Millionaires

Who wants to be a millionaire?— is a popular TV game show. It's where contestants have to answer ten questions correctly to win $1,000,000. The questions start off easy and then they get more difficult the higher the amount of money that's at stake. You can stop at any point and keep what you have already  won, but any wrong answer and you'll lose it all, except for a consolation prize of a thousand dollars. Most people's greed gets the best of them. Such are the ways of many game shows and this world.

Many people want to be rich and a million dollars seems like a good starting place. But it doesn't go as far as it used to. Neither does it buy you happiness. In fact most winners of large sums of money have often had miserable experiences after winning the money. Recently, an elderly couple who had just won six million in a lottery, decided to give most of it away to charities, because they were already happy and content with their simple life.

The game of life is not much different. Life starts off with simple questions and then they get much harder the older we get. The same also go for many who have chosen to follow Christ. In the beginning, many accepted Jesus Christ not knowing the full cost of the cross—something that has greatly hurt the church. Questions often posed by many minister are far too simple in order to win converts. As a results, money, trials and the lust for this world have taken tole on many new or naive Christians. A lesson, I learned the hard way too, but thank God for second chances.  

After the Lord gave me another chance, I learned to follow Him and to live debt free. I've trusted the Lord to meet all our needs. Then the Lord gave my wife and I several opportunities to invest some extra money without borrowing and still live by faith. What happened was nothing we had expected. Thieves (satan's helpers) always found a way to steal the money we had invested. They were fairly large amounts by our standards. However, God promises He would restore all things, but when and how is not always the way we would expect. (This actually applies for almost everything in life, not just money.) God has told me several times over the years that I would be a wealthy man, and we believe Him. But we would not pursue it by striving, but by faith.

A little over a year ago, God had a friend and I go out and celebrate by faith, making our second million dollars. We hadn't even made our first, much less more than a few thousand before the thieves took our investment. We've been living from paycheck to paycheck or selling things like many other people. My wife and I even sold our wedding rings last spring (that too was a prophecy). Yet, God had said, we would be wealthy and rich and he would restore all things lost or stolen, which also included my marriage.

A couple months ago, we got an email from a legal firm stating that they would be returning stolen funds from one of our investments, and that there would be a form coming in the mail. It was to be returned with proof of our investment. This was a surprise and also a disappointment, one we had not expected. However, before we got the form, the Lord impressed upon me one night to read Isaiah 58. He also wanted me to read it at church on Wednesday night. After I read it to the church, I explained that I believe God wants us to focus on His desires and not our own, especially this time of year. I had explained that I believe this messages was for whole Body of Christ, not just this church.

A couple night later we had another awesome meeting with God. The Lord had a lot to say, one thing was that we would be financially blessed. But, He would create it a different way from what we thought, and letting go of the refund would be the key. My friend had already obeyed God a few night before. God indicated I was faithful on reading Isaiah 58, Wednesday night. Now, I had something else to say and do the following night.

The next day my wife informed me that we had gotten the refund letter from the lawyers. So that night, I told her that it was God's desire for us, "to let it go." Letting go of $9,000—that's rightfully yours, would seem crazy to most people. But it's not, if your desire is to trust and obey God, and so we did.

Life is not about money, things or being a millionaire, but knowing the heart of the Father. He will bless all His sons and daughters in His time and way, and I for one am banking on that. God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise. Most of my life, certain people though I was foolish. I am a fool for Christ, and the Heavenly Father is my inheritance. He is my everything.  And nothing, not even money can compared to being a son and a friend of God. I pray that wholes true for you.

Note: In the book of Genesis we have the story of Jacob, who married Laban's two daughters. God wanted to bless Jacob and nothing was going to stop it. Not even sneaky, cheating Laban nor his two stealing sons could stop it from happening. Jacob was a blessed man in every way, and in a short time he also became a very wealth man. 

Therefore, we should be willing to wait also, for the Lord's timing. The scripture says, that the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous. (Prov. 13:22) God will distribute it, in His time and way. And God's will, is always accomplished!

Peace on Earth—through a Rebel

The angels declared,"Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." (Luke 2:14 NLV)

And Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies will be the members of his household."

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it." (Mat. 10:32-39)

Disciples who have chosen to follow Jesus, have had to adjust their way of thinking, vision and colors of traditions. The cross and the message sent from it has become their goal—complete submission to the will of God. They are willing to leave the past and forsake everything, by making Jesus Christ and his Kingdom of Peace (New Jerusalem) their future. Children of God become disciples, and disciples become sons who rule and reign in that Kingdom.

New Wine

Last week the Lord said, the first miracle of Jesus was a prophecy, a prophesy of the greatest move of God that is about to take place on planet Earth. The changing of water, which represented the sinfulness of humanity—into wine— God's best wine. The best is yet to come. We will see an out pouring of the Holy Spirit over the whole earth. A complete supernatural change of the natural into the spiritual, all in His timing and way.

Jesus' first miracle

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. 

Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him." (John 2:1-11)

Jesus Christ was and is The Prophet. Everything about Jesus' life—His actions, words, where he went, how He was treated and what happened to Him; even down to the thirty-nine stripes on His body; they all had prophetic meaning—a picture of something bigger. Something beyond time and space. Even the healings, the miracles, including His parables all prophesied of something with much deeper spiritual meanings. 

This is the only account given of Jesus' first miracle, it was written by John the beloved. So let's see what can we learn from this miracle, besides the obvious, since there's no such thing as an accident or a coincident with God. Who knows the beginning and the end of all things. Everything has its purpose, place and designated time, and God created it all. 

The apostle John, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, starts the account off with, "On the third day," a fact that is often over looked and even left out by some Bible translators, because it doesn't make any sense to most men. But I don't believe it is that insignificant. Just as six days later Jesus took three disciples onto a mountain and was transfigured before them. These numbers have prophetic meaning, and that something significant had or was about to happen. Meanings that would be released later in time.

The number 3, is very important number in Scripture numerology. You have the Godhead (three in one), there's Jonah in the belly of a whale for three days, Jesus raised three persons from the dead, and Jesus Himself rose from the dead on the third day and many others threes throughout the whole Bible. 

The wedding Jesus attended was in Cana, it too meant something, it was a small village about five miles north of Nazareth where Jesus was raised. Cana is Hebrew, it is also known as Kna, which is the native word for Canaanite. Canaan was the land promise by God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendant for a thousand generations. Canaan was the Promise Land that flowed with milk and honey—it also represents the spiritual Garden of Eden for all of God's sons, the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

Also the first miracle was at a wedding is not a coincident either—it's significant. A wedding is a covenant, where a man and a women become one and there is a new beginning. Weddings are also a time when friends and family get together to celebrate, and that's where there is great joy and happiness. It prophesied of a greater wedding celebration to come.

Remember, the apostle John had a prophetic anointing on him. Who else would start their gospel account with, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God." Anyone that is close to the heart of God, as John was to Jesus heart is usually a prophet. That's why God had him write the book, The Revelation of Jesus Christ. And Jesus was very close to His Father's heart. Revelation is also a book full of numbers and prophecies. Which tells us of end times that started 2000 years ago and concludes with the last wedding—the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. There the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come."

In the first wedding John tell us that Jesus is a guest. In the last wedding Jesus is the Groom and His Father is the Host and we are His Bride. This wedding feast is already taking place for all those who enter through faith, just as Mary had faith in her son, Jesus. It is an intimate relationship of eating and drinking the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God sees everything as already accomplished, remember Jesus said, "It is finished." Many Christian have lost sight of this and the gifts that come with the wedding, because they deferred blessings, hopes, and gifts by placing them into the future or after their dead. Faith is the substance of what is not seen... as thought we have already attained it. (Heb. 11:1 and Mark 11:24) And if we believed we have already received then we should also be thanking Him by faith, that we have His blessings, joy and gifts to enjoy now, and to bring about His restoration for this world.

Jesus demonstrated grace at the first wedding, by helping. In the final wedding He will continue to demonstrate even more grace in preparation for this greatest wedding feast. Where the bride will sit and drink at His table for eternity. Those who refused His love will be judged and cast into outer darkness, until all things are restored. John also reveals the great white throne room where Jesus sit as King, to judge the world one last time. 

There were six water jars at this wedding. In typology the number six represents man and water often represents nations. The defilement on people hands and feet needs to be washed off before the wedding ceremonial. That dirt represents the sinful nature of mankind that is removed from us through Jesus' baptism, death and resurrection. So we could be presented to our Groom as a pure and holy bride, because He chose us and we listened and obeyed His call. This requires a miracle of epic proportions, because we said, "Yes" to His divine invitation and amazing grace. Our nature is changed into His nature.

This world has spiritually ran out of wine and God is coming to the rescue it again, when few are expecting His help. He will bring great joy to the people. as the "new wine" begins to flow and His glory fills the whole earth. He will pour out a vast amount of His "new wine" (Spirit of grace) on all flesh, in these last days. (Joel 2:11). There will be abundance of new wine, just as we saw in Jesus' first miracle. Jesus is the "new wine" and the name on the label of the bottle reads, Grace.  He is more that enough for those who taste Him.  

Just as is the first miracle, when the people see the wonder of God's grace many will believe in Him. For all the water in those six pots were transformation into new wine becoming one with Him, for the old wine and the old ways are gone and no longer desired. We are entering a New Kingdom Age, called GRACE. 

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?"  (Isaiah 43:19)

"Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." (Habakkak 1:5)

"In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh."

(Acts 2:17)

grace, Grace and more GRACE

Mankind is sinful and must repent. Yet when Jesus ministered to the people He didn't usually point out their sins. When they were sick or physically impaired, He healed them. When they were hungry, He fed them. And when they were bound by demons He freed them. He never accused an individual of failing or address their personal sins they committed that cause so many of them to suffer needlessly. He loved people and had compassion on them all, even the religious leaders who put Him to death. Yet, all sickness and disease are the consequences of sin in some form, either personal or because of other's actions, or defilement and curses. Those sins were forgiven and paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary. When we choose to believe, we are clothed in His righteousness. We should try to stop doing the things and the habits of this world that had control over us. Yet somehow they still seem to slip in every now and then.

There are many adult Christians today who are suffering the consequences of their sins and don't even realize it. They truly love God and desire to please Him, but because of deception, ignorance, stubbornness and/or lack of faith, they are still hurting and suffering; either physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually or a combination. There are many Christians who have also died before their time for the same reasons. One evening the Lord said, His people are killed, because of lack of knowledge and they are killed, because of a lack of disciple. They have allow their fleshly desire and unforgiveness to control their lives.

This problem has continue throughout history, despite all of the promise God has made to those who believe. Yet, in this next move of God, He is going beyond the grace He had shown past, just as Jesus did. He will restore multitudes, because He is a God of love and compassion; not just judgment as some people and preachers think. We are not heading toward the great tribulation or "the Rapture," but an age of more grace and mercy. Neither is He a harsh God as many of us have often felt. There are many people who are poor and helpless and He hears their cries and lamentations. And Lord says, He is about to deal with the main people who are responsible for the world's suffering. We are in a season of grace, overturn and restoration.

When I first asked Jesus into my heart, I knew I was a sinner, I just didn't know how bad I was. The scripture says who can know the heart for it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9)  There isn't hardly a day that goes by where we don't have a wrong thought or a wrong attitude. And yet He still loves you and me. No one is perfect or close to it, save Jesus Christ. God knows our heart and the restoration that is needed in our lives. And He will do it, because of His awesome love, grace, and mercy and for no other reason.

There is nothing we can do to earn it. One evening God said, "Holiness is not what I'm looking for, what I desire is yielding and brokenness in spirit, says the Lord" He does not demand perfection, just do your best. Over a year ago the Lord shared some things about my future that He would do. Yet, He also told me, it wasn't because of how good, smart or obedient I was. It was, because He loved me. Wow! And the same goes for all His sons and daughters. Grace is a gift, and we need to pass it on to others in order to bring healing and restoration to them.

This next move of God will take His grace to new level. God will heal and draw people to Himself that are not even seeking or expecting it or Him. He is also using His sons and daughter to be portals to bring healing, salvation and restoration to individuals, groups, areas, places, cities and even nations. It will also come through many different forms of abilities (gifts from God), art, music, writing, speaking, technology and much more. People will be healed just by looking at an anointed painting or singing an anointed song.

This next decade will be like nothing we have ever seen before. Governments will not be the same, especially in the United States. God's love, grace and forgiveness will be the foundation of the Kingdom of God. Spiritual authority will be found in the humility of God's sons and daughters. When people see and experience the awesome grace of God, then they will truly want to know Him. The one and only God, Jesus Christ, and Lord of heaven and earth. The following words are a prophecy:

"I always said to you David that the Father would visit the earth and here we are. I'm standing at the gate. Between now and the end of the year you will feel and sense the spiritual atmosphere change in this nation as I pass through the gate. As you both are moving forward, so I am moving forward the Kingdom of God. The authority of Jesus Christ is coming to the earth and who can stop it..."

"The ones who have been hurt and cry out to me and get my attention have been those who have been suffering already, hurting already and their pain and their lament and the cries have come to the ear of God...and I don't ignore their cries. I seek to alleviate the pain."

"I'm letting you know that I'm not ignoring the hurting. This nation belongs to God. It is protected by Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Not every nation has a covenant as this one does, and few nations upon the earth has intercessors the way this nation does."

"The greatest move of God is right at the doorstep, it truly is. Brownsville was a picture, but there will be 'hot spots' across this nation and across this planet. There is going to be territories that are so charged with the spirit of Yahweh God, that when people go visit those places; like going to a resort where people visit. They will be healed just by going to those territories. They will be delivered of demons by going to that land and to those territories. Cause the spirit of God is so powerful and thick. He is coming, He is descending on certain part of the land. Certain parts of this world will be 'hot spots.' That when people... it will be like going into a mountain and having this experience with Yahweh, like Moses entering into Mount Sinai, into His cloud. There will be times when men and women are bound together with God, and all will be lifted up at the same time and view heavenly places. This is not a years down the road. These things are already beginning and starting.

And do I mind that people are running to and fro, looking for healing and deliverance? Was it wrong for people to follow me 2000 years ago? To run after me for healing and deliverance? It wasn't wrong! 

I wanted them to grow up. I wanted them to get their mind straight. I wanted their focus to be right. I wanted them set free. I also wanted all men to be saved.

There are still Pools of Bethesda on the earth, says the Lord. When the angel comes and stirs the waters—all manifested in many different ways. And foolish men and their fooling ideas—they try to strip the spirituality out of everything.

The Pool of Bethesda was all about the grace of God. Whether it is Jesus healing the man or whether a man is healed by stepping into the water. It was all about the grace of God. And that is why the song, named Amazing Grace has become the anthem of your generation. And will become even more powerful. When it is sung, people will be restored in the congregation even while singing that song. Even Chris Tomlin version of it will, says the Lord.  I will break chains off peoples lives as they sing that song in the congregation. It will be sung and it will be sung powerfully across the church worldwide. People will be set free because of grace, grace, grace is coming to the earth.

The greatest salvation is in front of this land as people step into this grace. The stirring of the water is at hand. And those who are restored will be a mini-member man. Because the angel of the Lord is going and stirring the water. And the man who has been waiting for 38 years will be restored, says the Lord, as God's grace visits the earth."

(A portion of a prophecy spoken on Nov. 19, 2010, by Sheldon David)

The greatest age of miracles are ahead of us.