Month: August 2019

What’s With Demons? (ATP)

This week’s question was, “I recently learned that being demon-possessed and having a demon in you is not the same thing. What is the difference and how does it affect the human body?”

First, to clear things up to begin with, I believe what you’ve been hearing is that there’s a difference between being oppressed by demons and being possessed by demons. Yes, according to the Word, we see a difference between these two things. I’m instantly drawn to a few places in scripture that I believe will answer this question.

First, let’s look at Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” This scripture lets us know that there is a realm that is unseen, a supernatural realm, and in that realm it isn’t just God and His angels, but there’s also the enemy and spiritual hosts wickedness, aka demons. Many people are influenced by this spiritual realm whether they know it or not. In fact, if we dive deeper into this scripture we’d actually understand that the devil has his own army of ranking officials and those who will carry out their (evil) duties. But for the sake of time, we need to understand that the enemy is real and he’s constantly trying to find avenues to influence and destroy the lives of mankind, especially working overtime on Christians in order to steal, kill and destroy.

Let’s look at demonic oppression, because this is mainly what you’ll see on a day to day basis while on this earth. Look at Acts 10:38, “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” We know that demonic oppression can bring sickness on the human body. We also know that Jesus came with authority to break that bondage and heal those who were oppressed of the devil, and that He left us with that same authority. (Matt. 8:18-20)

Another example of demonic oppression is the thorn in Paul’s flesh.  2 Corinthians 12:7, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” Who was that messenger of Satan? He was sent from those armies we saw back in Ephesians 6.  What was that thorn? It was harassment from the enemy. It was not sickness or disease but it was obstacles in his way. Look at, 2 Corinthians 11:24-28, “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.” These are examples of demonic oppression of the spiritual realm that becomes physically tangible in this natural realm. This is why the Word reminds us that it’s not people we’re dealing with, but the influence of the enemy and his helpers and this is why the Word tells us to fight the good fight of faith, with the protection of the Word of God.

Let’s talk next about demonic possession. Acts 16:16-18, “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. If we’re not careful to study this out, we’ll miss what’s happening here. This woman was possessed by what we would called a psychic spirit. She was demon possessed, which manifested in her being able to tell future events. The devil always acts as a counterfeit, and with this demon-possessed medium, the purpose was that the people would conclude that these men of God were doing miracles by the devil, discounting the gospel. The enemy will use demons to possess and influence people to do things in order to make a mockery of the message of Christ.

Let’s look next at another example of demonic possession. Mark 5:2-5, “And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.” This is full on, very evident demon possession. Notice this man was unclean, living in a cave, alienated from others, and he had superhuman strength enough to pull apart his chains. Notice also that no natural means could tame him and that he was extremely tormented to the point of crying out and even cutting himself or self mutilation.

The idea of demon possession can tend to produce fear in people but let’s keep in mind here that by the authority of the name of Jesus, these demons were cast out of these two demon possessed individuals we’ve read about. As Christians, as long as we abide in Him and His Word, we don’t need to worry about being possessed of a demon. We also don’t need to be overly demon conscious, just soberly demon conscious. As Christians we have authority! Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Endeavor to learn how to use your authority and allow the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to influence your steps.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée

 Zapped (ATP)

Why are some people “zapped” when hands are laid on them and some don’t feel anything at all?

This is a good question and one that I myself used to have. For the sake of those who may read this without understanding or having had experience in this, this is referring to the fact that sometimes when people have hands laid on them there can be a feeling almost like electricity flowing through them. It doesn’t hurt but blesses those who experience it.

First of all, when we are talking about any experience with God there are some key things we have to remember. First, God is a perfect gentleman, He will not force Himself on anyone. Second, He knows what we need.

Let’s deal with the first. God is adamant about not forcing Himself on people. He doesn’t want to scare anyone (He has not given a spirit of fear), and He longs that His children desire to come to Him, up to even allowing a person to go to hell if they don’t want Him. A good way of understanding this is found in 1 Corinthians 14:32-33 which says, “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” Even in ministry we see here that God allows the person to be in control. Even under the power of God, we retain some control. Amazing! If you will notice the devil has many counterfeits and this includes the effects of the Spirit. Most adults are familiar with the devil’s counterfeits, being drunk or high or the exhilaration that can come in the moment of sinning. The key difference is the devil’s counterfeits alway leads a person to a lack of self control. Generally, God wants us to always have the choice. Now I know what your thinking, “Those people don’t look in control!”

This leads to some other very interesting points. We are all learning aren’t we? Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the Word of God divides between the soul (mind, will, and emotions) and the spirit (of man). We are born in the flesh into a natural world. Although God is present and He can be seen in everything, we naturally have more experience with our flesh. We need to learn to divide between them. Is this feeling an emotional feeling or is it a spiritual one? For newborn babes, that’s a difficult prospect so, they must learn. The reason I say that is because sometimes, good-hearted and well meaning people can act out of their flesh and not the spirit.

This will lead to my next point, God knows what we need. For the first five years that I came to Family Church, I was very leery of all this laying on of hands and shaken under the power business. I was resistant for sure and God wasn’t going to force any feeling on me. I watched and even criticized the “move of God” though I was connected to my church. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe God but I wasn’t sure how it all worked. The beautiful thing is, God never forced me. He let me watch and learn to desire. That is until one day I was at the church watering flowers after a midweek service. A brother in the faith that I was close to came out of the church and sat down near me. He had just had hands laid on him and he was hooched! He looked like he had just spent the last hour and a half on a barstool not church pew!

I was hooked! I wanted that!!! I got to thinking in the coming days and weeks some important and life changing things. “I’ve been in this church for five years and I’ve resisted these things. I’ve gotten to know my pastor and I know he isn’t a man who puts on falsehood. He get zapped when hands are laid on him, and my friend does when hands are laid on him! I am not going to resist this anymore! The next time it happens to me, I am going to just receive it whether I feel it or not!

That decision changed my life forever! From then on I became the biggest Holy Ghost lush in the church! Notice the difference, when I decided not to resist but flow with what God wanted to do, I started to experience the power. Like everything with our God, if we refuse to receive, we don’t receive! I’ve learned a whole heap since that time and I’m still learning. Not every time I have hands laid on me do I shake or tremble or dance or anything. Sometimes, even now, I feel great power and sometimes nothing at all. However, every time I decide to allow a man or woman of God to lay hands on me I know I receive. See, God doesn’t just want it to be about experience with us, but that sometimes we get it through faith.

He knows what we need. He gives us time and sometimes He shows up in full force because we need to see to believe but regardless we have the Word of God to stand on. There are many examples of people falling under the power of God and there’s also examples of them not. This we know, there is impartation through the laying on of hands all through scripture. So I say this, just receive what He has when He has it and you will be blessed. Whether you fall and shake or stand and smile, if you will receive by faith, your life will never be the same!

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff

Choosing Godly Relationships (ATP)

Today we’ll answer the question: How do we know when it’s time to part from those who are not living for God and are living in the world, those who do things that go against the word of God and those who don’t even believe. I know Jesus spent time with the sinners. Today is seems harder and harder to not be surrounded by those who live in the world and not for God but also many of them are people that have maybe been apart of your life for a long time. Can you help define what our relationships with people living in the world or living right should look like?

What a wonderful question because this is something we have all had to experience as we’ve dedicated ourselves to living this born again life. We know according to Romans 2:4, “…that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” Our first commandment is to love. However, there is much confusion over what love actually looks like. 1 Corinthians 13:6, says love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.” Love doesn’t accept and tolerate sin, but rather tells the truth. The book of Romans, sometimes called the ABC’s of faith, has much to say about sin and those things that cause destruction in our lives. I would encourage you to read Romans chapter 1 in its entirety because the Word lists in detail this kind of worldly, sinful living, but let’s look at an important truth found in Romans 1:32, “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death (remember the wages of sin is death), not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Notice this, it doesn’t matter if you’re living the same way, if you’re approving of it the Word says here you’re just as guilty. Now what does it look like to approve? It means to think of it as common, to consent to, or to willingly accept. We cannot get comfortable with sin. That’s an important warning.

Years ago, there was a faithful sister in the Lord  whose husband passed away after years of being an extreme alcoholic. It had been common for people to bring alcohol into her home and consume it there, because her husband lived that way and everyone knew it. When she was left alone, as a faithful Christian woman, she knew it was wrong to continue to allow this to go on and she had a tough choice to make. She could either willingly accept this in her life or she could boldly stand up for what she knew was right. She chose to lovingly put and end to this behavior by letting these family members and friends know that she wasn’t judging them, but this was her home, she was going to serve the Lord, and alcohol in her home would not be tolerated. Those who truly loved her had to accept that and they did. She’s had years of a peaceful home ever since.

Now let’s look at 2 Corinthians 6:14-15, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” There’s a difference between loving someone and being yoked to them. Our close intimate relationships, especially those from which we seek counsel or allow to influence our lives, should be with people of like precious faith. But we cannot live in a bubble. We live in this world but we are not of this world. We are also called to reach this world. This is where the Holy Spirit comes into the picture. I’ve often gone to the Lord and I’ve said, “Lord, if I can reach them, keep them close, but if I can’t, let them be peacefully removed.” Many have come and gone in my life as a result.

We have to be careful not to get legalistic. Nearly all of my family members, outside of my home, are unsaved and don’t confess to believe in God at all, let alone Jesus. Most of my colleagues, people precious to me, are in the same boat. In fact, most of the people we encounter on a daily basis are unsaved and live and think like the world. But we are the salt and the light to this lost and dying world. We need to love people without accepting their sin. We need to love people while boldly proclaiming Jesus. We just need to be aware of the influence those people have on our lives.

For instance, I may have an unsaved family member who’s an amazing mechanic or carpenter. It’s not going to hurt me to ask a mechanical or carpentry question and take their advice. But when it comes to raising my children, my counsel will come from those of like precious faith. If I’m going to meet an unsaved family member or friend, I let it be known that it won’t be at a bar or at some nasty movie or worldly concert, but instead it’ll be an innocent lunch or something to that nature. If a friend or family member begins to fight against my faith, my church, my pastors, I let it be known that I will not tolerate those things.

Sin tries to recruit, offense tries to recruit, and the enemy will use even good people, and people you love to try to get you off course if you allow it. Remember the thief comes to steal, to kill and to destroy, and know that a thief is usually sneaky and unsuspecting. Be alert, be aware, keep yourself filled up with the Word and Spirit, and you’ll be able to discern when it’s time to go or it’s time to back away from a person or situation. If you know in your heart that a relationship isn’t right, peacefully remove yourself and be careful not to let emotion be your guide.

Now, finally, to answer the last part of the question, what should a relationship look like with those living rightly? Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Iron sharpens iron, that is faith sharpens faith. When we spend time around other believers of like mind and faith, we are sharpened! We all know Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” We should be assembling together with other believers more and more as we live in these last days and the world is getting louder and louder. Being together with other believers will mutually encourage and stir up faith. That word exhort means to call to one’s side, as for the purpose of encouragement. Those we spend the most time with should be those who are after the things of God like we are. And you know what I’ve found, that those relationships aren’t based on age, hobbies, experiences, but on a mutual love for Jesus. I have the most amazing people in my inner circle, some of my dearest friends and brothers and sisters in the faith are decades older or younger than me. Our interests naturally speaking might be nothing alike, but we encourage and stir up one another and that’s so precious and so invaluable as we walk out this Christian life.

Love the lost, reach the lost, but guard your heart and faith at all times. Let the Holy Spirit and the Holy Word guide you in all relationships and decisions will be easy for you going forward. Amen?

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée

Judgment Day (ATP)

Our question for this week is: On judgement day, can God turn you away? Say He had a specific thing for you to do in your life, but you never knew or learned what His specific thing was and you never did it, but you were saved and lived for God.

It is true that one day we will all appear before the Lord and answer for the life we lived in this earthly body. Scripture tells us this. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  We also see this impending judgment in Romans 14:10-12, “…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”

So from these scriptures we see that one day all humanity will stand before Jesus and give an account for the life we lived. Now my heart is reminded of Romans 12:1-2, which says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Because of the great price Jesus paid for us, that is that the Father sacrificed His only Son to buy us back from the grips of sin, the devil, and external damnation, it is our “reasonable sacrifice” to live these lives on earth for His glory and for His plan. When Jesus left, He left us with a great commission. He told us we were members of one body, His body, and we therefore needed to continue His work bringing the gospel of salvation to the ends of the earth. Living in such a way, with such a purpose, is our reasonable sacrifice. Of course we run faster and are better examples of His glory as we live free from sin and pursue righteousness.

What’s interesting here is that scripture mentions the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. That word good means upright and agreeable. Many will live a good and moral life, but there’s more to this life than just living morally. Next is that word acceptable, which means accepted and well pleasing. This is a Christian who strives to live by the Word of God, a well-pleasing life before the Father, one that honors Him. Romans 14:17, defines this acceptable life before Christ as, “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” In my experience as a pastor I would infer that this is the highest place many Christians ever go. To live by the Word, be a doer of the Word, pursuing righteousness, peace, joy and the other fruits of the Spirit is pleasing to God. But now let’s look at that word perfect, which means finished, wanting or lacking nothing necessary for completeness. This is the kind of life Jesus lived. When He declared, “it is finished” on the cross He was declaring that He fulfilled the perfect will of God for His life, nothing lacking for completeness. This is also what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote to Timothy in, 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” There’s a difference between starting and completing, with nothing lacking or nothing wanting.

I recall being a child and going to a family member’s house that was a new building. The first time I went there I remember the house wrap and fresh plywood on the outside, and unfinished fresh drywall on the inside. Year after year I’d go there and instead of getting finished the house sat as it was and slowly decayed along the way, until eventually, in my adult life, that same new house had to be torn down because it was no longer able to stand. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:10-13, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” We live this life on earth in a vapor of time, whether we like it or not. Our foundation as Christians is Jesus and the fresh start He paid for. We decide if we then are going to sit still and let the time deteriorate us without ever completing the plan or if we’re going to build with the right stuff. On the day of judgement it will be known and irreversible. Building with precious stones, silver and gold is fulfilling the perfect plan of God, finishing the task He has assigned you as a member of His body.

Now to answer the original question, look at 1 Corinthians 3:14-15, “If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” Your salvation isn’t based on works. Salvation is based on believing on, trusting in, and calling upon Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Now let’s continue in 2 Timothy 4:8, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Finishing our course, in the perfect plan, leads to a crown of righteousness and rewards when we appear before Christ. Now, I don’t know about you, but just based on knowing how it felt to win the first place medal as a kid, I know it must be pretty amazing to stand before Jesus and be handed the prize for finishing the race and finishing it strong. I want to hear the words, “well down thou good and faithful servant.” Let’s endeavor to look at fulfilling His perfect plan as nonnegotiable, because, as the Apostle Paul said, we have loved His appearing. We love the plan of God. We love the gift of Jesus. We love this lost and dying world. Amen!?

Be Blessed,

Pastor Renée