.  Come all who are thirsty.  Come to the feast, the gathering is here, the gathering is near.  So come all, come all, come all.”

 

 

THE MIRACLES OF AZUSA

                                                          THE MIRACLES OF AZUSA

“William J. Seymour, an African-American, was born May 2, 1870, in Centerville, Louisiana, to former slaves Simon and Phillis Seymour, who raised him as a Baptist. Later, while living in Cincinnati, Ohio, he came into contact with holiness teachings through Martin Wells Knapp's God's Revivalist movement and Daniel S. Warner's Church of God Reformation movement, otherwise known as the Evening Light Saints. Believing that they were living in the twilight of human history, these Christians believed that the Spirit's outpouring would precede the rapture of the Church. They deeply impressed the young Seymour.

The Azusa Street Revival was a historic revival meeting that took place in Los Angeles, California. It was led by William J. Seymour, an African-American preacher. The start of the three-year revival began on April 9, 1906 and continued until roughly 1915. On the night of April 9, 1906, Seymour and seven men were waiting on God on Bonnie Brae Street, "when suddenly, as though hit by a bolt of lightning, they were knocked from their chairs to the floor," and the other seven men began to speak in tongues and shout out loud praising God. The news quickly spread; the city was stirred; crowds gathered; and a few days later Seymour himself received the Holy Spirit; services were moved outside to accommodate the crowds who came from all around; people fell down under the power of God as they approached; people were baptized in the Holy Spirit and the sick were healed and sinners received salvation. To further accommodate the crowds, an old dilapidated, two-story frame building at 312 Azusa Street in the industrial section of the city was secured. This building, originally built for an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church, had more recently been used as a livery stable, storage building and tenement house. In this humble Azusa Street mission, a continuous three-year revival occurred and became known around the world.”  (Wikipedia)

 

RECORDED MIRACLES AT AZUSA

 “One man had his shoulder and arm ripped off. William Seymour prayed and, as people watched, the bone grew out followed by flesh. It took about two seconds for the entire arm to grow out.

Members of the congregation began to pray for each other. In one case a man’s fingers had been cut off. They grew back before everyone’s eyes. Another member held her finger on a man’s gum where a tooth was missing. The entire tooth grew back while she watched. A skinny cancer victim was healed and also gained 40 pounds within three hours.”  (Creative Miracles on Azusa Street, God Talk, October 8, 2018)

 

The following excerpt is taken from “True Stories of the Miracles of Azusa Street and Beyond” by Johnny Welch (More Miracles From Azusa by Emery Horvath, June 27, 2013)

“This next story surprised me even more. I still marvel when I think of it. One day Sister Dundee found a horribly disfigured child around five years old amongst the people at Azusa Street. He had scars all around on his head.

His family said that doctors literally had to piece his face back together after he fell from a staircase onto a concrete floor when he was about two-and-a-half years old. The side of his face that took the impact was about one-quarter of an inch lower than the rest of his head.

Sister Dundee could tell he wasn’t normal mentally either. Her reaction? “Oh, how marvelous! God gets glory when things like this happen.”

The father asked, “Things like what?”

“He’s going to be healed,” she declared.

See, by this time, they didn’t say “God’s will.” They said, “He is healed.” They had so much confidence that God was going to heal everyone and everything. “Let me hold the boy in my lap,” she said as she set him down and laid her hand on his head.

Sister Dundee said she could see and feel her hand moving and shifting as she was praying. Finally she took her hand away, and the boy’s face was perfectly normal! He was healed mentally as well.

Now, here’s the shocker. This disfigured child grew up to be a handsome Hollywood star. His name was Robert Montgomery. He became an actor, on stage and scene, as well as a director.

In 1937, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for a thriller called Night Must Fall. His daughter, Elizabeth Montgomery, starred in the hit TV show Bewitched in the 1960s.

From grotesque disfigurement to a golden boy in Hollywood. How’s that for a miracle?

Sister Dundee was part of Azusa almost the entire time the revival lasted. She, too, loved the Shekinah Glory and the music that seemed to fall from heaven. She loved it all, but nothing compared to the love she felt and expressed for the children in need of their Father’s touch.”

 Excerpt taken from “Azusa Street, They Told Me Their Stories, The Youth and Children of Azusa Street Tell Their Stories” Retold by Brother Tommy

“I recall witnessing two of the greatest miracles where Seymour was greatly used by God. I was all ears! First, she told about the man with the wooden leg. Seymour had approached a man with a wooden leg and asked, What did you come here for?‘ The man replied, I want you to pray for my leg. It is starting to get gangrene where the wooden leg attaches. Seymour replied, I‘m just upset because you have the wooden leg on. It would be hard for God to grow a leg out when the wooden leg is attached. The man removed the wooden leg and stood before Seymour standing on his one good leg.

Seymour laid hands on the man and proclaimed, Let Thy Name be Glorified. In the Name of Jesus, I command this leg to grow out. The gangrene is gone; you are healed.

Seymour didn‘t preach that night. The miracle spoke for itself. Rejoicing was continuous as the crowd went wild. The man ran upon the platform and around the room. No one could get him to stop rejoicing and praising God.

Next, Sister Lankford told of the man with no arm. Seymour spoke with a man who had lost his arm ten years earlier through a work-related accident. The arm had been totally severed at the shoulder. Brother Seymour asked the crowd, Would you like to see God have a wonderful time here tonight?

Some of you may remember the man‘s leg that grew out about a year ago. Seymour then asked the one-armed man, Can you work with just the one arm? I‘m just given minimal paying jobs and I barely make enough money to even eat. Seymour shook his head and responded, That‘s not good. Are you married? Yes. Got kids? Yes. This man needs to be able to make a living. This man needs to work and he needs to be able to pay his tithe.

Will you tithe if I pray for you and God gives you your arm back? Seymour said teasingly. Yes! Seymour burst out laughing. I‘m just having fun. He then slapped his hands on the shoulder itself and commanded the arm to grow out. Almost instantly it grew out. The healed man stood in total shock, then started moving his arm and feeling of it with his other hand, awed by the miracle.

A few weeks later the man came back, bringing about 200 people with him, telling many at the meeting that he had gotten his old job back. Many of those he brought with him needed healing and left that evening fully restored as people in the crowd prayed and laid hands on each of them.”

The time is near for greater works than these to be made manifest in these last days!”

 In Jesus,

Tyrone        (Gospel of The Kingdom of God blog July 3, 2013)

Seymour said that another revival would occur in one hundred years.  We are past that time but many now believe that we are ripe for revival, a Third Great Awakening.  All it takes is a hunger for God and the Holy Spirit.  We are in that time.  We are now entering a Book of Acts where the Apostles experienced the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through signs and wonders and miracles beyond what we can only imagine.  We are in that time.  Let us embrace it, pray for it and walk in it!! 

AN AWAKENING

                                                                 AN AWAKENING

One of my favorite movies during the Christmas season is “It’s A Wonderful Life.”  I’m sure many of you have seen the movie many, many times.  It was about a man named George Bailey whose family business, Bailey Brothers Building and Loan, was threatened by the evil Henry F. Potter who wished to dissolve it because of his greed.  George became despondent after a false accusation that he had stolen some money.  In desperation he said to himself, “I wish I had never been born,” and decided to commit suicide and jumped into a cold river.  He was rescued by an angel who allowed George to go back in time and relive his past that did not include him.  He realized what an impact he had on other people’s lives.  For example, he was the one who saved his brother who later became a hero during the war and saved many lives. He was also shown how the town had been taken over by the evil Henry F. Potter and had been brought to ruin.  After this experience, he said that he wanted to live and was given that request and was brought back to the present where he was surrounded by his family and all of his friends.  Yes, George Bailey had an awakening you might say because he saw how one person’s life could negatively impact or positively impact even a whole town.

What is an awakening?   According to the dictionary it is, “an act or moment of becoming suddenly aware of something: "the war came as a rude awakening to the hardships of life."  Does this sound familiar?  Are we in the middle of a rude awakening?  Is what is happening today having an effect on our everyday lives?  Does the world seem to be topsy-turvy----good is bad and evil is good?  Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.  (NIV)

Sometimes people will not believe something until they see it----“I won’t believe it until I see it.”  The hard hearted won’t believe something even if they see it.  Some people will not believe something until they personally experience it themselves.  Unfortunately that is what is happening now with the agenda being enforced by the stroke of a pen (from an illegitimate “president”) whether it be the loss of a job or the assault on one’s beliefs such as those of us who are pro-life. There are many who are having “an awakening” right now and it is across party lines. 

Could we be in the midst of a Great Awakening?  There are those who say that we are in the beginning or in the midst of the 3^rd Great Awakening. 

“The Great Awakening was a religious revival that impacted the English colonies in America during the 1730s and 1740s. The movement came at a time when the idea of secular rationalism was being emphasized, and passion for religion had grown stale. Christian leaders often traveled from town to town, preaching about the gospel, emphasizing salvation from sins and promoting enthusiasm for Christianity. The result was a renewed dedication toward religion. Many historians believe the Great Awakening had a lasting impact on various Christian denominations and American culture at large.”  (History.Com Editors Updated September 20, 2019)

The leader of the First Great Awakening was John Edwards in 1741. “Edwards was known for his passion and energy. He generally preached in his home parish, unlike other revival preachers who traveled throughout the colonies.

Edwards is credited for inspiring hundreds of conversions, which he documented in a book, “Narratives of Surprising Conversions.” 

George Whitefield, a minister from Britain, had a significant impact during the Great Awakening. Whitefield toured the colonies up and down the Atlantic coast, preaching his message. In one year, Whitefield covered 5,000 miles in America and preached more than 350 times.

His style was charismatic, theatrical and expressive. Whitefield would often shout the word of God and tremble during his sermons. People gathered by the thousands to hear him speak.

Whitefield’s success convinced English colonists to join local churches and reenergized a once-waning Christian faith.   

The Great Awakening came to an end sometime during the 1740s.

In the 1790s, another religious revival, which became known as the Second Great Awakening, began in New England. This movement is typically regarded as less emotionally charged than the First Great Awakening. It led to the founding of several colleges, seminaries and mission societies.

A Third Great Awakening was said to span from the late 1850s to the early 20th century. Some scholars, however, disagree that this movement was ever a significant event.

The Great Awakening notably altered the religious climate in the American colonies. Ordinary people were encouraged to make a personal connection with God, instead of relying on a minister.  .”  A Third Great Awakening was said to span from the late 1850s to the early 20th century. Some scholars, however, disagree that this movement was ever a significant event.” (History.Com Editors Updated September 20, 2019)

 An awakening takes place in our hearts.  Sometimes things have to become dark so we can reach out for the light to guide us.  We know, as Christians, that Jesus is the light and as we encounter and actually see the dark and evil things happening in our day today, I believe, as well as others, that we are ripe for a 3^rd Great Awakening and this time the harvest will be the greatest awakening to come upon the earth because there will be an invasion from heaven upon the earth!!  So get ready, don’t lose hope, because GOD IS GOING TO SHOW UP AND SHOW OFF!!!!