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In This Issue
1. The Kingdom of God Life Without Limits – By Jack R Taylor
2. Self Life – An Enemy To The Kingdom!
3. Strong medicine – The battle is not yours – By Mario Murillo
4. News Headlines
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1. The Kingdom of God Life Without Limits – By Jack R Taylor
Dear Struggling Saint:
Here is a word for the coming new year … I am not generally given to the dramatic, but this morning I awakened feeling, not only mildly but wildly dramatic. It began, long before daylight with a blessed bombardment of what I call “double superlatives” from all over the Scriptures. Multiple Instances are gathering in my mind at the speed of thought with such extreme language that it begs for attention far beyond the moment. The air around me is filled with these statements from Scripture with each demanding to be considered:
It’s not just “good,” found seven times in Genesis, Chapter One but when Eve was given to Adam it was “very good,” not just “good,” a single superlative, but “very good,” a double!
What I am about to say to you in print may sound melodramatic, which is defined as “emotions that are exaggerated.” But here it is: What you are reading could change your life, both now and forever! Guaranteed!
Before I present to you the central thrust of this treatise, allow me to list a few of the double superlatives to clarify what I am trying to say: (Watch the italics!)
“It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
“I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is exceedingly abundant …” (1 Timothy 1:14).
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think … “ (Ephesians 3:20)
Now, please pay rapt attention to the words of Jesus, obey the command, claim the promise and trust the Holy Spirit to make it continuously real in you from here on. Be very careful to obey the command and engage the promise:
“But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
You would be interested to know that I have recently taken this Scripture as my verse of the day and of the year for the remainder of my life!
Allow me to break down this all-important, life-transforming passage from the lips of Jesus and then offer you the deal of a lifetime, challenging you to say a resounding “YES!” to this high command and promised result:
“Seek first …” Continuously search out, evaluate, desire, pursue, aim, making it top priority!
“The Kingdom of God …” God’s government, His rule and His desire to have total control over your life!
“And His righteousness …” Simply God’s gift of “rightness” purchased by Jesus’ death and empowered by His life!
“And all these things shall be added unto you …” God’s response to your decision to “Seek first …!”
In effect, God has said, “You seek my rule and I will provide all things!”
A loving caution to my reader: It is not enough to seek the Kingdom, it must be sought FIRST. What does that mean? An explanation is not sufficient, your decision is to SEEK THE KINGDOM FIRST will “blow your mind to Kingdom Come” and the Kingdom System, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will make an explanation unnecessary. You will then find yourself, Kingdom-filled, Kingdom-centered, Kingdom-empowered, Kingdom-anointed, and Kingdom-caught, captured and consumed. And it all begins with a resounding “YES!” Will you?
If mystery is surrounding you right now, it is God’s invitation to a LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS in the kingdom of God! As you say, “YES!” this fourfold prayer is for you and comes pre-answered: I pray that you will experience:
- Accelerated Kingdom-Understanding
- Elevated Kingdom-Anointing
- Precise Kingdom-Discernment
- Accurate Kingdom-Articulation
All this will initiate continued Kingdom demonstrations and Kingdom sightings all around you.
WELCOME TO KINGDOM COME!
Jack Taylor
Dimensions Ministries
Melbourne, Florida
http://www.jackrtaylor.com/
2. Self Life – An Enemy To The Kingdom!
By Clay Sikes
As the light of God continues to brighten through an awakening people in this dark world, the forces of darkness, assigned to shut down that awakening, are also at work. They exercise, through our flesh, a shutdown of all God intends to do (through us). A powerful center of this attack is focused upon a yet unsurrendered part of our humanity – a part that clings to ‘self.’ The need to look out for ourselves denotes a lack of trust – it is a diabolical enemy of the advancing Kingdom in us. Man dependency (often self) is the old nature and of the world; just as God dependency is of our new nature and a product of Kingdom citizenship. To the extent one depends upon God, to that same extent is he walking in the realm of Kingdom government.
‘Rights’ are an entitlement issue. ‘Responsibility’ is a Kingdom issue – one decidedly wrapped in our old nature, the other in our new nature and Kingdom citizenship. Rights always focus on me, my, I; responsibility always focuses on God (always asking what is my spiritual responsibility is this situation)? When my concern is always ‘rights,’ seldom can I see spiritual responsibility in the same circumstance. A very important truth can be added: The two cannot occupy the same space! Circumstances don’t make us, but do reveal us. Arthur Burt taught, God allows in His wisdom what He could have prevented in His power. If indeed “all things are working together for my good,” I must exercise trust and discernment when circumstances arise that seem to work against me…the test is on, my steps are ordered, I MUST PASS THE TEST!
As the ever advancing Kingdom continues to rise and ‘awaken’ us, so too are we called to “shine” in our rise – there is purpose in the rise, even greater in the shine; yet many remain hung in suspension between the ways of the world (self life) and the ways of God (Kingdom). Being ‘hung up’ keeps us from rising up, and able to shine up (demonstrate the gospel through our lives). Our ‘hang-up’ is our inability to let go of self-preservation; clinging to a ‘rights-mindedness,’ virtually erasing our spiritual responsibility and subsequent growth in that very same situation. The spirit of entitlement is now pervading the earth as never seen in world history, yet as the world and many Christians are hung up on entitlements, many Kingdom citizens are learning Kingdom assignments by first accepting Kingdom responsibilities in situations they face – the test is on! How will a man receive the Kingdom of God? Through many, many test and trials – Acts 14:22. The test are many until we quit fighting to self preserve. Once we die, we can live and walk in the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven – John 12:24. Every seed must first die that it might live and reproduce after its kind.
The word Kingdom and the word government are synonymous terms in most biblical uses, as the Kingdom in us is on full display when we walk in peace, righteousness, and joy in the Holy Spirit. When these three are nowhere to be found, somewhere along the way we strayed from the government of the Kingdom within us. This is costly; this is error but has consequences for our good if we attune our ear every time peace, righteousness, and joy escape us. In other words, the mistake can be our launch pad for growth if we simply recognize ‘why’ the peace, righteousness, and joy left to begin with. Often the culprit is turning to self instead of God. Situation after situation after situation comes UNTIL we finally surrender, and ultimately see God can be trusted in “all things.” When this point comes, we begin to see our spiritual responsibility in “all things;” as we surrender any and all rights in those same situations. The Kingdom arises, we shine through a demonstration of the word made flesh; bringing the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. God brings destiny if selfish ambition does not block it. You cannot loose for winning in the Kingdom of God…it is the privilege of the saints of the Most High God (Isaiah 54).
Clay Sikes
lighthouseprophecy.com
3. Strong medicine – The battle is not yours – By Mario Murillo
There is a widespread spirit of heaviness on God’s people. It is a crushing weight of care. It is battle-fatigue from the constant shelling of bad news. The media barks, “We interrupt this bad news to give you more bad news.”
Hearing the angry debates—seeing the rioting in the streets and Islamic terror attacks drains sanity from souls.
Not only this, we have to hold in enormous frustration: stupidity and wickedness get a megaphone—wisdom and righteousness get duct tape over their mouth.
These are the times that rob inner peace—that bring intense restlessness—that rinse the color and enjoyment from our life.
These are the times Jesus warned us of and gave us direction for.
First He said, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls.” – Luke 21: 17-19
Talk about mindless hate! The liberal, and feminist bias toward Islam and hatred for Christ is mind-bending. It makes zero sense. Yet that is exactly the kind of irrational hatred our Lord predicted. It is a weariness to believers who openly share their faith.
Then He said: Luke 21: 34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.”
The dumbest thing anyone ever said to me: “when you come to Jesus your problems are over.” I never had problems until I met Jesus! I kept wondering why am I being attacked? Why am I being shot at from all directions? Why do I meet stiff resistance every time I try to do something meaningful for Jesus?
Does this sound familiar? You walk through life, minding your own business and wham! A coworker rages at you for no reason. Money evaporates. Your health fails. Loved ones abandon God. A confluence of demonic attacks falls on you. Life has never felt so cruel and unfair.
At the apex of one of these attacks something happened to me. A terrifying thought became a glorious thought: SOMEBODY IS MAD AT JESUS AND THEY ARE TAKING IT OUT ON ME! Suddenly, I felt qualified to fight back. And I felt profoundly honored.
Think about it! A soldier does not go to war because he has a personal grudge against the enemy. He didn’t declare war—his nation did. He is not responsible for the battle plan—the military is. He is not paying his own way to the war—his government is.
Let’s rehearse the things that are not the soldier’s responsibility. The training he needs—the weapons he needs—the food and shelter he needs—the assignment he needs…these and a host of other things are not his responsibility.
The soldier does not create the organized army. He does not carry the weight of how the war will be won.
If he sits in the foxhole feeling alone and unfairly attacked it is because he forgotten who he is and why he is being attacked. He has taken the battle into his own hands!
But when he remembers that he was recruited—when he recalls that he is not alone but a part of a victorious army and all he is called to do is obey orders—it changes everything!
When we take the attack personally we lose hope. When we say, “The battle is not mine, it’s God’s,” we cannot be defeated. Let’s stay out of things that do not concern us. Let’s keep our conflict in the hands of God. We must discern when we are operating in our own strength and by our own wits.
Remembering your attacks are not personal is plainly seen in these verses: Luke 21: 12 “But before all this occurs, there will be a time of special persecution, and you will be dragged into synagogues and prisons and before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 But as a result, the Messiah will be widely known and honored. 14 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
When they were arrested it felt personal. When they were dragged to court it felt personal. But when they were asked to speak it became God’s battle and Christ is glorified! He gave them the words and the courage to speak. He even told them not to prepare words beforehand. That means that we are not to devise ways of fighting back. It means we will get what we need when we need it.
Paul experienced the same thing: “Philippians 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel…”
Right now we have a presidential election that embodies everything that is wrong with our nation. It is a hair-pulling, maddening, terrifying and draining moment for believers. We must put the battle back in God’s hand and let Him replenish our peace and joy.
Never forget! We have the best message humanity has ever heard, and the best book ever written. We have the best captain in the universe! We have the all-powerful Holy Spirit sent to aid us. We have access to power, strategy and wisdom. All of this and more can direct our fighting.
Someone is mad at Jesus and they are taking it out on you? What an honor! What an opportunity! When Satan comes at you let Jesus come at him!
The first time an angel stares at you in heaven with wonder and admiration for your service to Christ…you’ll know why your trials are worth it all. The first time you hear “well done” from Jesus you won’t remember the trials. No wonder Paul said, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”-Romans 8:18
Mario Murillo
mariomurilloministries
4. News Headlines
Brazil’s New President Declares “Brazil First, But God Above All”: Vows to Fight Gender Ideology Jan 8, 2019 “We cannot allow destructive ideologies to divide the Brazilian people, ideologies that destroy our values and traditions, destroy our families, which are the foundation of our society. And I invite everyone to begin a movement in this sense. We can—I, you, and…
Pray for the President & Our Nation – Jack R Taylor Jan 15, 2019
From Jack Taylor Pray for the President & Our Nation Greetings in the glorious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! . I pray this note finds you blessed! . At this significant time in the life of our nation, I applaud and commend the work of David White and…
President Trump’s Administration Champions March for Life for 3rd Year Jan 15, 2019
Trump Administration Supports the March for Life for Third Year in a Row; VP Mike Pence to Address Rose Dinner at this Year’s March “Throughout his extensive career, Vice President Pence has remained exemplary in his commitment to protecting the sanctity…
46th March for Life This Friday: “Get Out There” because The Battle is the Lords, But We are the Soldiers Jan 15, 2019
“Get out there. Come to the March for Life. Go to your local March for Life. Bear witness to the truth of life.” -Jeanne Mancini Paul Strand : Jan 15, 2019 : CBN News (Washington, DC)—[CBN News] Many outlets are praising statistics showing abortions are…
Shirley Boone Passes Away at 84 Jan 14, 2019
BEVERLY HILLS, CA (ANS – Jan. 13, 2019) —Shirley Boone, the wife of legendary entertainer Pat Boone, died Friday morning (Jan.11). She was 84. Shirley and Pat Boone had been married for 65 years. The Boones had been married for 65 years. As she passed from this life…
Former Muslim Woman’s Inspiring Journey from Abused Wife to Christian Pastor Jan 13, 2019 This Battered Wife’s Harrowing Journey from Muslim to Christian Pastor is The Stuff of Movies Annahita Parsan has led more than 1,500 Muslims to Christ. She leads two churches and trains other churches how to reach out to and disciple Muslim background…
Winter storm paralyzes refugee camps in Lebanon. Jan 13, 2019
Lebanon (MNN) – Winter is expected: colder temperatures, snow, and ice. A winter storm brings that plus a few additional surprises, surprises that aren’t welcome in the Syrian refugee camps in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, home to hundreds of thousands. By Ruth…
Missouri Town Defends Painting of Ground Zero Cross against Atheists Jan 13, 2019
This Missouri Town is More Than Ready to Defend Ground Zero Cross: “If God be For You, Who Can Be against You?” “Even if a federal judge should say we are wrong, even if a federal judge (should say) that we should remove it, the sheriff of this…
Prayer Alert News: UK, Europe, and Worldwide – January 11, 2019 Jan 13, 2019
Praise Reports Christians in sport share their faith Remarkable answers to prayer Europe Killer winter storms Italy: using ‘yellow vests’ to shake up EU British Isles Meaningful Brexit vote Praying for Britain Operation World: a new resource Universal…
Venezuelan Pastor Issues Urgent Call to Prayer: ‘This is a Big, Spiritual Battle’ Jan 10, 2019 J. Lee Grady : Jan 10, 2019 : Charisma News “…we ask for intercession. Please pray that leaders will repent of idolatry, love of money and power. Pray that the Lord will cleanse us, so that we can have victory in this spiritual war. Pray that this regime…
Brazil’s New President Promises Immigrants Will “Abide by the Laws, Sing the National Anthem and Respect the Country’s Culture” Jan 10, 2019
auricio Savarese : Jan 10, 2019 : Associated Press . [AP] Brazil’s new president blasted the United Nations’ migration pact on Wednesday indicating that Latin America’s largest nation will adopt a hard line on immigration… (Photo Credit: Eraldo…
African American Leaders Uniting in Support of the Border Wall Jan 10, 2019 African American Leaders Unite in Support of a Border Wall: ‘We Must Rally Around the Wall to Avert Crisis’ “Christians have a responsibility to help those in need, including the undocumented immigrants at our southern border. At the same time, we…
DR Congo election results still delayed, tensions rising Jan 9, 2019 Congo-Kinshasa (MNN) – Citizens of Democratic Republic of Congo are still waiting for the election results from the Dec. 30 presidential vote. This addition to a series of delays has people anxious and uncertain. By Beth StolickerJanuary 9, 2019 “The Catholic…
Congressman Calls for Halt of Taxpayer Funds to Nation of Islam: “It’s Downright Immoral” Jan 9, 2019 “The federal government should not use taxpayer dollars to subsidize one of the most infamous hate groups in the United States. That’s why I’m demanding your department immediately cease all contracts with the Nation of Islam and prohibit it from…
‘A Crisis of the Heart, A Crisis of the Soul’: President Donald Trump Addresses the Nation for Wall Funding to Fix the Border Crisis Jan 9, 2019 “Some have suggested a barrier is immoral. Then why do wealthy politicians build walls, fences, and gates around their homes? They don’t build walls because they hate the people on the outside, but because they love the people on the inside. The only thing…