Descending like a dove

This message was preached on a Sunday morning. Many souls were blessed and filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

Matt 3:11-17

11 I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fan (shovel, fork) is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear out and clean His threshing floor and gather and store His wheat in His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with fire that cannot be put out. 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. 14 But John protested strenuously, having in mind to prevent Him, saying, It is I who have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me? 15 But Jesus replied to him, Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for [both of] us to fulfill all righteousness [that is, to perform completely whatever is right]. Then he permitted Him. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, He went up at once out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he [John] saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. AMP

What was John saying in his description of the Holy Spirit?

According to the old & new testament,

1) A dove was a messenger of peace and deliverance from cares.

2) It also represents: Gentleness, Innocense, meekness and harmlessness.

God is a Spirit John 4:24

24 God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).

AMP

What does the word Spirit or (Holy Spirit) mean?

It means: (Holy) Wind or breath.

In order to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost you must:

( Obey Jesus,Expect it and Fully Accept it).

John 4:13-15

13 Jesus answered her, All who drink of this water will be thirsty again. 14 But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.

15 The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, so that I may never get thirsty nor have to come [continually all the way] here to draw.

AMP

John 7:38-39

38 He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water.

39 But He was speaking here of the Spirit, Whom those who believed (trusted, had faith) in Him were afterward to receive. For the [Holy] Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).

AMP

John 20:19-22

19 Then on that same first day of the week, when it was evening, though the disciples were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace to you!

20 So saying, He showed them His hands and His side. And when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy (delight, exultation, ecstasy, rapture).

21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you.

22 And having said this, He ( breathed) on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit! Acts 1:4-8 then( Peter Acts 2:1-8skip to 11-17) Cornelius House Act:44-47 a believer w\out the Holy Ghost

AMP

Do I have to speak in tongues? Vs Do I get to speak tongues?

Four reasons for speaking in tongues:

1)God uses it to control the whole person (James3:8 no man can control…….)

2)For a sign: 1Cor. 14:22 wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.

3)To speak to God 1Cor14:2 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speak not unto man, but unto God for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh

mysteries.

4)Edification 1Cor.14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth (builds up) himself. Paul said, I speak in tongues More than you all.

The Disease Of Discontentment

The Disease of discontentment
Making yourself sick
1Tim 6 :6
But godliness with (contentment) is great gain.
NIV

The Greek word Contentment:
airo (ah'-ee-ro); a primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor);
KJV-away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).


arkeo (ar-keh'-o); apparently a primary verb [but probably akin to NT:140 through the idea of raising a barrier]; properly, to ward off, i.e. (by implication) to avail (figuratively, be satisfactory):
KJV-be content, be enough, suffice, be sufficient.


Prov 4:20-25
20 Listen, son of mine, to what I say. Listen carefully. 21 Keep these thoughts ever in mind; let them penetrate deep within your heart, 22 for they will mean real life for you and radiant health.

23 Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life. 24 Spurn the careless kiss of a prostitute. Stay far from her. 25 Look straight ahead; don't even turn your head to look. 26 Watch your step. Stick to the path and be safe. 27 Don't sidetrack; pull back your foot from danger.
TLB

1 Tim 6:6-10
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Mark 4:18-20
8 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.
NIV

Luke 12:13-15
13 Then someone called from the crowd, "Sir, please tell my brother to divide my father's estate with me."
14 But Jesus replied, "Man, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? 15 Beware! Don't always be wishing for what you don't have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are."
TLB
Col 3:2-5
2 Let heaven fill your thoughts; don't spend your time worrying about things down here. 3 You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God. 4 And when Christ who is our real life comes back again, you will shine with him and share in all his glories.
5 Away then with sinful, earthly things; deaden the evil desires lurking within you; have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires; don't worship the good things of life, for that is idolatry.
TLB




Job 1:20-21
21 "I came naked from my mother's womb," he said, "and I shall have nothing when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and they were his to take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
TLB


Ps 49:1-50:1
1 Listen, everyone! High and low, rich and poor, all around the world-listen to my words, 3 for they are wise and filled with insight. 4 I will tell in song accompanied by harps the answer to one of life's most perplexing problems:

5 There is no need to fear when times of trouble come, even though surrounded by enemies! 6 They trust in their wealth and boast about how rich they are, 7 yet not one of them, though rich as kings, can ransom his own brother from the penalty of sin! For God's forgiveness does not come that way.

8 For a soul is far too precious to be ransomed by mere earthly wealth. There is not enough of it in all the earth to buy eternal life for just one soul, to keep it out of hell.

10 Rich man! Proud man! Wise man! You must die like all the rest! You have no greater lease on life than foolish, stupid men. You must leave your wealth to others. 11 You name your estates after yourselves as though your lands could be forever yours and you could live on them eternally. 12 But man with all his pomp must die like any animal. 13 Such is the folly of these men, though after they die they will be quoted as having great wisdom.

14 Death is the shepherd of all mankind. And "in the morning" those who are evil will be the slaves of those who are good. For the power of their wealth is gone when they die, they cannot take it with them.

15 But as for me, God will redeem my soul from the power of death, for he will receive me. 16 So do not be dismayed when evil men grow rich and build their lovely homes. 17 For when they die, they carry nothing with them! Their honors will not follow them. 18 Though a man calls himself happy all through his life-and the world loudly applauds success- 19 yet in the end he dies like everyone else and enters eternal darkness.
20 For man with all his pomp must die like any animal.
TLB

Proverb 20:27
27 A man's conscience is the Lord's searchlight exposing his hidden motives.
TLB




1 Cor 2:9-3:1
9 That is what is meant by the Scriptures which say that no mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord. 10 But we know about these things because God has sent his Spirit to tell us, and his Spirit searches out and shows us all of God's deepest secrets. 11 No one can really know what anyone else is thinking or what he is really like except that person himself. And no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. 12 And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world's spirit) to tell us about the wonderful free gifts of grace and blessing that God has given us. 13 In telling you about these gifts we have even used the very words given to us by the Holy Spirit, not words that we as men might choose. So we use the Holy Spirit's words to explain the Holy Spirit's facts.

14 But the man who isn't a Christian can't understand and can't accept these thoughts from God, which the Holy Spirit teaches us. They sound foolish to him because only those who have the Holy Spirit within them can understand what the Holy Spirit means. Others just can't take it in. 15 But the spiritual man has insight into everything, and that bothers and baffles the man of the world, who can't understand him at all. 16 How could he? For certainly he has never been one to know the Lord's thoughts, or to discuss them with him, or to move the hands of God by prayer. But, strange as it seems, we Christians actually do have within us a portion of the very thoughts and mind of Christ.
TL






PEACE

PEACE (Heb. shalom, "peace, health"; Grk. eirene, "unity, concord"). A term used in different senses in the Scriptures. (1) Frequently with reference to outward conditions of tranquility and thus of individuals, of communities, of churches, and of nations (e.g., 3) In its deepest application, spiritual peace through restored relations of harmony with God (e.g., Isa 9:6-7; 26:3; Luke 2:14; John 14:27; Acts 10:36; Rom 1:7; 5:1; Gal 5:22; etc.). See ATONEMENT; Faith; PARDON; Adoption; Holy Spirit.

Eph 4:-3
. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
NIV
Luke 2:14
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
NIV
Gal 5:22-24
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
NIV
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
NIV
John 20:26
6 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
NIV
Eph 2:17
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
NIV

Col 3:15-16

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace . And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God
NIV

If you don’t decide to be content you will only make yourself sick.

May God bless your life this day, in Jesus name.

12 Essentials Of A New Believer

12 ESSENTIALS OF A NEW BELIEVER

We must be saved, but at times it is hard to know where to begin. What does it mean to be saved? The word saved means to deliver to protect, to heal and to preserve. Once we give our lives to Christ we must learn how to apply essentials that will help us walk in the deliverance, the protection, the healing, the preservation that produces transformed lives.
I have outlined 12 essentials for you to begin praying and working toward. Remember it is not an overnight process but stick with it until Jesus comes back. The race toward salvation is not given to the fastest runner but to the one that sticks with it until the end. Titus 3:5 John 3:16

Additional Reading: Proverbs 28:18; Luke 7:36-50; Acts 11:14 John10:9; Ish 45:22; Acts 16:31, Eph 2:5-8; Romans 10:13;8:24, 10:9 Mark 16:16
**Remember that none of the above is an option its all or nothing. We must
Be careful not to pick and choose what scripture we will apply to our lives.
12 Essentials:
1. Faith- You must have it to come to God. Heb. 11:6
Additional Reading: John 3:16 Romans 10:17 Eph 1:13 I Cor.1:21
2. Repent- True repentance is a turning from sin both in heart/emotion and in the mind/thinking. We must both feel sorrow in our hearts and support he sorrow in the resources of our mind.
Additonal Reading: Romans 2:4 IICor.7:10, John 6:44, 45,65, Romans 10:10, Acts 11:18, Luke 24:47

3. Baptism in the name of JESUS, Acts 22:16

Our sins our washed away in the waters of Baptism.
Additional Reading: John 3:5, Acts 2:38, Luke 24:27, Acts 8:16, Acts 22:16, I Cor 6:11, I Peter 3:20-21, Romans 6:3-4 Col 2:1, Gal 3:27, Acts 2:41, 8:12-16, 10:44-48 and 19:1-6.

4. Receive ye the Holy Ghost spoken of in John 14:15-18 and introduced in Acts 2:1-4;38.

****PLEASE NOTE: THE SAME EXPERIENCE IS AVAILABE FOR YOU AND ME TODAY*****

Additional Reading: Romans 8:9, Matt 3:11, Acts 1:15, Acts 2:4, Joel 2:28-29, Acts 8, 10, 19:1-6.

5. The BIBLE- The word of God is a powerful source.

4 things the word of God can do for you.

1. Defeat Satan Matt 4:1-11
2. Withstand evil Heb 1:3
3. Change you Psalms 19; 7-11
4. Is a weapon – THE BIBLE IS GOD’S THOUGHTS AND WAYS EXPRESSED
A. Sword of the spirit Eph 6:17
B. Weapon of warfare II Cor 10:4-5
C. Sharper than a sword Heb 4:12
D. Teaches us how to think Phil 4:8

6. Prayer is communicating with God.

A. Prayer gets your spirit closer to Him
B. Prayer changes your attitude
C. Prayer affects the enemy
D. Prayer changes heaven
E. Your Prayer affects others.

7. The Godhead – 1 God 3 manifestations
A. Father in creation
B. Son in redemption
C. The Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

Additional Reading: Deut. 6:4, Ish 43:11, 54;5, Mark 12:32, Romans 3:30, ICor 8:4, 8:16, Eph 4:5; James 2:19

8. Christian Character Gal 5:22-26

A. Good Words Speaking things that edify Titus 3:2 James 3:1-18
B. Good Works Do things that edify Titus 3:8 Gal 6:9-10 Col 1:10

9. Your Family- The Divine Order.

 CHRIST
Head of the Husband
Lord of the Family
 HUSBAND
Head of the wife
Chief authority over the children
 The wife
The help meet of the Husband
2nd in authority over children
 The Children
Respectful and obedient to parents

10. Faithfulness in the following Areas:

Worship Psalms 150, Psalms 66, ITim 2, IICor 9
Giving Malachi 3:8-10, Luke 18:12
Attendance Heb. 10:25
To the Ministry Heb 13:7, 13:17

STAY FAITHFUL EVEN WHEN TIMES ARE ROUGH

11. Spiritual Warfare
2 Battle Fronts :
A. Things we bring on our selves
B. Things satan brings on us.

12. REMEMBER, YOU ARE PART OF A POWERFUL CHURCH
See hand out

. The proper relationship between ministry and the church.
See hand out

Urban Warfare in Oakland

Going to hell on purpose

Notes from this weeks message at the Oakland Revival Prayer and Bible Study meeting.

Going To Hell On Purpose

For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

There are many things people can purpose in there heart to do. Things such as completing their education, finishing a project or maybe following through on a commitment they’ve agreed to.

Like Daniel, who purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the King’s meat (Dan 1:8 KJV), we as believers of the Gospel must also purpose in our hearts not to defile ourselves with habitual sin. Sin is serious and it blocks us from having life more abundantly.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and destroy: I am come that that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

(John 10:10)NKJ.

Because of sin hell is expanding it’s borders in order to accomdate all those who are willingly crossing it’s borders. When Christians realize there are more people running for the borders of hell than for the borders of the United States, we should feel compelled to tell them that they are going the wrong way.

"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

1 Peter 4:18 NIV

1. What is the definition of sin? Simply put, its missing the mark. Lawlessness (1 John 3:4) or transgression of God's will, either by omitting to do what God's law requires or by doing what it forbids. The transgression can occur in thought (1 John 3:15),word (Matt 5:22), or deed (Rom 1:32).

2. What is meant by “ the wages of sin”?

Every person that practices this painful service(sin), has had to agree to work for the wages and benefits of sin, and as a result have earned eternal separation from God.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance . 2 Peter 3:9 KJV

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Ps 51:10-13KJV

3. Can a person earn salvation?

No, a person can only earn their way to hell, but the gift of God is free, it is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and His plan of Salvation. The Bible says that our righteousness is as filthy rags.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.John 3:16NIV

Who Is Wise ?

James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
v. 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not and lie not against the truth.
v.3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devillish.
v.3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
v.3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
v.3:18 And the fruit of righteouness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

For further reading on wisdom read Proverbs 9:1-18


Scripture in context:

In the third chapter of the book of James, he explains the dangers
of the tongue. He makes it clear that it is inconsistent with christian character for your mouth to bless God and curse man, who is made in God's image.
He then progresses to a greater accountability that teachers face because their primary tool for teaching is their tongue.
One would need to excercise Godly wisdom which comes from above and not from the earth if, it is beleived that they are called to teach in the church.
James then moves on to contrast the two types of wisdom, earthly wisdom and wisdom from above.
In conclusion, he teaches that they that sow in righteouness are using Godly wisdom and in turn will reap the fruit of peace, humility and honor.


Principles to apply:

1) Remember, you are always teaching by your lifestyle
2) Choose Gods wisdom over the worlds wisdom.
3) Wisdom will be seen not just professed.
4) Meekness is inseparable from true wisdom.
5) You can be snared with the words of your own mouth.
6) Wisdom has respect for God and ourselves.(sanctified)
7) Wisdom is not harsh toward other's faults.
8) You will reap what you sow.
9) Teachers will be held accountable for what we are teaching

SOOTHING THE SOUL

The Bible tells of a story about King Saul, God had sent a evil spirit to Saul that caused him to be restless and greatly agitated.

When ever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his harp and play, Then relief would come to Saul, he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. (1Sam.16:23) NIV

The Bible also says the church in heaven will be celebrating the redeemer with music.

And I heard a loud sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists playing their harps.
(Rev. 14:2)NIV.

Let the ihabitants of the great city of Oakland burst out with song and music towards the lord JESUS,

Jesus said, " If will be lifted up I will draw all men unto me"

The next time you are are feeling a little irriated or angry, put on a little music and draw close to Jesus and he will draw close to you, and your soul will be soothed. Let the lord have the glory in your life today.