Tag: Jesus

Take the Land!

Posted on by ascendthehill

The Kingdom of Israel’s History

In the book of Joshua at this point in Israel’s history, they were going to receive the kingdom that God had promised their fathers. God gave Israel the promised land, but we find out in Judges that they were continually being oppressed by the old inhabitants of the land. Even though God had said that they were to take the land, they never fully kicked out the old inhabitants. They ended up making covenants with them and not listening to the voice of the LORD.

“When the LORD your God shall bring you into the land where you go to possess it, and has cast out many nations before you…seven nations greater and mightier than you; And when the LORD your God shall deliver them before you; you shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; you shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them”

from Deuteronomy 7:1-2

Because Israel did not kick out the old inhabitants, they were continually being oppressed by them and leading them into sin. And Israel was constantly in distress. There was no prosperity in them, they would continually go back and forth. God would see their distress and, out of the love and compassion of his heart, help them. He would raise up someone to defeat the old inhabitants, they called them judges, but as soon as the judge would die the Israelites would go back to their old ways.

our Land Within Us

“The kingdom of God does not come with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” 

Jesus, The Messiah (from Luke 17:20-21)

The kingdom of God is within you, it’s not in some far away distant land. It is found within the believer of Jesus Christ. Even in Jesus’ time, the people misunderstood what the kingdom of God was and at one point they wanted to take Jesus by force and make him a king, but he hid from them (from John 6:15). His kingdom does not come with physical observation. You will not say here is the kingdom or look it’s over there. It is within you, beloved!

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”

3 John 1:2

The Israelites would go back in forth and not prosper because the old inhabitants were still living among them. For us, our old inhabitants are thought processes or sometimes familiar spirits that have brought us into bondage and oppression. These old thought processes are attached to the old man’s (or old inhabitant’s) way of thinking. But we know that “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new and all things are of God” (from 2 Cor. 5:17-18).

What Does It Mean To Take The Land?

When Yehoshua (Joshua’s name in Hebrew) brought the children of Israel into the promised land he had to take certain strongholds of the enemy. It is the same now when Yehoshua (Jesus, they have the same Hebrew name!) brings us into the promised land (Holy Spirit baptism) there are certain strongholds that need to come down.

When I say take the land ultimately I am saying mind renewal according to Romans 12:2

“And be not 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.”

Romans 12:2

And when I talk about strongholds I mean it in the biblical sense of strongholds as found in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

If we want to walk in the fullness of what God has for us we must renew our minds to the truth. That is how we are transformed, by renewing our minds. By tearing down strongholds and taking every thought captive that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.

It’s in you!

It’s in you believer. The fullness of God is in you. Why do we not experience the fullness? Because we have been deceived into thinking that the kingdom is far off and not within us.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

Colossians 2:8-10

The fullness that is in Christ is in you! Religion and the traditions of people will have you begging for it when it is in you. Let’s press on to the fullness knowing full well that our Father has not withheld Himself from us.

The Lie of Denial

Was that not what the serpent deceived Eve within the garden? He made her think that God had withheld Himself from her. “You aren’t complete Eve. You are lacking. God has not created you in His image, but if you eat this fruit you will be like Him.” Was that not the lie from the beginning? That we were incomplete and lacking something? But what does the scripture say?

“[God] has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature…”

2 Peter 1:3-4

He has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should fall short of it” (Heb. 4:1). The promise is for us to walk in the fullness, not so that we cross the Jordan and be oppressed by our enemies! We are to take it by force! “…The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force!” (Yehoshua).

We have these promises to become like Him. God has already ordained that we should be like Him! As He is so are we in this world! Why is it not manifesting? Because we are not laying hold of the promises and following Yehoshua. “He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Take the land with Jesus as our captain!

The kingdom of God is in you! Do you want the fullness? God has already commanded for us to come into the fullness. If you think you are walking in the fullness of what God has paid for you and you are not walking even as He walked then you are deceiving yourself.

Let’s take the land inside ourselves! And not be found on the other side of Jordan being crushed by the old inhabitants of the land because we did not believe God for the fullness. He has parted the red sea (water baptism) you have crossed the Jordan (Holy Spirit baptism) now take possession of the land! Kick out those old inhabitants (thoughts that do not align with the word of God) and bring honor to your King!

I love you guys!!!

"Ho, every one that does thirst, come to the waters, and he that has no money; come, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David" (Isaiah 55:1-3).

It’s free! He wants us to have it. He’s not withholding Himself from us. If you find yourself begging it’s probably because of a false idea of who you think God is (aka stronghold).

A quick recap of what was talked about:

  • The Kingdom of God is within you.
  • Our Father wants us to have the kingdom (Do not fear, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom, Luke 12:32).
  • The old inhabitants (old man’s way of thinking) will bring you into bondage and oppression.
  • Strongholds are mindsets that the old man can hide behind and defend himself from.
  • We need to completely destroy the old man’s way of thinking and not leave anything left alive.
  • We are made complete and lacking nothing.
  • God has given us everything we need that pertains unto life and godliness.
  • God has not withheld Himself from us.
  • To access the fullness we must renew our minds.

God is Light (2)

Posted on by ascendthehill

Do you know who resisted the kingdom of God the most back in Jesus’ day? It was religious people who desired physical perfection and not mercy. It was people who wanted to see God’s wrath taken out on the ungodly. It was people who didn’t understand the meaning, “You desire mercy and not sacrifice.” It was those same people who thought they were representing God because He is holy and set apart from sin that resisted His Kingdom the most.

I just listened to someone that said if they had only one scripture in the entire Bible and the rest would not exist to us then they would keep Romans 3:23. Because, and I quote, “In this passage is found the very salvation of man.” Romans 3:23 says, 

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

There is no salvation in this message. It only leaves you right where you were before, accused, and condemned before God. Some religious sects of Christianity have built their entire ministry off of the ministry of condemnation, but scripture says that ministry has been done away with (reference 2Corinthians chapter 3 below). Why would you continue to build upon something that has been destroyed?

Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excells. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.

2 Corinthians 3:6-11

The Pharisees (religious leaders) who built their ministry off of condemnation were in opposition to the King who was bringing His Kingdom. Get in line with the message of God, “that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

There are a couple times in the gospel of John that Jesus referenced himself as the light of the world and then he would execute some type of judgment. The woman caught in adultery. Jesus shows mercy, “I am the light of the world.” The man who was born blind, and the disciples asked who did the sin the parents or the man? Jesus said, “Neither… I am the light of the world.” Then heals the man.

He was executing God’s judgment on these matters and then equated himself to the light. Because He is the light of life! His judgments manifest the glory and knowledge of God. God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. For a woman condemned by her sins, mercy triumphs over judgment. A man born blind because of the effects of sin, I have come to give them life and life more abundant.

Get in line with the message that we have received from Him.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

1 John 1:5-7

Does Your Faith End in Death?

Posted on by ascendthehill

What is faith? And what is its purpose?

We desire to walk in faith, but sometimes we do not even know what faith is. We do not even know how to measure it. I used to think very rigidly when it came to the definition of faith because what was written in Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

I thought, Well if we had faith then the things that we hoped for would manifest in our lives because the substance of our hope is faith. Substance being the material in which a thing is made of.

Substance:
1. In a general sense, being; something existing by itself; that which really is or exists; equally applicable to matter or spirit.
3. The essential part; the main or material part.

Webster’s Dictionary 1828

To a degree, this is true just look at the people in this world. New agers manifest things for themselves by their own belief. Secular people get the things they hoped for by believing in themselves (actors, athletes, business owners, etc…). It’s all based on their belief because Jesus’ words remain true.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.”

Matthew 7:7-8

This is a spiritual law. It cannot be broken. Jesus is the Word of God and what He speaks is. The children of this world have been able to receive things because of faith, and they don’t even acknowledge the Creator they pay homage to the universe or their hard work. Why? “…[God] makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (from Mat. 5:45). AND they had asked, sought, and knocked…

Some of them have great stories of personal trials that they overcame to get to where they are at. And most people honor them for their diligence and grit to not quit even when times got tough. They aren’t even paying respect to God and yet they attained what they sought after… Let that sink in.

Jesus Demonstrating Faith To Teach Us.

I was asking the Lord today if He knew Lazarus was going to die or if He was just walking in faith? I believe He has shown me it was both. He both knew Lazarus would die and He was walking in faith. Let’s dive into it.

Jesus receives a message from Mary and Martha, "Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick."

When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified by this."

Then a couple days later Lazarus dies. After Lazarus died Jesus knew it in the spirit and told His disciples.

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, "Lazarus is dead."

From John chapter 11.

Messengers were not sent in that day unless the person was on their death bed. So when Mary and Martha sent Him that message it was to notify Jesus that His friend that He loved was about to die. But what does He do when He hears the message? He spoke!

Faith speaks. “…I believed, and therefore I have spoken…” (from 2 Cor. 4:13). He spoke the word concerning this man. He refuted the message of these women and said, “this sickness does not lead to death…” He confessed! “…with the MOUTH confession is made unto salvation” (from Rom. 10:10).

The reason why I was asking the Lord if He knew if Lazarus would die or not is because I know how the devil operates when a person moves in faith. He tries to go against the very word or thing they were believing for. So when Jesus said the sickness is not unto death the devil was like, we’ll see about that… and then went and killed him.

I believe what God has revealed to me is that Jesus was goading satan into it. Because He knew His enemy too and knew that the devil wouldn’t be able to help himself except try and make an attempt to say that he has the power. That usurper…

“Faith subdues the facts to the truth”

Then when Jesus knew about Lazarus’ death He tells His disciples plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” Notice here Jesus didn’t refute the fact that Lazarus was dead. Faith does not ignore the facts. Faith subdues the facts to the truth. And what was the truth? “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified by this” (John 11:4). Then He goes and resurrects the guy.

What was Jesus’ hope? That God would receive glory by the Son being glorified in this. Was His hope fulfilled? Yes. How did His hope get fulfilled? By faith. His faith manifested the hope which He had.

So faith is definitely what our hopes are made of! But God showed me that faith is more than this for the one who believes in Jesus. It is believing in who God is.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that HE IS, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Hebrews 11:6

God showed me that for the follower of Jesus faith is believing in the revealed nature of God. Not just the Jehovahistic names (which is good), but in who Jesus has revealed Him to be.

“No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

John 1:18

“Philip said unto Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you have not known me, Philip? He that has seen me has seen the Father; and how is it that you say then, show us the Father?”

John 14:8-9

The Sad Truth of Religion

Not many people look for faith in the Christian religion. A lot of people have been duped into thinking that Christianity is about being a “good person”, but I am here to tell you it is about faith in Jesus! It is about Faith in the Word of God and manifesting His Word in and through our lives! Not about trying hard to be righteous through our own human effort, but through believing in Him!

While believing in Him we will endure hardships. But when we go through hardships our faith should not rest in our ability, but in who God is. As I said before many people have endured hardships in this world and received what they desired in this earth by believing in themselves and the world honors them for their endurance. But for us, our endurance is not a self-centered belief. It is a belief and trust in who God has revealed Himself to be through the face of Jesus. If we endure it is proof that our faith in God is genuine when we do not quit when times are tough. And our endurance actually brings praise and glory to God!

“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 1:5-7

I love you guys and God bless you in the knowledge of Him through His Son Jesus!

  • A BRIEF TAKEAWAY FROM THIS POST:
    1. Faith is what our hopes are made of.
    2. Faith speaks.
    3. Faith does not deny facts.
    4. Faith brings facts in submission to the truth.
    5. Faith endures.
    6. Faith believes in the revealed nature of God through the face of Jesus Christ.

Whose is The Power?

Posted on by ascendthehill

Something that marks me every time I think about it is God’s reply to Israel when they cried out to him because of the oppression of the enemy in their promised land. This particular instance is found in Judges chapter 6. His reply to them was, “…I am the LORD your God and I told you not to fear the “gods” of the Amorites, but you have not listened to me.” (paraphrased from Judges 6:10).

Essentially He was telling them I am the true power in these lands, I am the only true God. I have delivered you from the hands of all those other “gods” and displayed my great power to you. Do not fear these so-called gods of these foreigners. Read His whole word to them in Judges 6:8-10.

That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage; And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land; And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but you have not obeyed my voice.

Judges 6:8-10

We know that the “gods” that were worshipped were no gods at all but actual demons (1Corinthians 10:20). This is the vitally important message that he was conveying to His people. I am your God do not fear these devils. But they did not listen to His wise counsel, instead, they began to fear and give homage to these devils. So their enemies began to destroy them.

What I have come to realize is that some Christians have been full of fear of what the enemy can do. When I was a child this woman told me that a devil could possess a deer and cause it to throw itself in front of our car and get us into a car accident possibly killing us. As an 8 to 10-year-old this homage this woman paid to the devils’ power instilled fear of the enemy. There was no mention of God and His overarching rule and how He is for us. How no devil on earth can come against the power of God, and if God be for us who then could stand against us. No there was no homage paid to the one true God only to the devil and his so-called “power.”

This is sadly where some Christians stay, in fear of the enemy, not acknowledging our God and His power. Only acknowledging what the enemy can do. Which, this fear actually empowers the devil. Because truthfully all of the devils’ powers have been stripped from them (Daniel 7:12, Colossians 2:15).

“And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”

Matthew 28:18-20

If Jesus has all power then that means someone has no power. All or none! That is the finite decision from heaven. Jesus has ALL power and the devils have NO power. The only way they can get power is to get a Christian to believe they have power. The devil highjacks the Christian’s belief and gets them to believe that he has power and because the Christian is the true power on this earth (because we are made one with Christ) he gets empowered by the faith of the Christian, but it is still not his power its the Christian’s.

The way to stop the devil from having any power over you is to stop believing that he does. Once you believe the truth of God’s word, that he has no power and God has all the power then the fear of the enemy gets removed and you are no longer under oppression.

“And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness shalt you be established: you shalt be far from oppression; for you shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near you. Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against you shall fall for your sake. Behold, I have created the smith that blows the coals in the fire, and that brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD”

Isaiah 54:13-17

Look at what it says in verse 14. “…You shalt be far from oppression; for you shalt not fear…” The oppression will be far from you because you do not fear. The fear of the enemy is what empowers the oppression. Don’t fear the devil, Fear God! God’s power is greater than any devil. There is no power in heaven, on earth, or under the earth that can withstand the power of God. So quit paying homage to the devil and start paying homage to God. For His is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever! Amen!

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”

Matthew 6:13

He’s attributing the deliverance from the evil because GOD’s is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever! Let’s fear God’s power and not any power of the enemy. My Father loves us with an everlasting love, and He is able to keep us!

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”

Romans 8:38-39

De Oppresso Liber

Posted on by ascendthehill

De Oppresso Liber is a motto that the United States Army Special Forces has adopted. It means, to liberate the oppressed. They know in order to liberate the oppressed that they need to take out those who are the oppressors. So they must utilize tactical violence to liberate those who are in oppression. This is just in a carnal sense, but let’s take a look at this in a spiritual.

Jesus said, “…the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (from Mat. 11:12). We know that Jesus is not saying to get violent with men. Because mankind is not our enemy, but there is violence involved in the kingdom of heaven. This violence is directed toward our true enemy, the devil (Eph. 6:12).

“…the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force”
(Jesus the Messiah)

When Jesus began his ministry he began with these words,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are [oppressed], To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:18-19

Jesus said he came to liberate the oppressed, but who are the oppressed?

The bible declares sin as bondage (John 8:34). A type of bondage that keeps people enslaved to unhealthy desires. How many of us have done things that we are not proud of? And how often have we gone straight back to those things even though we know they are not good for us? This is what I am talking about. We know that it is wrong. We regret it every time we do it and yet we keep going back to it. No matter how many times we have tried to stop we just can’t seem to stop. This is oppression from the devil!

“…For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, so that he might destroy the works of the devil”
1 John 3:8.

And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God… And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

from Luke 13:11-16

There were times Jesus would heal people and attribute it to bondage from the devil. So, not only is sin bondage, but the effect of sin is bondage as well. When I say the effect of sin I mean anything in the category of death (i.e. separation from God). Sickness, disease, and mental affliction all fall under the category of separation from God. They are works of the devil and we know that the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). These works are the true enemies of God. And the Bible declares that “the last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26).

Tactical Violence!

But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder.

Luke 11:20-22

In order to set the person free, Jesus utilized violence against the true enemy. The devil or the works of the devil that held that person in bondage. And it wasn’t a difficult task. He said that he cast out devils with the finger of God. This actually reminds me of a dream the Lord gave me:

In the dream was in a subway station. There were these two guys that were following me and I saw Jesus so I went up to him. When I got to Jesus one of the guys came up to Jesus and punched him in the face. Jesus stretched out his hand and put his index finger on the man's forehead. It did not seem like a very violent act. But as soon as Jesus' finger touched the man's head, the man was launched back with so much force that he hit this tile wall. The wall dented in and the tiles cracked and started to fall. It was truly amazing to see. The other man who was following me ran off. Then I realized these two guys were devils.

For God, casting out a devil is as simple as extending His finger. It’s effortless. But the action against the devil is extremely violent, you can believe that!

How Should We Judge?

In Luke chapter 10 Jesus shared a story about a man falling among thieves. The man asked Jesus who is my neighbor? And Jesus told him the story about a man falling among thieves. Found in Luke 10:25-37. When I read this story with my wife I thought about how many Christians look at homeless people and ask themselves, What has this person done to get in this place? And then withhold their mercy from the person because they are on drugs or alcohol.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
(Jesus the Messiah)

I will tell you what that person has done. They have fallen among thieves! The thief has come to destroy their life and sometimes we pass by them on the street. And justify ourselves by withholding our compassion from them because they did something to allow this to happen to them. What a shameful mentality that the bride has adopted. We have all done something to destroy our life, but our King has been merciful to us!

We forget that they are like sheep with no shepherd. That they are blind needing the redemption of our savior. Even Jesus when he was hanging on the cross told our Father, “Forgive them for they do not know what they do” (from Luke 23:34). They murdered someone that they knew was innocent. And while he was hanging there in misery they mocked him. And Jesus said they were ignorant of what they were doing?!?!

Why? Because we do not war against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces. The people were not Jesus’ enemies; the demonic spirits that manipulated those people to do those things were the real enemies.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places

Ephesians 6:12

True Righteous Judgment!

We need to change our perspective on our neighbors who have fallen prey to thieves. They are not in that position because of what they have done, but because the enemy saw that they had something of value and is stealing it from them. They are dearly loved and valued by our Father and the thief has come to kill, steal, and destroy; but, we have come in the name of our Lord Jesus to give life and life more abundantly.

Love you guys. If God hadn’t stepped into my life I would be dead. But God in His great love and mercy pierced through the lies of the devil and allowed me to hear Him. I am forever indebted to our King who has shown me so much grace. This is why I want to raise an army who will not be lawyers trying to figure out what people have done to deserve what they have received but will follow the order of our King: Liberty to the Oppressed!

He has proclaimed liberty to those who are bound in addiction. To those who are wounded by the devil, Who had their ears closed to the truth, Who satan has blinded their eyes. He has proclaimed healing and freedom to ALL that satan has held in oppression.

We are the lawyers that need to get our minds right. Our King says mercy triumphs over judgment. Our King says it’s his delight to show mercy. Our King says he is not holding the Earth’s sins against them but is calling them to himself.

I love you guys, but I love the LORD more and he loves judgment. True righteous judgment! The kind of judgment that is covered in mercy. That restores the broken, not casts them to the side. The judgment that has proclaimed LIBERTY TO THE OPPRESSED! DE OPPRESSO LIBER!

Don’t chase that Bread! Chase that Mana!!!

Posted on by ascendthehill

Is God still good when you are the one being crucified? Is God still good when you do not get the promotion? Is God good when following Him leads you to the valley of the shadow of death?

God’s goodness is not dictated by circumstances. He is good even when we are slaughtered for the name of Christ. He is good even if we are homeless and hungry for His sake. He is good.

It seems to me that Christianity has become about God only being good if you are experiencing good things in this earth. This theology is erroneous because we’re not to be seeking after the things of this world, but looking for the one to come. If your treasure is in this earth then that is where your heart will be also…

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

Romans 8:35-37

Is God good when people are being martyred in Africa or North Korea? This type of theology of getting all you can out of this life is only popular in western countries where the threat of death for the sake of Christ is not imminent.

God is good even if you are homeless. Even if you get fired. Even if you don’t have a certain dwelling place. Because this earth is not our home. Don’t set your affection on the things of this earth.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”

Matthew 6:19-21

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).

I want certain things in this earth for the furtherance of the gospel NOT for the furtherance of my ego. I believe in having things for Christ, but not for myself: FOR CHRIST. That means the possessions that God blesses me with are to be used for the furtherance of His Kingdom. For the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. If it’s His then we are only stewards of the things He has given us. If you’re not going to be a good steward of unrighteous mammon then why would God trust you with true riches?

“If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

Luke 16:11-13

Do you actually believe that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof? If you do then you would understand that the wealth you have received is actually His and you are a steward of that wealth for the furtherance of His kingdom. If you are storing up treasure for yourself then you are not the cutting-edge Christian you think you are.

God is good. His goodness is not dependent on the abundance of the things you possess or the ease at which you pass through this earth, but because your name is written in the book of life. But if He has given you an abundance it’s not for you to store it up for yourself it’s so that you can be a benefactor for His kingdom.

And he said unto them, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses." 

And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:" 

And he thought within himself, saying, "What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This is what I'll do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry." 

But God said unto him, "You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?"

So is he that lays up treasure for HIMSELF, and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:15-21).

How do we become rich toward God? We become rich in good works.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they do not be high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to [share]; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life”

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Love you guys! Let’s not be found “chasin that bread”, but let’s chase after that bread that comes from heaven!

“Jesus answered them and said, Truly, truly, I say unto you, you seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Do not labor for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him has God the Father sealed”

John 6:26-27

Remove The Veil

Posted on by ascendthehill

Something that has always astounded me about Jesus is that he never recognized his own goodness or righteousness. He truly modeled what it meant to be sold out for the righteousness of God. He was the example, so let’s take a look at the Author and Finisher of our faith. 

A man came to him one time and said, "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus responded to this man with, "Why do you call me good? none is good, save one, that is, God." (Found in Luke 18:18-27)

So meek and lowly of heart! If any person in the entire history of this earth could call themselves good it would have been Jesus, yet he did not even acknowledge his own goodness! What a truly humble King! He directed the man to His Father. He said why do you call me good? None is good except God.

Wicked Judgments

Right before this encounter was recorded in Luke, Jesus gave a parable to those who trusted in their own righteousness.

And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Luke 18:9-14

The amazing thing about the pharisee is that he was thanking God for his righteousness! And went on to describe his religious activities that he had so highly esteemed. Think about that. He was acknowledging, to a certain extent, that God was the one responsible for his righteousness.

What is the problem with that? The problem is that he was exalting the “righteous deeds” that he was doing, and not truly exalting God. Then he looked at others and judged them according to his level of piety. He started to look at the “sinners” with contempt. He started to think that his devotion was the measure to which all men must be judged. He believed that he was good and others were “less than”. The Son, however, did not even acknowledge His own goodness and pointed to God and said, “He is the only good!”

Peter’s Oblivion

I have prayed for you [Peter], that your faith does not fail: and when you are converted, strengthen your brothers

Jesus, From Luke 22:32

There was a moment before Peter’s conversion when he looked at his devotions toward the Lord and not at God’s devotion toward him. He thought that he was the righteous one proving to God that he will stand firm and remain faithful to Jesus even if all others abandon him. I mean after all the Lord did rename him Peter (which means a rock). He was just standing in his new identity, right?

As Peter would soon find out, his identity was hinged on God being able to keep his word, not on Peter being able to keep his. Praise God for that! If it was based on our ability then we’d all be in hell!

Jesus said to the disciples, "All of you shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. But after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee." 

Peter said to him, "Although all shall be offended, yet I will not." 

And Jesus said back to him, "Truly I say to you, That this day, even in this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." 

But Peter spoke more forcefully, "If I should die with you, I will not deny you in any wise!"

(from Mark 14:27-31)

The rest of the story is that Jesus’ prophecy remained true. Peter, along with the others, abandoned him. And Peter was humbled, he no longer thought that he was the keeper of his soul, but God was.

You Have Hidden These Things

The hidden truth of the gospel is it’s not about your goodness it’s about His! “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes!” Those who continue to try to be good enough have blinders over their eyes until Jesus comes and lifts the veil. (The law is that veil) and when the Groom comes to His bride He lifts that veil and marries her to Himself.

We all With Unveiled Face!

I love old-fashioned weddings they are sooo prophetic. First, the groom gives the bride an engagement ring which is his promise that he will marry her. Then when the bride is made ready the father walks her down the aisle while the whole congregation is in silent reverence. She is adorned in a beautiful white dress. Then when she stands before her husband he lifts the veil and she, with unveiled face, sees her husband! What a depiction of Christ and his bride!

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; WHICH VAIL IS DONE AWAY IN CHRIST. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the SAME IMAGE from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18

What we behold is inevitably what we become. If we are constantly looking at the law and trying to judge our righteousness with the law we will fall. Because we are constantly looking at the things that we are not supposed to do. “The strength of sin is the law” (from 1Cor. 15:56).

Or if we start looking at ourselves and our devotion to the Lord then we will start judging others based off of our own convictions. Then start teaching the commandments of men as doctrines. “And in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7). But if we, with unveiled face, behold our Lord we are changed from glory to glory.

He Is Good!

It is not and never has been about your goodness. It is and always will be about His goodness. Love love love you guys! It’s all about the goodness of our God and Father who gave up His Son for the world! Which is his enemy and we were all his enemies, but now he has made peace with us through the cross! What a good God we have! What a lover!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever! Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17

Throw Yeast In That Dough!

Posted on by ascendthehill

Hello everyone! Did you know there are three types of leaven that Jesus talked about in the Gospels?

  1. The leaven of the Pharisees (religion, which is hypocrisy). Mark 8:15
  2. The leaven of Herod (earthly politics). Mark 8:15.
    • The only thing I will say about this leaven in this post is: Every earthly government (USA, Russia, China, UK, etc.) will perish with the rest of this earth. When you stand before the Lord there will not be an American section of heaven. There is only one everlasting government and that’s God’s. If you are consumed with earthly politics then it is a good indicator that you have been leavened with the leaven of Herod.
  3. The leaven of the Kingdom. Mat. 13:33

What Does Leaven Do?

The great and terrible thing about leaven is that it permeates throughout the whole lump. Let’s say a person comes in with religious doctrines and the church listens to them. Well, it starts to leaven the whole congregation. This is the reason why Paul withstood Peter to his face in front of the church. “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed” (Gal. 2:11). In the example of Paul, a large portion of the Jews stopped associating with the gentiles. This wicked judgment started because of religious doctrines.

They started deeming gentiles as less than and started judging people according to the flesh (carnal). That’s the reason why Paul said he didn’t give place to them not even for an hour so that the Gospel could continue (from Gal. 2:5). The Gospel of grace.

Religion works for God to move while the Gospel of grace believes He has moved. Jesus is the move of God.

Jesus answered and said unto them, “This is the work of God, that you believe on him whom he has sent.”

John 6:29

The Leaven Of Heaven

The third leaven that I mentioned, the leaven of the Kingdom, is about God’s grace reigning in our hearts. Or God’s work that He accomplished through Jesus.

And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all leavened.”

Luke 13:20-21

It is interesting to note that one sata is around 48lbs. Just looking up a recipe for Challah bread (a Jewish ceremonial bread) it’s approximately a 40:1 ratio of flour to yeast. This means that three 48lb bags of flour (144lbs) would require about 3.6lbs of yeast. Which is not much. It does not take much leaven to leaven an entire lump!

As ambassadors of the King, we get to witness the leaven of the Kingdom permeating into all kinds of spheres. And it is so easy to get the leaven into the lump. All you have to do is speak about the gospel of grace. The free gift of God through His Son Jesus Christ! The actual “it is finished” gospel.

I have had religious people who’ve called me deceived start preaching the very same message that they thought I was deceived about. Why? Because I threw some leaven into their psyche and the leaven permeated through their lump. Or how Jesus puts it in this parable:

“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he does not know how. For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”

Mark 4:26-28

Another Gospel!

It’s so easy to see fruit grow when we start speaking the right message. But if we start speaking the wrong message, or a different gospel, it’s so easy to see the manifestation of demonic, egotistical, religious pride. And it is so deceptive because the “gospel” of works really sounds good to the flesh. It’s all about you and your effort and not about God and His finished work on the cross. It becomes about your devotion and not about His devotion. It becomes about your passion and not about the passion of the Christ. This is the wickedness of self-centered religious trash.

I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ

Galations 1:6

It’s the reason why the Pharisees hated Jesus. They could not get past their own righteousness and did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God. Because Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to those who believe.

For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.

Barean Study Bible, Romans 10:2-4

It is good to have Zeal for a Good thing

It is good to be zealous toward God’s grace, but when it starts to become about you (your religious devotion and piety) then you have fallen from grace. When the zeal shifts from Jesus and what he has accomplished for us to what we must do to get God to “move” then we have missed the simplicity of the gospel of God’s grace. As I mentioned before, Jesus is the move of God!

But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

Galations 4:17

Let’s not be leavened with self-righteous pride, but with the lowly estimation of our complete dependence on His grace.

Love you guys. It’s all about Him. His kingdom, His grace, His mercy, His righteousness, His faithfulness, His love. Love you all! Jesus is King and He is still the only one found worthy!

You Can’t Get Divorced So Just Die!

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The Branch of King David, Destined to Reign

Posted on by ascendthehill

On Thursday night’s bible study we went through King David’s life while he was on the run from King Saul. This is found in 1 Samuel chapter 19 thru chapter 31. We selected a few verses out of this portion of King David’s history with the LORD.

1 Samuel 21 verse 10 thru chapter 22 verse 3

David flees from Saul in fear and then acts like a crazy person in front of Achish the king of Gath. Achish was the king of this Philistine city, Gath. The Philistines were enemies of Israel and yet David fled into their territory. David was so scared at this moment in his life he acted like a crazy person just to stay alive.

David was anointed by God to be king over Israel. He had defeated Goliath and led Israel to victory in different battles, but at this point of time in his life, not many people would have thought much of him. He was drooling out of his mouth and letting it run over his beard. Many people would have been ashamed to even be associated with him, but it did not change the fact of what God had called David.

Circumstances Do not change God’s call

How often have we been in a circumstance and acted poorly because of fear? I know I have. There have been moments in my life that are very debasing, but it does not change the fact that God has called me and anointed me. Just like David here, we can go through very humbling circumstances and act in ways that are unflattering but it does not change what God has said about us or his call on our lives.

After this, he heads to a cave, and a bunch of outcasts of Israel begins to flock towards him. The people who came to him were poor and in debt, bitter, and in complete distress. Not people of great influence, but the people society would deem “less than”.

From the outside looking in, David was a renegade. The people of Israel would have not known that Saul was at fault and chasing him down because of envy. They only knew that David was on the run from the king and now he was the captain of a band of outcasts that he ended up taking into enemy territory to live there.

Peoples Perception Does Not Change What God Says

Here it is good to mention that David’s life is a prophetic resemblance of Jesus Christ. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day rejected him and were constantly against him. While the scourge of society was receiving him. The poor and the broken, the oppressed, and the outcasts were the ones who flocked to Jesus. Not the people of great influence.

1 Samuel Chapter 23 verses 1 thru 12

David and his men deliver this city from enemy invaders and David enquires if the people of Keilah (the city they just saved) would deliver him into Saul’s hand. The LORD tells him they will. So he leaves the city.

How very human this story is. One minute you are their champion who saved them from destruction then circumstances change and they will deliver you over to be executed. Many scholars believe that some of the people who championed Jesus into Jerusalem shouting, “Hosanna in the highest” were the same who cried out, “Let him be crucified.”

People can turn on you even if you’ve been good to them

Personally, I believe that this was what happened. I have seen firsthand how quickly public opinion can change based on the unmet expectations they have for someone. The expectation they had for Jesus was that he was going to come as King over Israel beating the nations into submission and bringing about a physical eternal Davidic kingdom. But he came to bring a spiritual kingdom and set up its eternal rule on earth from heaven.

The opinion of how they believed the word of God was supposed to be fulfilled blinded them to its fulfillment. When they thought the kingdom was going to be a physical one and their expectations did not get met they wanted him to be killed. They also had other false “Christs” that had come to them too, so they were wary of messiahs who did not fulfill what they believed to be the scriptures. The problem was they were looking at it from a carnal (worldly) perspective and not from a spiritual.

Expectations Can be Dangerous

I know I have been guilty of this. I thought God’s word to me was going to be fulfilled a certain way and when it wasn’t fulfilled the way I expected it to I got angry, discouraged, and hurt. But the truth was he never told me how certain things were going to happen he just said they would happen. Expectations can disappoint you if you are not grounded in the character of God.

1 Samuel chapter 25

We did not read this section here we talked about it. If you would like to know more about how this section of scripture is a prophetic resemblance of Jesus Christ and his church please take a look at The Throne of David.

David did good to this wealthy man named Nabal, but Nabal did not recognize his kindness or repay it. As a matter of fact, Nabal actually accused David of deserting his master Saul (vs. 10). It is evidence of the public’s perception of David, a renegade.

Afterward, David ends up sparing Saul’s life again and is in despair. David says in his heart, “I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul…” (from 1Sam. 27:1). Many biblical scholars believe that David was on the run from King Saul for about ten years. Ten years of being looked at like a renegade, of people thinking the worse about him, of him living in wilderness areas and among the enemies of Israel. Ten years of having nothing to rely upon except a promise God made to him, being anointed king over Israel when he was still a child. I think he started to lose hope a little, but this one thing he did, he turned to the LORD over and over again. He found his strength in the LORD.

Placing your eyes on people will discourage you, Put your trust in God

During this time period, David wrote many of the Psalms among these is Psalm 22.

My God, my God why have you forsaken me? Why are you far from helping me, far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I call by day and you do not answer, and by night but I have no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our ancestors trusted you; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; they trusted you and were not ashamed. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by humankind and despised by people. All who see me mock me. They open wide their lips; they shake the head, saying: "He trusts Yahweh. Let him rescue him. Let him deliver him because he delights in him." Yet you took me from the belly; you made me trust while on my mother's breasts. On you I was cast from the womb. From my mother's belly you have been my God. Do not be far from me because trouble is near; because there is no helper. Many bulls have encircled me; mighty bulls of Bashan have surrounded me. They open their mouth against me like a lion tearing and roaring. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted within me. My strength is dry like a potsherd, and my tongue is sticking to my jaws; and you have placed me in the dust of death. Because dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has encircled me. Like the lion they are at my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; they gaze, they look at me. They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O Yahweh, do not remain distant. O my help, hasten to help me. Rescue my life from the sword, my only life from the power of the dogs. 
(Psalm 22:1-20)

He felt like a worm who was not worthy of salvation, but he continued to look to God for his mercy. And because he put his hope in the LORD he was not put to shame! “Indeed, none who wait for you should be put to shame…” (from Psalm 25:3).

Hold fast to the word that was preached to you

I am fully persuaded that anyone who is called by God goes through periods like these, and the purpose for these times is to produce character in us. As long as we remain believing in Jesus Christ abiding in him then God will use it to produce fruit. God’s attributes, so that when we get to the place that he has called us we will be able to keep it. When I say keep it I mean having the quality of character that will be able to rule well. 

"You rejoice in this greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials. These trials are so that the true metal of your faith (far more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire) may come to light in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of [Jesus the Messiah]."
(1Peter 1:6-7).